What to Consider When Buying an Acoustic-Electric Guitar for Beginners

Choosing an acoustic-electric is a little different from a pure acoustic. Because you’re also planning to plug-in, amplified playability becomes part of the equation. Here are the key criteria:

Playability & Comfort

For a beginner, the guitar needs to feel good. That means good neck profile, manageable string action, comfortable body size. If you struggle with chord shapes or your fingers hurt every time you pick it up, you’ll stop. Many beginner guides emphasise ease of play as far more important than minor tone differences.

Build & Sound (Unplugged)

Even though you might plug it in, the guitar should still sound decent acoustically. A good top (solid or decent laminate), stable build and decent finish matter. Reviews for acoustic-electrics emphasise that you’re getting a hybrid instrument: it must perform both unplugged and plugged-in.

Electronics & Plug-In Quality

Since it’s an acoustic-electric, the onboard preamp/pickup matters. Does it give you a decent sound when plugged in? Does it have an EQ/volume tuner? Beginners often ignore this and end up with a guitar that sounds great acoustically but awful when amplified. ToneAuthority’s guide singles out this factor for beginner acoustic-electrics.

Body Size / Cutaway / Versatility

A smaller body or a cutaway helps reach upper frets, and is more comfortable if you sit a lot or have smaller hands. For beginners, comfort = more practice. The “does it fit you” question is real.

Value & Growth-Potential

You want a guitar that doesn’t bottleneck your progress. So it should be good enough to grow into rather than “good enough just for now”. Brands, build-quality, electronics all matter. One review calls this “the guitar you’ll keep after you stop being a beginner”.

Top Acoustic-Electric Guitars for Beginners (2025 Picks)

• Yamaha APX600: Thin-body cutaway design, very comfortable for beginners; many reviews say it “plays like an electric” while giving good acoustic-electric performance.
  • Pros: Comfortable body, good electronics, strong brand.
  • Cons: Unplugged acoustic volume may be less than full-dreadnought; thin body means slightly less resonance.
• Fender FA‑135CE Concert: An entry level acoustic-electric with cutaway, solid spruce top in some versions, built-in electronics like Fishman preamp in some models.
  • Pros: Good plug-in tone, decent build for price.
  • Cons: Some reviews cite variable quality control and that it may need setup out of the box.
• Yamaha APX 600 (Alt Listing): Same model as first listing (shows how widely available and recommended this model is).
• Ibanez AE100: A slightly different body style but good value acoustic-electric for beginners who want something comfortable and reliable.
  • Pros: Good brand, decent value, solid for plugged and unplugged.
  • Cons: Might have less premium components than higher-end models; finish or turnkey might be basic.
• Fender FA‑135CE: Another listing of the FA-135CE showing its value; good if you find a sale.
• Ibanez AE100 (Alt Listing): Same model again; shows availability in Europe/Germany.
• J & D D‑110CE: Ultra-budget beginner acoustic-electric. If your budget is very tight, this kind of model lets you start playing without breaking bank.
  • Pros: Very affordable, likely includes basic pickup.
  • Cons: Build quality, sound quality, longevity may be lower; good for starting but you’ll upgrade eventually.
• Epiphone Hummingbird Studio: Slight step up in price but still beginner-accessible; good upgrade pick if you can spend a bit more and want something you’ll keep for longer.
  • Pros: Better woods, more premium feel, decent electronics.
  • Cons: Higher price; may be more guitar than some beginners need.

Recomendation

If I were making a recommendation, and help many beginners pick guitars, I always say:

Tight budget: J and D D-110CE first. Start playing, adjusting setup, and building skills.

Moderate budget and looking for a “serious first instrument” you will keep: Yamaha APX600. Best comfort and ease of playing, next tier electronics and brand reliabilty for beginners.

Want maximum value and don’t mind a small setup: Fender FA-135CE for cutway + electronics for minimal extra cost.

If you have a little more spending money and want something you will keep for 3 to 5 years, I suggest colorful and fun models like Epiphone Hummingbird or similar upgrades.

Either way, you should also budget for a strap, tuner, case/stand, and good strings, as the guitar alone is half the setup.