When a regular acoustic just won’t cut it in terms of volume, then you might find that one of the best acoustic electric guitars is the solution. There are all sorts of different models available, but they’re essentially just regular acoustic guitars, fitted with a pickup of some sort that allows you to plug into an amp or PA system.
If you’re thinking of playing live – whether that’s on grand stages around the world or just at your local open-mic night, then an acoustic electric guitar (sometimes also referred to as an ‘electro-acoustic’ guitar) is pretty much an essential bit of kit. Whilst you can place a microphone in front of your standard acoustic guitar, it’s a lot easier to play worry-free with a built-in pickup.
As you might expect, there are lots of fantastic options on the market. From budget-friendly guitars aimed at beginners to top-of-the-range models designed for studio and live use, they’re all out there. For this guide, we’ve hand-picked what we believe are the best acoustic electric guitars on offer right now, covering a range of different budgets and features. We’ve also included some useful FAQs at the end of this guide if you’re looking for more guidance.
Our top picks
If you’ve got a little cash to spend, we love the Taylor American Dream AD17E. Taylor guitars are known for their crisp, detailed sound and this model is no different. The body shape gives you a classic dreadnought sound, with a bit of a modern twist. The ES-2 pickup system provides a lovely, organic tone when plugged in, plus their amazing V-Class bracing system gives you a ton of volume and sustain.
It’s hard to ignore the Martin DJR-10E. It strikes a balance between quality, playability, sound and affordability very nicely. It’s made from all-solid wood, comes fitted with a good pickup and it costs under $700 – for a proper Martin! It’s slightly smaller than full size too, which we found made it ideal for a range of different players.
Martin’s D-28 and 000-28 are benchmark acoustic guitars that many others are measured by. But for us the latter is our go-to choice because of the comfort and intimacy the smaller, shallower body offers. This is a lighter 000 than most with a titanium truss rod for strength, but it’s also louder. It’s a supercharged 000 with the bass holding its own to the treble and remaining wonderfully touch sensitive.
Best overall
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Taylor’s most accessibly-priced USA-made solid wood acoustic is an addictive guitar; with the company’s V-Class bracing offering stunning intonation and resonance across the fretboard, you’ll find yourself visiting the dusty end more than you’d imagine.
We love the Johnny Cash and Everly Brothers vibe of the matte black spruce top, complimented by the rich ovangkol grain of the back and sides. This Grand Pacific slope shouldered dreadnought is a pro-level guitar for life, offering tonal balance and wide frequency response that makes it a great example of dreadnought class.
It’s a woodier tonal character than players might expect from Taylor - a little Gibson J-45-esque - and the Expression System 2 does it proud.
Read our full Taylor American Dream AD17E Blacktop review
Best for value
2. Martin Junior Series DJR-10E
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A solid wood Martin acoustic electric guitar under $700? For us, nothing comes close for value in the iconic company’s catalog right now. The Dreadnought Junior is just that good. It’s a smaller take on a classic Martin shape but we really like the combo of 000 body depth and shorter 24” scale length – it helps the guitar feel intimate and portable. But we found it still sounds and plays with the unmistakable Martin flair.
Martin’s consistently high build standard offers peace of mind if buying online and we’re confident that this is a guitar you’ll want to keep close – the visually low-key Fishman Sonitone system means you can take it onstage too.
Read our full Martin Junior Series DJR-10E review
Best for pros
3. Martin 000-28E Modern Deluxe
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Martin’s D-28 and 000-28 are benchmark acoustic guitars that many others are measured by. But for us the latter is our go-to choice because of the comfort and intimacy the smaller, shallower body offers. And this is the premium, reworked contemporary example that was released in 2020.
The pearl logo, vintage style gold-plated open-back Waverly tuners, flamed maple wood binding and long lasting gold alloy frets all mark the Deluxe edition’s ‘sophistication meets performance’ manifesto. This is also a lighter 000 than most with a titanium truss rod for strength, but it’s also louder (aided by the carbon-fibre bridge plates, the Liquidmetal bridge pins). It’s a supercharged 000 with the bass holding its own to the treble and remaining wonderfully touch sensitive.
The top here is also given the vintage treatment thanks to Martin’s VTS torrefication process and the custom Fishman Aura VT Blend system uses sound images from miking examples of this model to blend with the pickup. The results are the best of both worlds; organic detail with some welcome pickup attack for the mix.
Read our full Martin 000-28E Modern Deluxe review
Best hybrid
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Fender’s Acoustasonic series began with a Strat, then a Tele but we think this Jazzmaster is the best example yet. But isn’t it an electric guitar? Yes and no, we’d say it falls a little more on the acoustic side of sound. The hook here is it plays like an electric, but it’s soundhole means you can strum it unplugged for a parlor-esque sound. But plug in and things get really interesting…
There’s five positions, each with A and B voices that can be blended to suit and three different pickup sources for an ‘Acoustic Engine’ to generate them; a magnetic Shawbucker that can cover a wide range of tones, then a transducer and body sensor that help to recreate the sounds of various different size acoustic guitars. And the result is an incredibly effective stage guitar.
Read our full Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster review
Best budget
5. Cort Little CJ Walnut OP
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Cort has built a formidable reputation for value and the Little CJ is a prime example; immensely playable and appealing, it’s also no slouch when it comes to plugging in either.
Right now we’re seeing street prices in the US under $450, making it a very attractive option for anyone looking for a travel electro acoustic. We found the mahogany neck with ovangkol fingerboard fast with the low action, and though its smaller size won’t deliver boomy bass it offers punchy mid range and lively highs.
Its Fishman Presys II transfers its strengths well through an amp or PA, making the Little CJ sound like a larger proposition, especially with an onboard bass and treble EQ to dial in.
Read the full Cort Little CJ Walnut OP review
Best parlor
6. PRS Parlor SE P20E
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A parlor-size acoustic model was a surprise from PRS in 2020, as was a small body shape that will always conjure a 1930s aesthetic. But the company’s take on tradition is another testament to the build standard and flair PRS brings to the SE catalogue.
We like the understated satin finish here and the finish options of Vintage Mahogany, Black Top and Tobacco Sunburst are all appealing, coupled with classic herringbone binding and ivory butterbean tuner buttons on the unmistakable PRS headstock.
PRS SEs are up there with the best in terms of consistent factory finish quality in the middle of the market and this adds to that reputation. The hybrid of classical and X bracing, bone nut and saddle with Wide Fat neck are also a smart combo for getting enhanced projection from this light and compact guitar. It’s great for blues, fingerstyle and singer/songwriter inspiration. The Sonicore-based Fishman GT1 also offers simple but effective electro features at this pricepoint.
Best dreadnought
7. Taylor Academy Series 12e
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Although this is an entry-level price for a Taylor electro acoustic guitar, it’s more expensive than much of the competition when it comes to ideal beginner guitars. But we believe for playability, comfort and performance it is the best, and a guitar that will go the distance with any guitar player.
Taylor designed it that way; a slim profile neck, shorter-scale, low action and an arm rest creates accessibility for all. And we’ve chosen the smaller Grand Concert body over the 10e dreadnought with that in mind. Taylor’s superb onboard ES-B electronics mean it can stay with you for the vital step up to live performance, should you wish.
Read our full Taylor Academy Series 12e review
Best 12-string
8. Guild F-2512E Archback 12-string
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Guild has a long history when it comes to 12-string jumbo acoustics – right back to the 1960s. The F-2512E combines that experience with contemporary manufacturing. Nothing compares to the rich sound of a 12-string acoustic but it’s not an everyday acoustic guitar for most, so the lower entry price here is important.
The arched back design helps the projection of the shimmering out-of-phase sounds you’ll get here, and a bone nut and saddles are welcome for their contribution to sustain on a more affordable model.
The electronics here are pretty basic - based on the Fishman Sonitone design with volume and tone (the latter a treble rolloff) controls placed just inside the soundhole.
Best preamp
9. Yamaha A5R ARE
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The A5R is a great acoustic before we even get to the electric side of things. The ARE torrefied spruce top has a vintage aesthetic and with solid rosewood back and sides alongside scalloped bracing delivers a classic full-bodied dreadnought sound with cutaway access.
The SRT2 system complements the timeless quality with a cutting edge preamp; allowing players to blend the under-bridge piezo with character of the classic Neumann U 67 large-diaphragm condenser or a Royer R-122 active ribbon microphone. It works very well indeed to deliver sounds that cut through while retaining organic acoustic character.
Best acoustic sound
10. Epiphone Inspired By Gibson J-180 LS
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A more recent offering from Epiphone, this is inspired by Gibson’s Custom models and showcases a raft of incredible features.
First up, it has a thermally aged solid spruce top which helps the guitar sound like it has been properly played in, so straight out of the box it’s rich and resonant with lots of nice overtones. This is paired with solid mahogany back and sides which give it a lush, full low end.
The shape is sort of like a mini jumbo – it projects really well and sounds wonderfully balanced, but it’s also comfortable to play for a wide range of different players, regardless of size. The Epiphone J180-LS is fitted with a really good LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup and preamp system. This ensures that your acoustic sounds big and full, with minimal ‘piezo quack’ when you plug it in.
FAQs
Why do I need an acoustic electric guitar?
Before technology allowed us to install pickups in acoustic guitars, players would place a ribbon, dynamic or condenser microphone in front of their guitar for live performance. While this is still the preferable way to record an acoustic guitar, live performance requires some practical compromise.
Venues are often loud, busy, hectic environments, and you may wish to move around while playing – meaning that plugging your guitar in to an amp or PA system is the most reliable option out there for performers.
What are the different types of acoustic guitar pickup?
There are a number of different types of pickup that you’ll find on an acoustic electric guitar. The most popular type is an undersaddle piezo pickup. They come in the form of a thin strip that sits underneath the saddle. When the guitar is played, the vibrations from the strings are detected by this sensitive undersaddle pickup and fed to a preamp that boosts the signal. Here, you can usually dial in some sort of EQ too. That information is then passed on to an amplifier or PA system.
Generally, piezo pickups all sound quite similar. The guitar itself does make a difference to its amplified sound, as the wood combination and body shape etc all contribute to how the strings vibrate in the first place. Piezos are usually quite bright and direct sounding, with some compression. EQ on the preamp can really help, as it will on whatever amplification unit you’re using.
Transducer pickups work in a similar fashion in that they work off the vibrations caused by the strings, and in turn, the body of the guitar. They can be placed anywhere, but popular places include somewhere on the underside of the bridge, or on the body somewhere.
Some of the best acoustic electric guitars might feature a mic blend system. As the name suggests, it’s a blend of a microphone and something else – often a piezo. Having a small microphone placed within the body of the guitar can capture some of the more natural, organic tones created by the instrument. It’s usually not quite a strong enough signal on its own, but blended with something like a piezo, it can sound great. You can get the attack and the brightness of the piezo mixed with a more ‘in the room’ acoustic sound.
What do I need to know about preamps?
Most acoustic electric guitars will also feature a preamp of some sort built into the guitar. You can get really basic preamps that may just feature a volume knob and a tone knob, and others might be more complex, with enhanced EQ controls. If you’re keen to get the tone in your head, then more EQ knobs will allow you to dial your sound in every time you play with a different amplification system, or even in a different room.
Others prefer the simplicity of plugging in and playing, and a volume/tone control will do just fine. If you find yourself with a bunch of EQ controls that you’re not sure what to do with though, your best bet is to set them all at noon and go from there.
Within some preamp units, you might also have a guitar tuner on board. These are very useful, as it means you’ve got one less thing to either buy or remember to bring to gigs, however, not all of them are super accurate!
What’s the difference between solid and laminate woods?
Of course, if you’re investing in an acoustic electric guitar, then you want it to sound good unplugged as well as plugged in. A guitar made from all solid wood will usually sound richer and louder, with a broader frequency range (so crisper highs and fuller lows). This does increase the cost though, as laminate wood is cheaper to use.
Some guitars will feature a solid top and laminate back and sides which is a nice in-between, as the top of an acoustic can be viewed as the speaker of the instrument. It plays a big part in the sound that you hear, so making this from solid wood and the back and sides from laminate gives you a good tone, but reduces the cost.
Some pickup systems will convey that richness of tone better than others through an amp or PA. As mentioned, a piezo pickup detects vibrations caused by the strings moving, which is in turn affected by the wood. Therefore you’ll get a little more from a solid guitar, though your pickup will still sound very much like a piezo. You’ll get a better, more honest sound that showcases your guitar’s voice from a better quality pickup system – probably something that has some sort of microphone blend.
How we test products
Here at Guitar World, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best acoustic electric guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are guitar players, and we want other guitarists to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can proudly say are the best right now.
Find out more about how we make our recommendations and how we test each of the products in our buyer's guides.
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