Best Acoustic Electric Guitar Under 500 (Extreme, Value, & Budget)

What Is the Best Acoustic Electric Guitar Under 500 Dollars?

What is the best acoustic electric guitar? The bottom line is, it's the one you like best. In this case, it's the Martin D LX. Overall, many would say that this is the best acoustic electric guitar under 500 for sale today. Here's why.

For a beginner to acoustic guitar playing, I think the Martin D LX is a great place to start. With its simple-to-use interface, easy-to-use controls, and great sounding performance, this is a good choice for a beginner. In fact, many would consider it to be a better option than some of the more expensive brands out there. The Martin D LX is really more of an entry level acoustic guitar, which is perfect for the beginner.

But for someone who has done it before, and wants a little more from their guitar, the Yamaha D model line is worth checking out. With similar electronics to the Martin, but with a few extra features and upgrades, the Yamaha feels like it's been tailor made for experienced players. Some models have built in effects, but I find the preamp and pickup models a better value. The preamp models offer volume and tone control, as well as additional effects.

For someone who practices classical guitar or jazz regularly, I recommend the Yamaha Micasa. Like many acoustic guitars, the Yamaha Micasa has a "thumbrest." This provides additional comfort for those long hours on the guitar. The tone knobs have five selections: blue for tone, black for tone with a pull-back option, red for sustain, and white for bass. It even has three levels of pickup. There are also volume and tone controls located on the front of the pickguard.

If price is an issue, there are plenty of cheap guitars with great sound. I would steer clear of any model that has to be connected to your amplifier. While you can get a good quality sound through a USB connection, the quality will be lost through the clutter. You'll end up spending more on unnecessary accessories.

What about the styles of acoustic guitars? Acoustic guitars can be played in many genres. What is your preference? Rock, blues, classical, country, and jazz, for example, can all be performed quite easily with a good set of cables. Here are some key specs for each one of these genres to give you a better idea:

One of the most popular styles is a single cutaway model. A single cutaway model allows the player to have very large fingers that cover a large area of the fret board. Many players favor this style because it's easier to change chords and experiment with alternate tunings. In a word, it's versatile.

If you don't want to go for a single cutaway model, go for a classical guitar. Classical guitar enthusiasts know that Yamaha CGCX102 acoustic guitars are among the best around. While it's not inexpensive, you won't be disappointed with this affordable guitar. Here are some key specs to compare with:

If you are looking for a highly recommended guitar, the Yamaha F GTX800C is a good place to start. It's not overly cheap, but it is one of the best on the market. Here are some of the things to check amazon price for:

Now, let's talk about electronics. The Yamaha CGEX8 series features onboard electronics like a tremolo, the ability to use a pickup switch for tone control, locking tremolo operation, and dual-channel audio processing. The dreadnought body guitars in the series also have onboard electronics. What you get from a set like this is a full range of sounds featuring different textures, effects, and amplifiers. Here are some key specs to compare with:

What you should know about purchasing an acoustic electric guitar, as we just saw, is that the price doesn't make the grade. What does make the grade is whether or not you will use it often. This is a great point for the Yamaha CGEX8. Many players end up replacing their guitar year after year, and some never play it for all that long. If you're looking for a guitar that you'll only use once or twice, this is definitely the way to go.

So there you have it. The best acoustic electric guitar under 500 dollars is the Takamine GDI 30CE. It's a solid guitar with good sound. The only thing I would change about it is to give it a boost if it needs it. If you are someone who uses their guitar often, then the Takamine GDI is probably the guitar for you.