Whether you’re a beginner guitarist or experienced veteran, everyone likes a guitar that’s comfortable and easy to play. And that’s exactly the irresistible appeal of thin body acoustic guitars. Sure, there are times when you may prefer a massive dreadnought’s powerful projection for your recording or gig. But thin body guitars let you play effortlessly for hours while offering an all-round, resonant tone as well.
To help you find the perfect guitar, we have put together an awesome list of guitars. Whether you’re looking for high-end models, a good mix of price and value, or a super pocket-friendly option, we’ve got it all here.
We’ll start this article by discussing the best thin body acoustic guitars at each price point, but if you want to learn more about them before reading reviews, we also have a buying guide at the bottom of the page.
Name of Product | Image of Product | Description | Price Range | Full Review |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Yamaha FSX830C Acoustic-Electric Guitar (Best Value) | Scale length: 25" Body: Solid Spruce top and Rosewood back and sides | $540 | Read Full Review Below | |
2. Taylor T5z Classic Acoustic Electric Guitar (Best Overall) | Scale length: 24.875" Body: Tropical mahogany top, Sapele back and sides | $2200 | Read Full Review Below | |
3. Yamaha APX600 Acoustic-Electric Guitar (Budget Pick) | Scale length: 25" Body: Spruce wood top with Nato back and sides | $300 | Read Full Review Below | |
4. Epiphone PR-5E Acoustic/Electric Guitar | Scale length: 25.5" Body: Select Spruce top with Select Mahogany body | $350 | Read Full Review Below | |
5. Cordoba 55FCE Thin body Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Scale length: 25.6" Body: Solid European Spruce top with Flamed Maple back and sides | $1550 | Read Full Review Below | |
6. Ibanez Artcore AF55 | Scale length: 24.75" Body: Maple wood | $330 | Read Full Review Below | |
7. Martin LX1E Little Martin | Scale length: 23" Body: Solid Sitka spruce top with Mahogany pattern HPL textured finish back, sides | $500 | Read Full Review Below | |
8. Cordoba Mini II EB-CE | Scale length: 22.8" Body: Spruce top with striped ebony back and sides | $290 | Read Full Review Below | |
9. Godin ACS-SA | Scale length: 25.5" Body: Cedar top with Chambered, silver leaf maple | $1400 | Read Full Review Below | |
10. Seagull Coastline Series Slim Cutaway Dreadnought | Scale length: 25.5" Body: Select pressure-tested solid spruce top with wild cherry laminate back, sides | $560 | Read Full Review Below | |
11. Dean Exhibition 6-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Scale length: 24.25″ Body: Mahogany | $650 | Read Full Review Below | |
12. Ibanez Talman TCY10 Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Scale length: 25.5" Body: Mahogany | $220 | Read Full Review Below | |
13. Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Scale length: 25.5 in. Body: Solid A Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides | $2000 | Read Full Review Below | |
14. Takamine TSP178AC Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Scale length: 24.8" Body: Maple wood top, back and sides | $2400 | Read Full Review Below | |
15. Fender California Newporter Player Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Scale length: 25.6" Body: Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides | $430 | Read Full Review Below |
Here Are the Best Thin Body Acoustic Guitars
1. Yamaha FSX830C (Best Value)
Estimated Price | $540 |
Scale length | 25 in. |
Body | Solid Spruce top and Rosewood back and sides |
Neck | Nato wood |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
Bag included | No |
My Review: Yamaha took the world by storm when it launched its affordable FG series over 50 years ago. These beautiful small-bodied guitars were sturdy, sounded great, and were easy to play. Since the launch of FG acoustics, Yamaha has bettered itself with every series and model. The FSX830C is part of the 800 series, which boasts louder and stronger low to mid-end ranges thanks to its improved scalloped bracing design. This small-bodied guitar has a solid spruce wood top and rosewood body, which renders a well-balanced tone with excellent projection. The instrument’s acoustic sound is accurately reproduced by the proprietary System 66 preamp with an under-saddle piezo pickup. All in all, we loved the sound and easy playability the guitar offers, making it ideal for beginners and younger players.
Overall Build: The FSX830C’s concert shaped body with a single-cutaway profile makes it quite comfortable to hold and play and reach the higher frets on the fretboard. The most wonderful feature of its overall design is the unique scalloped bracing pattern that was painstakingly developed after much research to enhance its durability and bring the best sound out of its compact profile. The tuners have a die-cast chrome plating to make them corrosion resistant and tough.
This thin body guitar comes in a natural and glossy brown sunburst finish and has an abalone soundhole inlay, making it quite the looker.
Wood Details: This model boasts a solid spruce top, an excellent choice of tonewood for its look, rich tone, and bright sound. The body has been entirely made out of rosewood, which with its warm tone, mellows the spruce top’s bright sound to give its players a well-rounded tone that works well with any style of playing. The oval-shaped neck is made of durable nato wood and has a matte finish.
Sound Quality: FSX830’s combination of tonewoods plays a vital role in delivering rich overtones with a good amount of sustain. The scalloped bracing design helps in boosting the bass and mid-range. Yamaha has employed its System-66 preamp and under-saddle piezo pickup, ensuring that the instrument’s natural sound carries through even when it is plugged in. That’s not all, a 3-band EQ, an adjustable mid-range frequency, and chrome tuners give you more control over the overall tone, which can be tweaked to your liking. Overall, I’d say that the Yamaha FSX830C is the best thin body acoustic guitar for the money
2. Taylor T5z Classic Acoustic Electric Guitar (Best Overall)
Estimated Price | $2200 |
Scale length | 24.875 in. |
Body | Tropical mahogany top, Sapele back and sides |
Neck | Sapele |
Fingerboard | Ebony |
Bag included | Yes |
My Review: One of the most well-respected guitar makers in the world, especially for high-end pieces, Taylor has often pushed the envelope in terms of craftsmanship, quality and sonic possibilities. With the Taylor T5z, they seamlessly combine the natural, earthy, and deep sounds of a mahogany acoustic with the smooth playability of an electric guitar. The T5z has a sleek, compact body that’s even tinier than the original T5 model, but without compromising on the rich tones. Its wide range of on-board controls gives you lots of options as a player to tweak and play around with your sound, making it quite a versatile guitar to have in your collection.
Overall Build: The T5z Classic has quite a vintage, nostalgic look to it, thanks to the dark and rich mahogany top and deep-hued finish. With a compact, thin body, it is a pleasure to play for hours without experiencing any discomfort. It has a 12” radius of the neck that, along with being quite flat, also has big frets – making it super easy to play with effortless fluidity and bend notes without a second thought. It has a 3 pickup setup for the acoustic body sensor, plus five-way switching for tone controls. The diamond fretboard inlay, satin mahogany finish, and nickel hardware add a distinguished visual appeal as well.
Body and Neck Wood: Along with being quite comfortable and easy to play on, another standout feature of this guitar is its unique tone. It comes with a tropical mahogany wood top, which is known for its rich low-end and earthy tonal character. What’s even better is that its Sapele wood back and sides have a similar tone that amplifies the low to mid-range beautifully, further reinforcing the rich, full-bodied sound of the mahogany. The neck is also crafted with Sapele, and the fretboard has been made from ebony – another dark wood well-known for durability and a bright, rich tone.
Sound and Tone: The T5z has a naturally more low to midrange sound thanks to the mahogany and Sapele wood, but its wide range of tone controls and options give you the freedom to modify the tone according to your personal preferences as well. It has a three-pickup setup of an acoustic body sensor, a visible humbucker on the bridge, a concealed neck humbucker, as well as a generous five-way switching and on-board tone control options. So no matter the style or genre you’re planning to perform or record, this guitar should give you what you’re looking for.
3. Yamaha APX600 Acoustic-Electric Guitar (Budget Pick)
Estimated Price | $300 |
Scale length | 25 in. |
Body | Spruce wood top with Nato back and sides |
Neck | Tropical tonewood |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
Bag included | No |
My Review: Any discussion or write up on thin body guitars would be incomplete without talking about the wildly popular Yamaha APX series. The brand has combined its expert craftsmanship with great electronics and an eye-catching Thinline APX cutaway design to produce this value-packed guitar. Yamaha has used a spruce top with 3-ply Nato back and sides along with a locally-sourced tropical tonewood to craft this beauty. APX600 stunning looks are backed by Yamaha’s System 65A preamp with a unique under-saddle piezo pickup, 3-band EQ and a convenient built-in digital tuner. There’s a lot to like about this bestseller, especially the superior sound and playability it offers at a pocket-friendly price.
Overall Build: This model boasts the classic Thinline APX body paired with a non-scalloped X-type bracing, which provides an incredibly comfortable playing experience even for hours at a stretch. The slender neck, coupled with narrow string spacing, is easy to grip and play. APX600 sports Yamaha’s patented cutaway design makes reaching the upper frets quite effortless. An oval soundhole with an exquisite abalone rosette allows for a deeper lower-mid response and a more attention-grabbing low end. The hardware is equally impressive and akin to most Yamaha guitars with durable die-cast chrome tuners and a rosewood hardtail bridge. Yamaha gives us four equally stunning variants to choose from- Natural, Oriental Blue Burst, Old Violin Sunburst, and Glossy Black.
Body and Neck Wood:: The APX600’s top has been crafted with spruce wood, while its back and sides have been made using a 3-ply Nato wood. Nato is an economical alternative to Mahogany but sounds quite similar to it with bright and pronounced mid ranges. The slender neck has been made with tropical tonewood, while the fretboard and bridge use rosewood. We admire the fact that Yamaha supports sustainable harvesting of wood by using locally sourced tonewoods to build the neck and body.
Sound and Tone: APX600 is a worthy successor to the globally popular APX500 with the same powerful unplugged sound and a lush low end, which belies its slimline profile. The guitar’s natural finish, a deeper body, and advanced bracing pattern make it louder with enhanced bass response, while the creative combination of tonewoods renders a responsive, dynamic tone. The praise-worthy electronics include the System 65 preamp and under-saddle piezo pickup, which accurately amplifies the guitar’s natural acoustic voice. This budget-friendly stage-ready guitar gets a solid thumbs up from us.
4. Epiphone PR-5E Acoustic Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $350 |
Scale length | 25.5 in. |
Body | Select Spruce top with Select Mahogany body |
Neck | Select Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
Bag included | No |
My Review: Epiphone has been winning musicians’ hearts for over 20 years with its stage-ready PR-5E model. The Florentine cutaway design features a high-quality select spruce wood top with a mahogany body and a classic rosewood fingerboard that offers its players the rich tonal range of a high-end guitar without breaking the bank. Epiphone has loaded PR-5E with a Nanoflex HD pickup and an eSonic HD preamp system offering its players tonal versatility as well as a faithful reproduction of the guitar’s powerful, resonant natural voice. The lightweight, slimline profile and easy on the pocket price tag of PR-5E make it a wise pick for beginners and a great traveling companion for the more seasoned players.
Overall Build: The 25.5” full-sized, slimline guitar has a distinctive “Florentine” or sharp cutaway design, which boasts excellent playability and smoother access to upper frets on the neck. Epiphone has blended the unique cutaway profile with a high-quality wood selection to make this a sturdy, long-lasting, yet incredibly light guitar. The sturdy mahogany neck with an adjustable truss rod combined with a well-engineered rosewood fretboard allows for a breezy playing experience, especially for smaller hands. The hardware appointments include a rosewood bridge with white pins and premium Gold Grover machine heads. The beautiful white snowflake inlay and a decorated circular rosette add to this guitar’s aesthetic appeal and make it look more expensive than it is.
Wood Details: Epiphone has employed a cost-effective yet premium quality of laminate wood for the construction of PR-5E. The guitar sports the popular cocktail of spruce top and mahogany body, which offers its players a well-rounded, resonant, and versatile tone suited to most styles. The mahogany neck with 20 fret rosewood fretboard is quite comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver.
Sound Quality: The PR-5E’s combination of spruce top and a mahogany body with a scalloped design provides a clear, warm, and resonant sound with a robust projection, loud enough to fill a small crowded space even when unplugged. The eSonic preamp and the German-designed Nanoflex pickup system pick up the string and body vibrations of the guitar to reproduce a sound that is true to the instrument’s natural voice. Other electronic features include bass, treble, and volume control knobs and a phase switch to reduce unnecessary feedback. We loved the built-in tuner’s auto-muting feature, which eliminates popping noise while plugging and unplugging the guitar.
5. Cordoba 55FCE Thin body Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $1550 |
Scale length | 25.6 in. |
Body | Solid European Spruce top with Flamed Maple back and sides |
Neck | Spanish Cedar |
Fingerboard | Ebony |
Bag included | Yes |
My Review: This guitar is a best in class, thin body acoustic-electric produced by Cordoba. Leading makers of nylon string guitars, the brand is well-known for producing traditional Spanish guitars with an innovative, modern twist. Cordoba’s 55FCE is a beautifully crafted crossover nylon string guitar that fully justifies its premium price tag. Made famous by the iconic group, Gipsy Kings, the model features a thin body with a deep cutaway and slender neck that offers a wonderfully smooth playing experience. The onboard electronics include a Fishman Prefix ProBlend and a 3-band EQ, which work well in conjunction with the solid spruce top and flamed maple body to amplify the bright, robust, well-balanced natural tone of the guitar.
Overall Build: The 55FCE has been crafted in traditional Spanish design, making it ideal for flamenco or classical style of playing. The model’s thin body has a scale length of 25.6” and boasts a solid European spruce top with Spanish fan bracing and eye-catching flamed maple back and sides. The U-shaped, electric-style cutaway neck has a two-way truss rod and provides easy access to all the frets on the ebony fingerboard. The Cordoba Premium Gold tuners, a flamenco-style clear tap plate, and an Indian rosewood binding are some of the impressive hardware components you find in this guitar. The 55FCE comes with Savarez Cristal Corum high tension strings, which perfectly complement its classical shape. A Humidified hardshell case is included to protect the guitar from humidity and conveniently carry it around.
Body and Neck Wood: This top-of-the-line Cordoba has been handcrafted and utilizes a solid European spruce top and a visually appealing flamed maple back. The high gloss polyurethane finish adds to the beauty of the instrument. The cutaway neck has been built with Spanish cedar and sports a high-gloss finish as well. The neck paired with a 19 fret, ebony fingerboard offers comfort even during percussive playing. The Indian rosewood bridge transfers the nylon string vibrations into the mahogany body, providing a well-balanced tone.
Sound and Tone: If you are a fan of flamenco, the 55FCE’s bright, snappy tone will surely win you over. The smart combination of a sweet-sounding solid spruce top with a flamed mahogany body renders a rich, punchy, and resonant tone. The onboard Fishman electronics perfectly captures and amplifies the natural voice of the guitar. The built-in specs featuring a convenient 3-band preamp EQ and volume and pickup/mic blend controls offer the freedom to shape the tone to your liking.
6. Ibanez Artcore AF55 Hollow-Body Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $330 |
Scale length | 24.75 in. |
Body | Maple wood |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
Bag included | No |
My Review: Part of Ibanez’s well-sought after Artcore series, AF55 is a charming hollow-bodied electric guitar that is tailor-made for jazz, blues, rock styles of music with its bright, well-nuanced, and resonant sound. Ibanez has crafted this model in a bound, all-maple body with a mahogany set-in neck and classic rosewood fretboard in a neat design with a flat finish. The AF55’s classic humbucker pickups located at the neck and bridge, coupled with volume and tone controls, offer plenty of tonal freedom and versatility. We love AF55’s elegant looks, deep and punchy tone, and most of all, the wallet-friendly price.
Overall Build: The AF55 boasts a traditional hollow body shape with a laminated maple top, back and sides, and vintage-style F-holes. The top is arched, while the back and sides have an ivory binding. The guitar features an Artcore AF set-in mahogany neck and a classy 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, which adds to this instrument’s playability quotient. The hardware components are pretty standard with a Tune-o-Matic style floating bridge, a set of Ibanez tuning machines, and protective chrome covers on the humbucker pickups. The model sports an antique brown tobacco flat finish that complements its warm woody tone.
Body and Neck Wood: The AF55 boasts the expert craftsmanship that the brand is so well known for. Ibanez has used premium tonewoods to build this great sounding guitar. The bright and visually striking maple wood has been used to construct this hollow-bodied guitar’s top, back, and sides. The set-in neck has been made with mahogany and is comfortable to hold and play. The rosewood fretboard looks great and steps up the playing experience.
Sound and Tone: The model’s traditional hollow shape renders the identifiable, rich, and fat tone well suited to jazz, rock ’n’ roll, country, and blues. The combination of maple top and body provides a warm, resonant, and punchy tone. The AF55 is equipped with ACH-ST humbucker pickups to capture the expressive tone while eliminating the 60-cycle hum issue associated with hollow-bodied guitars. Ibanez’s commitment to Sound Quality: and performance with the AF55 is awe-inspiring.
7. Martin LX1E Little Martin
Estimated Price | $500 |
Scale length | 23 in. |
Body | Solid Sitka spruce top with Mahogany pattern HPL textured finish back, sides |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Morado |
Bag included | Yes |
My Review: World-renowned for producing stellar acoustic guitars, C.F. Martin & Co. has been around for over 200 years and keeps enthralling musicians with their innovatively designed and versatile guitars. With LX1E Little Martin, the iconic brand has delivered yet another winner that boasts travel and student-friendly compact profile, affordability, and great sound. Expertly built with a warm satin-finished solid Sitka spruce top and a high-pressure mahogany pattern laminate body, this little wonder delivers the same resonant, powerful projection as some of the higher end Martin guitars. The guitar comes with a Fishman sonitone pickup that captures and amplifies its authentic sound when plugged in. That’s not all, the LX1E also comes with a plush, padded gig bag, which makes it easy to carry when on the go.
Overall Build: The LX1E Little Martin is the brand’s smallest guitar with a 23” scale length but big on the tone and versatility. The model is exceptionally sturdy yet incredibly lightweight. A modified low oval-shaped neck coupled with a Morado fretboard offers a comfortable and smooth playing experience. The hardware appointments include a compensated white Tusq saddle, and Gotoh nickel small knob tuners work well in keeping the guitar in tune. The Little Martin’s compact profile and ¾ scale make it a popular choice for travelers as it packs comfortably into airplanes’ overhead compartments.
Body and Neck Wood: With LX1E Little Martin, you get a solid Sitka spruce top without hurting your pocket. This guitar’s affordability could be attributed to the use of cost-effective High-pressure laminate in the rest of the body. The Overall Build: quality and material used in crafting this guitar are so superior that you won’t really miss an all-wood body. The neck is a hand-rubbed rust birch laminate with a modified oval shape and standard taper, making it a joy to play.
Sound and Tone: Let’s talk about the most important bit- the sound of this Little Martin. The LX1E model has a surprisingly robust and powerful sound for a guitar its size. The overall sound is bright, resonant with a well-balanced tone. That’s not all, LX1E also comes equipped with a Fishman Sonitone pickup system to carry its beautiful Martin sound to every ear around.
8. Cordoba Mini II EB-CE
Estimated Price | $290 |
Scale length | 22.8 in. |
Body | Spruce top with striped ebony back and sides |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Composite |
Bag included | No |
My Review: If you are scouting for a travel-friendly guitar that sounds great yet pocket pleasing, look no further than Cordoba Mini II EB-CE Acoustic-Electric. Part of the brand’s popular Mini series, this nylon string guitar is ultra-compact and lightweight and can be effortlessly carried along on road trips, camping trips, or packed into the overhead bin of an airplane. The solid spruce top and striped ebony body work in tandem with a Belcat pickup and 2-band EQ to produce a clear, defined tone and great sustain. We found the overall Sound Quality: pretty powerful with a well-balanced tone, especially for a guitar its size.
Overall Build: The EB-CE is a small-bodied, half-size guitar with a scale length of 22.8”, making it an ideal pick for younger, petite players with smaller hands. We found the guitar to be sturdily built and designed quite similar to standard acoustic guitars with a full-width C shaped neck and a shorter rest of body. This body shape paired with a fan bracing pattern makes it incredibly comfortable and easy to play. This great-sounding guitar is also quite distinguished looking with a stunning pale brown, satin-finished spruce top and a darker, striped ebony body. The tuning machines are made of satin nickel with black buttons.
Body and Neck Wood: With Mini II EB-CE, you get a solid spruce top at an affordable price, which delivers a bright, highly nuanced tone. The back and sides are built with striped ebony, while the neck has been crafted from mahogany—both the neck and body of the guitar sport a beautiful satin polyurethane finish. The fretboard and bridge are made of composite material, which enhances the durability of the guitar.
Sound and Tone: The EB-CE packs quite a sonic punch for a guitar its size. It has an impressive sustain and reverb, thanks to the choice of tonewoods used in the construction. The solid spruce renders a clear, bright tone, while the ebony body mellows it and brings it in the warmer midrange. The pre-installed Belcat under-saddle piezo pickup and preamp keep the plugged-in sound true to the guitar’s natural acoustic voice.
9. Godin ACS-SA Slim Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $1400 |
Scale length | 25.5 in. |
Body | Cedar top with Chambered, silver leaf maple |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Ebony |
Bag included | Yes |
My Review: Since we are reviewing a selection of thin body guitars, how can we miss out on one that has “slim” in its very name! Say hello to the gorgeous Godin ACS-SA Slim Acoustic-Electric guitar, thoughtfully crafted by the Canadian Godin Guitars which have been producing high-quality guitars since 1972. This nylon-string guitar’s highly playable, slender design can be attributed to its narrow neck with a 1.715” nut width and a 16” fingerboard radius.
Other standout features include the RMC transducer pickup system, a 3-band EQ and 13-pin output for faithful reproduction, and improvisation of the acoustic’s mellow, responsive, nylon tone. Granted that this model might not fit every guitarist’s budget, but those looking to invest in a high-end nylon string should give this one a go. All in all, we are looking at a classy, pro-level quality guitar with unsurpassed craftsmanship, great electronics, and superb sound.
Overall Build: If you are looking to transition from a steel string to a nylon string guitar, this is the guitar for you. Godin’s expert craftsmanship combines a slim neck with the masterful Ergocut shaping technique and a 16” fingerboard radius to make this comfortable guitar. The ACS-SA boasts a chambered, Silverleaf maple body with an exquisite cedar top for a warm, well-balanced tone with sustain. This beauty also features slot-head tuning machines and comes with a convenient gig bag.
Body and Neck Wood: This ACS-SA’s solid wood frame is crafted from premium tonewoods, making it highly durable with a great tone and unplugged volume that is every musician’s joy. The top is made from Cedarwood, while the chambered body has been constructed out of Silverleaf maple. The satin-finished neck uses mahogany, and the roomy fingerboard is made out of ebony. This head-turner is available in black pearl and a natural high gloss finish.
Sound and Tone: The guitar really shines when it comes to Sound Quality: The chambered body design contributes to the instrument’s resonance, and the choice of high-quality tonewoods provide a well-balanced, warm tone with great sustain. We should also talk about the exceptional electronics which enhance the tonal versatility of the guitar. Godin has employed a super sensitive under-saddle RMC pickup that provides accurate amplification of the acoustic’s tone. The pickup alongside solid cedar top gives a clear tone that is virtually free of feedback. A 3-band EQ and onboard controls give you the flexibility to shape the tone as your performance demands. This is easily one of the best thin body guitars out there.
10. Seagull Coastline Series Slim Cutaway Dreadnought
Estimated Price | $560 |
Scale length | 25.5 in. |
Body | Select pressure-tested solid spruce top with wild cherry laminate back, sides |
Neck | Silver Leaf Maple |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
Bag included | No |
My Review: Seagull’s coastline series carries forward the brand’s well-earned reputation of producing value-packed, handcrafted acoustic guitars, which are a joy to play. This cutaway, dreadnought shaped guitar has been sturdily constructed with select pressure tested solid spruce top and 3-ply laminated wild cherry back and sides. The bold-sounding dreadnought shape and a warm, mid-range tone make this guitar score high on versatility and well suited to most musical genres. To top it off, the impressive Godin EPM Quantum pickup system, along with rotary volume, bass, and treble controls, makes the fantastic tone of the guitar come alive on stage.
Overall Build: This Coastline series guitar has been designed in dreadnought shape, giving it a great volume even when not plugged in. The model boasts a strong frame comprising of a pressure-tested solid spruce top and premium quality laminate wild cherry in an ultra-thin semi-gloss finish. The silver leaf maple neck is slim and fun to play. The guitar features Seagull’s signature slim tapered headstock with good quality tuning machines to keep the instrument in tune. Other noteworthy hardware components include a TUSQ nut and saddle and a classic rosewood bridge.
Body and Neck Wood: This dreadnought’s top has been built with bright and crisp sounding solid spruce wood. Seagull’s coastline series tops are pressure tested to ensure that they are sturdy, long-lasting, and provide excellent harmonic vibration. Seagull has used locally grown, high-quality 3-layer wild cherry wood to construct this model’s back and sides—the use of Silverleaf maple makes the instrument’s neck smooth-as-butter and incredibly comfortable to play. The 21-fret fingerboard is made of rosewood, which is a popular choice of wood for a fingerboard.
Sound and Tone: The strong spruce top, laminate cherry body, and dreadnought shape provide its players with a loud, resonant, and versatile mid-range tone. The onboard electronics feature an ultra-responsive saddle transducer to perfectly capture and reproduce the authentic acoustic sound of the guitar. The EQ range and frequency content offer more freedom to sculpt the sound to suit your style.
11. Dean Exhibition 6-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $650 |
Scale length | 24-1/4″ |
Body | Mahogany |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Ebony With Ultra Diamond Inlay |
Bag included | No |
My Review: Dean guitars, has a long and storied history of making axes with wild shapes and iconic specs since the 70s. But their Exhibition line brings that same passion to acoustic guitars. This model boasts a deep and resonant mahogany body and neck. And an exotic koa wood-top that helps generate rich and pleasant overtones. With a high-quality gloss finish to top it off, the Dean exhibition brings serious competition to this list.
Overall Build: The Dean Exhibition is shaped in the dreadnought style, with a sharp-looking cutaway section that adds to its modern aesthetic. It has a thin mahogany body and neck, and a beautiful Koa wood top. The Exhibition features a high-quality Grover tuner, and a cool black NuBone nut and saddle. The ebony fretboard is 24-¼” scale and features Ultra Diamond Inlays. The workhorse Fishman Isys+ pickup rounds out the feature set on this Dean guitar.
Body and Neck Wood: The Dean Exhibition features a dark and resonant mahogany body, with a beautiful and exotic Koa wood top. These woods are laid out in a thin but strong structure that gives the guitar its unique tone and helps to control feedback. The truss rod is dual action for easier adjustment. The slim D-shaped mahogany neck is surprisingly smooth and easy to play and the ebony fretboard with the Ultra Diamond inlays gives it a classy look. The neck features a 24-¼” scale that makes the Exhibition easy to play.
Sound and Tone: The mahogany construction of the Dean exhibition gives it a very warm and modern tone. For a thin-bodied guitar, the lows are well- defined and rounded. The Fishman Isys Pickup in conjunction with a mic makes for a well-worked out stereo setup for any singer-songwriter. The additional tuner, and bass and treble adjustment on the pickup are super intuitive and handy to use.
12. Ibanez Talman TCY10 Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $220 |
Scale length | 25-½ in. |
Body | Mahogany |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
Bag included | No |
My Review: The Ibanez Talman TCY10 is a unique electric-acoustic guitar that presents a cutting and bright sound at this low a price point. Granted you won’t find any branded pickups here but for the money, this guitar is definitely worth checking out. The slim neck and body are made from mahogany and feature a 25-½” scale length with 20 frets. The body features a double-cutaway to enable easy 2 hand tapping and other techniques. This guitar has an added secret that makes it more similar to its electric cousins.
Overall Build: Off the bat, the build quality on this guitar is up to scratch with the usual Ibanez QC. The spruce top in the lovely sunburst finish adds flair and finesse to the Talman. The double cutaways are striking and offer more playability. This guitar features an Ibanez piezo pickup and a tuner/preamp to help tailor the sound. The slim profile also makes this guitar very easy to hold and play. The saddle on this guitar has unique bridge pins that lock the string in the right place instead of dragging them down increasing tonal accuracy.
Body and Neck Wood: The Talman features a unique dual cutaway design to aid more complex playing styles. The slim profile adds to the convenience and the mahogany body and neck give it a pleasant and balanced tone. The spruce top adds clarity and is said to be more transparent for the built-in piezo pickup. The longer 25-½” neck coupled with a rosewood fretboard makes for a guitar that is playable across all age groups.
Sound and Tone: The Talman displays the tonal clarity and musical resonance of a guitar fairly above its price range. The advantage pins on the bridge help the guitar hold tuning for far longer and require lesser re-strings. The piezo pickup sounds bright and doesn’t become too harsh unless you boost the highs unreasonably, which can be essential to generate warm tones for fingerpicking guitar players. Overall, a really good choice for the above segment.
13. Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $2000 |
Scale length | 25.5 in. |
Body | Solid A Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides |
Neck | Tropical Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Ebony |
Bag included | Yes |
My Review: The Fender Acoustasonic is perhaps the most innovative thin body guitar we have on this list, for several reasons. First off, this guitar can truly switch between a completely acoustic sound as well as an equally convincing electric avatar. With its Fishman and Fender-crafted acoustic engine, players have 10 different wood and guitar body shape combinations to choose from! What this means is that you can get your guitar to sound like a dreadnought, a concert, an auditorium, a Sitka Spruce, a Maple, a Rosewood, or a pure electric as well! Now that’s quite something. This versatility, easy playability, and lightweight design are precisely what makes this guitar potentially quite good value for money, despite its high-end price tag.
Overall Build: The Acoustasonic is the result of a lot of research from the Fender camp, as they were dead set on creating a model that not only gave its players an equally good acoustic and electric guitar playing experience but also was versatile and quite comfortable to play. Looking at its build and features, we think the brand has managed to achieve this goal with the current model. Its telecaster body, forearm contour, and slim neck feel familiar and easy to play on, while the cutaway shape allows you to access higher frets easily. The guitar is also significantly lighter in weight than a solid-bodied electric guitar, making it easy to travel with and carry. Aesthetically, you have 6 different vibrant colors to choose from, with all of them in a smooth satin finish.
Body and Neck Wood: This is perhaps the most interesting part of this guitar. The Acoustasonic sports a Solid A Sitka Spruce Top, with Mahogany back and sides. It also has a neck crafted from tropical mahogany, with an ebony fretboard. However, this model has 10 different tonewood settings, each of whose tonal color and sound have been set up in such a way that they sound like the body is crafted from different tonewoods, along with simulating different body shapes as well. This truly throws open the sonic possibilities for you – whether you’re playing at a gig or recording a track.
Sound and Tone: As we said, the Acoustasonic is the only guitar on this list whose tone and sound is not restricted by the actual wood used to craft it, nor its body shape. The 5 different settings on the guitar each have an A and B option to choose from. With one position, you’ll be enjoying the deep low-end and rich treble of a Solid Sitka spruce + Rosewood dreadnought, another position can offer you the Sitka + Mahogany wood Dreadnought experience, with its full-bodied, resonant sound. Not to forget, there is also a separate position that offers a completely electric sound. With 10 such settings, the world’s really your oyster with this beauty in your hands.
14. Takamine TSP178AC Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $2400 |
Scale length | 24.8 in. |
Body | Maple wood top, back and sides |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Ebony |
Bag included | Yes |
My Review: Takamine has been a name synonymous with high quality, well-crafted guitars for decades. The Takamine TSP178AC is a high-end sleek, power-packed guitar that’s not only really comfortable to play but quite powerful for on-stage performances. We love a guitar that you can kick back with in your room that also happens to be stage-ready. With a thin U shaped neck and gorgeous design and finish, you’d want to show this one off from your collection. The bright tone and impressive sustain from its all-maple body can suit a wide variety of genres, making it a versatile choice. The price point of this model makes it quite a high-end piece, but if you’re looking for a piece that blends easy playability, stage-ready performance and looks, then the TSP178AC is worth a good look.
Overall Build: The TSP178AC is a sleek Thinline acoustic-electric guitar with a gorgeous design and finish. Its mini-jumbo body and slim U neck make for effortless playability for musicians of all skill levels. The cutaway shape makes reaching higher frets quite easy while playing. Its Takamine CT-3N preamp does a great job of carrying its bright tone over to an amplified setting as well. With beautiful abalone shell fret inlays and a flamed maple top and back in a gorgeous blue, this model looks as good as it sounds. It comes with a bone saddle and die-cast tuning pegs.
Body and Neck Wood: The TSP178AC’s top, back, and sides have all been crafted from maple wood. This gives the guitar quite a bright, distinctive tone that’s resonant with tones of sustain. The mahogany neck soaks up a bit of the energy, creating a more mellow and warm tone. Its fretboard is crafted from ebony, which not only adds a deep, dark visual element but also adds a brighter tone to the overall mix. Ebony wood is also quite durable and hardier than other neck woods, adding to the guitar’s overall lifespan.
Sound and Tone: This guitar has a nice, well-balanced tone with bright trebles, a solid midrange, and warm lows, thanks to the intelligent mix of tonewoods used in its build. Furthermore, the Takamine CT-3N preamp setup reproduces the guitar’s natural tone remarkably well when plugged in on a larger stage as well. The notch filter cancels out any unwanted feedback and noises, while the 3 band EQ gives you the freedom to play around with the lows, mids, and trebles to create a balance that works for your personal preferences.
15. Fender California Newporter Player Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $430 |
Scale length | 25.6 in. |
Body | Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogany Back & Sides |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Walnut |
Bag included | No |
My Review: Fender has long been known for having an uncanny ability to deliver the most player-friendly features at an affordable price range, and they’ve done it again with the Fender California Newporter Player. This medium-sized body has a sleek profile that makes it really comfortable to play and offers a well-rounded tone that will suit all playing styles and genres. Its optimized bracing style has made it possible to make the model quite lightweight and resonant. Together with its interesting looks, reasonable price point, and versatility, the Newporter player is an impressive blend of quality and affordability.
Overall Build: From the very first glance, The California Newporter comes across as a distinctive guitar with its vibrant-hues and compact yet solid design. But it’s when you start playing it that you realize what makes it stand out. The slim C shaped neck profile, thin body, and lightweight makes for excellent playability, without compromising on the overall projection and sound. Its graph tech nubone nut adds to the overall sustain, while the Fishman preamp setup wonderfully translates the guitar’s natural tone even when amplified, letting you play it on the big stage without any loss of tone quality. The sealed nickel tuning pegs and 3 ply gold pickguard adds a slick finish to the overall design, and you get this model in 6 unique and refreshing colors – candy apple red, olive satin, champagne, sunburst, natural, and ice blue satin.
Body and Neck Wood: The California Newporter has a solid Sitka Spruce top, while its back and sides have been crafted with Mahogany. A solid spruce top is always a great sign of the quality and sound of the guitar, while mahogany serves as good support to reinforce both the tone and the longevity of the piece. Its neck is made from mahogany as well, while the fretboard is crafted from walnut wood.
Sound and Tone: Thanks to the solid Sitka spruce top, this guitar has a great all-rounder tone with rich mids, warm lows, and resonant highs. The mahogany back, sides, and neck do a good job of mellowing the sound as well. Its bracing style has also made its top vibrate nicely for a rich and resonant sound. And you’ll be able to enjoy this natural tone not just in an unplugged setting – its Fishman preamp setup reproduces this tone wonderfully in an amplified setting as well, allowing you to perform on stage for a massive audience without compromising on this tone in any way.
Choosing the Right Thin Body Guitar (Buying Guide)
Having a trusty thin body guitar is the best way to play with effortless comfort for hours without having to sit awkwardly and get fatigued. We hope that our list helps you pick the guitar that works best for you. Remember, that there is no single perfect thin body guitar out there – just a series of really good options with different configurations that would suit different musicians. So go with the model that works the best for your personal playing style and preferences. In the rest of this guide, we’ll help you learn everything you need to know to choose the perfect guitar for your needs.
What Is a Thin Body Guitar?
Simply put, thin body guitars are those that have a thinner, less bulky body shape, a narrower neck and are lighter in weight when compared to a traditional acoustic guitar. All these three qualities make these guitars remarkably easy and comfortable to play on, and fit nicely into your natural playing space, without having to take extra trouble or sit awkwardly to play them. As a result, thin body acoustic guitars are not only growing in popularity amongst young, beginner guitarists but also amongst experienced musicians.
After keeping a bit of a low-profile for a little while, thin body guitars are lately seeing a major comeback, as musicians have increasingly started putting comfort and playability as a priority again. After all, who wouldn’t want their go-to guitar to be sleek, comfortable to hold and play, and just seems to mold itself into your arms?
Also, contemporary design and building techniques have made sure that the slim body of a thin body guitar doesn’t compromise its tone and Sound Quality: at all. While the body guitars don’t usually have the deep low-end linked to big, boxy guitars, they still have a well-rounded tone that is versatile enough to work with most playing styles and genres. So you get a compact body with a sleek profile and slim neck, while still getting a tone and projection that’s well-balanced, resonant, and stage-ready.
Why Should You Buy a Thin Body Guitar?
There are some obvious reasons that make thin body guitars quite popular amongst musicians:
Playability: This is the biggest attraction of thin body guitars. Because of the way they’re designed, thin body guitars are extremely comfortable to play. They have a slimmer neck profile than most standard guitars, and the depth of the body is also quite sleek. As a result, these guitars can be easily held closer to your body than other guitar shapes, making the playing experience quite comfortable.
Lightweight: Most thin body acoustic guitars are designed to be lighter in weight vis a vis traditional acoustic guitar models. This further adds to their playability and overall comfort factor.
Versatile Tone Quality: Thin body guitars offer a pretty well-balanced sound and tone that is versatile enough to work well with a wide variety of musical styles. As a result, musicians can use them to play many different genres.
What to Look For In A Thin Body Guitar
When buying a thin body guitar, there are a couple of points that you should look out for and consider before taking your pick:
Overall Build: Thin body guitars come in a wide variety of body shapes, neck profiles, and designs to choose from – fro, C and U shaped necks, to cutaway body shapes and much more. When browsing through the options, make sure that you pick a body shape that you’d be comfortable playing. It’s also a good idea to check whether the guitar is lightweight or not, as a light body will only add to the comfort and playability.
Wood: When we’re talking about thin body guitars, it’s important that they’re crafted from high-quality tonewoods that make sure that the slimmer body doesn’t compromise the tone and sound that the guitar produces. There are several tonewoods that you can choose from, depending on the type of tone that you prefer playing with – there’s Solid Sitka Spruce, Mahogany, Maple, Sapele, Rosewood, and much more – each with their own distinct tone profile.
Electronics and Controls: A lot of thin body guitars are acoustic-electric, allowing you to plug them for amplification. This makes paying attention to these electronics quite important. A solid pickup and preamp system will make sure that your thin body guitar sounds great even when it’s plugged in. Also, EQ controls are a plus point, since they let you tweak your tone and sound to your liking. However, they may not be a real necessity for some.
Price: Thin body acoustic guitars come in a wide range of prices, depending on their features and the quality of wood used. While budget-friendly models can cost you anywhere from $300 to $450, high end models can set you back by $1000 and above. There are also mid-range options that are priced anywhere between $500 to $650. While a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean a better product, it’s a good idea to check the features of your guitar against its price point to see if it works for you and your budget.
But then again, these are just our choices, the perfect thin body guitar for you could well be something else from this list, so do give it a good look! Happy playing!
My name is Chris and I’ve had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. I started this website with some of my friends who are musicians, music teachers, gear heads, and music enthusiasts so we could provide high-quality guitar and music-related content.
I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 years old and am an avid collector. Amps, pedals, guitars, bass, drums, microphones, studio, and recording gear, I love it all.
I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. With my engineering experience, I’ve developed as a designer of guitar amplifiers and effects. A true passion of mine, I’ve designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community.