Your beginner guitar got you through your first chords. Now your playing has outgrown it, and you can hear where a cheap laminate top holds you back.
It’s time to step up, and a real intermediate acoustic guitar shows its worth most in the wood and the neck. A solid spruce top resonates in a way laminate never will, and a well-shaped neck makes barre chords and fingerstyle feel less like a fight.
We ranked eight acoustics here on tonewoods, build, playability, and value for someone moving up. Picks like the all-solid Yamaha LL16M and the comfortable Taylor Academy 12 sit near the top.
The chart below lines them all up side by side so you can compare specs at a glance.
Quick Comparison Chart
| # | Product | Our Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Yamaha LL16M Mahogany Acoustic-Electric | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 2 |  |
Taylor Academy 12 Grand Concert | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 3 |  |
PRS SE T40E Tonare Acoustic-Electric | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 4 |  |
Takamine GD93CE-NAT Dreadnought Cutaway | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 5 |  |
LAVA ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 6 |  |
Fender Malibu Classic Acoustic-Electric | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 7 |  |
Guild DS-240 Memoir Slope Shoulder | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 8 |  |
Gretsch G5031FT Rancher Dreadnought | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
All-Solid Builds Enter the Picture
The step-up is literal here: the Yamaha LL16M is all-solid wood with a torrefied top, the kind of spec beginner guitars never carry. The Taylor Academy 12 takes the comfort angle instead, with a built-in armrest you’ll miss on every other guitar.
Two left-field picks round it out: the carbon-fiber LAVA ME 2 with effects built into the body, and the Guild DS-240’s slope-shoulder dreadnought for vintage looks at the budget end.
1. Yamaha LL16M Mahogany Acoustic-Electric
Yamaha LL16M Mahogany Acoustic-Electric
All-solid jumbo with an A.R.E.-treated Engelmann spruce top and mahogany body for warm, powerful, broken-in tone.
Pros
- Solid Engelmann spruce top treated with A.R.E. for aged tone
- Solid mahogany back and sides add warmth and power
- Original jumbo body delivers strong projection
- SRT zero-impact pickup keeps amplified tone natural
Cons
- Jumbo body feels large for smaller players
- No cutaway for upper-fret access
Yamaha remains one of the most trusted names in instruments because their guitars are reliable, sturdy, and priced well below what the build suggests. The LL16M is big, bold, and beautiful, pairing a solid Engelmann spruce top with solid mahogany back and sides, and its A.R.E. torrefaction process ages the wood so the guitar sounds broken in from day one.
The original jumbo body throws serious volume, while the passive SRT pickup lets it shine plugged in without that brittle, processed tone. For most intermediate players, this is the easiest all-solid upgrade to recommend.
2. Taylor Academy 12 Grand Concert
Taylor Academy 12 Grand Concert
Beginner-to-intermediate Grand Concert with Taylor's renowned playability and a built-in armrest for comfort.
Pros
- Taylor-grade neck makes barre chords and fingerstyle easy
- Comfort armrest reduces strain over long sessions
- Balanced Grand Concert tone suits jazz and folk
- Excellent fit and finish for the price
Cons
- Layered back and sides, not all-solid
- Smaller body has less low-end volume
The Academy 12 is built specifically to carry players from their first guitar into more advanced playing, and Taylor’s reputation for craftsmanship and playability shows in every chord. Don’t let the smaller Grand Concert body fool you, because it produces a warm, balanced tone that rewards a lighter touch and suits jazz and folk beautifully.
The standout feature is the built-in armrest, an ergonomic touch that keeps your forearm comfortable through long practice and acoustic guitar playing sessions. It’s one of the most comfortable necks you can buy at this price.
3. PRS SE T40E Tonare Acoustic-Electric
PRS SE T40E Tonare Acoustic-Electric
Solid Sitka spruce top, ovangkol back and sides, Fishman GT1 electronics, and a PRS hard-shell case included.
Pros
- Solid Sitka spruce top for clear, projecting tone
- Ovangkol back and sides add rich midrange
- Fishman GT1 system sounds great plugged in
- Comes with a PRS hard-shell case
Cons
- Wide-fat neck takes adjustment
- Satin finish isn't for everyone
PRS earned its reputation building guitars that sound as good as they look, and the SE T40E is an all-business, no-nonsense instrument meant to be played and enjoyed. It pairs a solid Sitka spruce top with ovangkol back and sides for a clear, projecting voice with a rich midrange, and the Fishman GT1 electronics make it genuinely recording- and stage-ready.
Best of all, it ships in a PRS hard-shell case, so you’re protected from the moment it arrives. The Wide Fat neck takes a session to get used to but adds welcome stability and sustain.
4. Takamine GD93CE-NAT Dreadnought Cutaway
Takamine GD93CE-NAT Dreadnought Cutaway
Solid spruce dreadnought cutaway with a quilt-maple back and the versatile TK-40D preamp for stage work.
Pros
- Solid spruce top with rosewood and quilt-maple back
- TK-40D preamp adds tuner and 3-band EQ
- Cutaway opens up the upper frets
- Slim mahogany neck plays fast and easy
Cons
- Laminate back limits unplugged resonance
- A bit heavy for travel
The GD93CE is one of the most popular models in Takamine’s intermediate lineup, prized for full-bodied resonance and dependable stage performance. A solid spruce top sits over rosewood sides and a striking three-piece rosewood and quilt-maple back, and the onboard TK-40D preamp adds a tuner, three-band EQ, and a notch filter for serious versatility when you plug in.
The single cutaway opens up the upper frets so lead runs never feel cramped.
If your priority is plugging into a PA and sounding great, this is the pick.
5. LAVA ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar
LAVA ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar
Weatherproof 3.7-pound carbon-fiber unibody with a Plek'd neck and built-in FreeBoost effects, no amp needed.
Pros
- Carbon-fiber unibody resists heat and humidity
- Plek'd FlyNeck has low action and stays in tune
- FreeBoost L2 preamp adds reverb and delay unplugged
- Light 3.7 lb build is ideal for travel
Cons
- Premium price for the size
- Unconventional tone divides players
Carbon-fiber guitars have been around for decades, but LAVA’s ME 2 brings the concept fully up to date with a single-molded unibody that weighs just 3.7 pounds. Because it’s built from Super AirSonic carbon fiber, it shrugs off temperatures from minus 4 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity swings that would warp a wooden top, making it the ideal travel companion.
The Plek’d FlyNeck has minimal string height and stays remarkably in tune, while the FreeBoost L2 preamp adds reverb, delay, and chorus using the guitar’s own back as a speaker, no amp required. It’s pricey and the tone is unconventional, but nothing else here’s this portable.
6. Fender Malibu Classic Acoustic-Electric
Fender Malibu Classic Acoustic-Electric
Stylish small-body Malibu with a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a Fender-Fishman pickup.
Pros
- Solid spruce top over solid mahogany back and sides
- Fender-Fishman preamp is feedback-resistant on stage
- Slim-taper C neck is comfortable to play
- Eye-catching painted finishes with a gig bag included
Cons
- Small body yields less bass than a dreadnought
- Non-traditional looks are polarizing
The Malibu Classic is a stunning, non-traditional take on the acoustic that still delivers the performance you expect from Fender. It features a solid spruce top over solid mahogany back and sides for a rich, warm voice, plus a Fender- and Fishman-designed preamp that resists feedback even at higher stage volumes.
The slim-taper C-shaped neck and pau ferro fingerboard make it easy to handle, and the painted finishes with a matching headstock give it real visual personality. The smaller body means less low end than a dreadnought, but it’s a comfortable, stylish gigging companion.
7. Guild DS-240 Memoir Slope Shoulder
Guild DS-240 Memoir Slope Shoulder
Retro slope-shoulder dreadnought with a solid spruce top and mahogany body for warm, vintage tone.
Pros
- Solid spruce top delivers clear, warm tone
- Mahogany back and sides add cozy midrange
- Slope-shoulder body is comfortable to hold
- 1920s-inspired styling looks classy
Cons
- Lacks projection for larger venues
- No onboard electronics
Proudly part of Guild’s Westerly Memoir collection, the DS-240 is a retro slope-shoulder dreadnought that makes the transition to intermediate playing easy and inviting. Its solid spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides produces a tone that’s instantly warm, clear, and welcoming, almost as if it had been broken in over years of fireside strumming.
Vintage touches like the mother-of-pearl rosette and 1920s-inspired script logo give it a classy look that belies its budget price. There are no onboard electronics, and it lacks the projection for big rooms, but as an affordable solid-top upgrade it punches well above its weight.
8. Gretsch G5031FT Rancher Dreadnought
Gretsch G5031FT Rancher Dreadnought
Steampunk-styled dreadnought acoustic-electric with a rosewood fretboard and a distinctive, stage-ready look.
Pros
- Eye-catching design stands out on stage
- Sounds good acoustically and plugged in
- Sturdy braced top resists feedback
- Rosewood fretboard plays smoothly
Cons
- All-laminate build limits tone
- Heavier than most dreadnoughts
The G5031FT Rancher looks like a prop from a steampunk stage show, but it’s a genuinely fun-sounding acoustic-electric dreadnought that turns heads wherever it goes. The braced top holds up well and the guitar sounds solid both acoustically and plugged in, with a smooth rosewood fretboard that plays comfortably across genres from country to blues.
The all-laminate construction caps its unplugged resonance and adds some weight, so it sits at the bottom of this list on pure tone. Still, if you want a stage guitar with serious character and feedback resistance, the Rancher has a charm none of the others match.
Final Thoughts
For most players making the leap to intermediate, the Yamaha LL16M is the guitar to beat. Its all-solid construction and A.R.E.-treated top give you mature, broken-in tone and real projection for a price that undercuts comparable all-solid instruments, and the natural-sounding SRT pickup means it grows with you whether you’re practicing at home or playing out.
If you want the smoothest playing experience and a body that travels well, the Taylor Academy 12 and its built-in armrest are hard to top, while the PRS SE T40E delivers the best overall value with solid tonewoods, capable Fishman electronics, and a hard case in the box. Gigging players who live on stage should look hard at the Takamine GD93CE for its versatile preamp and cutaway access.
Finding the perfect guitar that matches your ability and your budget is never easy, and it can be tempting to keep coasting on your beginner instrument. But progress demands a good challenge, and when you’re ready for the next level, your guitar should be too.
Pick the one that fits your playing style, your hands, and your budget, and it’ll reward every hour you put into it.
