An electro-acoustic guitar differs from a simple acoustic guitar by the presence of the preamp (Cherubin G-Tone, Fishman, Boss, Ovation Idea...). Of a naturally powerful sound, the performance of the instrument depends on its material, the luthier's know-how, the string tension, its effects (Chorus, Reverb, Delay, Distortion, Loop...), its shape and other factors. Make your search easier by consulting our top selection!
Here is our commitment, to make sure that we provide the best user experience and content quality:
You can support us by using our links to make your purchases (at no extra cost to you)! This sometimes earns us a commission which allows us to remain independent. More about us
Our selection
"If you're looking for an affordable electro-acoustic guitar that offers a rich, warm sound, the Harley Benton Baritone CLG-414BCE NT is tailor-made for you. It…"
"Folk fans beware: Harley Benton offers this D-120CE BK dreadnought with a cutaway that produces an authentic sound. It also boasts a simple, yet attractive…"
"The Cuntz Guitars CWG-23S Muving Custom electro-acoustic guitar is a testament to the brand's quality craftsmanship. It's a high-end guitar with an elegant look."
"This gorgeous electro-acoustic guitar was crafted with finesse and precision by the legendary Takamine brand for another legend, rocker Bruce Springsteen."
"The Cordoba GK Studio guitar is for the most fickle and demanding musicians. This one has a vintage style that goes well with the world…"
If you're looking for an affordable electro-acoustic guitar that offers a rich, warm sound, the Harley Benton Baritone CLG-414BCE NT is tailor-made for you. It has a very attractive design and offers a professional sound.
201 £ on ThomannWith the Baritone CLG-414BCE NT electro-acoustic guitar model, the German manufacturer has outdone itself once again, given the good quality/price ratio of the instrument. Equipped with a Fishman Sonicore pickup, the adjustment of the volume and the tone of the guitar becomes easier. Moreover, the sound is more dynamic and natural. The guitar is equipped with a Fishman Presys-II preamplifier combined with a built-in tuner, a high-end equipment, which is a good deal considering its very affordable price.
With a high gloss natural effect finish, a mahogany neck and a well-cut bone nut, this musical instrument has a design that is second to none in electro-acoustic guitar models. The sound of the guitar is a wonder for the ears thanks to the solid spruce top, a naturally dried and selected wood.
Folk fans beware: Harley Benton offers this D-120CE BK dreadnought with a cutaway that produces an authentic sound. It also boasts a simple, yet attractive look.
53,11 £ on Thomann
The Cuntz Guitars CWG-23S Muving Custom electro-acoustic guitar is a testament to the brand's quality craftsmanship. It's a high-end guitar with an elegant look.
3 523 £ on ThomannThe Cuntz Guitars CWG-23S Muving Custom electro-acoustic guitar is an exceptional musical instrument made by Thomann. Equipped with a Schatten HFN VT active pickup, the sound of the guitar is very melodious, dynamic but also very smooth, suitable for professional use.
The design is breathtakingly aesthetic: the bridge and saddles of the guitar are made in a vintage style, the fingerboard and buttons are made of ebony and the back and sides are made of solid movingui. In addition, this guitar comes with a Hiscox Pro Cuntz case that offers optimal protection for the instrument. Being handmade, this guitar has a quality finish.
This gorgeous electro-acoustic guitar was crafted with finesse and precision by the legendary Takamine brand for another legend, rocker Bruce Springsteen.
739 £ on ThomannSolid cedar top, rosewood fingerboard, maple back and sides, Takamine has selected the finest woods to build the EF341SC. Make no mistake, this is a signature guitar for rocker Bruce Springsteen. The already fastidious builder has gone above and beyond to create an electro-acoustic guitar that lives up to the legend of the artist.
The result? A breathtaking folk guitar! The Takamine EF341SC is a marvel, both in sound and aesthetics. The guitar, with a cutaway, has a great sound and visual finesse. It is equipped with a pickup, a tuner and a CT4B preamplifier.
The Cordoba GK Studio guitar is for the most fickle and demanding musicians. This one has a vintage style that goes well with the world of show business.
436 £ on ThomannCordoba GK Studio is a light and ergonomic electro-acoustic guitar, very practical and recommended for live performance. The back and sides are made of cypress, the fingerboards are made of rosewood and the tuners are even gold plated, which proves that the aesthetic quality of the guitar is undeniable. The solid spruce top combined with a Fishman pickup system offers a very rich sound, both powerful and smooth, pleasant to listen to.
The Cordoba GK Studio guitar is considered to be a high-end instrument, but it has a good price/quality ratio. The finish, design and sound quality of the guitar can satisfy the most demanding professional musicians. It is a good choice to help you get noticed during a performance or a live show.
Any specific needs?
The best electro-acoustic guitar in 2021
The best entry-level electro-acoustic guitar
The best high-end electro-acoustic guitar
A very interesting electro-acoustic guitar
Your guide :
Rate this buying guide :By rating this buying guide, you are helping us to reward our best writers. Thank you!
| THE BEST | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
7/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Harley Benton Baritone CLG-414BCE NT
|
Harley Benton D-120CE BK
|
Cuntz Guitars CWG-23S Muving Custom
|
Takamine EF341SC
|
Cordoba GK Studio
|
|
If you're looking for an affordable electro-acoustic guitar that offers a rich, warm sound, the Harley Benton Baritone CLG-414BCE NT is tailor-made for you. It has a very attractive design and offers a professional sound.
|
Folk fans beware: Harley Benton offers this D-120CE BK dreadnought with a cutaway that produces an authentic sound. It also boasts a simple, yet attractive look.
|
The Cuntz Guitars CWG-23S Muving Custom electro-acoustic guitar is a testament to the brand's quality craftsmanship. It's a high-end guitar with an elegant look.
|
This gorgeous electro-acoustic guitar was crafted with finesse and precision by the legendary Takamine brand for another legend, rocker Bruce Springsteen.
|
The Cordoba GK Studio guitar is for the most fickle and demanding musicians. This one has a vintage style that goes well with the world of show business.
|
|
|
Tuning fork
|
685.70 mm
|
650 mm
|
650 mm
|
'-
|
650 mm
|
|
Table
|
Selected solid spruce
|
Spruce
|
Solid spruce
|
Solid cedar
|
Solid spruce
|
|
Fingerboard
|
Pau ferro
|
Roseacer
|
-
|
Palissander
|
Palissander
|
|
Preamplifier
|
Fishman Presys-II with built-in tuner
|
-
|
Yes
|
CT4B
|
-
|
|
Saddle width
|
45 mm
|
42.5 mm
|
|
42.5 mm
|
50 mm
|
Help us improve this table:
Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!
We spend thousands of hours each year studying the major specialized websites, analyzing products of hundreds of brands and reading user feedback to advise you on the best products.
We are a product review company with a single mission: to simplify your buying decisions. Our research and testing helps millions of people every year find the best products for their personal needs and budget.
To support us you can: use our links to make your purchases (which often earns us a small commission), share our articles on social networks, or recommend our site on your blog. Thanks in advance for your support!
It is important to take into account the quality of the sound that the guitar emits. Whether it is acoustic, electroacoustic or folk acoustic, the sound of the guitar will determine its quality. It will differentiate it from others that are not of better quality.
The morphology, the size and the weight of a guitar will play an essential role on the visual aspect of it and on its sound. But the most important thing is to choose it according to its material. Solid wood is generally used for high-end products and laminated wood for entry-level and mid-range models.
The type of sound delivered by nylon strings is not the same as that delivered by steel strings. The playing feel between the two is also different. Nylon strings have a softer, more comfortable feel. They allow you to play more classical styles. The steel ones have a stiffer contact allowing to tackle more powerful and versatile scales.
For the electroacoustic guitar, there is a built-in pickup inside the instrument or a non-integrated one, but installed on the soundboard. There are also single or double-coil pickups. But the combination of the two allows to avoid the saturation of the first pickup and to return a very pleasant sound.
Some electroacoustic guitars have a built-in preamp while others do not. The built-in preamp allows you to make adjustments such as gain, treble, etc. The amplifier sends the sound picked up by the pickups, not changing the acoustic sound of the guitar to electric, but only increasing its volume.
With the advent of technology, the field of music has also evolved. Precisely, the electro-acoustic guitar is an improved version of the acoustic guitar. In particular, this cordophone musical instrument underwent improvements around the 1940s, with the integration of elements such as the notch, pickups and selector avoiding the feedback effect. In this way, the electro-acoustic guitar was able to perform at the height of the greatest concerts and shows. Very quickly, many artists, especially jazz artists, adopted it to perform on stage, record in the studio or create different effects, while maintaining the authentic sound quality of the acoustic guitar.
As the name suggests, electro-acoustic guitars combine the qualities of both an acoustic and an electric guitar. This new version of the guitar has as a particularity the implementation of one or more microphones on its rosette or under the saddle ensuring its amplification. To produce its melody, the guitar's pickups capture the sound of the strings' vibrations, then mechanically amplify them to produce an appreciable volume, even when played outdoors. In this way, the electro-acoustic guitar produces a rounder, warmer sound, without the feedback that can sometimes be found with a traditional acoustic guitar combined with a vocal mic.
The design of this guitar model is reminiscent of a purely acoustic guitar. Indeed, the electro-acoustic guitar is set up to have a sound similar to an acoustic guitar, whether by the quality of the wood or strings, the resonance of its body, or the hardness of the varnish with the exception that it has a sound capable of being amplified. This is thanks to various accessories such as the presence of a pre-amp on the upper soundboard to adjust the tone, an equalizer to adjust the sound, the electronic sensor in the bridge or the body, the pickups in the soundbox or on the soundboard, the speaker system, a guitar amp, a jack cable for its power supply...
Easy to play and amplifiable, this model of instrument has everything to appeal to guitar lovers. It is ideal for producing stage shows with impressive versatility. Among the different versions available on the market, this type of guitar remains the most widely used. With its three high strings, usually made of nylon, and its three low strings made of silk, the electro-acoustic classical guitar produces melodious and very clean sounds.
It is the perfect musical instrument to play classical songs or other pieces with various styles. Even better, thanks to a built-in microphone, you can amplify it to optimize your sounds. Apart from that, its design allows a very comfortable grip and offers great practicality to its user. If you are a beginner in guitar, the classical electro-acoustic guitar is perfect to start learning.
Folk electro-acoustic guitars are especially attractive because of their exceptional sound quality. This type of instrument is ideal for those who enjoy the rock or pop music style. Guitars of this type are made of 6 or 12 metal strings that are perfectly resistant and produce a greater volume of sound. They are preferred for more powerful and richer sounds.
With this type of guitar, you don't have to worry about being drowned out by the sounds of other instruments when playing in a band. In addition to that, folk guitars are characterized by a thin and long neck. This makes it easy to reach the notes and perform improvisations perfectly during concerts. In short, this type of electro-acoustic guitar is suitable for all levels, whether you are a professional musician or a beginner.
Practical and elegant, flamenco electro-acoustic guitars are ideal for playing on stage or in the studio. With a perfectly percussive sound, this type of instrument is sure to set the mood for live performances. The particularities of the flamenco guitars are their exceptional design and their great richness in harmony. On the practical side, the instrument comes in a smaller size than the classical guitar. This makes its weight lighter and makes it easier to handle.
Its body is often made of cypress and its spicy top is designed to produce a pure flamenco sound. With its nylon strings, this guitar develops a very clear sound allowing to play various music styles, but especially Spanish music. Moreover, this type of instrument can work with or without an amplifier. Therefore, the electro-acoustic flamenco guitar is perfectly suited for home use as well as for playing on stage.
Best travel companion
If you want to travel and listen to good music, the acoustic guitar is the best instrument for your needs. This one, different from the electroacoustic guitar, works even without electricity. As for the electroacoustic, which is less nomadic, it requires amplification and a good built-in connection to liven up an entire show.
Ergonomic
Whether you are a beginner or an expert in music, there are guitars adapted to your skills. If you're just starting out, for example, on a small budget, you'll want to go with an acoustic. For the more experienced, the electroacoustic is ideal because the sound is rather amplified and there are many possibilities to use various sound effects thanks to the effects box.
Versatile
Acoustic and electroacoustic guitars, because of their versatility, are all-purpose guitars and are suitable for a wide variety of musical styles such as pop, rock, blues, jazz, etc. With a thinner neck, it is easier to learn popular songs with it. Once you have mastered acoustic or electroacoustic guitar, it will be very easy to play with an electric guitar.
Affordable
A good quality acoustic guitar costs about 100 euros. As for the electroacoustic guitar, the price is also very affordable, but you should opt for models with preamplifier and integrated microphones to avoid additional purchases.
Easy to maintain
Available on the market in several models, sizes and brands, you will have a wide choice of guitars according to your personality. Moreover, they will be very easy to maintain. All you need to do is clean the guitar, polish the body if necessary, and grease or change the strings if they are worn out.
In our opinion, the best brands of electro-acoustic guitars in 2022 are :
Harley Benton is a famous guitar brand belonging to the Thomann group. It was born around 1997 and currently occupies a leading position in the manufacture of musical instruments and accessories. The company is specialized in the production of bass, electric, banjo, acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars. As an objective, the company aims to design guitars with the best quality/price ratio.
Cordoba is a recognized brand in the design of nylon string guitars. This company is among the leading manufacturers and distributors of electric, acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars in the world market. To stand out from its competitors, the company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques in its products.
The Takamine brand has built a great reputation in the field of acoustic and electro-acoustic guitar. This Japanese company was founded in 1966 and is today on the world podium of high-end guitar manufacturers. It is also the first manufacturer of electro-acoustic models thanks to the integration of a preamplifier in its instruments.
Cuntz Guitars has been innovating in the field of electro-acoustic guitar since 1997. The instruments from this brand offer exceptional playability and intonation. This fascinates all artists and the most demanding guitarists around the world. Each Cuntz guitar offers a unique work of craftsmanship with an unmistakable sound.
Ovation is an American brand renowned in the production of high quality guitars. The company emerged from 1966 and initially made simple acoustic guitars. Later, thanks to the innovation of technology, it was able to design diversified instruments such as electro-acoustic guitars, basses, ukuleles and mandolins.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Depending on the model of your guitar, use an amp adapted to its power and its support. This will give you a natural and clearer sound: "acoustic". A homemade amp will do the trick, however, using an electro-acoustic amp remains the best alternative for a better performance.
Your posture is important when you play the guitar to avoid the risk of injury, optimize your ease and improve the speed of your progress. So, get into a sitting position with your back straight. For added comfort, use a footrest.
Don't store your guitar just anywhere and everywhere. Put it in a case or on a stand after each use. This will help protect it from dust, moisture and sunlight. If you're not going to play for a long time, remember to loosen the strings before storing it.
Playing with a dirty guitar won't give you a better performance, and worse, it will damage your instrument. So, its neck, strings and body should be cleaned after each use. For the electronic parts (pickup, cables...), their maintenance must be done at least twice a month.
To note that it is the strings that define the sound of the guitar, their maintenance is essential. To remove the traces of sweat and oils that accumulate on the accessory, rub them from top to bottom with a micro fiber cloth after each use.
To play with accuracy, it is always advisable to check if the tuning of your guitar is correct. In this regard, tension the corresponding string and then adjust it to reproduce the ideal sound.
Every month we help more than 1 000 000 people buy better and smarter.
Copyright © 2022 - Made with ♥ by buyingbetter.co.uk
Your reviews and buying guides 0% advertising, 100% independent!
