If you’re a street musician who’s looking for the best guitars for busking, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s review, I’m going to highlight 10 of the best and most affordable acoustic-electric guitars available on the market right now. Hopefully, this guide will help you to find a guitar for you and your style.
A few years ago I’ve been busking very frequently on the streets of United Kingdom. It was an amazing experience, but it made me realize that finding a good guitar for busking isn’t actually that easy. You need a guitar which sounds great while plugged in, but at the same time it has to be lightweight, affordable and durable. And that’s why it’s so challenging!
Still, it’s not impossible. The market is full of great and affordable instruments. Here’s the list of 10 best guitars for busking, so feel free to check it out below. In addition, if you’d like to hear how they all sound, scroll down to the next section – I included sound demos of all of these models.
10 Best Guitars For Busking – List
| Fender CD-60SCE | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Yamaha FGX800C | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Little Martin LX1E | See on Amazon | – |
| Cordoba C1M-CE | See on Amazon | – |
| Takamine GD30CE | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation CS28P-KOAB | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Fender FA-235E | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ibanez Talman TCY10E | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Taylor 110E | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ibanez Altstar ALT30 | See on Amazon | – |
1. Fender CD-60SCE
Fender CD-60SCE is one of the most popular acoustic-electric guitars offered by this legendary brand. Overall, it’s a great choice for both amateur and more advanced buskers – it sounds awesome and it’s not overly expensive.
The manufacturer equipped this guitar with a Fishman preamp, which features a really high quality. This is extremely important during busking – as a street musician, you need to sound as best as possible.
The CD-60SCE model has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. This combination of woods is very common at this price level and it guarantees a versatile and resonant tone. Whether you’re fingerpicking or strumming, you can be sure that it will sound really good.
Undoubtedly, Fender CD-60SCE is one of the best acoustic guitars for busking. I’m sure that a lot of guitarists are going to love it!
Here’s the official sound demo – feel free to check it out.
2. Yamaha FGX800C
Yamaha FGX800C is an another example of a high quality guitar that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars.
The guitar features a solid spruce top with nato back and sides. This mix of woods results with a really resonant and bright tone, which is perfect for fingerpicking and strumming. In addition, the cutaway body shape allows you to easily access the highest frets.
What’s important, the manufacturer equipped the FGX800C model with a high quality preamp which has a 3-band EQ and tuner. This is an absolute game-changer, because it allows you to quickly adjust you tone in a matter of seconds. I’m sure that a lot of buskers are going to love it!
I have to admit that I’m a big fan of acoustic guitars by Yamaha. Their quality is always on point and I never experienced any problem with their gear. Surely, the Yamaha FGX800C is one of the best guitars for busking.
Here’s the sound demo. Sounds pretty good, right?
3. Little Martin LX1E
Martin LX1 is an another affordable guitar suitable for both beginner and more intermediate buskers. In comparison with the previous two guitars on today’s list, the LX1 model is a bit smaller – and that’s why it’s perfect for busking!
The small and lightweight body of that guitar is a huge advantage. You can literally take that guitar anywhere with you, so it’s really useful if you’re a busker. And when it comes to sound, it’s actually pretty good! Obviously, it’s not as loud as regular-sized guitars, but when you plug it into an amp, there’s no difference.
Undoubtedly, a lot of street musicians are going to admire the Little Martin. Ed Sheeran loves that guitar, so it says a lot about that guitar! I have no hesitation to recommend that guitar to anyone who’s looking for a reliable and great sounding instrument suitable for busking.
Here’s the sound demo.
4. Cordoba C1M-CE
Cordoba C1M-CE is an another great guitar that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars. This is a classical guitar, so in comparison with previous models mentioned earlier, this model has nylon strings instead of steel.
This particular model sounds great especially for fingerstyle playing. If you like that kind of music and you’d like to become a street musician, the C1M-CE model will be an excellent choice.
The manufacturer decided to use a classic mix of woods for that guitar – it has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. In addition, it has a very comfortable and slim neck profile, which increases the overall playability.
Although the classical guitars are not for everyone, I’m sure that this guitar will be appealing to a lot of buskers out there. I definitely recommend checking it out! Considering its price, it’s definitely one of the best guitars for busking available on the market right now.
Here’s the sound demo.
5. Takamine GD30CE
Takamine GD30CE is an another extremely good acoustic-electric guitars suitable for street musicians. Although it’s a bit more expensive than other guitars on today’s list, it’s definitely worth it.
The GD30CE model features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. This selection of woods significantly improves the overall tone of that guitar. It can be described as rich and resonant and it works perfectly for both fingerpicking and strumming.
What’s important, it also has a Takamine TP-4D preamp system, which has a built-in tuner and a 3-band EQ. This gives you a lot of versatility when it comes to tone, so it’s an absolute game-changer for buskers.
In addition, it is also worth mentioning that Takamine GD30CE looks absolutely amazing from the outside. The quality of guitars by this manufacturer is very high and they really pay attention to all of the details.
Here’s the sound demo – I encourage you to check it out.
6. Ovation CS28P-KOAB
Ovation CS28P-KOAB is an another really good and affordable acoustic-electric guitar suitable for busking. It offers a very nice, mellow tone and it’s definitely one-of-a-kind.
If you haven’t heard about Ovation guitars before, I recently wrote a separate article about their best guitars. This is a really cool and quite often underrated brand, so I highly recommend checking out their gear.
The CS28P model is really easy to play and it features the OP-4BT preamp system, which has a built-in tuner and a 3-band EQ. This is a big advantage, especially for all the performers out there.
Although it’s not a cheap instrument, it definitely deserves to be called as one of the best guitars for busking. This model may not be as popular as other guitars by such brands as Takamine, Martin or Fender, but it definitely does the job very well and it sounds absolutely amazing.
Here’s the sound demo.
7. Fender FA-235E
Fender FA-235E is one of the most affordable acoustic-electric guitars on today’s list. Although it’s cheaper than some of the guitars mentioned above, it doesn’t mean that it’s worse!
The guitar features a durable laminate construction and a comfortable neck. Surely, even amateur buskers are going to enjoy playing on that model! In addition, it looks absolutely fantastic.
If you’re on a tight budget, the FA-235E model will definitely be a great choice for you. I definitely recommend checking it out.
Here’s the sound demo.
8. Ibanez Talman TCY10E
Ibanez Talman TCY10E is an another cheap acoustic-electric guitar perfect for buskers. Although it’s cheap, it sounds surprisingly good!
The guitar has a spruce top with sapele back and sides. As a result, it sounds very bright and resonant. Surely, it will be great for a really wide range of genres. Whether you’re into fingerpicking or strumming, the Talman TCY10E will be an excellent choice.
In addition, this model features a very interesting aesthetic. It doesn’t look like a regular acoustic guitar, so it will definitely draw a lot of attention while performing on the street.
Here’s the sound demo. Sounds pretty good, right?
9. Taylor 110E
Taylor 110E is one of the most expensive guitars on today’s list. It’s not cheap, but it offers an absolutely amazing value. Surely, it’s one of the best acoustic-electric guitars for busking.
What makes it so good? In general, the vast majority of guitars by Taylor are truly exceptional. This model is particularly great, because it features a solid Sitka spruce top with layered walnut back and sides. This mix of woods guarantees a unique playing experience.
What’s important, the 110E model is equipped with the Taylor’s Expression System 2 – an exclusive custom-designed electronics system which significantly improves the tone of that guitar when it’s plugged in.
Here’s the sound demo. I highly recommend checking it out!
10. Ibanez Altstar ALT30
Ibanez Altstar ALT30 is an another proof that a great acoustic-electric guitar for busking doesn’t have to be overly expensive. This guitar looks great, sounds great and it’s budget-friendly – who needs anything else?
The ALT30 model features a spruce top with sapele back and sides. In addition, there’s a high quality Fishman Sonicore preamp, which guarantees an excellent tone. Surely, all buskers are going to love that model!
Personally, I think that it’s one of the best looking guitars on today’s list. Considering its price, it’s definitely a great option for busking.
Here’s the sound demo. Sounds cool, right?
FAQ
Can I busk with just a guitar?
It’s totally possible to busk with just a guitar, but out of my experience it’s better to busk with a portable amp. It definitely makes you look more professional. On the other hand, it’s not always legal to use an amplifier.
Do you need an amp for busking?
Using an amp is not necessary for busking, but it’s recommended. If you decide to use an amp, more people will be able to hear you!
How do you power an amp when busking?
It all depends on what amp are you using. The vast majority of portable amps are battery powered, so in general you just need a few batteries and you’re ready to go.
How many watts do you need for busking?
If you want to busk with an amp, it’s recommended to use an amp that has up to 40 Watts of power. Most buskers are using small portable amps that have either 10 or 20 Watts.
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of great acoustic-electric guitars that can be considered as the best for busking. Whether you choose a cheap Yamaha or a more expensive Martin, you’ll definitely be happy with your choice. I highly recommend checking out all of the guitars from today’s list.
What do you think about busking and which guitar would you choose? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
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