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Best Budget Acoustic Guitars
The best budget acoustic guitars are within the range of 100 to 500$. These cheap acoustic guitars are the best way to go without breaking the bank. You can easily find the best budget guitars from Yamaha, Epiphone, and many other brands in the world of acoustic guitars within this price range.
Many of us need to pick out guitar models for ourselves with tight budget restraints. If you’re at the same party, you’ve come to the right place to check out the best acoustic guitars and know your best options!
Let’s look at the models that balance price and quality best.
For more cheap guitar options, check out Jasmine Guitars by Takamine!
The Best Acoustic Guitars
When it comes to acoustic guitars, there is a wide array of guitars available to suit every need and budget. Whether you’re an experienced musician or a beginner guitar player looking for a new guitar, you can buy plenty of guitars that offer exceptional quality and sound. If you’re looking for the best cheap guitar, plenty of options are available that provide great value for the price.
Brands like Yamaha, Fender, and Taylor offer a range of affordable acoustic-electric guitars that don’t compromise quality. The Yamaha F335 is one example of a tremendous entry-level acoustic guitar that provides a rich and balanced sound, making it a perfect guitar for the price of beginners. On the higher end of the spectrum, the Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar is a versatile, high-end acoustic that delivers exceptional tone and is easy to play.
Fender offers a range of acoustic guitars in various price ranges, providing options for both budget-conscious buyers and those looking to invest in a top-tier instrument. The Fender offers the best All-Mahogany acoustic guitars, a great example of a mid-range option offering a warm and full-bodied sound, perfect for both strumming and fingerpicking styles.
Overall, the best acoustic guitars offer a combination of excellent craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and exceptional sound, making them a desirable choice for any musician. Whether it’s your first guitar or adding to your collection, plenty of options are available to suit your needs to find the best budget guitar.
Yamaha F335 – 190$
The Yamaha F335 is a traditional acoustic guitar that is well-regarded and affordable. It is renowned for its quality construction and balanced sound. As part of Yamaha’s F Series, this guitar is designed to offer a cost-effective option for beginners and intermediate players compared to other guitars on the market.
Key features
Classic Dreadnought Design
The F335 showcases a classic dreadnought body known for its well-balanced acoustics and ample volume. This full-size acoustic design is favored by many for its versatility.
Tonewood Construction
The guitar features a solid spruce top paired with laminated mahogany back and sides, contributing to a warm and clear tone.
Neck
The nato neck with a rosewood fingerboard offers comfortable playing with smooth fret transitions.
Sturdy Hardware
The F335 comes with stable die-cast chrome tuners, ensuring consistent tuning stability.
Affordability
One of the Yamaha F335’s standout features is its affordability. It’s a great option for beginners or budget-conscious buyers who want cheap acoustic guitars and reliable instruments without a significant financial investment.
Pros and Cons of the Yamaha F335
Pros
- Rich and warm tone
- Rarely goes out of tune
- Comes with lasting factory strings
Cons
- Wood may deform over time, especially in humid weather
Epiphone Songmaker DR-100 – 170$
The Epiphone Songmaker DR-100 is one of the best cheap acoustic guitars known for its affordability, quality construction, and warm, resonant sound. It’s popular among beginners and experienced players looking for a dependable and accessible instrument.
Key features
Classic Dreadnought Design
The DR-100 boasts a timeless, excellent guitar body design with a select spruce top and mahogany back and sides. This combination produces a balanced tonal profile with a strong projection and warm, rich sound. This traditional acoustic guitar is incredible value for money.
Comfortable Playability
The mahogany neck features a slim-taper profile and a 14-inch fretboard radius, making it fun to play for various styles. It is an excellent choice for beginners.
Fingerboard
The rosewood fingerboard is durable and adds to the guitar’s warm and articulate tonal characteristics.
Construction
A pickguard, 2-way adjustable truss rod, premium die-cast tuning machines, and strap buttons on both sides are implemented into the guitar.
Variety of Finishes
The DR-100 is available in various finishes – Natural, Ebony, and Vintage sunburst.
Pros and Cons of the Epiphone Songmaker DR-100:
Pros
- Excellent projection, Punchy tone
- Well-balanced tone – not too bright or muddy
- Beautiful glossy finish
Cons
- Factory-pressed frets may be too sharp for some
- Tuning pegs requires a lot of rotation
For more details about tuning pegs, click here!
Tanglewood Crossroads TWCR o – 229$
The Tanglewood Crossroads series is a line of acoustic guitars that meticulously reimagines vintage design principles while adhering to contemporary craftsmanship standards. These instruments typically feature a traditional body design and showcase meticulous attention to detail and construction techniques reminiscent of early 20th-century American luthiers. These guitars are among the best cheap acoustic guitars on the market.
Key features
Tonewood Selection
The Crossroads guitars utilize a hand-selected mahogany top paired with laminated mahogany for the back and sides. This tonewood combination is chosen for its ability to produce a balanced tonal spectrum, with a focus on a warm mid-range and excellent projection.
Bracing Patterns
These guitars feature X-bracing, a traditional bracing pattern associated with vintage acoustic guitars. This bracing structure enhances the guitar’s responsiveness and resonance.
Neck Profile
The necks are typically constructed from mahogany and exhibit a comfortable “C” shape profile, making them suitable for various playing styles.
Explore and get better with different guitar playing styles just by clicking here.
Fingerboard
The tech wood fingerboards contribute to a smooth and consistent playing experience. They’re often adorned with vintage-style dot inlays.
Hardware
Tanglewood often employs vintage-style tuning machines to enhance the overall retro appearance of the Crossroads series.
Pros and Cons of the Tanglewood Crossroads TWCR
Pros
- Vintage Whiskey Barrel Burst finish
- Well-defined mid-range
- Very lightweight for its size
- Fantastic quality for the price
Cons
- Fretboard is prone to deterioration in the absence of regular maintenance
- No pickguard to resist scratches
Takamine GN11M-NS – 250$
The Takamine GN11M-NS is an acoustic guitar in Takamine’s G11 series. It emphasizes quality tonewoods, meticulous construction, and ergonomic design. It is one of the best budget guitars for every beginner and immediate musician. It is an ideal choice for discerning players seeking a versatile, affordable travel guitar with exceptional tonal depth and clarity.
Whether for studio recordings, live performances, or practice sessions, these budget guitars are poised to deliver impressive top-end results.
Key features
Mahogany Body
The GN11M-NS features a body constructed with mahogany for the back and sides, which imparts a warm and mellow tone. This tonewood combination offers a rich midrange, making it suitable for various musical styles. You can choose the best beginner acoustic guitars at this price range without any headache.
Solid Spruce Top
The solid Sitka spruce top enhances the guitar’s projection and responsiveness, ensuring a well-balanced sound with a clear and articulate tone.
Slim Neck Profile
The slim neck profile and 20-fret laurel fingerboard provide comfortable playability, making it an excellent choice for extended playing sessions.
Compact Grand Auditorium Body
The GN11M-NS is built in a compact Grand Auditorium body shape, offering a comfortable playing experience and a versatile sound, well-suited for fingerpicking, strumming, and various playing techniques.
To learn more about guitar body shapes, click here!
Affordability
The GN11M-NS is competitively priced, making it a cost-effective choice for a dependable, well-crafted acoustic guitar.
Pros and Cons of the Takamine GN11M-NS
Pros
- Wide 42.5 nut
- Quality all-mahogany body
- The compact Grand-Auditorium body sits nicely on your lap
Cons
- No finish may not be to everyone’s liking
PRS SE P20 Parlor – 500$
The PRS SE P20 Parlor is a compact parlor guitar in PRS’s SE (Student Edition) series. It is one of the top picks for those who appreciate a parlor-style guitar’s comfortable, intimate feel and seek the renowned PRS craftsmanship in an accessible package. This guitar produces an amazing sound and texture.
Key features
Parlor Body
The P20 boasts a more petite body with a solid mahogany top, back, and sides, resulting in a warm, balanced tone. Its small size offers comfortable playability while maintaining a respectable sound at this price point.
Tonewood Combination
The solid mahogany top contributes to the guitar’s rich, warm sound with pronounced mid-range frequencies. This, combined with the mahogany back and sides, offers a sweet and responsive tone.
PRS Hybrid “X”/Classical Bracing
The unique “X”/classical hybrid bracing pattern enhances resonance and volume, providing a vibrant and expressive sound.
Comfortable Neck
The mahogany neck with a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard offers a comfortable and familiar feel, facilitating smooth fretboard navigation for chord progressions and intricate lead work.
Fishman GT1 Pickup System
The PRS SE P20 is equipped with the Fishman GT1 pickup system, which provides a natural amplified sound for live performances and recordings.
Pros and Cons of the PRS SE P20 Parlor
Pros
- Great portability
- Elegant vintage design
- Fishman pickups included
Cons
- One of the pricier models out there
- The small body may not project the volume required by some
Cort Core Mahogany Dreadnought Black Burst – $630
The Cort Core-OC Mahogany is a technical marvel. It combines a solid mahogany build quality, scalloped X-bracing, and Fishman electronics to create a guitar that excels in projection, responsiveness, and tonal clarity. It is the best budget single-cut guitar.
Whether in the studio, on stage, or during intimate practice sessions, the Core-OC Mahogany delivers a remarkable playing experience for those who appreciate the technical nuances of acoustic guitar craftsmanship.
Key features
Tonewoods
The Core-OC Mahogany features a solid mahogany top, back, and sides. Mahogany is known for its warm, balanced tonal qualities, making it an excellent choice for various playing styles.
Body Shape
The guitar sports a traditional Orchestra Model (OM) body shape, which balances comfort and projection and makes it suitable for fingerstyle and strumming.
Neck Construction
The mahogany neck has a dovetail joint for enhanced sustain and resonance. It is topped with a rosewood fingerboard featuring 20 frets.
Scalloped X-Bracing
The Core-OC Mahogany incorporates scalloped X-bracing in its internal bracing pattern. This optimizes the balance between responsiveness and structural stability, improving projection and resonance.
Fishman Electronics
The guitar has Fishman electronics, typically featuring a pickup and preamp system. This allows for amplified performance and studio recording while preserving the instrument’s natural acoustic tone.
High-Quality Hardware
The Core-OC Mahogany has high-quality tuning machines, ensuring precise and reliable stability.
Natural Satin Finish
The guitar often sports a natural satin finish, which enhances the instrument’s aesthetic and allows the wood to breathe and resonate more freely.
Pros and Cons of the Cort Core-OC Mahogany
Pros
- Genuine water buffalo bone nut and saddle
- Open pore finish creating lightweight body
- Long 25.3” scale length
Cons
- Mid-range heavy sound
Seagull Entourage Autumn Burst Acoustic Guitar – 400$
The Seagull Guitars Entourage Dreadnought is one of the best budget acoustic guitars. Its design and construction cater to beginners and experienced players seeking a well-crafted instrument with versatile tonal characteristics. It stands out among the best guitars for money.
Key features
Tonewoods
The guitar features a solid top of cedar and wild cherry back and sides, contributing to a unique tonal blend. Cedar offers warm, mellow tones with a quick response, while wild cherry enhances brightness and projection.
Dreadnought Body
The dreadnought body shape is known for its robust projection and rich, full-bodied sound. It’s a versatile choice for various playing styles and musical genres.
Double-Function Truss Rod
The integrated double-function truss rod ensures optimal neck stability, allowing precise adjustments to maintain ideal string action and playability.
Tapered Headstock
The tapered headstock design enhances tuning stability, vital for consistent performance during extended play.
Silver Leaf Maple Neck
The silver leaf maple neck is carved into a comfortable slim profile, facilitating easy access to the upper frets and comfortable hand movement.
Custom Polished Finish
The guitar is finished with a custom semi-gloss finish that enhances the instrument’s aesthetics and ability to resonate freely.
Pros and Cons of the Seagull Guitars Entourage Dreadnought
Pros
- Reliable truss rod
- Dreadnought’s body projects a loud volume
- Wide 43.69mm nut
Cons
- Heavyweight, 8lbs without any accessory
FENDER FA-235E CONCERT – 380$
The Fender FA-235E Concert has tonewoods, versatile electronics, and thoughtful design elements. It offers a guitar player seeking an electro-acoustic guitar that delivers a rich and dynamic tonal range, unplugged and amplified. It has an affordable price tag with the acoustic guitar pickup you want. It is one of the top-end affordable guitars.
Key features
Concert Body Shape
The FA-235E is a Fender acoustic guitar with a concert-sized body made with a laminated flame maple top, back, and sides. This wood combination imparts a bright, clear, and resonant tonal character, making it suitable for a variety of musical styles. Compared to other acoustic guitars on the market, this one is quite special. The body design is easy to play.
Electronics
This model is equipped with a Fishman-designed preamp system, which includes a built-in tuner and a three-band EQ. This allows for precise tonal adjustments and easy tuning during performances.
Here is a list of the most accurate tuners for tuning your guitar correctly.
Mahogany Neck
The guitar boasts a mahogany neck with a comfortable “C” shape profile, ensuring smooth playability across the 20-fret laurel fingerboard. The neck’s design facilitates easy chord changes and intricate fingerstyle playing.
Scalloped “X” Bracing
The FA-235E incorporates scalloped “X” bracing, a traditional design feature that enhances the guitar’s resonance and projection, contributing to a balanced and articulate sound.
Lacewood Headcap
A striking lacewood head cap adorns the headstock, adding a touch of elegance to the guitar’s appearance.
Nut and Saddle
The guitar features a synthetic bone nut and saddle, which is, to be fair, the model’s weak point.
Rosewood Bridge
The rosewood bridge offers secure string anchoring and excellent intonation, ensuring accurate tuning across the fretboard.
Comfortable Cutaway
The cutaway design allows easy access to higher frets, making it suitable for lead playing and soloing.
Pros and Cons of the Fender FA-235E Concert
Pros
- Bright and clear upper register sound
- High-end pickups
- Cutaway designed for soloing
Cons
- Synthetic nut and saddle prone to breakage
- Stiff factory strings
IBANEZ PF15ECE DREADNOUGHT ACOUSTIC – 250$
If you want an acoustic guitar that sounds great and feels comfortable to play, the Ibanez PF15ECE is one of the best options. It’s an acoustic-electric guitar that balances quality craftsmanship, playability, and electronics, making it great for beginners and experienced players who desire a versatile instrument for live performances and recording.
Key features
Body Construction
The PF15ECE features a full-size acoustic guitar with a dreadnought body, offering a deep, resonant sound with excellent projection. The top is made of spruce, known for its bright and dynamic tonal characteristics, while the back and sides are constructed from mahogany, adding warmth and depth to the overall sound.
Cutaway Design
The cutaway body design provides easy access to higher frets, vital for lead and soloing.
Neck and Fingerboard
The mahogany neck has a slim and comfortable profile, and the laurel fingerboard has 20 frets, ensuring smooth and effortless playability.
Electronics
The built-in Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez AEQ-2T preamp system allow precise amplification and tone control when plugged into an acoustic amplifier or sound system. It features a 3-band EQ, volume control, and a built-in tuner, ensuring versatile sound shaping and accurate tuning.
Bridge and Hardware
The rosewood bridge and synthetic bone saddle provide stable intonation and resonance transfer. The chrome die-cast tuners offer reliable and precise tuning stability.
Body Finish
The PF15ECE is available in various finishes, such as Black High Gloss, Natural High Gloss, and Transparent Blue Sunburst High Gloss.
Pros and Cons of the Ibanez PF15ECE
Pros
- Clear low-end sound
- Cutaway Dreadnought body with booming sound
- Built-in tuner, EQ, and volume control
Cons
- Low-quality saddle
Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, Sunburst – 190$
The Gretsch G9500 is a resonator acoustic guitar known for its distinctive design and vintage-inspired tone, and it is at an affordable entry point. Part of Gretsch’s Roots Collection, this guitar pays homage to the classic resonator instruments of the past while incorporating modern craftsmanship and playability. And, undoubtedly it’s one of the best travel or couch guitars.
Key features
Resonator Design
The G9500 boasts a classic single-cone resonator design, which provides a distinctive and unmistakable tone with exceptional projection and volume.
Body Materials
It features a mahogany body and neck, creating a warm and rich sound. The body is finished in a sunburst for a vintage look.
Fishman Nashville Pickup
Equipped with a Fishman Nashville resonator pickup, the G9500 offers the option for amplified performance, allowing the guitar’s unique voice to shine through in various settings.
Round Neck
Unlike square-neck resonators, the G9500 features a round neck design, making it comfortable for traditional fretting and slide playing.
Fingerboard
The rosewood fingerboard with 19 frets ensures comfortable playability for various playing styles.
Vintage Styling
The guitar’s vintage styling, including the F soundholes, tailpiece, and aged pearloid headstock overlay, adds to its retro charm.
Want to know more about headstock? Click here!
Pros and Cons of Gretsch G9500
Pros
- Round neck design
- Vintage aesthetics
- Long frets
Cons
- No cutaway and short scale length
Now, it’s up to you to judge which model wins the prize for being the best budget acoustic guitar for you. Remember, prices aren’t indicators of how good a guitar is – the features they offer are.
CHOOSE THE BEST CHEAP ACOUSTIC GUITAR FOR YOU
It’s tough to get a great guitar in the acoustic guitar world. If you are looking for the best budget acoustic guitar that suits your vibe, you need to consider some factors.
Inexpensive Tonewoods
Budget guitars, such as laminated or lower-grade wood, often use less expensive tonewoods for the body and neck. While these may not produce the same tonal richness as high-end tonewoods, they can still provide a decent sound.
Simplified Construction
Budget guitars typically have simpler designs and construction methods, reducing labor costs and making them more affordable to produce.
Factory Production
Mass production techniques are often used instead of handcrafted expensive guitars, allowing manufacturers to achieve economies of scale and reduce labor costs.
Hardware Quality
Budget guitars may use low-end hardware components like plastic tuners, bridges, and cheaper pickups. While these components may not be the most hi-fi, they can still function adequately and provide reliable performance.
If you are interested in classical music, we suggest you check out our list of best-budget classical guitars. It might help you.
Simplified Electronics
Some budget guitars have simplified electronics, using basic wiring and control configurations, sometimes omitting tone controls or tuners. This simplification reduces production costs.
Stringent Quality Control
Budget guitar manufacturers implement quality control processes to ensure their instruments meet basic standards. This helps prevent significant issues and ensures the guitars are playable and reasonably reliable.
Lower Labor Costs
Budget guitars are often produced in regions with lower labor costs, which can significantly reduce the overall production expenses.
Lower Marketing Costs
Budget guitar brands may not invest as heavily in marketing, sponsorship deals, or endorsements, saving on promotional expenses.
Less Established Brands
Smaller or less-known brands might offer good-quality budget guitars to gain recognition in the market without charging a premium for their name.
Higher Production Volume
The production of budget guitars often involves larger quantities. This higher volume allows manufacturers to negotiate better deals with suppliers and reduce costs.
Limited Customization Options
Budget guitars may not offer as many customization options as high-end models. However, standardization can help streamline production and reduce costs.
Lower Profit Margins
Manufacturers of budget guitars often operate on thinner profit margins, relying on the sale of a larger volume of instruments to make a profit.
BEST BUDGET ACOUSTIC GUITARS FAQ
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