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Takamine GJ72CE Jumbo 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar
$899.00Featuring a solid spruce top and flame maple back and sides, the GJ72CE-12 produces all the lush, robust sound that players expect from a jumbo 12-string guitar. With its mighty jumbo body style, solid-top construct...12 Payments of $74.92
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Takamine Glenn Frey EF360GF Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$2,399.00Takamine's EF360GF is a direct reproduction of Glen's #1 Takamine - the guitar heard around the world by millions of fans on countless concert tours. The EG360GF is equipped to inspire great performances from singer...12 Payments of $199.92
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Takamine GN93CE Acoustic Electric Guitar
$759.95 - $899.00Featuring Takamine’s sleek and curvaceous NEX-style body, the GN93CE is an acoustic/electric guitar with a solid top and special back construction that give it an upscale feel and distinctive sound. For players...12 Payments of $74.92
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Takamine John Jorgenson 12 String Guitar with Case
$2,499.00In 1985 Dan Fogelberg released the groundbreaking progressive bluegrass album, “High Country Snows” and was touring with his “All-Star Bluegrass Band” featuring David Grisman, Jerry Douglas, Herb Pederson and Chris ...12 Payments of $208.25
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Takamine P3DC Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$1,849.00Takamine’s top-line Pro Series P3DC cutaway dreadnought presents the finest in full-size Takamine acoustic sound, style and performance, with resonant tonewoods, elegant appointments and state-of-the-art electronics...12 Payments of $154.08
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Takamine P3DC12 Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$1,999.00Takamine's top-line Pro Series P3DC-12 presents rich dreadnought 12-string tone with peerless Takamine style and performance. With resonant tonewoods, elegant appointments, smooth playability and state-of-the-art el...12 Payments of $166.58
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Taylor 110ce Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gigbag
$799.00Featuring easy playability, the new super versatile and budget friendly 110ce acoustic electric guitar responds well to strumming, flatpicking, and fingerpicking. The Dreadnought delivers a strong low end and a full...12 Payments of $66.58
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Taylor 117e Grand Pacific Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gigbag
$799.00Featuring easy playability, the new super versatile and powerhouse 117e acoustic electric guitar responds well to strumming, flatpicking, and fingerpicking. The Grand Pacific is the most powerful, robust body shape ...12 Payments of $66.58
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Taylor 150ce Dreadnought 12-string Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gigbag
$899.00Featuring easy playability, the new super versatile and budget friendly 150ce 12 string acoustic electric guitar responds well to strumming and flatpicking. The Dreadnought 12 string delivers a strong low end and a ...12 Payments of $74.92
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Taylor 210ce Plus Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$1,399.00The Taylor 210ce Plus acoustic electric guitar raises the bar in the high value 200 series. With upgraded gloss finish on the body and a super protective Aerocase, this classic Dreadnought acoustic electric boasts l...18 Payments of $77.72
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Taylor 264ce-K DLX 12-String Grand Auditorium AE Guitar with Case
$2,099.00The Taylor 264ce-K Deluxe Koa acoustic electric is a super versatile 12 string guitar in the 200 deluxe series. This classic and attractive Grand Auditorium acoustic electric 12 string guitar boasts layered Hawaiian...18 Payments of $116.61
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Taylor 312ce-N Nylon Grand Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$2,499.00The 312ce-N Nylon Grand Concert guitar has a fascinating way of changing the tone and mood of a song, even if you’re not playing strictly classical or flamenco music. This makes a nylon string guitar an indispensabl...18 Payments of $138.83
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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.
