Search for a new instrument is always hard. You have to think about so many details. Well… In this case budget surely is not a problem, because under 2000 dollars you can find best of the best. There are so many options available on the market. Some of them really worth the money, while others are just average guitars that have some minor, unnecessary details added to the instrument itself. Obviously, we want you to make the most out of your budget, therefore we made deep research in this matter. We have created the list of best acoustic-electric guitars under $2000. Those instruments are truly the leaders on the market, not only in our opinion but in everyone else’s – including the usual average user as well as a professional musician. We promise you that after reading this article you will be clearer on what to get and most of the questions that you might have in your head will be answered as well. Keep on reading and trust us, you will be fine. Here goes the list. Enjoy.
Top 5 Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars Under 2000
| Image | Guitar Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Martin OMC-16E Mahogany Burst |  (5 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Cordoba FCWE Gipsy Kings Reissue | (5 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium | (5 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Takamine EF341SC Pro Series |  (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Blueridge BR-143CE Historic Series |  (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
Martin OMC-16E Mahogany Burst
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Of course, we couldn’t have started a list about expensive acoustic electric guitars without Martin. Not only are they renowned for their quality and sound, they are also pretty famous for manufacturing pricey models. It’s like a measure of the level of accomplishment – if you can afford one, you have done something amazing in your life. And the trophy is probably the best kind – after all, we all spend dreaming about Martin guitars throughout our journey. OMC-16E is their newer model, which happens to be a true masterpiece. The material the brand used for body and top is ovangkol, which contributes to creating resonant, deep, and rich sounds. Trebles are crisp here, while the basses have full-bodied character. While plugged-in, Fishman® Matrix VT reveals all of its virtues – this guitar sounds just as good plugged-in as it does unplugged, if not better. The design is stunning as well – mahogany burst color is complimented with a tortoise-style pickguard. I don’t think we could wish for anything better, but such a goodie does come at a really high cost.
Pros:
- Sounds bigger than its body size indicates
- Wonderful sound
- Superb overall quality
Cons:
- Pricey (yep, that’s the only con we could find)
Cordoba FCWE Gipsy Kings Reissue
Spain is very well known for its great guitars. Cordoba FCWE Gipsy Kings Reissue is no exception. The FCWE was Cordoba’s first thin body cutaway electric guitar, which first was released in the late 1990s. The FCWE is handmade in Spain with a solid German spruce top and has solid Spanish cypress back and sides. With its Fishman Prefix ProBlend onboard electronics with 3-band EQ and built-in microphone, the FCWE is stage-ready, and its thin body design helps reduce feedback when the guitar is amplified at high volumes. With low action and little relief in the neck, this guitar offers substantial comfort and ease of playability. The FCWE’s thin body design and all-solid construction make it the perfect choice for exploring the nuances in sound that can only be captured with nylon strings, and bringing them to the stage. Like every Cordoba guitar, this model also has a two-way truss rod built into the neck. Other premium features include a Spanish cedar neck, ebony fingerboard, Indian rosewood binding and more. Zero feedback problems and a nice ergonomic feel make this guitar a real winner for playing live. All in all, this beautiful instrument has a wonderful tone, and great action and is a pleasure to play.
Pros:
- Exquisite construction
- High-quality tonewood
- Professional electronics
- HumiCase for guitar’s best protection
Cons:
- The only con is that it is expensive as hell and I cannot have it
Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium
You don’t have to be loaded with cash to get your hands on a genuine Taylor acoustic-electric that’s loaded with tone. Pick up Taylor’s sweet-sounding, easy-playing 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium and you’ll immediately see (and hear) why. With the shape of a grand auditorium and 6 strings, you get an amazing sound. The craftsmanship of this instrument will impress every user. You get a solid Sitka spruce top, layered rosewood back and sides, and a very handy single-cutaway that gives you total access to the unbelievably playable ebony fretboard. The result? Balanced, rich, detailed tones and great playing dynamics. The perfect vehicle for expression, in a very comfortable instrument that’s definitely within your reach. Plus, the onboard pickup system lets you take that awesome acoustic sound to the stage. Sounds great plugged in or unplugged. Everything works properly, no buzzing frets, or loose tuning pegs. On top of that it looks fantastic as well. This is truly an awesome guitar which gives you the chance to enjoy that Taylor magic!
Pros:
- Good top tonewood
- Professional electronics
- Clear, rich sound
Cons:
- Sapele Neck
- Tusq nut is not that good
Takamine EF341SC Pro Series
Takamine guitars are of excellent quality. And this Takamine Pro Series guitar is no exception. The EF341SC dreadnought is handcrafted in our pro series facility that has been building precision quality instruments over five decades. This guitar has been the choice of pro musicians of all genres around the world. The versatility of this guitar begins with its solid cedar top that can play sweet mellow passages or power chords with equal ability. The maple back and sides are a perfect reflector for the tone generated by the soundboard and the fantastic gloss black finish looks great under the stage lights. The mahogany neck is joined to the body with a traditional, ultra – strong dovetail joint. Includes Takamine’s pathetic pickup, known in the industry as one of the most accurate and natural-sounding acoustic/electric pickups. The CT4B preamp has long been the popular choice among Takamine pro artists, providing warm natural acoustic tone at high sound pressure levels. Whether playing chords or just picking this guitar is pure magic.
Pros:
- Amazing sound
- Great looks
- Great electronics
Cons:
- Pricey
- Not for beginners (unless you have thousands to spare)
Blueridge BR-143CE Historic Series
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I’ll tell you a secret – we managed to sneak in a model that should be priced somewhere under 2000, but is actually quite affordable compared to other guitars we’ve already discussed. Blueridge BR-143CE is such an amazing piece that you won’t believe your eyes when you look at the price tag. This particular model belongs to the brand’s Historic series, as it attempts to incorporate the qualities of expensive vintage guitars. The first thing I’d like to mention is the fact that it features a solid Sitka spruce top, select solid mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, and Santos rosewood fingerboard. Blueridge had to compromise since they couldn’t use the woods utilized in vintage guitars – some of them are no longer available. But the substitutions they have found yield warm, defined and crisp sounds. It won’t be an exaggeration if I say that BR-143CE is virtually faultless in terms of tone. The final virtue I want to mention is the smaller size of 000 body shape and the cutaway which opens up the 20th fret and makes it easily accessible. All in all, this bad boy is worth trying out – after all, it doesn’t break the bank, does it?!
Pros:
- Punchy, powerful sound
- You’ll hear all the notes with open chords
- The body is entirely built with solid woods
Cons:
- Made in China (in case that’s a deal-breaker for you)
- Due to the narrow headstock, some strings touch one another
Did you like the guitars from the list above? Have you already decided which one to get? Well… If not yet, let me give you some good tips about getting a new acoustic-electric guitar that might be helpful in your guitar hunt.
Before we jump right into it let me differentiate acoustic-electric guitar from the usual electric or acoustic guitars, for you beginners out there.
Well, basically the key difference is that electric acoustic can be plugged to the amp. To be short – it is a mix of acoustic and electric instruments. You get two in one. If you want softer, the beautiful acoustic sound you can play the guitar unplugged. But whenever you want to rock the hell out of your instrument and get tones of acoustic, with more power- just connect it to the amp and you will be perfectly fine.
Before you buy acoustic-electric guitar
There are points you need to consider really carefully before you actually get the new guitar. First of all, decide on its purpose. Are you a pro? Intermediate? Beginner maybe? Do you plan to use this instrument for practice at home? Garageband? Maybe big concerts? Are you going to change it in the nearest future? Those are just a few of them. The main thing is that you need to have a clear vision of how are you going to use the instrument. It can really affect your choice. Second one – think about what you want your instrument to sound like. As you might be aware, different materials have completely different tones. Most of all sound is affected by the guitar’s top quality, so make sure that it is the best one possible. Here are the most popular materials, to give you an idea about their sounds.
- Spruce – this wood delivers a strong tone and crisp sound. It can be played hard without losing the clarity of the sound but can lack character when played softly.
- Cedar – It produces sound with less clarity but more power. It has warm tones and rich harmonics.
- Mahogany – It has a warm tone, but lacks a character a bit so will suit those who play blues, or like natural sound.
- Maple – delivers bright sound, nice sustain and clear tones on high frequencies.
Another highly important feature is the instrument’s playability. If you ask me – it is the most important one, because even when the guitar has the best specs possible, if its playability sucks, you will not enjoy it at all. Make sure that instrument has, a smooth and nice neck. Your hand should easily glide like a breeze on the frets. Also pay attention to how the whole body of the instrument feels. It should be a perfect match for standing or sitting. Lightweight is definitely a nice feature when getting a new guitar – makes its usage even more comfortable.
Sometimes we get so caught up into the specifications and cool features of instrument that we forget how important its look is. Not only should guitar sound the way we want, but it looks must be great as well. That is exactly why you need to find something that perfectly matches your tastes.
Conclusion
All in all, in this article we have given you top models of the best acoustic-electric guitars under 2000. These instruments are truly best of the best. They will sound like beasts in your hands so you will be able to rock out all night long. However, you should keep in mind that at the end it all comes down to your preferences, all of the above models are different from each other. They all have top-notch quality, however, do sound and feel different. Comfort is the key when you are getting a new instrument, so make sure that it fits your needs not only with specs but with comfortability as well. Now that you know a lot, let me wish you the best of luck in your guitar hunt. We hope that this article helped you with making up your mind and learning some good tips.
thank you