Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

[smauk43]

Hey guys, I haven't posted anything in forever, but I do still read a lot. I sold my lone acoustic a couple years ago and am looking to start playing acoustic again. The closest music store is great, I have a Gibson Les Paul and Fender American Tele I bought there......But I don't wanna spend the jack on a Gibson, Martin, or Taylor they carry, and I just can't get along with the Fenders they have in that price range.....Other than that I'm probably looking at buying on line as the closest "big store" is 2 hours away...or at least if I go I'd like to have an idea where to start. I just need something I can play around with in the house but still sound decent.

 

[StratFreak]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

my Washburn D10SZ is an amazing sounding/looking guitar ! It was 475$ about 5 years ago. It won Players Choice award, guitar of the year, and one more i seem to forget, those three little stamps are found inside the body. I'd strongly recommend it !

 

[Aceman]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Gotta check out Yamaha. Never disappointed at exceptional construction, quality, playability, and tone. Always amazing performance at the price point IMO.

 

[PonyKiller]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

I've heard good things about the Carvin Cobalt line. Never tried them though.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

If you can spend the extra 100$, this will be a GREAT guitar. Sound and quality way above it's price point.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/taylor-2012-110-sapele-spruce-dreadnought-acoustic-guitar

If you really want to stick under 500$, check out Simon & Patrick guitars. Made by Godin; probably the better bang-for-buck acoustics out there in that range.

 

[chadd]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Those Washburn D10s have been solid guitars for a long time.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Check out the Epiphone Masterbuilt series. Everytime I take my AJ500R to a picking circle or a jam people ask me what kind of guitar it is. Most of them play Martins, and my guitar blows most of them out of the water tonally.

 

[AlleeCat]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Check out Alverez the my some nice acoustics in that price range.

 

[AlleeCat]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

They make some... sorry for bad typing, or lack of proof reading!

 

[The Owl]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

The Yamaha APX500 I got recently is a killer value

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Look at used Godin products. They have about 4 or 5 lines of acoustics of varying levels of quality. Simon and Patrick, Art and Lutherie, AMI, Seagull, and maybe one more. I think Seagull is the nicest of them. They are quite nice, and they do horribly on the used market, which is good for you.

That or look for a used Guild. You might find a nice one for $500.

 

[teleblooz]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Check out the Epiphone Masterbuilt series. Everytime I take my AJ500R to a picking circle or a jam people ask me what kind of guitar it is. Most of them play Martins, and my guitar blows most of them out of the water tonally.

This would be a great choice. Solid woods and just a LOT of guitar for the money...especially used. Let craigslist be your friend or search the classifieds over at the acoustic guitar forum. Some of the deals out there are just downright amazing.

Anything in the Godin line..the fore mentioned Simon and Patrick...great guitars....Seagull S6....great guitars.....A&L....breat guitars.

I spent an hour playing several LAG guitars yesterday. I was very impressed with the looks, build quality, playabilty and tone. I played 6 models ranging from $199 to $599 and there was not a dog in the bunch. Unique yet pleasing tone....and the volume/projection put to shame several guitars there at twice the price.

Good luck with your search and I hope you find 'the one"!!!

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

+1 on looking at Yamaha. I don't know whether your budget would extend to their handmade range, but they are beautifully built with solid wood and sound great.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Yamaha's LL, LJ and LS are amazing handcrafted instruments. I'm still very impressed with my LJ16, for the a third of the price it rivals my Taylor 414 (the Taylor still has the edge but...).

A LL06 or LJ06 would be pretty much in that price-range and play/sound amazing.

 

[smauk43]

Re: Decent acoustic guitar for $500 or less?

Looks like a lot of good suggestions. Appreciate it guys. Has anyone ever played the Dean Dave Mustaine Mako? Not a fan of Dean electrics but this acoustic looks like it has some decent specs for $499