You are currently viewing 51 Acoustic Guitars With Tuner – And My 3 Favorites

Last Updated on April 28, 2023 by Teemu Suomala

Tuning is a necessary evil of guitar playing. And because of that, it’s smart to make it as easy as possible…

Enter: Acoustic Guitars With Built-In Tuner.

Having your acoustic equipped with a workable and accurate tuner make your guitar-playing journey soo much easier. You don’t have to grab your phone, look for a clip-on tuner you once again lost, etc. If you got your acoustic guitar, you also got your tuner. Awesome.

I personally love when an acoustic guitar has a built-in tuner. It’s super handy. And this is why I was pumped to put together this article that gathers the cream of the crop acoustic guitars with tuners together. I also reveal which ones of these guitars are my absolute favorites. I also tackle some FAQs related to built-in tuners.

Let’s tune in and start!

photo reveals owner of guitaristnextdoor.com

Author: Teemu Suomala

I first grabbed the guitar in 2009. I started this website in January 2020 because I couldn’t do window installation anymore due to my health problems. I also noticed that most guitar websites don’t do a really good job, so I decided to just go for it! I got lucky and managed to get awesome people to help me with my website. I also got lucky because I have you visiting my website right now. Thank you. I do all this for you guys. If you have any recommendations, tips, or feedback, just leave a comment, I would love to chat with you. I have been fortunate to produce content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar. I spend my spare time exercising and hanging out with my wife and crazy dog(I guess that went the right way…).


How to Know If Acoustic Guitar Has A Built-In Tuner?

Displays Built In Tuner of An Acoustic Guitar
Built-in Preamp, EQ settings, and tuner of an acoustic guitar.

A built-in tuner is usually really easy to spot on acoustic guitars. It’s located at the side of the acoustic guitar as you can see from the image above. In some guitars, tuner and preamp systems can be located from the shoulder (still at the side of the guitar) of an acoustic guitar.

Most acoustic guitar preamp systems use 9V battery as a power source.

It should be noted that some guitars, although it is rare, have tuners inside of the soundhole. See one from the photo below:

Displays Inisde of the soundhole built in tuner of Martin D-12E Koa
Inside of the soundhole tuner of Martin D-12E Koa. Image credit: Sweetwater

51 Acoustic Guitars With Tuner

If you are after an acoustic guitar that costs around $200, has really slim and narrow neck, offers good all-around tones, and comes with solid electronics and a tuner, Ibanez PF15 is a great option.

Price Range Icon Meanings:

$= $130-299

$$= $300-599

$$$= $600-899

$$$$= $900-1199

$$$$$= $1200-

*Consider all links in this post to be affiliate links. If you purchase, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission. It helps us to keep the lights on, thanks! 🙂

ModelElectronicsTop MaterialPrice RangeCheck Current Price (affiliate links)
Harley Benton CLD-60SCE NT Custom Line – Cheapest Acoustic Guitar With TunerHB-03 preamp with integrated tunerSolid Spruce$Thomann*
Washburn Vintage Series WA90CEVSBBarcus Berry LX4 with TunerLaminated Linden$Sweetwater
Ibanez PN12EAEQ-2T Preamp W/ Onboard TunerLaminated Sapele$Sweetwater
Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK – Cheapest Classical Guitar With TunerHB-03 pickup system with built-in tunerSolid Spruce$Thomann
Yamaha APXT2 3/4-size Thin-line Cutaway – Great Travel Acoustic GuitarSystem 68 with ART 1-way Contact PickupLaminated Spruce$Sweetwater
D’Angelico Premier Gramercy LSD’Angelico MG-30 Preamp with TunerLaminated Mahogany$SweetwaterThomann
Ibanez PF15ECE – Excellent Budget Acoustic Guitar for Small HandsIbanez under-saddle pickup, AEQ2T preamp with onboard tunerLaminated Spruce$SweetwaterThomann
Ibanez AAD50CE AdvancedIbanez AEQ-TP2 Preamp with TunerSolid Sitka Spruce$SweetwaterThomann
Yamaha CGX102 Classical – Cheap Classical Guitar With TunerSystem 68N with TunerLaminated Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Ibanez AW54CEIbanez T-bar undersaddle with AEQ-TP2 Preamp, TunerSolid Okoume$$Sweetwater
Ibanez Talman TCM50 – Plays Like An Electric GuitarAEQ2-TM preamp with built-in Tuner, AP2 PickupFigured Ash (laminated)$$SweetwaterThomann
Yamaha FGX800C DreadnoughtYamaha System-66 with TunerSolid Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Fender Malibu Player – Best Budget Fender Acoustic GuitarFishman CD-1 Preamp with TunerSolid Sitka Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Epiphone J-45 EC StudioFishman Presys Preamp with TunerSolid Sitka Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Ovation Applause AE44-7S Mid-depth – Excellent Plugged-In Acoustic GuitarCE304T Preamp with TunerLayered Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Yamaha APX600 Thin-line Cutaway – Great Acoustic Guitar for Small HandsSystem 65A Preamp with Piezo Pickup, Built-in TunerLaminated Sitka Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Yamaha CGX122MS – Best Budget Classical GuitarSystem 73 with TunerSolid Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Ibanez AW5412CE – Cheap 12-String Acoustic Guitar With Built-In TunerIbanez T-bar undersaddle with AEQ-TP2 Preamp with TunerSolid Okoume$$SweetwaterThomann
Gretsch G5024E Rancher Dreadnought – Best Acoustic Guitar For BluesFishman Sonicore Pickup and Isys + Preamp System with TunerSolid Spruce$$Sweetwater
Epiphone J-200EC Studio – Best Overall Epiphone With A Tuner – Check Our Favorite Epiphone Acoustics HereFishman Presys with Sonicore Pickup with TunerSolid Spruce$$SweetwaterThomann
Taylor Baby Taylor BT1e Walnut – Best BudgetES-B with TunerSolid Sitka Spruce$$Sweetwater
Cordoba C5-CET Thinline – Great ClassicalFishman Isys+ with onboard TunerSolid Canadian Cedar$$SweetwaterThomann
Alvarez AF66CESHB Artist 66 Folk – Great for Electric Players LR Baggs StagePro EQ with Element Pickup with TunerSolid African Mahogany$$$Sweetwater
Breedlove ECO Discovery S Concert CEFishman Presys I with TunerSolid Western Red Cedar$$$Sweetwater
Yamaha A1M Dreadnought CutawaySRT system preamp with undersaddle pickup with TunerSolid Sitka Spruce$$$SweetwaterThomann
Ovation Elite Celebrity – Great for RecordingOP-4CT Preamp with Ovation Slimline Pickup with TunerSolid Spruce$$$SweetwaterThomann
Takamine GN20CETakamine TP-4TD Preamp with Built-In TunerSolid Cedar$$$SweetwaterThomann
Fender Newporter Special Great Fender Acoustic GuitarFender/Fishman Preamp System with Tuner, Phase and EQSolid Mahogany$$$SweetwaterThomann
Gretsch G5022CWFE Rancher Falcon Jumbo CutawayFishman Sonicore and Isys+ Preamp with TunerSolid Spruce$$$SweetwaterThomann
Takamine GD30CE-12, 12-StringTP-4TD with TunerSolid Spruce$$$SweetwaterThomann
Taylor Baby Taylor BTe-KoaES-B with TunerSolid Hawaiian Koa$$$SweetwaterThomann
Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE – Best Under $1000 Acoustic Guitar for FingerstyleFishman PresysSolid Myrtlewood$$$Sweetwater
Takamine GN93CE NEX – Best Overall – More Great Takamine’s HereTakamine TK-40D Preamp with Built-In TunerSolid Spruce$$$SweetwaterThomann
Taylor Academy 10eES-B with TunerSolid Sitka Spruce$$$SweetwaterThomann
Seagull Guitars S6 Cedar Original Presys II – Offers Excellent Value for The MoneyFishman Presys II with TunerSolid Cedar$$$SweetwaterThomann
Ovation Mod TX Super ShallowOP Pro Preamp with OCP-1K pickup with TunerSolid Spruce$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Ibanez ACFS580CEIbanez DP1 preamp with TunerSolid Alpine Spruce$$$$Sweetwater
Martin SC-10E – Tuner Inside of The SoundholeFishman MX-TSolid Spruce$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Takamine P1NCCT4B II with TunerSolid Cedar$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Martin D-12E Koa – Tuner Inside of The SoundholeFishman MX-TSolid Spruce$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Takamine Thinline TSP138CTBPalathetic with TunerSolid Spruce$$$$$Sweetwater
Martin SC-13E – Tuner Inside of The SoundholeFishman MX-TSolid Spruce$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Takamine P3NY New Yorker – Best Premium Parlor Guitar With A TunerCT4B II with tunerSolid Cedar$$$$$Sweetwater
Takamine P3DCCT4B II with tunerSolid Cedar$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Takamine Legacy EF508KCCT4B II Preamp System with 3-band EQ, Built-in Tuner, and Palathetic Under-Saddle PickupSolid Figured Koa$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Takamine TC132SC Nylon String – Best Premium Classical Guitar With A TunerCTP-3 Cool Tube 12AU7 preamp system with 3-band EQ and TunerSolid Cedar$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Alvarez Yairi WY1LR Baggs StagePro with Element Pickup with TunerSolid AA Western Red Cedar$$$$$Sweetwater
Takamine JJ325SRC-12 John JorgensonCT4B II Preamp with Palathetic Undersaddle Pickup with TunerSolid Spruce$$$$$Sweetwater
Takamine TSP178ACKN – Best PremiumPalathetic with TunerSolid Arched Hawaiian Koa$$$$$Sweetwater
Gibson Acoustic Songwriter Standard EC – Check Our Favorite Gibson Acoustics HereFishman Prefix Plus-T Preamp, Under Saddle Pickup with tunerSolid Sitka Spruce$$$$$SweetwaterThomann
Ovation Adamas MD80 Cutaway Mid-depth The Best Ovation GuitarOP Pro Studio with TunerUltra-thin Carbon Fiber$$$$$SweetwaterThomann

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3 Best Acoustic Guitars With Tuner

Best Budget – Taylor Baby Taylor BT1e Walnut

What I like

  • 3/4 sized body and 22.75″ scale length make playing smooth
  • Ebony fingerboard
  • Solid Sitka spruce top for a clear and articulate tone
  • Comes with a durable, rugged gig bag
  • Offers the Taylor sound
  • Great playability, comfortable neck
  • Real Taylor at an affordable price
  • Tusq nut & saddle for this price is amazing

What I don’t like

  • Laminated back and sides

Who is it for?

The wood combination, use of Tusq nut & saddle, and great overall quality make this Taylor a killer budget acoustic guitar with a built-in tuner. If all this sounds good, I recommend at least trying this comfortable to play & high-value acoustic guitar out.

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Best Overall – Takamine GN93CE NEX

What I like

  • Its acoustic sound is rich and bright and suitable for any style of music
  • Some of the most transparent electronics at this price
  • Quality tonewoods that add to the beauty and durability
  • Playability is next to none when set up properly
  • Great quality electronics

What I don’t like

  • Sometimes subject to poor quality control due to China-based manufacturing
  • Synthetic bone nut/saddle are a bummer but definitely don’t ruin the guitar

Who is it for?

The Takamine GN93CE is a well-built and great-sounding guitar that isn’t designed for a specific need…It offers a versatile tonal quality and an innovative form factor that makes it ideal for any style from folk, bluescountry to bluegrass, acoustic rock, and fingerstyle.

The highlighting aspects of this guitar are its comfy NEX body, easy-to-play neck, gorgeous 3-piece back, and brilliant pickup system. If you are after a versatile and comfortable to play acoustic guitar with great-quality electronics, this Takamine is worth testing.

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Best Premium – Takamine TSP178ACKN

What I like

  • Solid Arched Hawaiian Koa top and Hawaiian Koa back & sides provide warm, and articulate sound with a nice sparkling tone in it
  • Made for playing plugged in and recording
  • Bone nut and saddle
  • Slim & narrow Slender C shaped neck feels really comfortable to play
  • Great all-around quality
  • Body feels comfy

What I don’t like

  • Expensive

Who is it for?

If you are after

  • a premium thin-body acoustic guitar that has a built-in tuner,
  • sounds great unplugged but shines when plugged in,
  • is comfortable to play,
  • and has a slim & comfortable neck and body…

…Takamine TSP178ACKN is a great option. Also, dunno if you noticed, it’s one of the most stunning acoustics I have ever seen.

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FAQ

Are Built-In Acoustic Guitar Tuners Worth It?

Almost always, built-in acoustic guitar tuners are worth it. I have played tons of acoustic guitars and I have never played an electric-acoustic guitar that had a tuner so bad that it was not worth using. That reveals a lot.

Are Built-In Guitar Tuners Accurate?

Built-in tuners of acoustic guitars are usually accurate. Sure, some cheapest acoustic guitars might come with somewhat inaccurate built-in tuners, but those are almost always as good as tuner apps you can download to your smartphone. As I said earlier, I have never used a built-in tuner that was completely unusable.

1 thing not going in the built-in tuner’s way is the fact that they can pick up both, the sound coming from the strings and the vibration of the body. This can make them and clip-on tuners less accurate than high-quality external tuners used with a cable.

How Well Do Built-In Acoustic Guitar Tuners Work?

Built-in acoustic guitar tuners usually work really well and smoothly. Usually, the most annoying thing you can come up with is that the tuner’s battery runs out. That’s why it’s wise to have a tuner app installed on your smartphone as a backup.

Sometimes built-in tuners can break, especially if the acoustic is under rugged use. Annoying, but always the owner’s own fault.

I have heard and read some guitarists complaining that their cheap acoustic guitar’s built-in tuner is not the most accurate. And while this might be true, it’s also true that don’t expect the world from your budget acoustic guitars.

Can You Tune An Electric Guitar With An Acoustic Tuner?

In most cases, built-in acoustic guitar tuners use the same method of capturing the pitch of a guitar as normal clip-on tuners or tuner apps on your smartphone, which is via a microphone. This is why you can tune an eclectic guitar with the built-in tuner of an acoustic guitar.

You should note that if you are tuning your electric guitar unplugged using this method, you might not get the best results since the sound coming out of your electric guitar is really quiet. To get a better result, plug your electric guitar into your amp and use the clean settings/channel and start tuning! Of course, most amplifiers do also have a tuner, so using the amps tuner is a lot simpler method to tune your electric guitar.

I also personally think that just using a tuner app on your smartphone to tune your electric guitar is an easier and as accurate method as using the built-in tuner of your acoustic guitar.

Companies Creating Built-In Tuners

There are several companies that create preamp systems that also include a tuner. Here’s a few of them:

  • Fishman (most common)
  • LR Baggs
  • Barcus Berry
  • Artec
  • Belcat

Guitar Brands Manufacturing Acoustic Guitars With Buil-In Tuners

Most guitar brands manufacturing acoustic guitars also manufacture acoustic guitars with built-in tuners. Some of these brands create their own preamp systems with a tuner and some brands use preamp systems with a tuner from preamp manufacturers (such as Fishman or LR Baggs).

Here are some great brands manufacturing acoustic guitars with built-in tuners:

  • Yamaha (creates own preamps with a tuner)
  • Ibanez (creates own preamps with a tuner)
  • Taylor (creates own preamps with a tuner)
  • Gibson
  • Takamine (creates own preamps with a tuner)
  • Epiphone
  • Ovation
  • Fender
  • Washburn
  • Harley Benton (creates own preamps with a tuner)
  • D’Angelico (creates own preamps with a tuner)
  • Cordoba
  • Martin
  • Gretsch
  • Breedlove
  • Seagull
  • Alvarez

If you want to learn more about pickup systems of acoustic guitars, check this guide we made for you: 4 Types of Acoustic Guitar Pickups – Which One You Should Choose?

Why Many High-End Acoustic Guitars Don’t Have Electronics or Built-In Tuners?

Many high end acoustic guitars are created respecting the traditional style of guitar building and usually don’t have all the bells and whistles the guitar market has to offer. Also, creators of high end acoustic guitars want that the guitar vibrates as freely as it can and that it offers natural resonance. Built-in tuners can be on the way of achieving the best results regarding the resonance of an instrument.


Conclusion on Acoustic Guitars With Tuners

We just glanced at some super-amazing acoustic guitars. The top-notch instruments. Best of the best acoustic guitars with tuners. Look, I can tolerate an amazing acoustic guitar without a tuner, but it’s always even better to have a tuner built-in to your guitar.

I hope this article helped you out, and maybe you even decided to get one of the guitars featured. If you have any questions, leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.

Now go, my son, and Rock (remember to tune first)!

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Teemu Suomala

I first grabbed the guitar in 2009. I started this website in January 2020 because I couldn’t do window installation anymore due to my health problems. I also noticed that most guitar websites don’t do a really good job, so I decided to just go for it! I got lucky and managed to get awesome people to help me with my website. I also got lucky because I have you visiting my website right now. Thank you. I do all this for you guys. If you have any recommendations, tips, or feedback, just leave a comment, I would love to chat with you. I have been fortunate to produce content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar. I spend my spare time exercising and hanging out with my wife and crazy dog(I guess that went the right way…). Expertise: guitar learning techniques, electric guitars, and guitar amplifiers. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or just email me.

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