If you’re considering a new guitar either for yourself or your partner, there are many acoustic and electric guitars that would easily qualify as a great guitars for women.

What to Look for in a Guitar for a Woman

Let’s start with some obvious assumptions:

• The guitar should fit a woman’s body reasonably comfortably
• The guitar’s neck should be comfortable for smaller hands
• The sound should match the player’s taste in music
• The guitar’s price should fall within an expected budget
• And finally, it’s gotta look good!

Granted, the above list isn’t exclusive to females guitars for women or girls.

Compared to guitars for guys, finding a perfect fit in a guitar for a woman or a girl will have its own variations. In other words, a guitar that might appeal to a guy doesn’t necessarily mean it works for a woman.

Still, finding a perfect guitar for a female player is easy – if you know what to look for.

To help you make a better informed decision, we’ll weed out the junk and stick to better choices available from reputable sources – and that’s what we’re here for.

Women Know, Guitar is Not Just for Dudes

Reacting to a slump in guitar sales, guitar manufacturing giant, Fender, saw an opportunity in marketing guitar playing to women – and why not? There’s no reason guitar playing needs to be male-dominated.

In December of 2018, GuitarGirlMag.com published an article reporting:

“Fender Study Reveals Women Continue to Account for 50% of Emerging Guitar Market”.

Then a couple of years later, thanks to a pandemic, even more women started picking up the guitar to kill time while the storm blew over.

Fender Blazes New Paths for Guitar Girls

In a recent article from Forbes, Fender has also been keeping up with the latest in social media trends. Tops on that list is TikTok:

“It’s way more female and a lot younger than it used to be even 20 or 30 years ago.”

Fender Chief Marketing Officer Evan Jones

Women Guitar Players That Lead the Way

It doesn’t take much to conjure up a host of famous female guitar players. Well recognized personalities such as Bonnie Raitt, Joan Jett, Joni Mitchell and Sheryl Crow have been sources of inspiration for decades.

As musical styles have continued to diversify over time, so have the number of names attached to female players.

In more recent times the landscape has given way to landscape to popular names like Orianthi, Samantha Fish, Nita Strauss and St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark).

In terms of overall musical inspiration, let’s not forget Taylor Swift. Early on in her career, we saw a huge uptick in young female players picking up the guitar after being influenced by her songwriting, performance and creativity.

How to Choose the Best Guitar for a Woman – What to Look For

What Size Guitar is Best for a Woman?

While most women can easily adapt to with a full-sized guitar, you might want to consider guitars with slightly smaller bodies and shorter scale lengths of 23.5″ to 24″.

Otherwise, here are a few typical body sizes to choose from:

• Parlor
• Concert
• Classical
• Auditorium
• Contoured Electric

The long and short of it is, depending on your own physical body type, the best size guitar for a woman can be slightly different person to person.

Are You a Young Beginner or Upgrading?

Another factor to consider is where you are on your guitar playing journey.

Are you a female beginner who’s new to the instrument? Or are you looking to upgrade from an entry level guitar you’ve been using for some time.

Depending on your age, the size and type of guitar can be directly related to your age and body size.

As a gender-specific example, a typical teenage boy may be looking to upgrade to a full-size dreadnought whereas a young girl may be moving from a 3/4 size guitar into a more professional grade small bodied instrument – a guitar that will last her right through to adulthood.

Acoustic vs Electric

When you’re first starting out, choosing either an electric or acoustic guitar is a major consideration and will be directly related to your own taste in musical style.

Are you drawn more to acoustic oriented music? Or does the electric vibe suit your senses better?

There’s no right or wrong answer.

In comparison, acoustic guitars are a superb choice for beginners due to their simplicity. Being self-contained, you’re ready to go right out of the box.

Electric guitars on the other hand need extra purchases like an amplification and hook-up cables.

One important point to make between acoustic and electric guitars is the fact that some electric oriented songs don’t translate well to acoustic guitar. But an electric guitar can cover acoustic material rather convincingly with the right approach.

In a sense, you get the best of both worlds.

Having said that, there is the acoustic-electric type of guitar which, as the name implies, has one foot in each sonic camp as well. Though they do tend to lean more towards the acoustic side in terms of body style.

Overall Sound

Ultimately and as mentioned, the biggest deciding factor will be your music taste. Your sense of what speaks to you as a female guitar player has an impact.

If you want to thrash and noodle with high-gain metal, you’ll have to go electric.

With electric guitars, a major consideration is in the pickups. Being the engine of an electric guitar, they’re responsible for reproducing the the natural energy of the guitar.

Variations in different pickups types will produce more or less bottom, midrange and high end, while others will centered around warmth or modern clarity.

Plus endless combinations of all possible features designed to satisfy virtually any musical taste.

If your musical tastes lean more towards the lighter side, such as folk, you might want to go acoustic.

With acoustic guitars, the tonewoods themselves, particularly those used for the top of the instrument, become the major driving factor in sound.

Traditional top materials such as solid sitka spruce, cedar and mahogany will influence the natural tone of the guitar.

Depending on the structure of the guitar, the sound can vary from full and rich, to something like a tissue box with rubber bands!

Either way, regardless of whether your guitar is electric or acoustic, it should sound reasonably good to you.

Body Style

The design, size, and color of the guitar body, being the largest element, can make or break a decision.

Since beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder, it makes sense that your choice is based on visuals. Whatever your gender, you want it to look good!

Editor’s note: I’ve personally passed on some incredibly great playing and sounding guitars – near perfect 10’s – just because they were butt-ugly!

Style Factors Worth Considering:

Body Size: Depending on your own body type, the best size guitar for a woman can be slightly different person to person.

While most women can easily adapt to with a full-sized guitar, you might want to consider the various body styles mentioned above.

The different shapes, scale lengths, and necks are all factors that contribute to buying a guitar you’re sure is comfortable for you.

Body Type: Most female beginners will generally find a more natural fit with relatively small bodied electric guitars.

If you’re leaning more toward acoustic instruments, Parlor guitars, Concert size guitars, and Auditorium guitars would be most comfortable.

Dimensions: Body width and contour will have a significant impact on comfort. Edges that dig into your ribs or are uncomfortable under your elbow can be a deal-breaker.

Performance Style: Are you more of a rhythm player or go for leads? A guitar body with a cutaway will help you gain easier access to the upper frets allowing you to play higher notes in a killer solo.

Tonal Versatility: Do you need sonic variety? If you want versatility, consider guitars with controls that modify the output of the guitar.

With more switching combinations, you’ll have more opportunities to shape your tone.

Playability

Many factors contribute to a guitar’s playability. For instance acoustic guitars use heavier strings which, compared to electric guitars, are much stiffer to play.

Along with build general build quality, there are a few inherent properties that have a direct impact on what helps qualify a good guitar for a woman.

Scale Length

A guitar’s scale length, which is the distance between the nut and the bridge, is very much associated with the size and style of the instrument.

Generally speaking, the smaller the guitar ,the shorter the scale length.

Technically speaking, a scale length below 24.75″ can be considered a short scale, whereas a long scale would be 25″ and over.

Here’s a few examples of common guitar scale lengths:

24″ – Fender Jaguar and Mustang

24.75″ – Most Gibson and Epiphone models

25″ – PRS, Carvin, and Danelectric models

25.5″ – Most Fender, Squier, Ibanez, Jackson, Kramer and Schecter models

30″ – Short scale bass guitars

34″ – Standard length bass guitars

“What difference does scale length make?”

Simply put, the scale length will have a huge impact on how flexible the strings are to play.

Compared to long scale lengths, shorter scale lengths will feel more “slinky”. In other words the strings will feel more loose.

A short scale length combined with a smaller body style can in many cases, make a perfect size guitar for a woman.

Neck Size and Radius

The neck radius, which refers to the curve of the fretboard, is much less important than the overall shape of the neck itself.

For someone with smaller hands, a slender neck will be much more comfortable.

Most women would find guitars made Ibanez and Taylor, and many others, produce excellent instruments with player-friendly necks that are easy to get used to.

As for the neck shape, the most comfortable guitar neck profile for a woman would be the modern “C” and “D” shapes.

General Setup

When you first pick up a guitar, it should at least be playable right from the start.

A good setup will ensure the guitar is easy to manage – for instance the strings aren’t too high, and that all the controls are functioning properly.

Better guitar suppliers will offer this service for free. Plus many of the better manufacturers make sure their guitars leave the factory in great playing condition to start with.

Still, regardless of quality control, it’s not uncommon for guitars to need adjustments after the fact.

The beauty of this is, as a female guitar player, you can have the instrument tailored specifically to your playing style.

Build Quality and Materials

A guitar’s build quality can be directly related to, but not exclusive to its price point.

The brand name will also have a huge impact on the quality and materials used – and warranty.

Generally speaking, established brands like Gibson, Fender, Taylor, PRS and others exercise higher standards of quality control to ensure their customers get a better built guitar.

Whether the guitar is made in north America or overseas, you can find the right combination of quality, materials and price point that works for you.

For instance, Fender’s Squier Classic Vibe series offers an excellent value dollar for dollar. But the Squier series is not necessarily made in North America.

On the whole, look for trusted brands and buy from reputable, recommended sellers.

Price

Like the saying goes – “You get what you pay for.”

Still, there are some great deals out there. In a highly competitive market, better guitar companies want to make sure their customers are getting a good bang for the buck.

Most major guitar manufacturers will have their signature brand guitars as well as sub-brands that cover lower price points.

Here are a few examples of major guitar companies and their related brands:

• Gibson – Epiphone
• Fender – Squier
• Ibanez – Ibanez GIO
• PRS – PRS SE
• C.F. Martin – Sigma Guitars
• Takamine – Takamine G-Series
• Ovation – Jasmine

And many more.

If you’re just starting out, you might want to stick to a relatively low budget – somewhere between $200 and $400, or around the $300 mark. This is the “sweet spot” for entry-level acoustic and electric guitars.

If you have a little more to spend, the next level would be around the $600 price point.

Looking to upgrade? There are many fine and professional grade instruments starting in the high hundreds and going well up into the thousands.

Acoustic and Electric Guitars for Women – Treasure Hunting for the Eyes And Ears

Our Top 3 Acoustic Guitars for Women

1. Yamaha FG800 Dreadnought

Known for building excellent quality instruments for nearly every price any price point, Yamaha’s FG800 represents one of the greatest values in beginner acoustic guitar.

Featuring a solid top, it delivers a rich, full-bodied tone usually found in more expensive acoustic guitars.

The smooth feeling neck is extremely playable and comfortable – perfect for players just beginning their musical journey.

2. Martin LX1E Little Martin Acoustic Guitar

With well over 150 years of experience, Martin certainly knows how to build acoustic guitars. The small bodied LX1 is no exception.

Though it’s not full size, it still projects a powerful full tone, plus it benefits from Martin’s expertise in building quality instruments.

With two versions to choose from, one with electronics and one without, the LX1 hits a home run in the lower mid-hundreds sweet spot.

3. Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Not that long ago, Taylor set the bar much higher for the competition. Using innovative build methods combined with superior materials and design elements, it’s no wonder the GS Mini gets the acclaim it does.

In terms of sound and projection, this little powerhouse easily stands up to instruments sporting larger bodies, plus it plays like a dream.

Better yet, thanks to forward thinking design, Taylor guitars are also very easy to maintain compared to more traditional acoustic guitar construction.

Our Top 3 Electric Guitars for Women

1. Squier Bullet Mustang HH

Considering its entry-level price point, the Squier Bullet Mustang is without a doubt one of the best electric guitars for women looking to start playing.

With its broad sounding electronics and relatively small size, it’s fully capable of providing a truly enjoyable – and fun, playing experience.

As a well established brand under the umbrella of guitar manufacturing giant Fender, Squier is known for making electric guitars tailored to smaller budgets, and the Bullet Mustang is no exception.

2. Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster

Squier’s Classic Vibe Telecaster is hands down one of the best values in a vintage-style guitar you can get.

With it’s traditional styling and high levels of quality control manufacturing, this electric guitar represents an excellent value right out of the box.

Since its parent company, Fender, had the good sense to use really good pickups to start with, there’s very little you need to upgrade to get an instrument literally worth twice as much, plus It’ll easily last a lifetime!

3. PRS SE Standard 245 Electric Guitar

Paul Reed Smith guitars are known for exceptional build quality, astonishing playability and killer sound. The PRS Standard 245 Electric holds true to that ideal.

Though it is a more cost-effective version, the company sourced one of the absolute best offshore firms to reproduce its iconic designs to maintain the standards the PRS customers expect.

Overall the PRS SE series is, without a doubt, one of the best imported electric guitars you can get for the money – period.

Final Words

Regardless of your inspiration, guitars for women come in wonderful combinations of different body shapes, scale lengths, and necks.

All of these features should be considered to ensure you’re buying a guitar that’s the right fit for you.

All of these factors should be considered to ensure that when buying a guitar, you’re getting one that’s the right fit for you.

The post Guitar For A Woman – How To Find The Perfect Fit first appeared on GuitarNiche.

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What are the Best Guitars Under $300?

Value Priced Electric Guitars at a Glance:

Product	Image	Rating	Relative Price
#1 Best Overall Value Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package			$$$
#2 Most Complete Bundle Squier by Fender Short Scale Stratocaster Bundle			$$$
#3 Best Bargain Package Maestro by Gibson Electric Guitar Starter Package			$$

Top 3 Electric Guitars Under $300 Reviewed

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

1. Overall Best Value: Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package

Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack, Vintage Sunburst

The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package comes complete with the guitar and accessories that you need to play.

This is the best electric guitar under $300 for those who want a guitar package from one of the well-known brands in producing fine electric guitars – Epiphone.

With the single coil pickup, the tone produced and amplified is buzz free. It also enables you to have a clean tone or to have it in overdrive.

The rosewood fingerboard, which has dot inlays, is bolted on the durable maple neck. It has the classic Les Paul signature on the headstock for that appealing look.

Included in the set is the 10-watt amp that beginners as well as more experienced guitar players can use. It also includes an easy-to-use chromatic tuner that easily helps keep the guitar in tune.

Click Here to Check Epiphone Les Paul Package Availability >>

Key Features

• Player pack package includes other accessories such as the 10-watt amp, 10’ guitar cable, clip-on headstock chromatic tuner, guitar strap, gig bag and picks
• Also included in the pack are free downloadable guitar lessons for beginners
• Available in different colors: ebony, heritage cherry sunburst and vintage sunburst
• Available in different configurations for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 or Xbox One
• Makes use of a humbucker guitar pickup
• Rosewood is used for the fretboard
• The body is made of solid-wood and the neck is made from maple

Epiphone Les Paul Player Package in Review

What Do Epiphone Player Pack Customers Think? >>

2. Most Complete Bundle: Squier by Fender Short Scale Stratocaster

Squier by Fender Short Scale Stratocaster - Transparent Blue Bundle with...

The Squier Short Scale Stratocaster has the look and feel of a real Strat, the biggest difference is its size. This is a guitar that is ideal for beginners or anyone who has smaller hands.

Manufactured by parent company Fender, this Squier guitar comes out of the box with low action. This means that the strings are rather high off the fret board, so you have to press down harder on them in order to get a sound.

This can be not only difficult for beginners, but also pretty painful, because they are not used to having to grip and press so hard.

While it is not uncommon to see girls playing the guitar these days, in the past, it was often something that was scoffed at, and even if they had any skills, they would hear, “You’re pretty good, for a girl!”

Also available in Olympic White and standard Black versions, there will be something for everyone, no matter what their color preference.

What Do Squier Short Scale Stratocaster Bundle Users Think?

Key Features

• This smaller version of the Bullet Strat is perfect for beginners. It has a slimmer body and neck profile, making it easier to play than a full-size Strat. It also has the same features you would expect on a regular Strat, including three, single-coil Stratocaster pickups and five-way switching
• The Squier Short Scale has new and improved tuning machines, as well as a hardtail bridge. It also has smaller strap pins than the Bullet Strat, and it has a side-mounted output jack for plugging it into an amplifier
• This guitar comes with a bundle package, so there is everything needed for the beginner to pick it up and start learning right away. This is an Austin Bazaar deal that comes with a clip-on tuner, a guitar strap, picks, an aux cable, a polishing cloth, and a DVD that is loaded with tips for the beginner

Squier Short Scale Stratocaster Bundle in Review

What are Squier Short Scale Strat Bundle Owners Saying? >>

3. Best Bargain Pack: Maestro by Gibson Electric Guitar Starter Package

Maestro by Gibson Electric Guitar Starter Package, Vintage Sunburst

If you want to play a Gibson or a Fender guitar, many people think that they can’t have a quality guitar from either of these manufacturers without having a ton of money. If this is what you’ve been thinking, it’s time to think again.

Both manufacturers offer great quality, entry-level guitars, including the instrument in this Maestro by Gibson Starter Package. This electric guitar comes with a starter package, so you have everything you need to start playing right away.

This is a single cutaway guitar that’s similar in design to the early Les Paul body style Gibson guitars that are so sought-after.

The classic design lets you play comfortably, both while sitting and standing. It also offers a signature tone for those who wants to play rock and roll.

Read What Maestro Customers are Saying >>

Key Features

• The Maestro by Gibson has a Linden wood body, along with a solid maple neck and rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, making it look as great as it sounds. You will love the classic sunburst pattern that is common in Gibson guitars
• This guitar has a 24.75-inch scale length. This means that there is a lot less tension on the strings, so you don’t have to press on the strings as hard as you would with other guitars. This is great for beginners who haven’t toughened up their fingertips yet
• The tailpiece on this guitar is a traditional, wrap-around design that allows you to enjoy extra sustain, and the precision tuners are die-cast, so the guitar is going to stay in tune longer than other cheap guitars

Maestro Electric Guitar Starter Package in Review

What Do Maestro Package Customers Think? >>

Important things to consider when buying a budget electric guitar

When buying an inexpensive electric guitar, particularly on a budget, there are some other factors to keep in mind. It’s not enough that the electric guitar you find simply fits your budget, you should also look at the quality of the instrument as well as how it looks and feels when you play it.

What about the sound or tone?

The tone produced by an electric guitar is due to several things, among them is the kind of pickup it has combined with the type of wood the guitar’s made of.

For those who are just learning how to play and are just purchasing for personal use, you might want to skip investing guitars that cost hundreds, or thousands of dollars, just because the pedigree attests that they sound fantastic.

It may sound obvious, but you probably won’t have an ear developed enough to tell the difference – yet.

This can save you money but it doesn’t mean that you should buy just any guitar. You still have to make sure that the guitar can be tuned and that it produces a decent sound.

Finding the right guitar under $300 that fits your needs will help you enjoy your serious musical efforts, even if you’re just practicing.

You should look into the specific wood that the guitar is made of. Lower priced guitars may produce a tighter, brighter tone as compared to more expensive instruments known for producing a richer pallet.

As mentioned, it’s not just the wood that determines the overall tone, the pickups used greatly affect the sound you hear. If the guitar has a single coil pickup, expect to have a cleaner tone.

On the other hand, humbucker pickups offer tones with less interference or electronic buzzing. Fortunately, it’s possible to change the pickups if you’re not satisfied with them, but the extra parts and labor come at a price.

Comfort

How the guitar feels when you hold it or how comfortable you are while playing it should also be considered when buying. Electric guitars come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Thicknesses of the necks also vary, which can make or break the enjoyment factor.That’s why it’s best if you can try to hold the guitar at a local guitar store before buying.

Appearance

The appearance or cosmetic elements of the electric guitar should also be considered. Although this is personal, you would certainly be happier if your guitar matches your style.

Electric guitars come in a variety of colors and stylistic finishes. There are also some that have different shapes that not only affect the comfort while using it, but also its overall appearance.

Guitars come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and designs to attract you to buy them. Although one guitar may look flawless and beautiful, it is still important to consider how they play over how they look. Guitars are meant to be played and not just displayed.

Buying a used electric guitar

In order to save some money on the purchase of an electric guitar, some may decide to purchase a used one. It’s risky to buy a used electric guitar or any other item that was previously used. Although some deals are great, some may also be too good to be true.

When looking for used guitars to purchase, you have to be sure about the quality. The description may sound good, but sometimes it really isn’t. You also have to consider the price of the parts that you may need to replace.

Compare the overall cost of a used guitar plus the parts you need to replace with the price of a new guitar.

Ultimately it’s up to you how comfortable you are in spending your money, and your time, sourcing out a great deal.

Compare best choices for electric guitars under $300:

 Best Value Under $300

Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack, Vintage Sunburst

Most Complete Bundle

Squier by Fender Short Scale Stratocaster...

Best Bargain Package

Maestro by Gibson Electric Guitar Starter Package...

Wrapping Up: Which Inexpensive Electric Guitar is Best for You?

The three electric guitars reviewed here are all great for starting out under $300. But if you are looking for a particularly good value, the Epiphone Les Paul Electric Player Package would be our recommendation.

It has a better tuner that can easily be used even by beginners. It holds a tune better so that you won’t have to tune it all the time. It may require a proper setup at first, but when you’ve successfully made the adjustments, it’ll sound and play wonderful.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package

Are Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack Owners Happy? >>

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The post Best Electric Guitar Under $300 (Find Sweet Deals) first appeared on GuitarNiche.