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. You want the unplugged tone to motivate you. One guide says: “Start playing today with beginner acoustics… hand-picked by experts.”

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. One buying guide specifically explores acoustic-electrics.

Body Size / Cutaway / Versatility

If the guitar has a cutaway (for reaching upper frets), or a smaller body, those can help if you’re seated, have smaller hands or want comfort. For beginners this sometimes means you’ll pick up the guitar more, which is good.

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”. One guide supports choosing a guitar with resale value or upgrade capability.

Top Acoustic-Electric Guitars for Beginners (2025 Picks)

• Yamaha APX 600: Comfortable thin body, great for beginners who want to plug in occasionally. Yamaha build quality, good electronics.
  Pros: reliable brand, good build, versatile.
  Cons: Slightly higher budget for a beginner.
• Yamaha APXT2: Compact size, excellent for smaller players or if you want something travel-friendly. Still acoustic-electric.
  Pros: compact, good plug-in features.
  Cons: Smaller body = less acoustic volume if you play unplugged.
• Fender CD‑60SCE: Great value, trusted brand, acoustic-electric cutaway model. Good all-rounder for first years of playing.
  Pros: budget-friendly, credible brand.
  Cons: Might have more laminate components compared to higher-end models.
• Fender FA‑125CE: Entry-level acoustic-electric, excellent for beginners who want plug-in capability without spending a lot.
  Pros: very affordable, enough for basic playing and plugging.
  Cons: Build and tone won’t match premium models; you might upgrade sooner.
• Epiphone Hummingbird Studio: A slightly higher tier beginner instrument, with more premium features and tone. Good if you have a bit more budget and aim to keep the guitar long-term.
  Pros: upgrade potential, better woods, nicer finish.
  Cons: More money; overkill for someone just starting and unsure if they’ll stick.
• Epiphone J‑45 EC Studio: Another upgrade beginner pick — decent acoustic-electric with solid tone and build.
  Pros: Very good tone, trusted brand.
  Cons: Larger investment; less necessary if you just want to begin.
• Harley Benton D‑120CE NT Bundle: Ultra-budget bundle with accessories included. Great if you’re budget conscious and need everything.
  Pros: lowest cost barrier, bundle features.
  Cons: Quality may be less, electronics may be basic; might require setup.
• Student Elektroakustikgitarre von Gear4music: Super budget starter. Useful if you’re just testing commitment.
  Pros: extremely affordable.
  Cons: Very basic; may need upgrades sooner.

Recommendation

If I were advising you (and I have helped many beginners pick guitars), here’s what I’d say:

• If your budget is very tight, go with something like the Fender FA-125CE or the Harley Benton bundle. Get playing, build skill.
• If you have moderate budget and want a “serious first instrument” you’ll keep: go for Yamaha APX 600 or Fender CD-60SCE.
• If you want to invest and treat this as you will keep playing for years: go for Epiphone Hummingbird Studio or J-45 EC Studio.
• Whichever you pick — make sure you also budget for a strap, tuner, maybe a case/stand, and good strings. The guitar alone is half the setup.