Best Semiacoustic Guitars Under $500 2025

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

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle

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
Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame w/Bag

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
Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Case - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Case

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
Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame w/Bag

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
Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series Bundle

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
Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Harley Benton Aeolus Frost Flame

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
Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle

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
Ibanez AS53-TKF Artcore - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Ibanez AS53-TKF Artcore

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
Ibanez AM53 Tobacco Flat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Ibanez AM53 Tobacco Flat

Rockabilly Country Blues
Key Feature:
• Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable playing feel
  • • Warm, resonant hollow body tone
✗ CONS
  • • Prone to feedback at high volumes
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Ibanez AM53 Tobacco FlatElectric GuitarStyle: HollowbodyBody: BasswoodTop: BasswoodNeck: NyatohFingerboard:...

4.9/5 (49 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tobacco Flame - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tobacco Flame

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
Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX SSB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX SSB

Country Clean Tones Rockabilly
Key Feature:
• Comfortable playing feel
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable playing feel
  • • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
  • • May not suit heavy rock styles
  • • Can be more expensive

Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX SSBElectric GuitarType: Semi hollowbody with centre blockBody: laminated mapleBolt-on...

4.4/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX OWT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Squier Affinity Starcaster DLX OWT

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
Ibanez AS53-TF - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Ibanez AS53-TF

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
Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Harley Benton HB-35 VB Vintage Series Bundle

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
Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame

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

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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