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One guitar that works at home unplugged and on stage plugged in — when done right, it’s the most practical acoustic you can own.
An acoustic-electric guitar does exactly what it sounds like: it’s an acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup system and preamp, so you can play it unplugged in your living room and plug directly into a PA system or acoustic amp when performing. The best acoustic-electrics sound great both ways. The worst ones sound decent unplugged and lifeless through a PA — and that gap is wider than most buyers expect.
This guide covers the best acoustic-electrics at every budget level, from the most accessible entry points to instruments professional acoustic players use on stage.
What to Look for in an Acoustic-Electric
- Electronics Quality — A great acoustic with mediocre pickups sounds thin, nasal, and lifeless through a PA. Look for instruments where the electronics are a genuine strength, not a cheap afterthought bolted on at the factory. Undersaddle pickups are most common; multi-source systems (soundboard + undersaddle) produce the most natural plugged-in tone.
- Solid Top vs. Laminate — The top’s resonance affects unplugged tone significantly even in acoustic-electrics. A solid spruce or cedar top vibrates more freely, producing more warmth and projection than laminate. Prioritize solid tops when budget allows — the difference is audible.
- Cutaway Access — A cutaway body lets you reach upper frets more easily, useful for lead playing and higher-position fingerpicking. The trade-off is a slight reduction in low-end resonance; for most players, the access is worth it.
- Body Shape — Dreadnought gives you the loudest projection and strongest bass. Concert / Grand Concert bodies are smaller and more balanced, better for fingerpicking. Grand Auditorium is the sweet spot between the two — and the most popular shape for acoustic-electrics for good reason.
Best Acoustic-Electrics Under $500
Best Under $350
Fender CD-60SCE — $349
Fender’s most popular acoustic-electric is popular for good reason: a solid mahogany top, a comfortable neck, and Fishman electronics that are a genuine step up from what many guitars at this price include. The cutaway gives you full upper-fret access. Warm, full-bodied sound unplugged; honest and usable through a PA.
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Best Slim-Body Under $350
Ibanez AEG50 Grand Concert — $349
The AEG50 is Ibanez’s standout acoustic-electric at this price. Its slim body and narrow waist are easier to hold than a full dreadnought — ideal for players with smaller frames or those transitioning from electric guitar. The Fishman Sonicore pickup is clear and honest, and the built-in chromatic tuner is genuinely useful on stage. A smart buy for anyone who finds standard acoustic bodies unwieldy.
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Best Concert Body Under $500
Yamaha FSX800C Concert — $419
Yamaha’s FSX800C is a compact, concert-body acoustic-electric with excellent playability and Yamaha’s reliable System 66 electronics. The smaller body is comfortable for extended playing sessions, and the cutaway allows full upper-fret access. Yamaha’s manufacturing consistency is a genuine advantage at this price — you’re buying a quality-controlled instrument from a company that builds hundreds of thousands of guitars a year. Less of a gamble than many alternatives.
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Best Acoustic-Electrics Under $750
Seagull S6 Original — $629
The Seagull S6 is a cult classic among serious acoustic players — and for good reason. A solid cedar top, wild cherry back and sides, and a forward-shifted X-brace give it exceptional projection and a warmth that most guitars at this price can’t match. Made in Canada with serious quality control. The electronics are clean and natural-sounding. If you want one guitar that does everything — practice, recording, live performance — the S6 is one of the most complete instruments at any price near $629.
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Best Acoustic-Electrics Under $1,000
Best Beginner-to-Intermediate Under $800
Taylor Academy 10e — $799
Taylor is known for building acoustics that play easily from day one — lower action, more comfortable neck — and the Academy 10e is their most accessible entry point into the Taylor family. A solid Sitka spruce top, layered sapele back and sides, and Taylor’s ES-B electronics: a high-quality undersaddle system with a built-in tuner and a clean preamp. Exceptional playability for beginners and intermediates alike, with enough quality to satisfy advanced players who just want something easy to grab off the wall.
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Best All-Around Under $1,000
Taylor 214ce Grand Auditorium — $999
The 214ce is Taylor’s benchmark mid-range acoustic-electric and one of the most-recommended guitars at this price point by professional musicians, instructors, and music journalists alike. A solid Sitka spruce top over layered rosewood back and sides, a Grand Auditorium body with cutaway, and Taylor’s ES2 electronics — one of the most natural-sounding acoustic pickup systems at any price. This is the guitar you buy once and don’t outgrow.
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Should You Buy Acoustic-Electric or Pure Acoustic?
Buy Acoustic-Electric If
- You plan to perform live, even occasionally
- You practice with other musicians or in any band context
- You want flexibility from a single instrument
- You’re willing to spend slightly more for integrated electronics
Buy Pure Acoustic If
- You only play at home or in intimate settings
- You want the most natural acoustic tone at a given budget (electronics cost money that could otherwise go into the guitar)
- You’re a beginner who won’t need to perform for some time
For most players who intend to eventually perform, acoustic-electric is the practical choice. The cost premium for electronics is modest at these price points, and retrofitting a pickup into a pure acoustic later is less ideal than buying one designed for it from the start.
Quick Comparison
| Guitar | Price | Body | Electronics | Solid Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fender CD-60SCE | $349 | Dreadnought / cutaway | Fishman | Yes (mahogany) |
| Ibanez AEG50 | $349 | Grand Concert / cutaway | Fishman Sonicore | No |
| Yamaha FSX800C | $419 | Concert / cutaway | System 66 | No |
| Seagull S6 Original | $629 | Dreadnought | Quantum | Yes (cedar) |
| Taylor Academy 10e | $799 | Academy / cutaway | ES-B | Yes (spruce) |
| Taylor 214ce | $999 | Grand Auditorium / cutaway | ES2 | Yes (spruce) |
Our Top Pick: If you can stretch to $799, the Taylor Academy 10e offers exceptional playability and reliable electronics in one package. Under $500, the Fender CD-60SCE is the most complete acoustic-electric for the money.
For more on pure acoustic options, see our best beginner acoustic guitars guide. For the broader question of whether you need amplification at all, our do you need an amp post covers the full picture for both acoustic and electric players.
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