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A woman playing her acoustic-electric guitar at a local coffee shop. Credit: Martin

The Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars of 2024

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

A woman playing her acoustic-electric guitar at a local coffee shop. Credit: Martin

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Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

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Product image of Fender Malibu Player

Fender Malibu Player

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This guitar is made with a solid spruce top that provides a balanced sound that is just as natural when it’s plugged into an amplifier on stage. Read More

Pros

  • Fender-exclusive body shape
  • Travel-friendly body and scale size
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Some buyers have issues with strings buzzing
Product image of Martin LX1RE Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Martin LX1RE Acoustic-Electric Guitar

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The Little Martin LX1RE acoustic electric guitar is a slightly undersized guitar that makes for a great starter instrument. Read More

Pros

  • Quality, made-by-hand construction
  • Smaller, beginner-friendly size

Cons

  • Some find this model too small
Product image of Taylor GS Mini-e Solid Koa

Taylor GS Mini-e Solid Koa

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This guitar is layered on the back and sides with koa body wood, which provides a beautiful look and bold, soothing sound; even with its smaller size. Read More

Pros

  • Travel-friendly size
  • Protective, padded bag included
  • Made of high-quality, layered koa

Cons

  • Expensive
Product image of Yamaha FGX830C Solid Top Cutaway

Yamaha FGX830C Solid Top Cutaway

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This guitar's solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides gives it a strong, soft sound that is louder and more powerful in the low-to-mid ranges. Read More

Pros

  • Great for the price
  • Beginner friendly
  • Built-in tuner

Cons

  • Not the best quality control in shipping
Product image of Kadence Acoustica Acoustic Electric Guitar

Kadence Acoustica Acoustic Electric Guitar

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This guitar’s gorgeous ash-wood top, finished with rosewood on the sides and back, will have you falling in love before you pick a single note. Read More

Pros

  • Stunning ash-wood top finish
  • Combination electric and acoustic capability
  • Extra affordable

Cons

  • Some reports of shipping damage
  • Fender Malibu Player
  • Martin LX1RE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
  • Taylor GS Mini-e Solid Koa
  • Yamaha FGX830C Solid Top Cutaway
  • Kadence Acoustica Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • How We Chose These Guitars
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Acoustic guitars tend to be bulkier than electric guitars, and can be harder to play in some respects, but they offer a timeless sound you’ll find in many of your favorite songs.

When you think of the differences between guitar types, you may think of how an acoustic guitar produces an organic, soothing sound that’s often favored by singer-songwriters and country artists. Electric guitars, meanwhile, are generally associated with upbeat pop music, twangy blues, distorted amplifiers, or rock and roll. But when you combine these two basic concepts, a beautiful sound is born: an acoustic tone projected through a clear amplifier.

To help you buy an acoustic-electric that’s right for your budget, we researched a wide variety of affordable options available from trusted brands. Whether you’re a brand-new guitarist or have been jamming for years, there’s an option here for everyone. Based on our research, these are some of the best acoustic-electric guitars you can shop online now.

Product image of Fender Malibu Player

Fender Malibu Player

If you want an acoustic-electric guitar that is affordable yet still holds its quality, then take a look at the Fender Malibu Player that many buyers say is decent for its friendly price point. This guitar is made with a solid spruce top that provides a balanced, high-velocity resonance that sounds just as natural when it’s plugged into an amplifier on stage.

This guitar has the retro-looking “C” body shape in its mahogany back and sides that many of the classic Fender electric guitars have, so acoustic players can experience a slimmer fit as they play. What’s better: this guitar’s Strat-shaped, six-in-line headstock makes it easy to tune all the strings on one side. And with its Fisherman preamp and pickup system, its sound and control quality will stay consistent. It also has a built-in tuner.

Pros

  • Fender-exclusive body shape

  • Travel-friendly body and scale size

  • Affordable

Cons

  • Some buyers have issues with strings buzzing

$449.99 from Amazon


$449.99 from Walmart

Product image of Martin LX1RE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Martin LX1RE Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Martin’s handmade guitars are found on stages all over the world, and the name is synonymous with durability and professional sound. The Little Martin LX1RE acoustic-electric guitar is a slightly undersized guitar that’s made with Fishman Sonitone electronics; it’s a great instrument for those on the go. Use it as is or plug it into an amplifier for a full, performance-friendly sound.

This beautiful instrument has a solid Sitka spruce top with a pressed laminate back and sides. This helps it project as much of the sound forward as possible.

Pros

  • Quality, made-by-hand construction

  • Smaller, beginner-friendly size

Cons

  • Some find this model too small

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Taylor GS Mini-e Solid Koa
Taylor GS Mini-e Solid Koa

This acoustic-electric guitar is ideal for on-the-road playing—whether you’re traveling for fun or on a music tour—due to its reduced-scale size. This Taylor guitar is known for being layered on the back and sides with koa body wood, which provides a beautiful look and bold, soothing sound; even with its smaller size.

There are not enough reviews about its live performance to say how great this guitar sounds on stage, but most people seem to be happy with its clear and powerful response nonetheless. This guitar also has an LED display and built-in ES-B pickup that allows you to easily plug in the guitar to tune your strings and play. You can also listen to this live demo to see how much you enjoy the sound yourself.

Pros

  • Travel-friendly size

  • Protective, padded bag included

  • Made of high-quality, layered koa

Cons

  • Expensive

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Yamaha FGX830C Solid Top Cutaway
Yamaha FGX830C Solid Top Cutaway

Many buyers find the quality of this dreadnought, body-sized guitar to be exceptional, especially with how affordable it is for beginners and professional guitar players alike.

Its solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides gives this guitar a strong, yet soft sound that is louder and more powerful in the low-to-mid ranges. It’s structured to maintain durability and provide a natural sound, even when plugged into an amplifier. Based on video reviews, this guitar sounds quite soothing live.

There are several ways to tailor the sound output of this guitar to your preference: diecast tuners allow for accurate tuning, an under-saddle piezo pickup makes it easy to plug this guitar in and perform, an adjustable control lets you to change the frequency, and a three-band EQ makes it easy to move through different range levels.

Pros

  • Great for the price

  • Beginner friendly

  • Built-in tuner

Cons

  • Not the best quality control in shipping

Buy now at Amazon

$479.99 from Walmart
Product image of Kadence Acoustica Acoustic Electric Guitar
Kadence Acoustica Acoustic Electric Guitar

If you’re looking for an acoustic-electric guitar that looks as good as it sounds, then look no further. Kadence has created one of the most beautiful guitars you’ll find anywhere.

This guitar’s gorgeous ash-top construction, finished with rosewood on the sides and back, will have you falling in love before you strum a single chord. It can be plugged into an amplifier or played as is. It features four knobs for volume and tone adjustment and a single internal acoustic pickup.

Pros

  • Stunning ash-wood top finish

  • Combination electric and acoustic capability

  • Extra affordable

Cons

  • Some reports of shipping damage

Buy now at Amazon

How We Chose These Guitars

Our editors have chosen these products based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

Meet the tester

Lily Hartman

Lily Hartman

Staff Writer, Search

Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.

See all of Lily Hartman's reviews

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