Acoustic guitars are available in many shapes and styles, and every person is bound to have his or her own unique needs based on playing style, hand size, budget, etc. In this article, we shall tell you how you can choose the perfect thin neck acoustic guitar for yourself.
Remember- there is no “best” or “worst” model since one model could be great for you, while the same exact guitar might be unplayable to another person. Take your budget into consideration, don’t go out and splurge hundreds of dollars on a top-notch model made from the finest woods, if you only plan on playing occasionally or for some light recreation in your spare time.
Beginners must get one of the simpler models, one which packs all the important features that they need in order to train themselves for future upgrades.
Below, we have listed some of the most popular slim neck acoustic guitars on the market, based on customer feedback and design. They are arranged in the order of least to most expensive. Take your time, analyze the pros and cons, and choose the model that fits your budget and needs.
Table of Contents
Thin Neck Acoustic Guitars We Recommend
Kona K2 Acoustic-Electric Dreadnought Cutaway Guitar
What’s good: Spruce top, gold die-cast tuners, D’Addario strings
Not so good: Built-in electronics are pretty low quality, and need to be upgraded
The Kona K2 is hard to beat in terms of value for money. It actually offers a grade-A handpicked Sitka spruce top, along with a hand sanded and scalloped bracing that is designed to minimize noise and unnecessary vibrations.
The body is 41” long, 3” deep, and has a low-profile Dreadnought shape to it.
There are D’Addario strings on this guitar, and the bag comes with 2 free pickguards, a polishing cloth, and a neck wrench.
The tuners are gold die-cast, and the body features 4-ply binding, while the neck features single-ply binding.
Alvarez Artist Series AD60 Dreadnought Guitar
What’s good: Hand-picked Sitka spruce top, hand sanded and scalloped bracing
Not so good: Finish is very prone to scratches
It is pretty uncommon to find a hand-picked Sitka spruce top at this price range, however, Alvarez delivers on their promise of top-notch craftsmanship every time, no matter how cheap the product.
The sides and back feature mahogany wood which has been treated with a highly glossy and premium finish.
The fretboard has been hand-sanded and the bracing is scalloped to reduce hissing, vibration, and general turbulence in the whole body.
The fingerboard is made from rosewood, and this is a thin neck style guitar with a slightly narrower body – (dimensions- 15.75” x 41” x 4.25”).
Ibanez GA35TCEDVS Acoustic/Electric
What’s good: Spruce-topped mahogany, Fishman Sonicore pickup, Ibanez AEQ210T preamp
Not so good: Needs a proper setup, since some strings buzz out of the box
The spruce-topped mahogany top brings a nice mix of speed and warmth, which means that this guitar is incredibly versatile and will sound equally good no matter whether you play it with the finger or the pick.
The Fishman pickup is excellent at its job and picks up all the frequencies, ranging from subtle lows to raging highs.
A built-in Ibanez AEQ210T preamp does not add too much coloration to the output signal and makes this electro-acoustic sound great on just about any speaker and external amp setup.
Blueridge BR-40 Contemporary Series
What’s good: Sitka spruce top, East Indian Rosewood fingerboard, adjustable truss rod
Not so good: No gold plated tuners, doesn’t come with a gigging case
If you’re in search of a true Dreadnought model with all the bells and whistles of a full-size no compromises acoustic guitar, then the Blueridge BR-40 Contemporary Series is here to help you. It is made from a mix of the finest woods.
The top is composed of hand-picked Sitka spruce, the fingerboard is made from East Indian Rosewood, and the neck is made from carved mahogany. The sides and back are also made from mahogany and have a nice glossy finish to them. The truss rod is adjustable, and the tuners are of a pretty high standard. You’ll find that there is no buzzing or hissing in any of the strings, and the Sitka spruce makes this guitar sound really warm, with well-defined lows and bright highs. It is perfect for jazz and blues, as well as contemporary and classical.
Choosing the slim neck acoustic guitar
Here are some of the main points that must be kept in mind while choosing a thin neck acoustic guitar:
Neck
Normally, the thickness and width of the neck are based on the size of the whole instrument, as well as the number of frets that the guitar has. Choose a thin neck guitar that fits properly in the hands and feels comfortable to use with your fret hand. People with small-medium hands usually go for thin neck guitars, and you also need to check the number of frets in the fretboard (12, 14, etc.).
Wood
The choice of wood is very important when it comes to determining the sound and tonal response of an acoustic guitar. Pay special attention to the top body plate of the guitar, different types of woods are suited for different play styles. Lighter and more resonant woods such as Sitka are better for finger playing, while players who use guitar picks and prefer a heavier, more powerful style might want something like spruce or rosewood.
Body style
Acoustic guitars are available in a variety of styles, differing in both body shape and size. There are small travel types, classics, jumbos, and dreadnoughts. Each of these will have a slightly deeper or shallower tone than the other, so choose whichever one fits your style of music. Also note that the jumbo and dreadnought types feature the largest and heaviest bodies, while they travel and classic style guitars have a small-medium sized body.