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  1. Guitars
  2. Acoustic Guitars

7 of the best: high volume acoustic guitars

News
By Guitarist ( Guitarist ) published 12 May 2015

Acoustic guitar sound live on-stage at high levels? Here are some options...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Cort Sunset NY

Cort Sunset NY

Compared to the trillions of affordable classical and even entry level electro- cutaways, this thinline cutaway electro-nylon is quite a rare bird but is a good choice for high-volume situations with its chambered mahogany body and spruce top.

The electro side is handled by a B-Band A11 Sound System with top-placed, electric-like volume and treble and bass EQ controls. A very affordable way to get a little Latin into a loud band setting.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG110S

Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG110S

With a solid wood centre section and a guitar-shaped outline frame there’s no way this incredibly modern guitar can feed back and it has been used by some big names in big venues despite being designed as a silent ‘practice’ guitar.

It also features onboard digital effects and a headphone out for the aforementioned silent practice, while nylon-string versions - the SLG130NW and SLG110N with classic and narrow width necks - are available too.

BUY: Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG110S currently available from:
UK: DV247

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Godin Multiac Steel Duet Ambiance

Godin Multiac Steel Duet Ambiance

The original Godin Acousticaster was a thinline, almost Telecaster-shaped electro designed for stage use.

The Multiac range expanded on that concept with, initially, nylon strings then a plethora of steel-string models, often with synth access for the more adventurous.

The Multiac Steel Duet Ambiance features four individual Fishman Aura ‘mic’ images and under-saddle transducer as well as a dual-source preamp with feedback control.

BUY: Godin Multiac Steel Duet Ambiance currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Taylor T5 Classic

Taylor T5 Classic

A true, braced-top hollowbody design, the thinline T5 has soundboard and neck-placed transducers, which give the guitar a surprisingly accurate acoustic voice when it’s plugged in.

What’s more, you also get a Taylor magnetic pickup close to the bridge, and all can be selected by a five-way selector switch and shoulder-mounted volume and treble and bass EQ controls.

The T5 Classic is a great way of adding some electric sounds into your acoustic set, or a good electro for higher volume situations.

BUY: Taylor T5 Classic currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Italia Mondial Classic

Italia Mondial Classic

‘What on earth is an electric guitar doing in an acoustic round-up?’ You may well be thinking... and quite right, too. However, Italia’s funky retro-inspired Mondial is one of many electric instruments with both magnetic electric sounds and piezo acoustic-like sounds onboard.

This might not be the most ‘accurate’ acoustic sound we’ve ever heard from an electric guitar, but especially in a larger band setting it can certainly add acoustic texture... and you’ll get noticed!

We said: "If you're looking more for electric than acoustic and aren't put off by its eccentricities, the Mondial is well worth checking out."

4 out of 5

Read our full Italia Mondial Classic review

BUY: Italia Mondial Classic currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
PRS Hollowbody II

PRS Hollowbody II

Another electric guitar, but a very different animal to the Italia. PRS’s innovative Hollowbody originally offered the PRS/LR Baggs-designed piezo system as an option; now it’s standard on both the double-cut and single-cut models.

Again, a fully hollow thinline body - the top and back are joined only by a block under the bridge to prevent feedback - it’s very versatile instrument, not least for the jazzier player wanting a little acoustic-like texture. One of the best acoustic sounds on an electric we’ve heard.

BUY: PRS Hollowbody II currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
LTD TL-6

LTD TL-6

The TL-6 looks like a slightly enlarged ESP Eclipse: the back is routed out, leaving sides, a centre block under the acoustic-like bridge, and a pocket for the glued-in neck. It's capped with a maple top, with sizeable 'slash' soundhole and bound edges.

This is an ideal guitar to run through your pedalboard and create acoustic-textured 'electric' sounds; its boundaries are your imagination. We can't help thinking an additional magnetic pickup version would blur the lines even more.

We said: "At this price, the TL-6 could not only be an ideal onstage electro for loud scenarios but also a source of left-field, treated 'acoustic' tones."

4 out of 5

Read our full LTD TL-6 review

BUY: LTD TL-6 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
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