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Best Semiacoustic Guitars Under $500 2026

Affordable semiacoustic guitars under $500 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Jazz For Blues For Rockabilly For Country For Clean Tones For Vintage Style
BRANDS: Gretsch Gibson DAngelico Epiphone Ibanez Harley Benton Duesenberg Guild Larry Carlton PRS Taylor Maybach Stanford
Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame

by Harley Benton
Blues Jazz Clean Tones
Key Feature:
• Comfortable playing feel
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable playing feel
  • • Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
✗ CONS
  • • May not suit heavy rock styles
  • • Can be more expensive

Harley Benton Aeolus Frost FlameElectric GuitarPro SeriesStyle: Semi-HollowBody: MahoganyTop: AAA flamed maple...

⭐ 4.4/5 (17 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 496344
$439
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Rockabilly Country Clean Tones
Key Feature:
• Classic vintage aesthetics
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
  • • Comfortable playing feel
✗ CONS
  • • Prone to feedback at high volumes
  • • Can be more expensive

Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame*Electric Guitar*Pro...

⭐ 4.5/5 (4 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 558174
$460
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Case - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Case

by Harley Benton
Jazz Country Rockabilly
Key Feature:
• Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✓ PROS
  • • Classic vintage aesthetics
  • • Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
✗ CONS
  • • Requires careful stage positioning
  • • Can be more expensive

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Case*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame*Electric...

⭐ 4.6/5 (8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 541233
$389
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HB-35 BK Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Harley Benton HB-35 BK Vintage Series Bundle

by Harley Benton
Clean Tones Jazz Blues
Key Feature:
• Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✓ PROS
  • • Classic vintage aesthetics
  • • Comfortable playing feel
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • May not suit heavy rock styles

Harley Benton HB-35 BK Vintage Series Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HB-35 BK Vintage Series*Electric...

⭐ 4.8/5 (12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 371745
$373
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle

by Harley Benton
Vintage Style Clean Tones Rockabilly
Key Feature:
• Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✓ PROS
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
  • • Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✗ CONS
  • • Can be more expensive
  • • Prone to feedback at high volumes

Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series*Electric...

⭐ 4.5/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 371738
$373
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle

by Harley Benton
Country Rockabilly Blues
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
✓ PROS
  • • Warm, resonant hollow body tone
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
  • • Requires careful stage positioning
  • • Can be more expensive

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series*Electric...

⭐ 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 371744
$417
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle

by Harley Benton
Country Jazz Vintage Style
Key Feature:
• Comfortable playing feel
✓ PROS
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
  • • Comfortable playing feel
✗ CONS
  • • Can be more expensive
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series*Electric...

⭐ 4.4/5 (56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 371742
$373
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Clean Tones Jazz Blues
Key Feature:
• Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
  • • Requires careful stage positioning
  • • Can be more expensive

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame*Electric...

⭐ 4.5/5 (8 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 541229
$341
Buy at Thomann View Details
Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX OWT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX OWT

by Squier
Rockabilly Vintage Style Country
Key Feature:
• Natural acoustic resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
  • • Comfortable playing feel
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • Prone to feedback at high volumes

Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX OWTElectric GuitarType: Semi hollowbody with centre blockBody: Laminated mapleBolt-on...

⭐ 4.9/5 (52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 594248
$318
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tob. Flame w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tob. Flame w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Blues Rockabilly Clean Tones
Key Feature:
• Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✓ PROS
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
  • • Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • Can be more expensive

Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tob. Flame w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tobacco Flame*Electric...

⭐ 4.9/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 538093
$362
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tobacco Flame - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tobacco Flame

by Harley Benton
Blues Vintage Style Rockabilly
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable playing feel
  • • Classic vintage aesthetics
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • Can be more expensive

Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tobacco FlameElectric GuitarChambered body: MerantiArchedflamed maple topGlued-in neck:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 339364
$340
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez AS53-TKF Artcore - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Ibanez AS53-TKF Artcore

by Ibanez
Clean Tones Vintage Style Blues
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
✓ PROS
  • • Warm, resonant hollow body tone
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
  • • Can be more expensive
  • • Requires careful stage positioning

Ibanez AS53-TKF ArtcoreElectric GuitarHollow bodyBody: SapeleSet-in Artcore neck: NyatohFretboard: LaurelFretboard...

⭐ 4.9/5 (38 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 264615
$395
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle

by Harley Benton
Jazz Vintage Style Country
Key Feature:
• Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✓ PROS
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
  • • Comfortable playing feel
✗ CONS
  • • Can be more expensive
  • • Prone to feedback at high volumes

Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series*Electric...

⭐ 4.8/5 (3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 371740
$428
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame

by Harley Benton
Jazz Vintage Style Blues
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and lightly overdriven sounds
  • • Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✗ CONS
  • • May not suit heavy rock styles
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise FlameElectric GuitarStyle: Semi hollowbody with f-holesMeranti bodyTop: AAA flamed...

⭐ 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 358494
$318
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez AS53-TF - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Ibanez AS53-TF

by Ibanez
Clean Tones Country Rockabilly
Key Feature:
• Comfortable playing feel
✓ PROS
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
  • • Classic vintage aesthetics
✗ CONS
  • • May not suit heavy rock styles
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Ibanez AS53-TFElectric GuitarHollowbodyBody: BasswoodWhite bindingSet-in Artcore neck: NyatohLaurel fretboardFretboard...

⭐ 5.0/5 (54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 331815
$380
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Semiacoustic Guitars

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced semiacoustic guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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