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Have you always wanted to improve your guitar playing skills, but your small hands keep getting in your way? Well, guitars with thin necks will light up your way to fame. Not only do they make guitar playing easy, but they give you more control as you play.
Commonly, electric guitars are famous for their small necks, and hence presumed to be friendlier and better for little hands. In reality, however, the neck size difference between electric and acoustic guitars is almost negligible. Our review will discuss the three best acoustic guitars.
Their thin neck ensures your hand has more space to stretch, and more leverage. Thus, you won’t be straining when you press the strings. There are several thin necked acoustic guitars in the market, some being inexpensive, and some which will cost you an arm.
While our guide won’t cover all acoustic guitars that have thin necks, we have picked three that offer high value. Before deciding which guitar to settle for, you need to know some factors to consider.
Buyer’s Guide: Factors to Consider When Buying A Slim Neck Acoustic Guitar
Neck Shape & Thickness
One of the important factors to consider when buying an acoustic guitar is the neck shape. The thinner the neck, the more convenient it would feel to your left hand. The thinness of the neck, of course, refers to the neck’s width at the nut. This thinness plays a crucial role in the level of playability of the guitar. It also determines how easily a guitarist can access the frets and form those complex chords that necessitate stretched finger positions.
Comfortability Level
Most beginner guitar players prefer to play with the thin necked guitar because of its comfortability level. You can play and practice those fingers-stretching and complex chords with the slimmer neck acoustic guitar more comfortable and effortless.
Tone
Unlike electric guitars whose sound is affected by effect pedals, amp, and pickup, acoustic guitars create the sound produced within itself. This means that the size of the neck does affect the sound. The slimmer the neck is, the brighter the tone and the higher the clarity.
Therefore, always check for the size of the neck before settling for a guitar.
Scale length
A shorter scale length means the closer the frets will be to each other. Therefore, guitars with small scale lengths make it easy and comfortable for those will small hands. They won’t need to stretch beyond their comfort to play some chords and notes, thus playing the guitar will be more enjoyable.
Dreadnought
Dreadnought guitars have been in the market since the early 1930s, and they are most popular in acoustic guitars. They have large and broad bodies, hence ideal for projection when playing. They are a suitable choice for anyone seeking a big sound with low ends.
Top 5 Thin Neck Acoustic Guitars
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1) Ibanez AEG 10 II Electric Acoustics Guitar
If you are a beginner in playing guitar, you will find the Ibanez AEG 10 II a great thin neck guitar to start with. It is a cutaway acoustic-electric guitar that comes with a solid body. It is designed for greater comfort and playability. It also comes with a smart design and very fine craftsmanship.
The Ibanez AEG 10 II is made of laminated materials like spruce for its soundboard. Its back and sides, however, are made of mahogany. Its thin neck is perfect for beginners in guitar playing. Its cutaway design adds to its visual snappiness.
This acoustic guitar allows you to move from lower frets to higher frets with ease. Its slim body measures 3 1/4″ at its deepest, compared to the standard 4″ flattop. It is also 19 1/4″ long. Its body is 15″ at its widest.
Given its dimensions, you can easily tinker with this guitar and cradle it comfortably. You will also immediately feel its great balance. You will also feel its great playability, whether you are standing or seated.
The good thing about the AEG10II is that it comes factory set. It comes with low action and plays dreamily. It is so easy to play, and if you tend to spend much time on the higher frets, you will find this guitar pretty much easy to deal with. It also comes with clear and robust sound, although not as detailed as the solid wood guitar.
2) Alvarez Artist Series AD60 Dreadnought Guitar
What if I told you there is a mid-range guitar that offers a captivating and incredibly beautiful sound without breaking a bank? That’s the Alvarez AD60, a guitar suitable for musicians and artists facing budgetary constraints.
The high-quality construction depicts masterful and well-thought-of structure. It features a Sitka spruce top that has been carefully selected by its manufacturers. This spruce top enjoys the support of solid mahogany and ivory IBS sides which hold the guitar together.
Not only does is its construction well thought of, but it is also well thought of to ensure durability, You can rely on this guitar for years.
One glance at the guitar is enough to scream quality. The hand-sanded quality and unique finish make it stand out. It also has a radical scalloped bracing which offers additional support. Its lifetime limited-warranty speaks a lot for its quality and durability.
With a neck of mahogany and rosewood fretboard uniquely designed to be accessible and thin, it is a suitable option for anyone with small hands. The design ensures you get comfortable and have a pleasurable experience as you play.
Its abalone inlay and mother will further make your playing experience fun of pearls, which makes holding and playing this guitar fulfilling. The adjustable truss rod is a fun DIY that offers flexibility but could be tedious for some.
It is quite an exceptional guitar that produces high-quality mesmerizing sounds that will not only make it pleasurable to play but will also make your audience fall in love with the rich, clear sound.
3) Fender FA-115 Acoustic Guitar
At the top of our list is a Fender FA-115. Fender guitars have always been there to see new artists through, but this time they made an exceptional breakthrough with their FA-115. It is an affordable yet enjoyable guitar. Like other Fender guitars, it offers more features for its cost.
FA-115 has a solid spruce top, which makes it durable. Its sports-laminated back and sides are worth considering for anyone who loves laminated hardwood fretboards. Being comfortable to hold and the size being ideal for many, expect to play this guitar for hours without getting tired or uncomfortable.
Unlike other guitars retailing for the same price, Fender FA-115 stands out because of its sound. It produces quite a noticeable sound. Its high-quality sound is the product of a dreadnought body and solid top. Expect a clear, loud, and strong sound from this guitar.
Its simple design makes it both attractive and functional. Moreover, its playability matches other high-end guitars due to its neck design. It has a thin neck that makes it effortless to move your hand along. Therefore, you won’t tire easily, and your hands won’t end up irritated after playing it.
The Fender FA-115 is a great product, offering high-end features and high-quality sound at an affordable rate.
4) Ovation Celebrity Elite Plus
Another great choice—if you are looking for an acoustic guitar with a thin neck—is the Ovation Celebrity Elite Plus. It is a nice affordable guitar. It comes with a thin neck and body.
You may expect that, since this guitar has a thin neck and body, it will not sound good. Yet, despite its thin body and neck, it still has a bright tone that you would like. Moreover, you can hear well its low tones.
The Ovation Celebrity comes with a shallow cutaway body that comes with a shallow bowl back. It also features a figured Koa Top along with Sunburst finish. It also features a Nato neck along with satin finish. Its rosewood fingerboard comes with 25.25″ scale length. It also features an OP-4BT preamp along with three-band EQ, onboard tuner, volume/gain control, and low battery light.
One thing that differentiates this guitar from others is that it does not have the usual sound hole that is usually located at the center of the guitar’s body. Yet, it has little sound holes on its body’s outer portion.
5) Kona K2 Acoustic-Electric Dreadnought Cutaway Guitar
Like the Fender FA-115, the Kona K2 offers more features for its price. While its neck may be thicker than others, it measures up by having a sturdy construction, thus making it durable and solid to hold.
If you have extremely small hands than others, this could be the perfect guitar for you. It has a small body that makes it suitable for small people to hold. However, it will produce a slightly thinner sound compared to other guitars.
The thin sound could be bright, hence producing that spark for a rock and roll band, which often play music at top volumes. See? Sometimes our disadvantage can be an advantage to someone else.
Its great pickup sound makes it stand out. The three-band equalizers offer flexibility and versatility. Don’t be constrained to just one mode. It, therefore, comes in handy for anyone looking to play live.
If its asymmetrical headstock and stylish bridge that adds a touch of class don’t excite you, then nothing will. The classic elegant appearance will probably lead you to believe it is worth more than its tag.
DIY revolutionaries will fall in love with the Kona K2 since the truss rod is adjustable. Also, it might require some setting up. However, if you are unable to adjust it, you can always seek expert services.
Unfortunately, its sound quality doesn’t meet most expert requirements. Nonetheless, the sound it produces at its price is more than satisfactory.
Conclusion
Your search for a thin neck-acoustic guitar is now over with our three best options above. You don’t need to worry about getting poor sound when buying an affordable acoustic guitar. These guitars will ensure you stay comfortable as you play.
Our “factors to consider section” will keep you in check as depending on your needs. The three main factors to check out for are the tone, scale length, and dreadnought.
Remember, even after acquiring the best guitar, you should consider setting it up correctly, or else your efforts will have been in vain. A proper setup ensures you play it comfortably and makes it easy to move around with the guitar too.
If you still don’t know what you are looking for in a guitar, consider consulting a local guitar tech. You can also ask for better knowledge of string and setup types that will work for you.
We all have different needs and different body sizes. Any of the above three recommendations will set you in the right direction. Happy playing, folks!
Frequently Asked Questions
Beginners and tyros in guitar playing are usually beset with many questions regarding the type of guitar that they should use. Thus, to further learn about the most appropriate guitar for beginners, it is best to consider the following FAQs about guitars for small hands:
Do Smaller Necks Affect the Natural Resonance of the Guitars?
Many guitarists say that smaller-necked guitars do not necessarily mean less resonance. Yet, the contrary may be the foregone conclusion of many. But when it comes to resonance, it is the body of the guitar that plays well in the resonance of the guitar. Moreover, the tonewood type also plays well in the resonance of an acoustic guitar.
The neck does not have much effect on the tone of the guitar. If you are still worried about whether small or thin neck affects the resonance of the guitar, you can then put that worry aside for small neck doesn’t have so much effect on the resonance of an acoustic guitar.
What is the Ideal Guitar for Pudgy Little Fingers and Hands?
You should consider many factors when buying an acoustic guitar, especially if you are just beginning to learn the guitar and has small hands. You do not only need to consider the thinness of the guitar’s neck, although that should be paramount in your consideration. You should also consider the nut width as well as the guitar’s length. You should likewise consider the distance from the bridge to the nut.
The standard acoustic guitar’s scale length is around 25 1/2. The smaller guitar is around 24″. Although it seems that the difference between the typical acoustic guitar and the short scale acoustic is only one and a half, it may make a lot of difference. If you looked at the shorter scale acoustic, you would see that its frets are closer to each other.
Short scale model also comes with drawbacks. First, the standard and the short scale ones come with tone difference. This is because the discrepancy in the scale lengths means a difference in the string tensions likewise. Moreover, the smaller the body of the guitar, the less volume it will produce. So, you need to strike a balance and go for something like the Ibanez AEG10II that is slightly shorter at 24.9″.
Is It Easy To Play The Thin-necked Guitar?
It is logical to say that if you have smaller hands, you will find the thin neck guitar easier to tinker with. This is because you will exert less effort in grappling with the neck of the guitar. However, if your hand is giant-sized, then playing the thin neck guitar may become a nightmare.
You will find the thin neck too tight for your fingers to squeeze in. It would be a nightmare on your part to do that. As you move to higher frets, you will also find it more difficult to finger the chords.
If you are a classical guitar player and you play individual notes of a music piece, you will find the smaller neck guitar more challenging to handle. Yet, if you have smaller hands with small fingers, you will find the thin neck guitar convenient and comfortable to use. So, it is a case-to-case basis, depending on your needs and the size of your hands and fingers.
