An acoustic-electric guitar is an acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup and preamp. It sounds like an acoustic at home and like a professional instrument through a PA. If you have any plans to perform, buy one from the start.
The most common acoustic guitar regret: buying a regular acoustic, developing as a player, wanting to perform — and then discovering you need to retrofit a pickup system ($100–$200, requires drilling or modification) or buy a second guitar entirely.
Acoustic-electrics solve this problem. They play and sound exactly like regular acoustics when unplugged — and they connect to a PA or amp through a standard instrument cable when you need amplification. The price premium over a non-electric version of the same guitar is typically $70–$130. That’s excellent value for the capability it adds.
If there’s any chance you’ll perform — open mic nights, church, family gatherings, playing with other musicians — buy an acoustic-electric from the start.
What to Look for in a Beginner Acoustic-Electric
Electronics quality. The pickup and preamp determine how you sound amplified. Budget acoustic-electrics often use poor-quality undersaddle pickups that produce thin, piezo-electric tone — notoriously plastic-sounding and unflattering. Better electronics (Fishman Sonitone, Fishman Presys, Taylor’s ES-B) produce a more natural, acoustic-sounding amplified tone.
Onboard tuner. Most mid-range acoustic-electrics include a chromatic tuner in the preamp. Invaluable on stage — plug in, tune silently, and go. Look for it.
The acoustic tone first. You’ll spend most of your time playing unplugged. The guitar’s acoustic quality matters more than its electronics. A mediocre acoustic with great electronics sounds mediocre unplugged. A great acoustic with mediocre electronics sounds great unplugged and average amplified — the better of the two compromises.
Solid top. As with any acoustic, a solid spruce or cedar top produces better tone and improves with age compared to laminate. More important than the electronics.
Quick Picks
| Guitar | Price | Electronics | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha APXT2 Thinline | $229 | System 68 | Budget, compact body |
| Fender CD-60SCE | $349 | Fishman Presys | Warm dreadnought AE |
| Yamaha FSX800C | $419 | System 65 | Concert body, balanced |
| Ibanez AEG50 | $349 | AEQ-TTS | Slim body, electric players |
| Taylor 114ce | $799 | Taylor ES2 | The benchmark beginner AE |
| Taylor Academy 10e | $799 | Taylor ES-B | Most comfortable |
The Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars for Beginners
Yamaha APXT2 Thinline — $229
The most affordable acoustic-electric on this list — and a genuinely practical instrument for beginners who need electronics but are on a strict budget. The 3/4-scale thinline body is compact and lightweight, making it comfortable for apartment playing. The System 68 preamp with built-in tuner covers the essential performance functions. For beginners who specifically need plug-in capability at the lowest realistic price from a reputable brand, the APXT2 is the answer.
Best for: Budget-constrained beginners who specifically need electronics, apartment players, compact body preference
Not ideal for: Players who want the richest possible acoustic tone; the compact body limits acoustic volume and warmth
Specs:
- Acoustic-Electric / 3/4-Scale Thinline Body / 22.8” Scale
- Spruce Top / System 68 Preamp w/ Built-In Tuner / Single Cutaway
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Fender CD-60SCE — $349
A solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and Fishman Presys electronics — the CD-60SCE is the complete-package acoustic-electric at a beginner-friendly price. The Fishman Presys system includes a built-in tuner, 3-band EQ, and a natural-sounding pickup that doesn’t produce the harsh piezo quality of budget electronics. The easy-play neck profile makes it beginner-friendly. The solid top means it sounds better than the price suggests and will improve with age.
Best for: Most acoustic beginners who plan to perform, the best acoustic-electric value under $400, folk and pop strummers
Not ideal for: Fingerpickers who want a concert body; players who don’t need electronics (the non-electric CD-60S is $120 cheaper)
Specs:
- Dreadnought w/ Cutaway / Solid Spruce Top / Mahogany Back & Sides
- Fishman Presys+ Electronics w/ Tuner / Easy-Play Neck
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Ibanez AEG50 Grand Concert — $349
Designed specifically for players crossing over from electric guitar, the AEG50’s slim-taper body sits more like an electric than a standard acoustic — thinner, more compact, and less physically demanding. The solid spruce top, sapele back and sides, and AEQ-TTS preamp with onboard tuner produce genuine acoustic tone and reliable amplification. For electric players adding an acoustic-electric, the AEG50’s ergonomics eliminate the adjustment period that full dreadnoughts impose.
Best for: Electric guitar players who want to add an acoustic-electric, players who find standard acoustic bodies awkward
Not ideal for: Acoustic players who want maximum acoustic volume and projection; players who don’t have ergonomic concerns
Specs:
- Grand Concert Body / Slim Profile / Solid Spruce Top / Sapele Back & Sides
- AEQ-TTS Preamp / Onboard Tuner / Single Venetian Cutaway
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Yamaha FSX800C — $419
A concert body acoustic-electric that’s particularly suited to fingerpicking and folk playing. The FSX800C’s smaller frame produces balanced, focused tone rather than the bass-heavy dreadnought projection — individual string voices ring more clearly, which suits fingerstyle and delicate playing. The System 65 electronics include a built-in tuner and produce a natural amplified tone. For beginners who specifically fingerpick and need electronics, the FSX800C is the right body shape.
Best for: Fingerpicking acoustic-electric beginners, folk and singer-songwriter players who perform
Not ideal for: Aggressive strummers who want maximum acoustic projection; budget-constrained players
Specs:
- Concert Body w/ Cutaway / Solid Spruce Top / Nato Back & Sides
- System 65 Preamp w/ Built-In Tuner / Scalloped Bracing
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Taylor 114ce — $799
The most recommended acoustic-electric for serious beginners and intermediate players — the guitar that appears on most guitar teachers’ “you’re ready to step up” lists. A solid Sitka spruce top, layered walnut, Taylor ES2 electronics with natural-sounding pickup character, and the Grand Auditorium body that handles both strumming and fingerpicking. The 114ce is the guitar that covers home playing, recording, and live performance from a single instrument, at a price that makes sense for players who are committed.
Best for: Serious performing beginners, intermediate players making a meaningful investment, the best acoustic-electric under $1,000
Not ideal for: Budget-constrained players; the Fender CD-60SCE or Yamaha FSX800C serve those who can’t reach $799
Specs:
- Grand Auditorium / Solid Sitka Spruce Top / Layered Sapele
- Taylor ES2 Electronics / Ebony Fretboard / Venetian Cutaway
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Which One Should You Buy?
| Situation | Buy this |
|---|---|
| Budget AE, compact body | Yamaha APXT2 ($229) |
| Best acoustic-electric under $400 | Fender CD-60SCE ($349) |
| Electric player adding acoustic | Ibanez AEG50 ($349) |
| Fingerpicking, smaller body | Yamaha FSX800C ($419) |
| Serious performing beginner | Taylor 114ce ($799) |
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