The Best Acoustic Electric Guitars For Recording and Gigs 2022

By Monica | Guitar

Jun 15
Best Acoustic Electric Guitar

Best Acoustic Electric Guitars

Commonly, most of us only invest in plain acoustic guitars. Aside from being affordable, acoustic guitars are also great for practice purposes. They can definitely hone your skills in handling and playing the instrument.

But after a while, you'll realize that acoustic-electric guitars are insufficient. A next upgrade should come into your mind soon. And for that, you will seek the best acoustic electric guitar. Yes. It is technically an acoustic guitar, but the electric hardware integrated on the rig will allow you to perform in the crowd. Maybe, if you are already confident in your skills, you can do some recordings, too.

But of course, nothing would come good if you don't have a well-performing acoustic-electric guitar. There are possibly hundreds of acoustic electric guitars in the market today. Choosing the right one for you can become confusing and downright baffling, especially if you are provided with a lot of options.

I made this article to prevent you from experiencing such a dilemma. I always believe that every aspiring guitarist should invest in high-quality acoustic-electric guitars throughout their career. And for that, the following acoustic-electric guitars can satisfy your needs. Check all of them out!

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Best Acoustic Electric Guitars

If you are already familiar with acoustic-electric guitars and guitars in general, you are probably aware of the brand Martin. After all, this brand is one of the prime manufacturers of high-quality stringed instruments today. When it comes to acoustic-electric guitar, Martin has the DRS2 Dreadnought to flaunt.

Just as its name suggests, the Martin DRS2 has a dreadnought construction. It can produce full sounds and the iconic tone that Martin guitars offer. Of course, it is playable and highly functional, thanks to its well-engineered design. But interestingly, the Martin DRS2 is extremely affordable. In fact, it is the most practical solid spruce and sapele guitar that the brands offer.

The Martin DSR2 features a dreadnought body and comes with fourteen frets. The top is made from Sitka spruce while the sides and back are crafted from authentic sapele. This tonewood combination enables the guitar to provide an impressive balance of frequency, projection, and tone. Any skill level can benefit from this acoustic electric guitar.


Pros:

  • Solid construction
  • Excellent selection of tonewood
  • High-quality hardware and electronics
  • Flawless and distinct sounds
  • Varied tonal characteristics

Cons:

  • No noticeable drawbacks

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Another acoustic-electric guitar that you should pay attention with is the Gibson J-200. It is a unit that exhibits great quality and exceptional build. It has been patterned from its iconic predecessor that has been released in 1947. All of the essential qualities that you want from an acoustic guitar is offered in this rig.

The SJ-200 further proves that the Gibson brand is something that cannot be toppled easily. All the original SJ-200 components have been upgraded and integrated on this 2016 model. Both of the sides and back of the guitar is crafted from maple while the top is made from the Sitka spruce. Furthermore, you'll be happy that it comes with mustache-bridge and tuners.

The sound of the Gibson SJ-200 is also impressive. It can create well-balanced frequencies that can accommodate various genres. The tone is very distinct and warm, which will make you remember the true quality of acoustic guitars. Don't worry a thing here. The electronic hardware of this acoustic-electric guitar is all defined with finesse


Pros:

  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Exceptional tonal capability
  • Well-balanced frequencies
  • Great choice for live gigs and recording
  • Durable construction

Cons:

  • No noticeable drawbacks

Let's take a look at this product...


Epiphone has spoiled us with dozens of top-class and wonderfully made guitars. From electric down to authentic acoustics, Epiphone does not lack anything. When it comes to acoustic electric guitar, the Epiphone can offer you the DOVE PRO. It is a fantastic acoustic-electric guitar that you can definitely use on live gigs and performances.

Unlike the first two acoustic-electric guitars that I featured here, the DOVE PRO has a solid spruce top and maple sides and back. This design enables the guitar to provide fluent and well-defined sounds. That's one of the reasons why a lot of professionals and performerschoose this as their main arsenal.

The DOVE PRO also features the Fishman Sonicore pickup system and the Fishman Sonitone soundhole preamp. The components ensure that the guitar can generate flawless and audible sounds while you are playing it. There are no static flows and static interferences that can be heard on this guitar either. That is something that you would love to consider.


Pros:

  • Affordable choice
  • Great selection of tonewood
  • Impressive aesthetics
  • Slim profile for small players
  • Provides clear and warm sounds

Cons:

  • Some manufacturer issues

Let's take a look at this product...


Takamine is not exactly as popular as the first three brands that I have mentioned here. However, it definitely has the opuses that can certainly awe you. In fact, they have something to show off when it comes to acoustic-electric guitar: the Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex. The latter will offer you extraordinary performance and quality for a price that won't rip you off.

The construction of this guitar features a solid spruce top and rosewood sides. Meanwhile, the back is made from maple, which is more than decent. Upon grasping the neck of the Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex, I have immediately realized that it is crafted from mahogany. That compelled me to believe that this guitar should be included in my wishlist.

The electronics of this rig is mainly comprised of the Takamine TK-40D preamp system. The latter can offer you with a three-band EQ, built-in tuners, and a plethora of gain controls for maximum versatility. Some notch filter and an EQ bypass switch were also integrated into the system of the Takamine NEX to amplify its performance.


Pros:

  • Great combination of fine tonewoods
  • Reverberating and alluring sounds
  • Perfect choice for professional players
  • Offers multiple controls
  • Playable and ergonomic construction

Cons:

  • Slightly pricey

Let's take a look at this product...


The Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium is excellent proof that you don't need to spend much just to get a decent acoustic-electric guitar. This one has a fine combination of quality and price, which immediately placed it among the most sought acoustic-electric guitars by many performers today.

I am not saying that the Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium is the best acoustic electric guitar. However, its features and quality cement the idea. From the get-go, the guitar is brimming with a sweet tonal characteristic. It can be warm at times, making it a good choice for blues and country players.

This high-end guitar can offer you with a Sitka spruce top and rosewood sides and backs. The craftsmanship is great, too, since it has a single cutaway. This design will enable you to have access to all of the frets easily.


Pros:

  • Offers a seamless performance
  • The warmth and depth of the sounds are inspiring
  • Ideal for recording and live gigs
  • Provides balance and clarity of frequencies
  • Designed to last long

Cons:

  • No noticeable drawbacks

Let's take a look at this product...

Conclusion

Having the best acoustic electric guitar is already a blessing to many guitar players. This instrument means that they don't have to jump immediately to electric guitars just for them to experience the prowess of electric instruments. For the price and simplicity, this type of guitar should be your prime choice.

Did you learn from this article? If you know other noteworthy acoustic-electric guitars, feel free to share them with us in the comment section below!

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About the Author

Hi everyone! Im Monica and I am an avid lover of guitars and everything in-between. My current profession is not really music-related. It is quite discouraging but I just don't want to drop my zeal--especially not to guitars! I created GuitarTrance.Com so that I can keep up with my hobby. Of course, I want to engage with the community as well! Hope we can all get along!