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Yamaha TAG 3 Dreadnought Transacoustic Guitar
$1,899.99Yamaha TAG3 C TransAcoustic Dreadnought Guitar The Yamaha TAG3 C TransAcoustic Dreadnought Guitar invites you to push creative boundaries without the hassle of external gear. By integrating professional-grade eff...12 Payments of $158.33
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Yamaha FSX5 Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$1,899.99Building on a legacy that began in the 1960s, the Japanese-made FSX5 Red Label acoustic guitar with built-in pickup system is a timeless instrument, tastefully crafted for the modern performer. Voiced to excel with ...12 Payments of $158.33
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Yamaha APX600 Acoustic Electric Guitar
$314.95 - $329.99Combining incredible comfort with easy top-fret access, the Yamaha APX600 thinline cutaway acoustic-electric guitar is ready for all stages in your life. The APX600 boasts a more natural look, a deeper body for bett...8 Payments of $41.25
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Yamaha LSTA TransAcoustic Acoustic Electric Guitar with Hard Bag
$1,149.99Yamaha LSTA TransAcoustic Acoustic-Electric Guitar There's nothing more inspiring than playing guitar in a great-sounding room. The way the notes bloom and resonate makes you play better and longer. The Yamaha LS...12 Payments of $95.83
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Yamaha FGX5 Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$1,899.99Building on a legacy that began in the 1960s, the Japanese-made FGX5 Red Label acoustic guitar with built-in pickup system is a timeless instrument, tastefully crafted for the modern performer. Voiced to excel with ...12 Payments of $158.33
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Yamaha AC5M Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$1,679.99Crafted to be the ideal performance guitar, the AC5M offers a natural tone with clarity plus the warmth of mahogany. The AC5M ARE, concert body cutaway guitar, features all-solid mahogany back and sides with hand-se...12 Payments of $140.00
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Yamaha L Series Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Natural Guitar with Case
$1,249.99The LL16D features intricate abalone inlay work around the body, head and sound hole. The LL16D offers both luxurious looks and excellent tone Yamaha L Series Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Natural Guitar wi...12 Payments of $104.17
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Yamaha AC1R Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar
$779.99Designed to be the ideal performance acoustic guitar, the Yamaha A-Series is crafted from the ground up to be perfectly suited to life on the road. With natural, dynamic plugged-in tone and stage-ready simplicity fr...12 Payments of $65.00
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Yamaha AC1M Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar
$649.99Yamaha crafts the concert body of the AC1M with a solid Sitka Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides. This yields great projection, focused midrange and defined notes which is great fingerstylists and pickers alike!...12 Payments of $54.17
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Yamaha A1M Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar
$649.99The A1M from Yamaha is a traditional western body cutaway guitar, featuring solid sitka spruce top with scalloped bracing and mahogany back and sides for a focused, clear midrange. Yamaha's original SRT piezo pickup...12 Payments of $54.17
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Yamaha A1R Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar
$659.95 - $779.99Designed to be the ideal performance acoustic guitar, the Yamaha A1R is crafted with Rosewood back and sides plus solid Sitka Spruce top. With natural, dynamic plugged-in tone and stage-ready simplicity from the new...12 Payments of $65.00
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Yamaha A3R Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gigbag
$999.95 - $1,179.99The combination of solid Rosewood back and sides with a solid Sitka Spruce top is preferred for its outstanding project, strong bass response and clarity throughout the entire frequency range. The A3R from Yamaha pr...12 Payments of $98.33
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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.
