The best electroacoustic guitars of 2021

Everyone needs an acoustic guitar. There are death metal bands who’ve never been seen with anything remotely acoustic on stage or in the studio that will happily admit to using them as a writing tool – so it really doesn’t matter how much of your life you spend on your guitar amp’s high gain channel. A good acoustic, better still, one fitted with an onboard preamp, can be an incredibly powerful tool for any kind of songwriter or performer. Here, we’re exploring the best acoustic electric guitars for all budgets.

The good news right now is that you’re truly spoiled for choice when it comes down to acoustic electrics. There are the higher-tier instruments, often made by companies like Martin, Guild or Taylor, designed with carefully selected woods to delicately balance their response across the frequency spectrum.

It’s worth remembering that some of the more moderately priced electro-acoustics these days have come incredibly close to those high standards though, at sometimes under a quarter of the cost.

We've included some expert buying advice at the end of this guide, so if you'd like to read more, click the 'buying advice' tab above. If you'd rather take a look at the products, keep scrolling.

Well, when you’ve compiled a list of killer acoustic electric guitars, it’s quite difficult to pick out the best - but we will struggle on through and make the tough decisions, just for you.

Our beginner-friendly choice would be the Lag Tramontane T318ACE. It’s probably the best combination of tonewoods and ergonomic design under $/£500, and the onboard Fishman pickup naturally replicates the acoustic tone impressively well.

If you’ve got a bit more to spend, we can’t recommend the PRS SE A60E enough. The combination of sitka spruce, ziricote, flamed maple and abalone creates a gorgeous guitar that sounds as good as it looks - and, again a Fishman pickup (this time a GT1) is the cherry on top of the cake.

If money is no object, then it’s worth shelling out on the Martin D-28E Reimagined. It’s basically all the best bits of old Martins and all the best bits of new Martins combined, and the D-28 is a truly iconic thing. A Fishman (you guessed it) pickup captures every nuance and murmur of vibration, making sure you get the most natural sound possible through your PA.

Guitar Rating:

1. Lag Tramontane T318ACE

Lag Tramontane T318ACE

Reasons to buy:

Masterfully designed with beautiful tonewoods
Incredible value for money
Fishman preamp

Reasons not to purchase:

Difficult to find

Short description:

Relatively unknown compared to the Martins and Taylors of this world, but with four decades of experience, French manufacturers Lag have been responsible for some brilliantly designed acoustics that offer boutique tones without the boutique price tag. This auditorium cutaway electro-acoustic features a Fishman Ink3 preamp system, with an LCD tuner and EQ/volume controls.

Ovangkol, which is an African relative of rosewood, combines well with the spruce top and tropical khaya neck for a sound that’s wide and deep. Ultimately, you end up with a guitar that looks, feels and sounds more like instruments retailing at double its price.

2. PRS SE A60E

PRS SE A60E

Reasons to buy:

Ziricote is a great rosewood alternative
Inlays are a nice touch
Hard to beat PRS quality at this price

Reasons not to purchase:

It’s not much less than a USA Martin

Short description:

The A60E has a classic sitka spruce top - a fairly standard option for most acoustic electric guitars - which provides a fantastically crisp and precise midrange and high-end, but the ziricote back and sides are where this guitar comes into its own. It’s a relative of rosewood, and its density and tone is Brazil-inclined. Now, it’s worth noting that this is not the Klon Centaur of acoustics, and it won’t make your playing amazing just because it’s a tiny bit like Brazilian rosewood, but the essence of the wood is there - smooth, balanced, rich and warm.

3. Martin D-28E Reimagined

Reasons to buy:

One of the most classic acoustics of all-time
Fitted with one of Fishman’s best pickups

Reasons not to purchase:

Definitely an expensive option

Short description:

For a lot of players, the Martin D-28 is the definitive acoustic guitar. From Page to Clapton, Cash to Cornell or McCartney to Gallagher, it’s the kind of instrument with a legacy that cannot be overstated. This electro variant from the Reimagined series utilises Fishman’s Thinline Gold and VTII system to capture those glorious tones at full capacity.

It features forward-shifted bracing, a wider real bone nut and vintage-style aesthetic changes, as well as a low-profile neck shape for player comfort. These guitars are also sent through a PLEK machine for unparalleled consistency from top to bottom – so, unsurprisingly, what you get at the end is a real work of art.