#1
Yamaha FGX800C
Dreadnought cutaway · Solid Sitka spruce top, scalloped bracing$220–$320 usedBest for: First acoustic-electric, gigging on a budget, versatility
The Yamaha FGX800C is the most practical acoustic-electric for players who need reliable amplified sound without spending premium money. The System 66 undersaddle pickup produces a clean, usable tone through any PA, the solid spruce top sounds genuine acoustically, and Yamaha's quality control means you rarely get a bad unit. The cutaway version adds upper-fret access for lead playing. Used at $220–$320, it outperforms anything near it at this price point.
What to check used: Check the preamp battery contact for corrosion — 9V battery compartment in the upper bout. Verify the tuner function on the preamp is reading accurately. The cutaway side is usually fine but inspect the binding around the cutaway for any separation.
#2
Taylor 114ce
Grand Auditorium cutaway · Solid Sitka spruce top, layered walnut back/sides, ES2 pickup$550–$750 usedBest for: Stage performance, bright articulate tone, live gig plug-in
The Taylor 114ce is the benchmark mid-range acoustic-electric. Taylor's ES2 pickup — mounted behind the saddle rather than under it — produces a more natural acoustic tone plugged in than almost any undersaddle pickup. The Grand Auditorium body is versatile across fingerpicking and strumming styles. The solid spruce top opens up and improves with age. At $550–$750 used, the 114ce is genuinely professional-grade for stage use.
What to check used: Taylor's ES2 pickup has three small adjustment screws on the saddle — verify the pickup hasn't shifted or been overtightened. The layered walnut back and sides are stable but check for any play in the top bracing by pressing gently near the soundhole. Check the Taylor bolt-on neck joint hasn't shifted.
#3
Epiphone DR-500MCE
Dreadnought cutaway · Solid mahogany top, rosewood fretboard, Shadow preamp$250–$380 usedBest for: Warm fingerpicking tone, budget folk/Americana, plugged-in acoustic gigs
The Epiphone DR-500MCE is distinctive for using a solid mahogany top instead of spruce — mahogany produces a warmer, darker tone that suits fingerstyle and folk better than the bright sparkle of spruce. The Shadow preamp system with built-in tuner is more than adequate for live use. For players who find spruce-top acoustics too bright for their playing style, the DR-500MCE offers a genuinely different sonic character.
What to check used: Verify the mahogany top has no cracks along the grain (mahogany is more crack-prone than spruce). Check the nut is original — Epiphone nuts can be replaced with better material on older units. The Shadow preamp battery is in the upper bout; check the 9V contacts.
#4
Seagull S6 Original ENTB
Dreadnought · Solid cedar top, wild cherry back/sides, Fishman Presys pickup$420–$580 usedBest for: Warm-voiced acoustic strumming, Canadian build quality, stage projection
Seagull's S6 Original is one of the best-value solid-wood acoustic guitars on the market — the solid cedar top produces a warm, immediately responsive tone that cedar is known for. The ENTB version adds a Fishman Presys pickup, giving you a clean plugged-in signal with the natural warmth the cedar top produces acoustically. Seagull builds in La Patrie, Quebec with serious quality control. Used S6s are genuinely impressive guitars at $420–$580.
What to check used: Cedar tops can develop a 'moose mark' — a small dark spot where the neck block meets the top — but this is cosmetic, not structural. Verify the Fishman Presys battery slot contacts are clean. Seagull's integrated neck joint (set neck) is very stable — check for any heel crack where the neck meets the body.
#5
Martin GPCPA4
Grand Performance cutaway · Solid Sitka spruce top, solid ovangkol back/sides, Fishman Aura VT pickup$700–$950 usedBest for: Professional stage performance, recording with authentic acoustic tone, pro folk/Americana
The Martin GPCPA4 is Martin's professional acoustic-electric — the Fishman Aura VT pickup system uses an 'aura image' (a sampled mic recording of the specific guitar model) to blend with the pickup signal, producing plugged-in tone that sounds far more like a real microphone than a standard undersaddle pickup. For artists who play staged shows without wanting to mic their acoustic guitar, the GPCPA4 delivers professional tone at a reasonable used price point.
What to check used: The Fishman Aura VT has the most complex control setup of any pickup system — preamp, feedback control, and Aura blend. Verify all functions work. Martin's X-bracing should be solid; press gently on the top near the soundhole to check for any bridge plate movement.
#6
Gibson J-45 EC
Slope-shoulder dreadnought cutaway · Solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back/sides, LR Baggs pickup$1,200–$1,600 usedBest for: Songwriter/session player acoustic-electric, warm Gibson voice plugged in, high-end stage acoustic
The Gibson J-45 EC is one of the most-used acoustic-electric guitars in professional recording and stage performance. The J-45 voice — warm, slightly compressed, excellent for singer-songwriter fingerstyle and strumming — carries through into the LR Baggs pickup system effectively. Gibson's scalloped X-bracing is renowned for its resonance. The cutaway EC model makes this the most playable J-45 for upper-fret work. Used at $1,200–$1,600, it's within reach as a working musician's primary stage acoustic.
What to check used: Gibson acoustic cutaway binding can sometimes separate at the heel — check that area carefully. The LR Baggs Anthem pickup (on later models) or LR Baggs Element (earlier) should produce clean output with no hum through a DI box. Check the bridge saddle for even contact across all strings.
#7
Takamine GN93CE
NEX cutaway · Solid spruce top, rosewood back/sides, Takamine TK-40D preamp$350–$480 usedBest for: Stage volume, reliable tone, mid-level player acoustic-electric
Takamine built their reputation supplying acoustic-electrics to touring artists — their TK-40D preamp system is one of the most stage-proven pickup systems in the market. The NEX cutaway body sits between a jumbo and grand auditorium in projection — it's loud acoustically, which means it keeps up with a band without excessive amplification. Used Takamines are reliable working guitars with no-nonsense tone.
What to check used: Takamine preamps use their own 12V battery system — not 9V — verify the battery type and contact condition. Check the rosewood back and sides for any repaired cracks (common on instruments that have toured). The top brace under the pickguard area should be solid.
#8
Fender CD-60SCE
Dreadnought cutaway · Solid spruce top, mahogany back/sides, Fishman pickup$180–$260 usedBest for: Budget acoustic-electric, beginners who want to plug in, student guitar
The Fender CD-60SCE delivers a solid spruce top at entry-level pricing — for a new player who wants an acoustic-electric that can actually improve with age and playing, the solid top makes the CD-60SCE a legitimate starting instrument. The Fishman pickup provides reliable amplified output. At $180–$260 used, it's the best acoustic-electric at the beginner budget point.
What to check used: Check the nut slots are well-cut — Fender budget acoustics sometimes have high action from the factory which makes them uncomfortable to play. Verify the Fishman pickup is outputting clean signal and the battery contacts are not corroded.
#9
Breedlove Discovery S Concert CE
Concert cutaway · Solid Sitka spruce top, African mahogany back/sides, LR Baggs Stage Element pickup$380–$520 usedBest for: Fingerstyle acoustic-electric, warm concert-body tone, gigging singer-songwriter
Breedlove is an Oregon-based builder that competes with Seagull and lower-tier Taylor for genuine quality at mid-range pricing. The Discovery series uses solid spruce tops and the LR Baggs Stage Element pickup — one of the better-regarded undersaddle systems. The concert body (similar to a 000) is comfortable for seated playing and fingerstyle. Used Breedlove instruments represent excellent value compared to equivalent Taylor and Martin models at this size.
What to check used: Breedlove uses a bolt-on 'pinless bridge' design on some models — verify the bridge saddle is seated correctly and the strings are feeding through the bridge pin holes cleanly. Check for any heel crack on the neck joint.