Best Acoustic Electric Guitar Brands (2024 Update)

I use the guitar mainly for practice. Currently I do not have a band or know any people personally to have jam sessions with but I truly cannot wait to play in a group or a band. The guitar overall sounds amazing with pretty bright tones. This guitar is great for fingerpicking style rather than strumming but it still sounds great for strumming. The pickups are fantastic on this guitar and have a great sounds connected to an amp as well. I simply love this guitar and would highly recommend for any chords that may require "thumb-overs" the neck feels nice and is really easy to wrap your hand around. I do not have anything bad to say about this guitar!Aaron, Chaser of Christ the Lord

There’s a lot of products, items, tangible man made things in this world, and most things I would give a 4 star rating TOPS! But this guitar? This damn Taylor 214ce guitar? Bro, it’s a no brainer. 5 stars all day through and through with no hesitation. Let me just say, if you are even remotely considering buying this guitar, I will tell you as a proud owner, just buy it and rip the band-aid. I promise you it will be 100% worth it and you will thank me later. I’ve actually owned a Taylor 214ce 5 years ago and I had to sell it due to unforeseen circumstances in my life at the time and I will tell you I’ve been kicking myself in the ass up until 3 days ago when I finally got the money to get my hands on one again. So basically, I’ve bought this guitar 2 times because I love this guitar and cherish it like none other. Matter of fact, I’ll take an ass beating by saying I like this guitar much more than all the other Taylor models period. I owned a Taylor 814ce which is a $3,500 guitar and it was a colossal disappointment compared to this Taylor 214ce. Yes, for me, the cheaper $1,000 guitar is better than their higher end models. In conclusion, but the damn guitar.Vic

This is my first Taylor guitar and what a guitar it is. The set up was to the tee right out of the box. A quick tune up and it was ready to play. The action is totally amazing and so easy to play whether regular or bar chords. As far as lead runs it is amazing and the tone and projection are out of this world especially for a guitar in this price range. I have a Martin, Guild, Fender,Luna,Briarwood acoustic electric guitars and this is my new favorite. Acoustic guitars all have their own special voice, some low and some high but the Taylor's is just about in the middle which is perfect for most of the music that I play. My brothers I jam with all want to take turns playing this guitar and have decided to invest in their own. Whether this is your first guitar or an addition to your collection, you can't go wrong . I would reccomend this guitar to anyone who loves to play a beautiful sounding instrument.Steven Card

First of all, this is a gorgeous guitar. It looks just great. It has a big, rich sound even moreso than other larger bodied guitars I've seen. The tuner works great. I love playing it. A few minor issues. First, I find the action high, & the bridge is not adjustable. 2nd, the complaints others have offered about the fret edges being VERY rough are entirely true: you can practically leave your hand bloody, I'm sure, if you play long enough, just from being roughed up by the fret edges. I'll try filing them down & refinishing them, as some have suggested. Finally, you'll want to get rid of the strings & go with a lighter gauge, partly to alleviate the high action issue. I'd get this guitar again. I think it is a $500 – $600 guitar lurking for only a little more than half that price. But before recommending it to a friend, I'd point out these couple issues.DET

Poor quality control! Neck is a mess with all of the fret ends protruding and sharp. One fret is noticeably higher causing all kinds of issues. Inside edge of the sound hole is poorly finished and some of the ribs look rough, like they weren't sanded smooth. This one's going back!Bill

For what it is – a very cheap, small, travel guitar, this is great. You'll need a strap as it doesn't sit high enough on your leg to be comfortable to play. Also – the action was high, but a bit of adjusting with a belt sander on the saddle and that came down well. The scale length is short, but plays OK – takes a bit of getting used to from my full-sized acoustics. Putting a capo on it and making chords further up the neck is tight, but OK. Sound is very good for a travel guitar of this size. This would be a great kids guitar or even for an adult beginner. I did put 11s on it – sounds a bit weaker, but is fine, and that's what I use on my other acoustics. I had a washburn rover before – this is better, though not as small, but worth the extra size, I think. I have a GS Mini, which is much better, but a good bit larger, and much more expensive. Tuner works good, haven't tried plugging it in yet. Bought this for the boat – seems pretty sturdy.Alexander

I bought this guitar because I have chronic pain and am a small lady and found that even smaller acoustic guitars are too big and bulky and unplayable. I like to play high up on the neck so wanted a cutaway and occasionally perform so having an electro-acoustic version means it ticks all the boxes. When play acoustically it does sound really tinny, there's not getting away from that. It also tends to be unbalanced toward the neck end, so I need a strap to keep it in place. But it is much more playable for practice and I am almost managing to play bar chords again. Not chance on a normal size guitar. It has a full fret board just smaller but not too small.Michelle S.

I ordered this for my pastors wife who wanted to learn a new instrument. She is tiny ( less that 5 ' tall) and a full size guitar would not fit her body type. I was shocked when the guitar came in. The photos on line do not do the finish justice. I was even more shocked when I played it. Most student guitars in this price point have horrible action. The set up on this from the factory was great. It was very easy to play and the sound was extremely good for a thin body acoustic . Then we plugged it in. I could not believe the sound quality of the electronics in this guitar. On Sunday, I pulled out after church and let the music team take turns with it. Everyone that played it raved about every aspect of this little guitar. The instrument also came with a quality gig bag. The material was thick, padding was good, the zippers and hardware appeared to by sturdy. Even more importantly, she loved the guitar. I highly recommend that you consider this one for your beginner or intermediate guitar student. Both Children and small adults should be pleased with this one.Greg H.

Great sounding and playing guitar, I replaced the synthetic saddle for bone, original was to tapered on the high E new saddle took care of that. Buy the epiphone or roadrunner jumbo case, nothing else fits, make sure if the guitar comes straight from the factory you use a humidifier in your case for at least 6 months. Especially in colorado. Then if you leave it out without a humidifier that you dont have forcrd Heat or air conditioning vents close to the guitar. This guitar has great projection.Kenny

After purchasing this guitar from American Musical Supply, I was really nervous awaiting its arrival because this was actually my first time purchasing an instrument online. I’m used to going inside music shops and trying out different gear and playing guitars before I buy them so I know that what I’m taking home with me already feels comfortable and right in my hands. This guitar in particular, however, is not a style that is normally kept stocked in the stores for customers to test drive before they purchase. Similar models are available in stores near me but I think anyone who has ever wanted this particular model from Epiphone knows that they have heard and felt the beautiful sound that projects from this big guitar and I am here to tell you that my “leap of faith” online purchase was nothing more than a huge win in my book! This guitar looks, sounds and plays just as I expected it would with much more to offer once it’s actually in your hands! I’m personally a country/blues guy so this guitar definitely fits right up that alley in my opinion. It feels so solid in your hands and the tone is just plain awesome! The Jumbo body allows the sounds inside the guitar to reverberate through your body as it’s pressed against you before making its way through the sound hole where it flourishes into that awesome deep, thick sound. From the factory the guitar is set up beautifully and very playable right out of the box. Quality parts, quality wood and quality electronics as expected from Epiphone and very well executed in this model. Definitely worth every penny for the undecided guitarist but hey, don’t take just my word for it! Pick up this awesome guitar from Epiphone through these good folks here at American Musical and set yourself up with one of their payment plans if that interests you! It’s an awesome way to be able to get the gear you need and the gear you’ve been wanting without breaking the bank right on the spot! Excellent Job by Epiphone once again and an excellent job by American Musical for supplying it at an awesome price and providing sweet payment options for your customers and future consumers!Billy

I once owned a Gibson J15, that I bought from Guitar Center, and I loved it, but I always wanted a J200, I just could never afford one. Well, I ended up having to sell my J15 to pay rent one month, and I ended up having some extra money from it, and thought why not give the Epi a try? It's closer to the Guitar I always wanted anyways. I was blown away. It has all the high end stylings of a Gibson J200, maybe even more if you consider the built in tuner and cutaway features for about 3000$ less. Well, unfortunately I only owned it for about a week before my car broke down and I had to return my Epi to pay for the repairs. I've regretted it ever since. I would have rather donated blood 50 times than have returned that guitar. (Fortunately I just got my tax return and repurchased it, and it seems like it sounds even better than before). As I was saying, it stacks up against s Gibson guitar nicely, the shadow preamp isn't as nice as any LR Baggs system but it will certainly give you lots of usable sounds. I think this is the best guitar in the 500$ price range and I'm disappointed in Guitar Center for not carrying it in store. I'm a firm believer in the fact that having a guitar you like, you like the looks of, you like the feel of, will make you a better guitarist, and that's what this beautiful, fat boy jumbo acoustic has done for me. I actually like mine so much I decided to put some money into it for upgrades, and I haven't been disappointed. I stuck some Grover Keystone tuners on it in gold of course ( had them on my Epi Les Paul before and thought would look cool so I just swapped them), some Martin ebony bridge pins, and some D'Addario EXPs and this thing sounds unreal now. So, if you're reading this because you're unsure as to whether you should buy this guitar or not, yes, you should absolutely buy this guitar and never look back.Anonymous

Bought without trying it out because I had seen a photo and decided I would like to try it but was out of stock for many months. Then it became available for $79 off and I jumped. – It came well packaged and in perfect condition. 'Played as well as it looked and it looks even better than the photos show it. The finish is as deep and glossy as any I have seen, and even the fretboard is bound. It seemed a tad bass shy at first but over the last few weeks has bloomed and now sounds beautifully balanced with tight well defined tones throughout the octaves and plenty of shimmer up high. 'Have not plugged in yet but it projects well without amplification and should be just fine for a small stage like a church or coffee house. I highly recommend this guitar to any enthusiast.Steven

I went to the GC in Palm Desert CA with a five-hundred dollar budget for a new acoustic/electric. There were three guitars that I had to play, but I was open to checking out others. I didn't see the Hummingbird in the room so I asked the clerk to check for me … he found one. Before he got back with the Epiphone, I had a chance to play the Guild and a Fender that were on my list, as well as a few that were not. The Fender was winning … until the clerk showed up with the Epiphone. The craftsmanship/fit and finish, the feel of the neck/action, the sound projection/tone … Everything about the guitar was perfect for me! I could not be happier!John

This guitar is really quite awesome! I purchased it at sale price in January which made it a bit more affordable. Construction is top notch and love the satin finish! The action was a bit too high but thanks to the adjustable neck angle it came down to my liking!! Then there is the sound! It does an amazing job duplicating the broad array of acoustic instruments, then 2 electric sounds as well! The only con is that it is quite expensive and maybe not for everyone! The New Mexican player series just recently released is certainly more affordable although not as many sounds because of only a 3 way switch rather than 5 on the American built models! All in all I'm really very pleased with this purchase and the assistance I received from Sam Ash associates at the store! This is my 4th purchase from them! Five star service, much more friendly than some rival stores I have done business with! I highly recommend this product and Sam Ash! Will continue to do business with them!!Guru

I purchased my Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster in Black in June 2019. I absolutely love that the guitar is lightweight and easy to play. The 5-way blade switch and Mode & Volume knobs are well placed and easy to work. At live gigs, the guitar sounds great through an acoustic amp or through a mixer. I would have preferred to have a glossy black finish over the entire body instead of the matte finish on the top cap and natural finish on the sides and back. My issues with the guitar start with having to replace the on-board battery after only 8 months. Fortunately the battery replacement was fully covered by the warranty. Also, the fret edges are not at all smooth; and the 1st string, or high E, easily pops out of the nut with any vigorous picking or strumming. Even with those issues, Love this guitar and I would recommend it highly! I have received many compliments from fellow musicians and audience members on the looks and sound of the guitar.Tom

Pluses: its lightweight and seems well made. Cons: Didnt like the neck shape but thats just me. Acoustic sounds are decent but of course not as good as even my $300 Epiphone. The electric sounds are cheesy; might work running both acoustic and electric guitar amps…. Seems for someone who already owns everything. Better yet, get a mag soundhole pickup with dual cable. Or just run your acoustic into a small multifx pedal (eg.Zoom) for when you want to get "electric-y" (patch= pre eq–>overdrive—>compression–>post eq). Done.Go_Pats

This guitar is an absolute masterpiece! It plays smooth and has great low and high ranges. My guitar did have an unknown damage upon arrival. I called customer service and spoke with Henry. He worked me through the process of replacement and gave me the option of discounting the guitar. In the end it was a very easy solution and very easy communication from Henry. 10 out of 10 customer service!Eric

I walked into GC yesterday not knowing I'd walk out with this gorgeous 314ce. I had a 114ce that has served me well and I've had no complaints about. I've been playing for about 20 years and wanted an upgrade. I love the grand auditorium body style as I enjoy playing finger style, but don't want to give up the ability to strum chords and have them sound flat or stale. This style compliments both play styles well. I tried several brands before from Martin to Gibson to Fender and I've found that Taylor tends to build all of their models with the same level of craftsmanship. What I mean is it is easier to feel/hear a difference between cheaper and more expensive models from other brands; Taylor makes excellent quality instruments at every experience/price level. The feel on the neck is smooth and encourages flawless transitions. The spruce top produces bright tones from the narrow body without sacrificing deep, rich low tones. In my opinion, the 314ce stands on par with any other brand's guitar at a similar price point. I would even pick this one over a Martin that's $1000 more. That's how confident I am in Taylor and their craftsmanship.GuitarGuy911

This review will attempt to provide a balanced view of the guitar itself as I have owned this for over a year. Pro: Taylor brightness. Playing open chords gives an exhilarating zing you can feel and hear. The cutaway gives great access to high leads. The Expression pickup system is fabulous and certainly better than any piezo pickup with the "quack". Great on the G B e strings for leads and chords, sparkling, and bright classic Taylor. It is a beautiful piece with the inlays. Con: There are dead zones on the guitar, eg, the E A at high frets. Not normally a problem but now that I am learning the whole fretboard playing other chords up there is dead, and not just a little. I thought it was strings so tried many – it is the guitar. Playing with a capo, chords also a bit more muted not in contact with the nut which helps the sound resonance. Obviously the low end on this one is poor. I also learned it is poor for fingerpicking which I also started recently. My old Yamaha FG-335 has much better tone and overtones. I have had mixed feelings over time which is why I waited to review. The answer to this is I bought a Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe using perks / gifts to bring down the cost to me. Different price range, but everything I wanted. Am I disappointed? Yes to some extent but then again any bright leads can be done on the 314ce. It has been a learning experience. Play the guitar you are going to buy. Play it at every string and fret. Maybe it is the wood (sapele). The whole guitar feels "tight" and constrained. Maybe with time it will relax. Many people love Taylor and I can see why, those who love bright, this is for them. I now need clear, balanced, and playable across the fretboard.Chris G

So far, I really love the sound, construction and appointments. I asked my guitar tech to check it out before I picked it up at the store and he played it for 20 minutes. Andy Powers really did a nice job redesigning the 614ce into the V-Class. So far, I've found no flaws, and the factory setup is perfect. The action matches that of any of my electrics and is extremely playable above the 12th fret without any tuning issues. The appointments are as nice or better than that of my 2006 Taylor NC62ce, which is also maple and spruce.Chris

This is a beautiful instrument. The flamed maple back and sides with the brown sugar stain look incredible, the ebony backstrap is a nice touch as well. I'd prefer abalone to ivoroid for the fretboard markers, but other than that I have no visual complaints. The rock maple neck might be the best I have ever played. The re-voicing work Taylor has done has really brought some additional warmth to the Maple tone, however it still sounds bright next to a rosewood guitar, and I find it can sound a little 'thin' in certain applications. The clarity and note-to-note separation are the best I have ever heard though. Excellent sound when plugged in. Overall a great, and highly unique, instrument.Ryan

I have been playing guitar for 60 years. I have an extensive collection of vintage guitars including several Martin, Gibson, etc acoustic and electric guitars. The Taylor Koa K28e is the best guitar that I have ever played. The beauty, action, and sweet tone of this guitar is above my expectations. This is a pricey guitar, but once you strum the strings and hear the melodic sound, you will hear why this guitar is expensive. It is made using the best and finest materials and workmanship. I believe the Taylor K28e has a richer sound than my Martin D-28. It is certainly prettier than the Martin; or any other guitar that I own, Gibson, Rickenbacker, etc.Donal

I loved the sound, sustain and warmth of this guitar off the shelf. Sounds great acoustically or direct through a board or through my Marshall amp. This is my go to acoustic over my Martin. I had some trouble finding the right strings when it came time to replace the ones that came on it from the factory. I recommend D'Addario EJ40 Silk & Steel Folk Guitar Strings 11-47. They keep the warmth of the original sound and have a great feel. I tried others like Martin Phosphor Bronze and they were too brassy/tinny on this guitar.k8thnote

Really nice guitar, aside from the price. Considering price, this is a great value. This small body Guitar fits Even my tall daughter and tall son, and I notice that friends who come over choose this guitar over others to just sit down and play with or without amp. Sounds really nice along with the piano also. Lowered action (string clearance to frets) using enclosed Allen wrench (1/8 turn) to suit my daughter but my son did not mind as delivered action.littlehorseranch

I took this off of a local guitar store wall display, fell in love and purchased on the spot. Now, I do own more expensive guitars, but that doesn't mean lower cost guitars are lower quality. This Is a Well Built Guitar. The tone is rich. Tuning with the built in tuner is pretty darn accurate, Great playability and beautiful Finish. The D'addario EXP strings are a perfect match. There is a buzzing of the third string around the 2nd fret and 4th string open. I have had the action tonal balance adjusted and has gotten better, but not completely eliminated which has caused me to approach playing this guitar a little differently. My first guitar was a Yamaha and I have come back to them after playing approx. 40 years now. I would highly recommend this guitar.billr920

This guitar seems to be well built and has a nice deep sound. I’ve only had it for about 30 days, but I play it frequently for hours each time. I am excited everyday to play it during my breaks or when I am at home. The tuner is convenient, the controls are clear and the glossy finish is attractive. I took the guitar to GC for a truss rod adjustment which lowered the action. Frets and fingerboard are all up to par. Not much else to say. This is a good mid-level beginner’s guitar. Guitar is the third instrument that I am learning, after piano and drums. I look forward to playing this guitar during my breaks, at work, and when I come home. Most cordoba acoustic electric models are smaller than the standard 2 inch nut width. I teach music at a school who has the non-electric version, so it took a bit of time getting used to this. Overall, I am pleased with my purchase. I know that I can grow into this guitar, and if necessary I can “upgrade” if I become really good and dedicated. But in the meantime, I am content with enjoying the journey.Brian

I have had this guitar over 5 years. The Suarez high tension strings give it a clean sound. Warm bass string and higher treble strings. The guitar looks great and holds sound longer then some of the guitars I own in this price range. Plan to stick with Cordoba is I ever upgrade. Also enjoy the cutout and pickup. After you change your strings it does take 1-2 days before your strings tighten and settle. This is due to the high tension.Eloy

I purchased this guitar about 3 weeks ago and wanted to wait to give a review until after I'd played it for a while… turns out my first impressions were really accurate — this is an excellent guitar! The C4-CE is well-built, beautiful, and sounds warm and full. The frets are smooth, and overall this guitar seems better-constructed than some more expensive nylon-string models that were available at my local GC. This is my first nylon-string guitar, though I have played acoustics for nearly 20 years. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing the C4-CE, and the sound, quality, and playability are really exceptional for the cost. The solid wood top resonates beautifully and I think the volume is great for nylon strings. I really look forward to owning and playing this guitar for years to come! (Plus, it's beautiful!)Ann V.

Having relatively recently started learning guitar on an electric stratocaster-style guitar this was a great transition to the acoustic segment. The thinner body makes it much more comfortable to play than say a dreadnought and the neck is comfortable to transition too, yet the guitar doesn't seem to sacrifice as much sound as you'd expect from a thinner guitar. The finish of the guitar is that of a more expensive guitar for example the rosewood finger board. On arrival I actually thought the guitar looked better than the pictures on the website suggest but do note that because of the finish it is prone to showing finger marks which would need cleaning time to time. I would highly recommend this guitar.Richard P.

After suffering a permanent back injury I could no longer play my elictric guitar as it was too heavy or my acoustic electric guitar because it felt like it was twice it's normal size because I could no longer find a comfortable position for myself to play it. I bought a keyboard thinking that I could still play music. Afterv two weeks of playing around with the keyboard I gave up pllaying. Then I saw on the internet one night an advertisement for a 3/4 size Yamaha acoustic electric guitar guitar with a slimline bosy which looked like a nice guitar so I checked out males and females playing it and sounded very nice so I bought one. Man am I'm so glad I did. I got the sunburst like this one on sale. I was excited as l took it out of the box and went straight to my mancave and started playing it. It was perfecty in tune and for a guitar of this size it's got such a beautiful tone playing ACOUSTIC. So I plugged it in and it's as good as it sounded on YouTube. As an 67 yesr old man who started playing guitar when I was 16 years old, this is a beauty. I recommend this guitar to beginners, anyone with small hands and even people who want a good guitar to take with them without taking up much space in your car. Yep, it's a beaty.Deano

. Now let me set the scene… I am a guitar lover (I can even play a little too) and a quality professional so My expectations are somewhat higher than most looking at this product. An absolutely beautiful instrument, this is my second SA360 and although they are no longer. Made in Japan, be assured they have not lost any of the build quality or attention to detail. The guitar was really well set up, is great to play, feels good in the hand and sounds the bee’s knee’s. If you are looking to start out in guitar playing get yourself an Ibanez Gio to start as a first upgrade from that, then the SA series is where you want to be at.Timbo

. Now let me set the scene… I am a guitar lover (I can even play a little too) and a quality professional so My expectations are somewhat higher than most looking at this product. An absolutely beautiful instrument, this is my second SA360 and although they are no longer. Made in Japan, be assured they have not lost any of the build quality or attention to detail. The guitar was really well set up, is great to play, feels good in the hand and sounds the bee’s knee’s. If you are looking to start out in guitar playing get yourself an Ibanez Gio to start as a first upgrade from that, then the SA series is where you want to be at.Timbo

I had a cheap 12 string guitar for about almost two years. I had been playing corridos during this time. However, I had played guitar for several years. Mainly rock and other stuff. Well, after I got it, I could play all the solos I couldn't really play clean. I guess the other guitar really was bad, or this one is great. Funny thing, I had a really good player tell me to not buy this model but the more expensive one. Well, I'm glad I decided to go with this one. This guitar sounds great and it's extremely easy to play. The guitar stays in tune fairly well for a 12 string guitar. The action is low. I haven't tried it the electronics aside from the tuner which works fairly well compared to my snark. I do have a Taylor and Martin guitar, and the tone on this guitar is pretty clean.Juan

This Guitar plays like a dream, sounds great no matter if it is plugged in or not, stays in tune and looks great. This is a great price for a guitar of this quality, but thanks to another dealers daily deal and Guitar Center's price matching, it was even better. I was able to get this out of layaway for $240 less. I am very happy with this guitar. I have not played in a band for a while, but getting back into practice and plan to start back with some solo acoustic gigs. Having this awesome new guitar is surely an inspiration to help me want to practice more.Kip

I use the guitar mainly for practice. Currently I do not have a band or know any people personally to have jam sessions with but I truly cannot wait to play in a group or a band. The guitar overall sounds amazing with pretty bright tones. This guitar is great for fingerpicking style rather than strumming but it still sounds great for strumming. The pickups are fantastic on this guitar and have a great sounds connected to an amp as well. I simply love this guitar and would highly recommend for any chords that may require "thumb-overs" the neck feels nice and is really easy to wrap your hand around. I do not have anything bad to say about this guitar!Aaron, Chaser of Christ the Lord

There’s a lot of products, items, tangible man made things in this world, and most things I would give a 4 star rating TOPS! But this guitar? This damn Taylor 214ce guitar? Bro, it’s a no brainer. 5 stars all day through and through with no hesitation. Let me just say, if you are even remotely considering buying this guitar, I will tell you as a proud owner, just buy it and rip the band-aid. I promise you it will be 100% worth it and you will thank me later. I’ve actually owned a Taylor 214ce 5 years ago and I had to sell it due to unforeseen circumstances in my life at the time and I will tell you I’ve been kicking myself in the ass up until 3 days ago when I finally got the money to get my hands on one again. So basically, I’ve bought this guitar 2 times because I love this guitar and cherish it like none other. Matter of fact, I’ll take an ass beating by saying I like this guitar much more than all the other Taylor models period. I owned a Taylor 814ce which is a $3,500 guitar and it was a colossal disappointment compared to this Taylor 214ce. Yes, for me, the cheaper $1,000 guitar is better than their higher end models. In conclusion, but the damn guitar.Vic

This is my first Taylor guitar and what a guitar it is. The set up was to the tee right out of the box. A quick tune up and it was ready to play. The action is totally amazing and so easy to play whether regular or bar chords. As far as lead runs it is amazing and the tone and projection are out of this world especially for a guitar in this price range. I have a Martin, Guild, Fender,Luna,Briarwood acoustic electric guitars and this is my new favorite. Acoustic guitars all have their own special voice, some low and some high but the Taylor's is just about in the middle which is perfect for most of the music that I play. My brothers I jam with all want to take turns playing this guitar and have decided to invest in their own. Whether this is your first guitar or an addition to your collection, you can't go wrong . I would reccomend this guitar to anyone who loves to play a beautiful sounding instrument.Steven Card

Overall: Normally I don't write reviews unless I stumble upon something exceptional, and this guitar is no doubt something else. I've been doing research over the past year to find my dream acoustic guitar, something that I'll cherish for a lifetime. I'll start off by sharing that I'm not an Ibanez guy per se, although I am a big fan of their craftsmanship for their electric guitars, I've mostly played HSS Stratocaster's before settling down to my Studio Les Paul. Up until now the only acoustics I've had were beater guitars, with the exception of a Luna Acoustic which was a gift I could never quite take to because of the small neck profile and scale. A few months ago I was lucky to run into an Ibanez AW54 Artwood (non electric, no cutaway) at a local guitar shop and was blown away by the sound and tone, it had the same richness and warmth as a mahogany Martin and Taylor (both cost over a grand) but with way better action and feel. At that moment I was sold. I needed to get the AW54CE.This morning I was pumped to find the guitar arrived after 2 days, free shipping. Even though the temp outside was 40 degrees (big concern), the guitar was well-packaged and insulated. Taking it out of the box I felt like a kid on Christmas. The pictures you'll find floating around the internet don't do this thing justice. Not one flaw or blemish anywhere to be found. And the one thing that shocked me the most, the neck and bridge needed absolutely zero adjustment. The action was flawless! There was already a battery inside, so after an hour of letting it acclimate, I just tuned it up and was absolutely floored by the tone. Holy crap. I still can't believe I can rip on this thing like my Les Paul, with no action set up whatsoever! I'm now sold on Ibanez products. The craftsmanship between the setup, the bridge, the special pins, tuning heads, attention to detail with the neck, I could go on forever. But I'll leave you with this. If you're in the market to drop a couple hundred on an acoustic, and you want QUALITY that will hopefully last you a lifetime, look no further. This is the guitar you've been dreaming of.Christopher

Having played bass for 28 years I never thought I'd actually enjoy playing an acoustic guitar. I grabbed this as a barley used guitar for my daughters to learn on. Even if they don't follow through and get tired of it, I'll keep it for myself. The wood and finish are what caught my eye, as the mahogany and ovangkol match my 1206E nicely. But I was blown away when I realized how good it sounded both unplugged and amplified. Aside from a minor cosmetic issue (glue in center of book matched top seam) it was WELL worth the price they were giving away this used acoustic. It still had the pickguard wrap on it! I can't wait to reveal it to the girls for Christmas. A beautiful sounding piece of eye candy. As long as I don't ever need the two-year protection plan, I think this might be the second best guitar investment I've ever made.Matthew

Great setup, amazing sound. Very satisfying and inspiring to play. It is worst campfire guitar ever… it is way better than you expect at this price. Looking for your first guitar? Buy this one. You will own it forever. There are better looking guitars at this price, but you will not beat the sound of the artwood.Delusional

I hate to be negative but….Here we go. I love the electronics (SST Technology) on some of the Ibanez brand Acoustic Guitars because it eliminates the need for an EQ and delivers a fuller, fatter sound than most acoustic guitars. That being said, I have to be able to play it first and foremost. Upon receiving the well packed and shipped guitar, I took it out of the box and fretted a Gadd9 and noticed a disastrous buzz on the high E at the 3rd Fret. Figured it just needs a set up and took it to my guitar guy who told me after adjusting the truss rod with no fix that the fret would probably have to be filed. This is a brand new guitar, the frets shouldn't need to be filed out of the box. American Musical was very helpful w/ trying to expedite me one last minute for Monday on a Friday afternoon (since I have to play on Monday) but we'll see what happens. This is the 2nd Ibanez Guitar in 3 months that I went through this with. I'm slowly getting turned off.JR Huffsmith

I got this as my first real guitar. It's an amazing guitar, the sound is really nice, more of a soft tone for finger picking. Plugged in it sounds pretty nice, I like the options with the fishman preamp. The tuner works pretty well. Now for complaints, it came in a brown color, which I didn't mind, the tuner for the G string is suuuuuupppper hard to turn, either it's too tight to turn, or way too loose, when I first got it it had an awful buzz, but when I got it in tune and played it some it sounded fine. Other than that a great guitar!Lord Potato

I am very happy with this purchase! It was sold as a factory second because of a minor flaw with the finish. To actually see the "flaw" you need to angle it just right in the light. It is NOT seen without close inspection. The pictures are not of good quality (they look splotchy). It is nice and easy to play as the strings are close to the neck (as I have seen with other Ibanz guitars). It sounded very good and I got compliments when I played it for a worship service. I had priced this exact model at musiciansfriend and it was $100 more expensive (with free shipping). So this is a very nice sounding, good looking guitar for a good price! Shipping was super fast (I live in Wisconsin where this came from).cheryloke_0

If you are looking for a high quality acoustic/electric guitar that is affordable this is your guitar. Amazingly clean / crisp natural sound with available onboard effects. Quality pickups,very responsive. Not to mention absolutely beautiful. Big thumbs UP!!!!Mike

When I'm sitting at home, my go to guitar is my Martin 000-28. If that guitar is not in my hands then I have my gn75ce in my lap. This guitar was playable and set up well right out of the box. Good enough that it's not worth the money to take to luthier to have it dialed in. I don't use the electronics on this guitar so I can't comment on that. As far as everything else , this is a well-constructed durable mid-range priced guitar. I'm quite pleased that I purchased it. it makes a wonderful addition my collection. It's a beautiful looking axe. I would highly recommend this guitar to anybody just starting to learn how to play or somebody wanting to add to their collection without spending thousands of dollars.Matthew Topp

Second Red Takamine. Had the first one over twenty years. I play simi pro and it never let me down. This one feels just the same, great color, tuners, neck and sound. You can't go wrong if you are playing out in public. Great price from AMC as always.F. Crothers

After allowing the guitar few weeks to adjust and giving it a good set up including new strings and a neck adjustment (tightening the rod), Conditioning the fret board and a good polish, The guitar is easy to play and has great sound for an inexpensive guitar. I like the So Cal green color others may not as it is a vintage vibe. Tuners are price point but even price point tuners these days are decent. A little sticking from the nut, I think I can lightly file that out and add some nut sauce. The fret ends were not too sharp but I conditioned them to a nice smooth finish useing 500 grit sponge. Very little cost to make improvements and the guitar is fun to play. The sustain is probably the biggest suprise and I am satified to practice with this guitar every day. Very pleased for the cost. Good value.Bruce P.

Guitar is ok for the price; however, I was expecting the strings to last longer than 2 days before breaking. Even the extra ones that came with the bundle broke as I was putting them on. I had to buy better ones and had a professional put them on to make sure they were adjusted correctly. Additionally, the small tuner's battery was dead out of the box so I had to get a new one. Again, I guess you get what you get for the price. On a positive note, the guitar looks nice, the small amps is super convenient, and everything arrived fast and together in one box.Luis L.

The guitar did not have the black scratch panel that is shown in the Sunburst guitar. Also, when my son opened the gift guitar, the black bag was covered in a white mold/mildew. It was delivered one week before his birthday and kept in a dry room, and opened for the first time on his birthday. The guitar seems ok, I will know more when someone with some guitar knowledge checks it out for me. It may be going back to the store. The pictures show exactly what the bag looked like minutes after the gift was opened. Looks rough, 2 stars are for the fact that the guitar was not moldy.Kacee

Epiphone really built a solid performer, especially for a workhorse studio guitar. It is also performs very well unplugged or plugged in for those small to medium gigs. Should be a staple for any song writing guitar player. Unbelievable value for a guitar of this quality. This is my third one (gave first two over time as gifts to my son and a good guitar playing friend).koby1947

This is a wonderful guitar, especially at this price point! I got a really good deal from Musician's Friend. I expected a great guitar (I have several Epiphone acoustics and electrics, and am very happy with the quality of the Epiphone brand) and I was not disappointed. Great finish, great sound, especially through an amp. I especially love the on-board pickup/electronics- what a great sound! After changing strings to Earthwood .10s, the string height and action were just great- no adjustments needed. The workmanship was flawless, and the finish was beautiful. I already had a case that I had purchased for a PR4e, but a quality hardshell case is still available for a remarkably cheap price.. All in all, a quality guitar at a great price.huston