Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars for Beginners (2025 Guide)

Top 5 Affordable Plug-and-Play Guitars That Sound Great On and Off Stage

Acoustic-electric guitars are perfect for beginners who want the freedom to practice unplugged or plug in for performance, jamming, or recording. They combine the familiar feel and tone of an acoustic with the convenience of built-in pickups and electronics.

Below are five of the best acoustic-electric guitars for beginners in 2025, chosen for their value, tone, playability, and features — all beginner-friendly and available online.

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🎸 1. Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric

Why It’s Great: This compact, affordable option has a built-in pickup, tuner, and EQ. Ideal for young players or travelers.
Body Type: 3/4-sized APX-style
Electronics: ART-based pickup system with built-in tuner

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🎒 Perfect for travelers and students — lightweight & plug-and-play

🎸 2. Fender FA-25CE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric

Why It’s Great: Lightweight and easy to play, with quality electronics and a modern Fender look.
Body Type: Dreadnought
Electronics: Built in tuner, and volume and tone controls

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🎶 Classic Fender tone with modern features — great value for new players

🎸 3. Ibanez AEWC32FM Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Why It’s Great: Eye-catching flamed maple top, slim body, and smooth neck — great for new players and live settings.
Body Type: AEWC-style thin body
Electronics: Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp with onboard tuner

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🔥 Stylish tone machine with a slim feel — built for performance

🎸 4. Donner DAG-1CE Beginner Acoustic-Electric Guitar Kit

Why It’s Great: All-in-one bundle with gig bag, tuner, strap, capo, strings, and more. Amazing value.
Body Type: Dreadnought with cutaway
Electronics: Donner preamp with built-in tuner

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🎁 Everything you need to start playing — in one affordable package

🎸 5. Yamaha FGX800C Solid Top Acoustic-Electric

Why It’s Great: Solid Sitka spruce top, scalloped bracing, and reliable Yamaha electronics make this a top-tier beginner guitar.
Body Type: Dreadnought with cutaway
Electronics: Yamaha System66 preamp + piezo pickup

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🌲 Solid top tone and Yamaha reliability — a long-term beginner investment

🎯 Which One Should You Choose?

Budget-focused beginners: Go with the Donner or Fender FA-135CE.
Want better tone + resale value? Choose the Yamaha FGX800C.
Need something compact? The Yamaha APXT2 is perfect.
Looking for stage style + comfort? Try the Ibanez AEWC32FM.

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