10 Best Acoustic Electric Guitars Under $1000 – A Guide By Zager

Acoustic-electric guitars are all the rage right now. Whether you love Zager Guitars, Ibanez Guitars, Taylor Guitars, Martin Guitars, Fender Guitars, or Chapman Guitars, we have you covered. 

Serious guitarists and professionals often invest a lot of money in expensive guitars. However, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars when you can find the best acoustic-electric guitars for under $1000.

Owning an acoustic-electric guitar is an excellent choice for serious beginners and gigging musicians. It provides versatility and a well-rounded sound. Modern guitars have a way of offering easier playability.

When strumming alone, you can enjoy the acoustic sound, and when playing in front of an audience, you can easily connect your guitar to an amp or PA system without needing a microphone installation.

Considering the practicality of owning an electric guitar, we have compiled a list of ten highly sought-after guitars for under $1000. By reading this article, you will realize that selecting the best guitar for your money only requires an open mind and knowing your needs.

10 Best Acoustic Electric Guitars Under $1000

1. Zager Guitars ZAD20
2. Martin DX1AE
3. Breedlove Solo Concert
4. Takamine GN93CE
5. Taylor 214ce Grand Auditorium
6. PRS SE Angelus A40E
7. Guild D-140CE
8. Ibanez AE255BT
9. Taylor 114ce 100 Series
10. Epiphone DR-500MCE

Grab These Acoustic Electric Guitars Under $1000 in 2024

1. Zager Guitars ZAD20

The ZAD20 series is a line of high-quality acoustic-electric guitars. It’s known for its exceptional craftsmanship, durability, and playability, deeming it a fantastic solid-body guitar. The series is designed with a focus on the EZ-Play design, a proprietary design that makes the guitar easy to play and comfortable to hold, particularly for beginners and those with smaller hands.

The ZAD20E acoustic electric adds a custom electronic transducer system and automatic tuner to plug into any amplifier or PA system. In this way, you have an acoustic guitar that sounds like a true acoustic when unplugged, but you can also plug it in and play it like a full-blown acoustic electric. 

The onboard electronics package with custom equalization lets you change the sound according to your playing style. It also has a built-in automatic tuner that tunes your guitar in a fraction of the time it takes using conventional methods.

This guitar is favored by many performers since it allows them to rehearse without disturbing the residents of the area before being used to fill a stadium with music. It truly is like having a versatile guitar in one. Magazine reviews and customer testimonials say the ZAD20E outperforms guitars from the top 2 guitar makers at twice its price.

The ZAD20 series is made with high-quality tonewoods such as a solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany body, and a rosewood fingerboard. These woods provide a warm, rich, and balanced fantastic tone.  After hours and hours of continuous work by Danny Zager, he concocted a system of easier playability, which includes custom string spacing, a special nut and saddle design, and a unique neck shape that makes it easier to play and reduces buzzing and rattling.

Regarding affordability, the Zager ZAD20 series starts at around $895. These prices are considered on the lower end of the price spectrum for acoustic-electric guitars. These guitars are hand-crafted and made with high-quality materials providing the same experience as any higher-end Zager model. This makes it a perfect guitar for under $1,000.

Price – 895 USD

2. Martin DX1AE

The Martin DX1AE is a dreadnought-shaped acoustic-electric guitar first introduced in 2011. Priced for $549, it is part of Martin’s X Series, a line of guitars with HPL back and sides instead of traditional tonewoods like mahogany or rosewood. 

The HPL used in the DX1AE is a high-quality composite material made of multiple layers of paper and resin fused under high pressure and heat. The resulting material is highly resistant to temperature and humidity changes, making it an excellent choice for touring musicians or those who live in areas with extreme weather conditions. This makes this a great guitar for beginners.

The DX1AE also features Fishman Sonitone electronics, a simple and effective pickup system that captures the guitar’s natural sound when amplified. The controls for the Sonitone system are located inside the soundhole, making it easy to adjust the volume and tone of the guitar when playing live.

The top of the DX1AE is solid Sitka spruce, a popular tonewood known for its bright and clear sound. Sitka spruce is a favorite among guitar makers because of its strength, stiffness, and resonance. The solid Sitka spruce top and HPL back and sides give the DX1AE a balanced, well-rounded tone suitable for various musical styles.

Regarding playability, the Martin DX1AE has a comfortable performing artist neck profile that is easy to navigate, even for players with small hands. The fingerboard is made of Richlite, an environmentally friendly material made of resin-infused paper. Richlite is highly durable and resistant to wear and tear, making it an excellent choice for guitar fingerboards.

The Martin DX1AE is an excellent choice for an affordable acoustic-electric guitar with great sound and playability. HPL and other composite materials make it a guitar suitable for a wide range of playing conditions, and the addition of Fishman electronics ensures that it sounds excellent whether played acoustically or amplified.

Price – $599 USD

3. Breedlove Solo Concert

The Breedlove Solo Concert is an acoustic-electric guitar explicitly designed for solo performers. It’s currently in the market for $799; it features a concert body shape of a solid Sitka spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides, giving it a warm and balanced tone with excellent projection.

The Solo Concert also features a unique Side Monitor Soundhole that projects the guitar’s sound directly toward the player’s ear, allowing for better monitoring and control of the instrument’s sound. This feature makes it ideal for solo performers who must hear their playing clearly while on stage.

The guitar is equipped with LR Baggs EAS VTC electronics, which deliver natural and clear amplified sound. The controls for the electronics are discreetly located inside the soundhole, making them easy to access and adjust.

Regarding playability, the Breedlove Solo Concert has a slim and comfortable neck profile and a smooth ebony fingerboard. The guitar also features Breedlove’s proprietary Bridge Truss system, which helps to relieve string tension and improve sustain and clarity.

The Breedlove Solo Concert is an excellent choice for solo performers who want a high-quality acoustic-electric guitar with exceptional tone and playability. The Side Monitor Soundhole and LR Baggs electronics make it ideal for live performances, while the solid wood construction and Bridge Truss system ensure great sound and durability.

Price – $799 USD

4. Takamine GN93CE

The Takamine GN93CE is an acoustic-electric guitar with excellent sound, playability, and versatility. It features a NEX (small jumbo) body shape made of a solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides, which gives it a rich and balanced tone with excellent projection.

The GN93CE also comes equipped with Takamine’s TK-40D preamp system, which features a built-in tuner and three-band EQ for precise tone shaping. The preamp also has a mid-contour switch, which allows players to quickly dial in the perfect sound for their playing style and musical genre.

Regarding playability, the GN93CE has a slim satin-finished mahogany neck with a 12″ radius rosewood fingerboard, making it comfortable to play even for extended periods. The guitar also features a synthetic bone nut and split bridge saddle, which provides excellent sustain and intonation.

The Takamine GN93CE is an excellent choice for beginners and experienced players looking for a high-quality acoustic-electric guitar with a versatile and reliable electronics system. Its NEX body shape and solid wood construction ensure great sound and durability, while the TK-40D preamp system makes it easy to achieve the perfect tone for any performance situation.

Price – $799 USD

5. Taylor 214ce Grand Auditorium

The Taylor 214ce Grand Auditorium is an acoustic-electric guitar with a versatile, balanced tone and excellent projection. It features a Grand Auditorium body shape made of a solid Sitka spruce top and layered rosewood back and sides, which gives it a warm and clear sound with plenty of definition.

The 214ce is also equipped with Taylor’s ES2 electronics system, which features a piezo pickup and an onboard preamp with volume, tone, and phase controls. The ES2 system is known for its natural and responsive sound, making it an excellent choice for live performances and studio recordings.

Regarding playability, the 214ce has a comfortable and smooth satin-finished neck with a 25.5″ scale length and an ebony fingerboard. The guitar also features a patented Taylor neck joint, which ensures a stable and secure connection between the neck and body.

Overall, the Taylor 214ce Grand Auditorium is an excellent choice for players looking for a versatile and reliable acoustic-electric guitar with great sound and playability. Its Grand Auditorium body shape and solid wood construction ensure excellent projection and tonal balance, while the ES2 electronics system makes it easy to achieve a natural and responsive amplified sound.

Price – $1,099 USD

6. PRS SE Angelus A40E

The PRS SE Angelus A40E is an acoustic-electric guitar with a balanced, versatile tone and excellent projection. It features a signature PRS body shape made of a solid Sitka spruce top and layered pau ferro back and sides, which gives it a warm and clear sound with plenty of depth and resonance.

The A40E also comes equipped with Fishman GT1 electronics, which deliver a natural and clear amplified sound with a built-in tuner for precise tuning. The controls for the electronics are discreetly located inside the soundhole, making them easy to access and adjust.

Regarding playability, the A40E has a comfortable and slim C-shaped mahogany neck with a 25.3″ scale length and an ebony fingerboard. The guitar also features PRS’s proprietary hybrid “X”/Classical bracing pattern, which enhances the guitar’s natural resonance and sustain.

Other features of the PRS SE Angelus A40E include a bone nut and saddle and PRS’s signature bird inlays on the fingerboard. These details add to the guitar’s aesthetic appeal and overall quality.

Overall, the PRS SE Angelus A40E is an excellent choice for players looking for a high-quality acoustic-electric guitar with a versatile and balanced tone, great playability, and great electronics. The guitar’s solid wood construction and hybrid bracing ensure a rich and resonant sound, while the Fishman GT1 electronics make it easy to achieve a natural and clear amplified sound.

Price – $799 USD

7. Guild D-140CE

The Guild D-140CE is an acoustic-electric guitar with a rich, balanced tone and excellent projection. It features a dreadnought body shape made of solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, which gives it a warm and full-bodied sound with great depth and clarity.

It also has Guild’s AP-1 pickup system, which delivers a natural, clear, amplified sound. The controls for the electronics are discreetly located on the side of the guitar’s upper bout, making them easy to access and adjust.

Regarding playability, it has a comfortable and smooth satin-finished neck with a 25.5″ scale length and an Indian rosewood fingerboard. The guitar also features a bone nut and saddle, which provide excellent sustain and intonation.

Other features of the Guild D-140CE include a tortoiseshell pickguard, mother-of-pearl rosette, and vintage-style open-gear tuners. These details add to the guitar’s aesthetic appeal and overall quality.

The Guild D-140CE is an excellent choice for players looking for a quality acoustic-electric guitar with a rich and balanced tone, perfect playability, and reliable electronics. The guitar’s solid wood construction and Guild’s AP-1 pickup system ensure great sound and durability, while the comfortable neck, bone nut, and saddle provide excellent playability and intonation.

Price – $899USD

8. Ibanez AE255BT

The Ibanez AE255BT is an acoustic-electric baritone guitar that offers a unique and versatile tonal range. It features a grand concert body shape made of a solid Sitka spruce top and pau ferro back and sides, which gives it a warm and clear sound with plenty of projection.

The AE255BT also comes equipped with Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp with an onboard tuner, which delivers a clear and natural amplified sound with easy-to-access controls for volume, bass, treble, and mid-range. The preamp includes a phase switch for reducing feedback and a notch filter for removing unwanted frequencies.

Regarding playability, the AE255BT has a comfortable and slim C-shaped mahogany neck with a 25″ scale length and a pau ferro fingerboard. The guitar also features a compensated bone saddle and nut, providing excellent intonation and sustain.

Other features of the Ibanez AE255BT include an abalone rosette, chrome die-cast tuners, and a gloss finish. These details add to the guitar’s aesthetic appeal and overall quality.

The Ibanez AE255BT is an excellent choice for players looking for a unique and versatile acoustic-electric baritone guitar with a warm and clear sound. The guitar’s solid Sitka spruce top and pau ferro back and sides ensure durability and projection, while the Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp make it easy to achieve a precise and natural amplified sound with versatile tone shaping capabilities.

Price – $899 USD

9. Taylor 114ce 100 Series

The Taylor 114ce 100 Series is an acoustic-electric guitar with a balanced, versatile tone and excellent playability. It features a grand auditorium body shape made of layered sapele back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top, which gives it a clear and articulate sound with a strong midrange and a balanced low-end and high-end.

The 114ce is also equipped with Taylor’s ES-B electronics, which includes a built-in digital chromatic tuner, volume and tone controls, and a low-battery indicator. The electronics system delivers a natural, clear, amplified sound with a reliable, easy-to-use interface.

Regarding playability, the 114ce has a comfortable, slim neck profile with a 25.5″ scale length and an ebony fingerboard. The guitar also features a NuBone nut and saddle, which provide excellent sustain and intonation.

Other features of the Taylor 114ce include a tortoiseshell pickguard, white binding, and chrome tuners. These details add to the guitar’s aesthetic appeal and overall quality.

Overall, the Taylor 114ce 100 Series is an excellent choice for players looking for a high-quality acoustic-electric guitar with a balanced and versatile tone, great playability, and reliable electronics. The guitar’s solid Sitka spruce top and layered Sapele back and sides ensure durability and projection, while the ES-B electronics make it easy to achieve a natural and clear amplified sound with versatile tone-shaping capabilities.

Price – $999 USD

10. Epiphone DR-500MCE

The Epiphone DR-500MCE is an acoustic-electric guitar with a rich, warm tone and excellent playability. It features a dreadnought body shape made of solid mahogany back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top, which gives it a full and resonant sound with a strong midrange and a warm and articulate low-end and high-end.

The DR-500MCE is also equipped with an eSonic2 preamp and NanoFlex pickup system, which delivers a natural and clear amplified sound with a range of tone shaping options, including a built-in tuner, master volume, treble, bass, EQ shape, and a phase switch for feedback control.

Regarding playability, the DR-500MCE has a slim taper D-shaped mahogany neck with a 25.5″ scale length and a rosewood fingerboard. The guitar also features a bone nut and saddle, which provide excellent sustain and intonation.

Other features of the Epiphone DR-500MCE include a tortoiseshell pickguard, multi-ply binding, and Grover tuners. These details add to the guitar’s aesthetic appeal and overall quality.

The Epiphone DR-500MCE is an excellent choice for players looking for a high-quality acoustic-electric guitar with a rich, warm tone, perfect playability, and versatile electronics. The guitar’s solid mahogany back and sides and solid Sitka spruce top ensure durability and projection, while the eSonic2 preamp and NanoFlex pickup system make it easy to achieve a natural and clear amplified sound with versatile tone-shaping capabilities.

Price – $699 USD

Acoustic Electric Guitar Vs. Electric Guitars. What’s Better?

You can’t put a price on the best electric guitar or the best acoustic guitar. While electric guitars require an amplifier to produce good sound, acoustic-electric guitars can be played unplugged. 

Although acoustic-electric guitars have a larger body, they are generally lighter than electric metal guitars. Both types of guitars are suitable for beginners.

Sound

• Electric guitars can produce a range of tones when connected to an amplifier, including clean, gritty, and distorted, resulting in a pleasing sound. However, when played unplugged, the guitar produces minimal volume and a weak, thin tone, which is only really suitable for practicing technique.
• Acoustic-electric guitars have a pleasing sound when played unplugged and plugged into an amplifier. Their clean tone is louder, warmer, and fuller than electric guitars but cannot produce a distorted sound.

Volume

• Acoustic-electric guitars tend to be louder when they are unplugged as compared to electric guitars. When plugged in, the acoustic and electric guitars tend to have the same volume.
• Electric guitars may be more suitable for individuals residing in houses or flats with thin walls. This is owing to the ability to connect headphones, allowing for private playing without the risk of causing noise disturbance beyond the confines of the room.

Tone

Electric guitars offer a higher degree of tone customization than acoustic-electric guitars. This is partly due to their maple fretboard. The tune o the matic bridge and amplifiers makes it easy to adjust distortion levels and incorporate effects like tremolo. The tone control is more achievable with an electric guitar.

In contrast, the sound of acoustic-electric guitars relies heavily on the type of tonewoods used, making it less versatile. As a result, you may be limited to the guitar’s inherent sound.

Acoustic-electric amplifiers provide some features for adjusting reverb effects and tone brightness, but they are generally less flexible than those found on electric guitars.

Music Styles

The electric guitar’s versatility and alder body style suits various musical genres, including country and heavy metal. 

On the other hand, acoustic-electric guitars are best suited for pop and some soft rock songs, as they cannot produce the distortion effects commonly associated with electric guitars.

Sensitivity

Compared to electric guitars, acoustic-electric guitars are generally less prone to picking up unwanted sounds such as string sliding and palm hits. This makes it possible for even less experienced players to achieve a more professional and refined sound on an acoustic-electric guitar, unlike an electric guitar.

Shape And Look

The appearance and design of electric and acoustic guitars differ significantly, impacting both the tactile and auditory qualities of the instruments.

Electric guitars, such as laminated maple bodies, generally offer greater variety in shape, color, and finish than acoustic-electric models. The following are the primary distinctions between the two types of guitars:

Style

Electric-acoustic guitars typically feature a hollow body, while most electric guitars have a solid body, although some may feature semi-hollow or hollow designs.

The five primary acoustic-electric guitar body shapes include dreadnought, parlor, jumbo, auditorium, and classical, while the six primary electric guitar body shapes are S-style (Stratocaster), T-style (Telecaster), LP-style (Les Paul), SG-style, Offset, and Flying V.

Electric guitars typically have three main controls on the body, including the pickup selector, tone control, and volume control, whereas acoustic-electric guitars generally lack controls on the front of the body. However, Zager Guitars do offer a Clearwave Built-in Automatic Tuner, which allows you to tune your guitar in a fraction of the time it takes using conventional tuning methods.

Feel

Considering how a guitar feels to play is crucial, especially for beginners, as a more comfortable instrument makes learning easier. When comparing electric-acoustic and acoustic guitars, several factors should be considered.

Electric guitars typically weigh 1.5-2 times more than electric acoustic guitars, leading to faster fatigue, particularly when standing up. In contrast, electric acoustic guitars have larger bodies, around two times wider than standard electric guitars, making them more manageable for smaller players.

The “action,” which refers to the distance between the strings and the fretboard, is lower on electric guitars than on acoustic-electric guitars. This lower action makes playing notes on an electric guitar easier as it requires less finger strength.

Moreover, electric guitars have thinner strings than acoustic-electric guitars, making them more comfortable for beginners to play.

Bridge Position

The bridge position on an electric guitar is closer to the bottom of the body. It accommodates magnetic pickups, while the bridge on an acoustic-electric guitar is located further towards the center, often with a piezoelectric pickup or microphone to capture the guitar’s natural sound.

Gibson Les Paul’s guitar typically features a tune-o-matic bridge, allowing individual string intonation adjustment and greater sustain. The tune-o-matic bridge consists of a fixed tailpiece and adjustable saddles, which can be fine-tuned for each string using a screwdriver or hex wrench. This type of bridge is known for its stability, ease of use, and ability to accommodate different playing styles and techniques.

Neck Pick Up

A neck pickup is a type of pickup commonly found on electric and acoustic-electric guitars. Positioned near the neck of the guitar, the neck pickup produces warm, full-bodied tones with increased bass response. This pickup is often used for rhythm playing and making clean or slightly overdriven sounds. 

Some guitar models feature neck and bridge pickups, allowing players to switch between them for different tonal options and playing styles. The neck pickup can significantly influence the overall sound and character of the guitar and is an essential component of the instrument’s electronics.

A neck pickup made by Seymour Duncan Pickups is designed to be mounted near the neck of an electric guitar and is known for producing warm, full-bodied tones with increased bass response. Seymour Duncan offers a variety of neck pickups with different designs and features, such as the ’59, Jazz, and Pearly Gates models, each with unique characteristics and tonal qualities. These pickups are popular among guitar players for their versatility and ability to enhance the overall sound and playing experience.

Rosewood Fingerboard

A rosewood fingerboard is a popular choice for both acoustic and electric guitars. Known for its durability, smooth playing surface, and warm tonal qualities, rosewood is a commonly used material for guitar fingerboards.

In acoustic guitars, rosewood fingerboards are often used on high-end models and are valued for their ability to enhance the guitar’s natural acoustic tone and sustain. In contrast, electric guitars with rosewood fingerboards are known for producing warm, smooth tones that complement a wide range of playing styles and techniques.

Zager Guitars offers several models with a rosewood fingerboard, which is known for its smooth playing surface and warm tonal qualities. They also provide rosewood fingerboards in their ZAD20E, so you get the Zager experience irrespective of the price range.

 Zager Guitars’ rosewood fingerboards are carefully selected and treated to ensure optimal playability and tone and are featured on various models, including the Zager EZ-Play. Combining the rosewood fingerboard and Zager’s precision setup and playability features results in a high-quality guitar with a comfortable, easy-to-play feel and exceptional tone.

By Budget	Best Guitar Options
Under $1,000	– ZAD20
Under $1,500	– ZAD50CE Smaller “OM” – ZAD50CE Acoustic Electric Natural – ZAD50CE Solid African – ZAD50CE Vintage Sunburst
Under $2,000	– ZAD900 Full Size – ZAD900 “OM” Size

About Zager 

This comes as a shock that Zager Guitars are not very talked about. After hours and hours of research, this is the conclusion I have drawn out. This may seem long, but it’s definitely worth the read. Known for their excellent customer service and easy-play design, Zager Guitars are a popular choice among professional guitarists, thanks to their exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

 They are also ideal for beginners due to their “EZ-Play” design, which features a slim front-to-back neck that is easy to hold and play. Additionally, the company’s guitars come with some innovative features, such as custom string spacing, that make them even more comfortable to play and reduce buzzing and rattling.

It’s popular among touring artists and veteran musicians who have previously played high-end guitars such as Martin, Taylor, Yamaha, and Fender. Zager Guitar conducted extensive testing and evaluations of the 900 series, comparing it to the finest guitars on the market. The results consistently show that the 900 series stands up to the competition and is a worthy investment for serious musicians.

Unlike other guitar brands, Zager Guitars are not sold through retail outlets but rather directly to musicians from their website. This allows customers to save money by avoiding the markup that comes with retail sales.

 Furthermore, Zager Guitars offers a try-before-you-buy policy, where customers can try one out for free for 30 days and pay nothing. The company also pays for shipping both ways. So, what’s the catch? You can’t seem to find one.

Frequently Asked Questions