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Alvarez AD66CE Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Cutaway Guitar
$629.99Outstanding tonewoods, craftsmanship and pro electronics separate the Alvarez AD66CE acoustic electric guitar from every other guitar anywhere near this price range! Character and personality are really hard to find...12 Payments of $52.50
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Alvarez MDA66CE Acoustic Electric Cutaway Guitar Shadowburst w/Gig Bag
$1,099.00Beautifully voiced, professional guitars made from all-solid, seasoned tone woods. All solid wood really does make a difference, and Alvarez made sure each Masterworks gets the best out their solid wood construc...12 Payments of $91.58
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Alvarez AP66E Parlor Acoustic Electric Guitar
$639.99The Alvarez AP66E Parlor Acoustic Electric Guitar combines a classic parlor-style body and features that yield incredible 1920s vibe with professional electronics for today’s guitarists! True to its roots, the AP6...12 Payments of $53.33
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Alvarez AGE95CESHB Artist Elite Grand Auditorium AE Guitar
$799.99The AGE95CESHB is a beautifully developed Grand Auditorium with quite a rare and inspired pairing of tone woods. Its AA North Western Red Cedar top and Macassar Ebony body gives this guitar a really warm and open vo...12 Payments of $66.67
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Alvarez ABT60CE8 Artist Series 8-String Baritone Acoustic Electric Guitar
$799.99The ABT60CE8 baritone guitar is designed to get the best out of its components, and for them to work together to produce balance, lively projection and great response. These components include a bracing architecture...12 Payments of $66.67
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Alvarez AF66CE Folk Acoustic Electric Cutaway Guitar
$619.99The AF66CE produces a ton of warmth and character in your acoustic tone combined with top-shelf fit and finish at a great price. With standard features normally only found on high-end instruments, the AF66CESHB del...12 Payments of $51.67
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Alvarez Delta Delite E Grand Concert Acoustic Electric with Gigbag
$499.99The Delta DeLite E produces focused, bluesy tones and performs wonderfully when finger-picked. The body size is not much larger than a baritone ukulele, but is has a long scale and full-sized 1 3/4” nut, making this...8 Payments of $62.50
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Alvarez Delta00E Grand Concert Acoustic Electric
$649.99The Delta 00 produces those complex organic tones of a 20s or 30s vintage guitar, but without the price tag. This guitar is true to its vintage roots and authentic all the way to the core. Unlike other modern ...12 Payments of $54.17
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Alvarez MDR70E Masterworks 12-Fret Round Shoulder Dreadnought A/E Guitar with Gig Bag
$1,299.00A 12th fret Dreadnought really works for many players – some say it’s because of the position of the bridge being right in the middle of the soundboard, or the closer position of your fretting hand or just the overa...12 Payments of $108.25
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Alvarez WY1 Yairi Stage Folk Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$2,129.00 - $2,499.00Alvarez WY1 Yairi Stage Acoustic Electric Guitar While some guitars are happy just sitting there looking pretty, the Alvarez WY1 Yairi Stage has loftier goals. Born from 50 years of obsessive refinement in the Ya...12 Payments of $191.58
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Acoustic Electric Guitars
With an onboard preamp and/or built-in pickup system, your new Acoustic Electric guitar offers the best of both worlds. The resonant tonewoods and expert craftsmanship of an acoustic guitar are combined with the versatility of an electric guitar. Excellent for onstage use, an acoustic electric makes it easy to add effects, plug in to any amp, and eliminates the hassle of using a mic.
Acoustic Electric Guitars
An acoustic electric guitar gives you everything you love about an acoustic instrument: the resonant tonewoods, the natural projection, the feel of playing unplugged, plus a built-in pickup system that lets you plug straight into an amp or PA the moment the gig calls for it — no mic stands to position, no feedback battles, no compromises. Whether you're playing a coffee shop, a 500-cap venue, or tracking in the studio, acoustic electric guitars can handle it all without missing a note.
At AMS, we carry acoustic electric guitars from Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Epiphone, Fender, Takamine, Ibanez, Yamaha, Gretsch, Breedlove, and more, with options spanning every body shape, tonewood, and price point.
The right acoustic electric doesn't just amplify your sound; it translates it faithfully. With quality onboard electronics and thoughtful construction, today's acoustic electrics sound as good through a PA as they do in your living room.
What Makes an Acoustic Electric Guitar Different?
The electric version of a standard acoustic guitar features the addition of an integrated electronics system. Here's what that typically includes:
- Pickup system: Most commonly a piezo undersaddle pickup, soundhole pickup, or internal microphone that captures the vibration of the top and strings.
- Onboard preamp: Boosts and shapes the pickup signal before it hits your amp or DI; often includes basic EQ controls.
- EQ controls: Bass, mid, and treble knobs (and sometimes a notch filter for feedback control) mounted on the upper bout for quick adjustments on stage.
- Built-in tuner: Many models include a chromatic tuner in the preamp panel, so you can tune silently between songs without a separate pedal.
- Output jack: Usually a standard 1/4" endpin jack that doubles as the strap button, keeping your cable out of the way.
- Battery compartment: Active preamp systems run on a 9V battery; passive pickup systems require no power.
Types of Acoustic Electric Guitars
The acoustic electric category covers a wide range of body styles and playing applications. Here's a look at the main types you'll find at AMS and what each one is best suited for.
Dreadnought Acoustic Electrics
The dreadnought is the most popular acoustic body shape for a reason. It's loud, full-bodied, and projects well in almost any setting. Brands like Martin, Takamine, and Gibson have built some of the most iconic dreadnought acoustic electrics ever made, and plugged into a PA, they deliver the same powerful low-end and clear high-end presence they're known for unplugged. Great for strummers, singer-songwriters, and country players.
Grand Auditorium and Concert Body Acoustics
Slightly smaller than a dreadnought with a more pronounced waist, grand auditorium and concert body guitars offer a balanced, articulate sound that suits both strumming and fingerpicking. Taylor makes some of the best acoustic electric guitars in this category: versatile, stage-ready, and easy to play across a wide range of styles.
Cutaway Acoustic Electrics
A cutaway body gives you easier access to the upper frets without significantly impacting the guitar's resonance. If you play lead lines or want to get beyond the 12th fret on an acoustic, a cutaway is worth the tradeoff. Many of Taylor’s and Takamine's most popular stage guitars feature a soft Venetian cutaway combined with their proprietary onboard electronics system.
Travel and Mini Acoustic Electrics
Compact acoustic electrics like the Taylor GS Mini-e pack a surprising amount of tone into a smaller frame, making them ideal for travel, practice, and players who prefer a shorter scale length. They're fully equipped with pickups and preamps, so they're just as stage-capable as their full-size counterparts.
Martin Molly Tuttle Acoustic Guitars
This video highlights two new collaborations with bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle, showcasing the Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle and the Martin D-X2E Molly Tuttle acoustic guitars. Both models are inspired by her prized 1943 D-18 and feature custom celestial inlays based on the phases of the moon.
How To Choose the Right Acoustic Electric Guitar
With so many great options at every price point, narrowing it down is easier when you focus on what matters for your playing:
- Body style: Dreadnoughts project loudly and suit strumming; auditorium and concert shapes balance volume with articulation; parlor and mini shapes are more comfortable for smaller players or fingerstyle work.
- Tonewoods: Spruce tops are bright and responsive; mahogany tops are warmer and more mid-focused; koa and other exotic woods offer unique tonal character.
- Electronics quality: The pickup and preamp system matters as much as the guitar itself for live use; look for trusted systems from Fishman and LR Baggs on higher-end models.
- Cutaway vs. non-cutaway: Cutaways open up the upper frets at a slight acoustic volume tradeoff; non-cutaway bodies typically offer more resonance.
- Budget: AMS carries acoustic electrics from entry-level options under $300 all the way through professional-grade instruments from Martin, Taylor, and Gibson.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acoustic Electric Guitars
Do I need an amp to play an acoustic electric guitar?
No, an acoustic electric plays and sounds exactly like a standard acoustic when unplugged. The electronics only come into play when you plug into an amp, PA, or audio interface. That's what makes acoustic electrics so versatile: one guitar covers both quiet practice at home and amplified performance on stage.
What's the difference between active and passive pickup systems?
Active pickup systems include an onboard preamp powered by a 9V battery. They produce a stronger, more consistent output signal and typically include EQ controls for shaping your tone. Passive systems have no battery and output a lower, more raw signal. They're simpler but may require a DI box or dedicated acoustic preamp to sound their best through a PA.
Can I plug an acoustic electric guitar directly into a PA?
Yes, though the results vary by guitar and system. Most acoustic electrics with an active preamp can plug directly into a mixer's DI input and sound good. For the best results, especially with passive pickups or in professional settings, running through a dedicated acoustic preamp or DI box before the board will give you better control over tone and feedback.
Check Out Acoustic Electric Guitars at American Musical Supply
AMS carries acoustic electric guitars from every major brand, at every price point, for every style of player. Each guitar ships fast and free, comes backed by our Gold Lock Extended Warranty at no extra cost, and is available on 0% interest payment plans so you can get the instrument you actually want without stretching your budget all at once.
Have questions about which guitar is right for you? Give our gear experts a call at 800-458-4076. We'll help you find your match.
