Best Acoustic Electric Guitar for Intermediate Player (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

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The Jameson full-size thinline guitar leads this search with Best Overall, giving intermediate players a cutaway, a spruce top and a 4-band pickup and EQ. The Fender CD-60SCE offers a solid mahogany top with a dreadnought cutaway and a Fishman pickup and preamp.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	Jameson Guitars Full Size Thinline Acoustic Electric Guitar	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Fender CD-60SCE All-Mahogany Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic Electric	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	Yamaha APX600M Thin Body Acoustic-Electric Guitar	Check on Amazon
4	Also Great	Taylor 24ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-electric Guitar	Check on Amazon
5	Also Great	Winzz Acoustic-Electric Guitar 4/4	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Intermediate players who want a full-size thinline cutaway: Jameson Guitars Full Size Thinline Acoustic Electric Guitar See pick 1
Players who want a solid mahogany top and dreadnought body: Fender CD-60SCE All-Mahogany Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic Electric See pick 2
Players who play lead or fingerstyle and need upper fret access: Yamaha APX600M Thin Body Acoustic-Electric Guitar See pick 3
Players who want a Grand Auditorium body and mahogany top: Taylor 24ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-electric Guitar See pick 4
Players who want a 41 inch dreadnought cutaway in sunburst: Winzz Acoustic-Electric Guitar 4/4 See pick 5

The 5 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

Jameson Guitars Full Size Thinline Acoustic Electric Guitar

Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included
Top wood: Spruce
90-day warranty stated

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall with a full-size thinline cutaway, a spruce top and a 4-band pickup and EQ.

Who it suits

Intermediate players who want a full-size thinline cutaway
Players who want a spruce top and a 4-band EQ

Skip it if

You want a guitar under 4.2 lb
You want more than 6 strings

It is a full-size 41 inch thinline acoustic-electric guitar with a cutaway, a spruce top and a basswood body. It has a 4-band pickup and EQ, plus 6 strings. The kit holds a gig bag, a shoulder strap, an extra set of strings, three picks and a cable. It weighs 4.2 lb and carries a 90-day warranty.

2Runner-Up

Fender CD-60SCE All-Mahogany Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic Electric

Solid top
Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included not stated in the listing
Body shape: Dreadnought
Top wood: Solid Mahogany
2-year warranty stated

9.6Spec score View on Amazon

It holds the Runner-Up label with a solid mahogany top, a dreadnought cutaway and a Fishman pickup and preamp.

Who it suits

Players who want a solid mahogany top and dreadnought body
Players who want a Fishman pickup and preamp system

Skip it if

You want a guitar under 8.6 lb
You want a top wood other than mahogany

It is a dreadnought cutaway guitar with a solid mahogany top and mahogany back and sides. It has a Fishman pickup and preamp, with scalloped X-bracing. It has 6 strings and a 25.3 inch scale length. It weighs 8.6 lb and carries a 2-year warranty.

3Also Great

Yamaha APX600M Thin Body Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included not stated in the listing
1 year warranty stated

9.3Spec score View on Amazon

It holds the Also Great label with a thin body cutaway, a piezo pickup and a 3-band EQ.

Who it suits

Players who play lead or fingerstyle and need upper fret access
Players who want a built-in tuner and 3-band EQ

Skip it if

You want a guitar under 4.6 lb
You want more than 3 EQ bands

It is a thin body cutaway guitar with a 25-inch scale length and 10 mm string spacing. It has a piezo pickup and a preamp with 3-band EQ, Mid Frequency control and a built-in tuner. It has an abalone rosette, chrome tuners and black ABS bridge pins. It weighs 4.6 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.

4Also Great

Taylor 24ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-electric Guitar

Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway not stated in the listing
Case or gig bag included
Body shape: Grand Auditorium
Top wood: Mahogany

9.1Spec score View on Amazon

It holds the Also Great label with a Grand Auditorium body, a mahogany top and ebony fingerboard.

Who it suits

Players who want a Grand Auditorium body and mahogany top
Players who want an ebony fingerboard and sapele back

Skip it if

You want a dreadnought body rather than Grand Auditorium
You want a spruce top rather than mahogany

It is a Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar with a mahogany top, sapele back and sides and a maple neck. It has an ebony fingerboard and 6 strings. It comes with Fishman electronics and a gig bag. Its color is natural.

5Also Great

Winzz Acoustic-Electric Guitar 4/4

Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included
Body shape: Dreadnought
Top wood: Spruce Wood

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It holds the Also Great label with a 41 inch dreadnought cutaway, a spruce top and a 4-band EQ.

Who it suits

Players who want a 41 inch dreadnought cutaway in sunburst
Players who want a kit with a padded bag and tuner

Skip it if

You want a guitar smaller than 41 inches
You want a body shape other than dreadnought

It is a 41 inch dreadnought cutaway guitar with a spruce top and a basswood back. It has a 4-band equalizer and 6 steel strings. The kit holds a padded bag, a strap, a tuner, a capo, spare strings, picks and a cable. Its model number is AF168CE-41-GSB.

Side by side

Product	Solid top	Built-in pickup / EQ	Cutaway	Case or gig bag included	Body shape	Top wood	Weight	Warranty
Jameson Guitars Full Size Thinline Acoustic Electric Guitar	Not stated	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not stated	Spruce	4.2 lb	90-day
Fender CD-60SCE All-Mahogany Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic Electric	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not stated	Dreadnought	Solid Mahogany	8.6 lb	2-year
Yamaha APX600M Thin Body Acoustic-Electric Guitar	Not stated	Yes	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4.6 lb	1 year
Taylor 24ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-electric Guitar	Not stated	Yes	Not stated	Yes	Grand Auditorium	Mahogany	Not stated	Not stated
Winzz Acoustic-Electric Guitar 4/4	Not stated	Yes	Yes	Yes	Dreadnought	Spruce Wood	Not stated	Not stated

How we ranked these acoustic guitars

Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.

Solid top weight 3
Built-in pickup / EQ weight 2
Cutaway weight 1
Case or gig bag included weight 1

Buying advice: acoustic electric guitar for intermediate player

Start with body shape and top wood

Body shape and top wood set the base for the choice. The Fender CD-60SCE is a dreadnought cutaway with a solid mahogany top and mahogany back and sides. The Taylor 24ce is a Grand Auditorium guitar with a mahogany top and sapele back and sides. The Jameson guitar and the Winzz guitar have spruce tops, and the Jameson guitar has a basswood body. Compare body shape first, then top wood, then the pickup system.

Check cutaway and pickup controls

A cutaway gives access to higher frets, and the pickup system decides how the guitar plugs in. The Jameson guitar, the Fender CD-60SCE, the Yamaha APX600M and the Winzz guitar have a cutaway and a built-in pickup and EQ. The Yamaha APX600M has a piezo pickup with 3-band EQ, Mid Frequency control and a built-in tuner. The Jameson guitar has a 4-band pickup and EQ, and the Winzz guitar has a 4-band equalizer. Compare the controls, then check the cable and amp you will use.

Check the kit and the weight

Kits and weight change what you carry home. The Jameson guitar kit holds a gig bag, a shoulder strap, an extra set of strings, three picks and a cable, and the guitar weighs 4.2 lb. The Winzz kit holds a padded bag, a strap, a tuner, a capo, spare strings, picks and a cable. The Yamaha APX600M weighs 4.6 lb, and the Fender CD-60SCE weighs 8.6 lb. Compare kit contents and weight before you choose.

Frequently asked questions

What does cutaway mean on a guitar?

A cutaway is a shape that gives access to higher frets. The Jameson guitar, the Fender CD-60SCE, the Yamaha APX600M and the Winzz guitar have a cutaway, and each has a built-in pickup and EQ. Check the body shape, then the pickup controls.

Which guitar here has a solid top?

The Fender CD-60SCE has a solid mahogany top with mahogany back and sides and a dreadnought cutaway. It has a Fishman pickup and preamp and weighs 8.6 lb. Check the top wood in the specs before you choose.

Does the Jameson guitar suit intermediate players?

Yes. The Jameson guitar is made for players at all levels, including intermediate players, with a full-size thinline cutaway and a spruce top. It has a 4-band pickup and EQ and comes as a kit with a gig bag.

What comes with the Winzz guitar kit?

The Winzz kit holds a padded bag, a strap, a tuner, a capo, spare strings, picks and a cable. The guitar is a 41 inch dreadnought cutaway with a spruce top and a 4-band equalizer. Its model number is AF168CE-41-GSB.