What's A Good Acoustic Electric $400 or less?

I'm looking to eventually purchase a new acoustic electric guitar for $400.00 or less. I'm either wanting a darker finish or another color such as black, or blue. I don't care for the natural finish look. So I'm looking for suggestions as to what would be good to purchase in this price range. Thanks for your help.

Hollowbody guitars are harder to build, so they tend to cost more than a solid body axe with similar pickups and hardware.

To get decent quality at that price, you have your best chance of success in the used market. Prowl around the used gear section of every music shop you can get to. This will help you get some idea of what's availbale, and what you want/don't want.

Check eBay several times day while you're at it. There are some absolute gems available for those with persistence and luck.

Mexican strat, try before you buy and it is possible to get a really nice axe for not much dollar. It is also possible to get a real turd so do try the axe you are going to purchase

I don't think a Strat would be classified as an acoustic electric, but that does remind me of another Fender model that might do very nicely - a Thinline Telecaster. Lightweight, very playable, and they do have a certain cachet!

I'm pretty sure he's talking about a regular acoustic guitar equiped with a piezo pickup a.k.a. a semi-acoustic.

I just bought a wonderful Carvin acoustic for around that price, no pickup though... For the rest I'm not very knowledgable about acoustic guitars...

I was thinking along the lines of Gibson ES-335 clones, or jazz boxes.

So what about the Ovation Celebrity models or any of Ibanez for around $400? I mean I could spend another $100 if that might make a big differance. It's good to see the all the feedback in this forum.

That will serve me right for not reading the post properly ! I have a thin line tele and I cant say Id recommend it. It was also about 700 USD new (even though it was mexican ) and plays like a cow. I have it set up for slide at the moment which is Ok but, if it is an acoustic you are after you could try for a second hand Alvarez. Some of there models come with a pizo bridge as standard. With mine you have to be careful of the strings you use. Phosphobronze sound really muddy however the standard bronze sound great !

I have a Ibanez AEF 30 that sounds good. It has fishman pickup and a eq on board. Paid $400 new.

OVATION RULES!!!!

(sorry, my opinions got the best of me)

hate to burst your bubble ace... a friend of mine has a black ovation..
plays really really nice but plug it in and it sounds very thin and tinny. the EQ doesn't even help. He had to go buy a dean markley pro mag gold and that still has a funny sound.

I have an acoustic Takamine GS-330S with a cedar top, sounds great.. I bring it up because I was too cheap to spring for a Seagull acoustic electric. That thing sounded awesome!!!! looked great, sounded great but it was $470usd plus tax would have put me over th $500 mark... don't get me wrong, I LOVE my takamine but if I had to do it again, I'd have waited and gotten the seagull.... But I do have to tell you that they only come in the natural colors or a sunburst which is rather nice.


http://www.seagullguitars.com/productlisting.htm

Originally Posted by: spanky10940hate to burst your bubble ace... a friend of mine has a black ovation..
plays really really nice but plug it in and it sounds very thin and tinny. the EQ doesn't even help.

I probably said that cuz I mic my acoustic, I can plug it in, but I like micing better. When I do use it plugged in, I use a hoard of effects, so I can see why you guys wouldn't like them.

I have a celebrity, green finish, georgous!