If you’re looking for the best guitars for women, you’ve come to the right post!
Which Features to Look for
If we’re talking about this specific category of guitars, I’d point out a few traits that might be important.
Of course, no two people are the same, so these rules might not be for everyone.
Look at them as general guidelines when considering the best guitars for female players.
The size of the instrument could be an important factor.
In a lot of cases, beginner-friendly instruments are smaller in size, which can come in handy.
Both for acoustic and electric guitars, about 38 to 42 inches from the end of the body to the end of the headstock is the standard.
However, avoid instruments that are listed with their dimensions rather than as a brand.
These are usually cheap low-quality guitars.
For electric guitars, you might also consider weight.
However, almost all electric guitar models today come with one form of weight relief.
The trait that you should mostly pay attention to is the scale length.
This is the length of the usable part of strings.
The standard for electric guitars is 24 to 25.5 inches.
For acoustic guitars, the measures are similar, although they’re not as standardized.
I’d always recommend something with a shorter rather than longer scale length.
In case you need extra-short solutions, go below 24 inches.
These guitars aren’t as common and are usually regarded as beginner-oriented instruments.
As for acoustic guitar, I’d always recommend something like parlor guitars.
They have a great projection, tone, and volume with a noticeably smaller body.
Finally, I’d also mention neck profiles and neck dimensions.
While not a super-important rule, you might want to look for guitars that have thinner and narrower necks.
Bear in Mind…
These guidelines are in no way promoting any stereotypes.
The general rule here is to find something that could be useful for smaller build and smaller hands.
We could also talk about potential aesthetic traits.
However, guitars are pretty much universal in this regard.
So don’t look at this as a super-strict guide.
Acoustic Guitars
Gretsch G5021E Rancher Penguin
Gretsch G5021E is a compact parlor guitar that’s more than worth the price.
Although bearing a 25-inch scale, the body is smaller and the guitar is pretty easy to play.
It’s a great choice if you prefer a brighter tone and something that stands out aesthetically.
In addition, it has awesome Fishman Presys II electronics.
Guild M-20
Looking at higher-end small-body guitars, Guild’s M-20 is the one you should check out.
It comes with a scale length of 24.75 inches and an all-mahogany body with “X” scalloped bracing.
It brings a smooth yet somewhat balanced tone, perfect for those who need a guitar to go along with vocals.
Taylor GS Mini
Aside from being absolutely gorgeous, Taylor GS Mini is an all-around awesome guitar.
It has a slightly shorter scale than usual, 23.5 inches.
The body has an interesting combination of tonewoods with a mahogany top and sapele back and sides.
Additionally, GS Mini also comes with “X” bracing with the so-called Relief Rout.
At its price, you’ll rarely find a compact acoustic guitar as good as this one.
Martin Backpacker
Even the cheapest and simplest Martin guitar brings pro-level performance and tone.
Backpacker, as the name suggests, is a travel guitar.
But it does way more than that, offering impeccable bright tone and pretty decent volume for its size.
We have the regular configuration with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, as well as a mahogany neck.
Sure, there are only 15 frets but the instrument sounds pretty great.
I guarantee that, with a proper PA, you can do a gig with this one and sound as good as with most other full-sized guitars in this price range.
Electric Guitars
Fender Player Jaguar
These days, Fender has a lot of stuff to offer.
In my opinion, Fender’s budget-friendly Player line is way better than most people expect.
These are way more than just cheap alternatives to US-made models.
One of the examples is the Jaguar model variant within the Player line.
Here we have a 24-inch scale typical of all Jaguars, which is also the shortest length for full-size electric guitars.
What’s awesome is that you also get the old-school “floating” vibrato tailpiece, along with a 6-saddle bridge.
The neck has a “C” profile and a 9.5-inch radius, giving it that vintage-ish feel.
What I also love about it is the pickup combination.
There’s an Alnico 3 humbucker in the bridge and an Alnico 2 single-coil in the neck position.
You can even get some harsher-sounding tones for hard rock riffing.
But I especially love the option to split the humbucker.
The middle position then gives those Telecaster-like twangy tones.
Any Gibson SG, Most Epiphone SGs
They may not be that cheap, but any Gibson SG is a good choice.
These guitars are light, they’re thin, they’re super comfortable to play, and they’re versatile.
You’ll even find the same model used both in jazz and heavy metal.
In particular, I really love the body and neck joint and the incredibly easy access to higher frets.
This is especially pronounced on SG Modern with that extra-smooth heel.
As far as Epiphone SG models go, I’d just avoid the cheapest ones, those with bolt-on necks.
Epiphone SG Modern and Prophecy variants are, in my opinion, the best ones, giving 24 frets with a regular Gibson scale.
Ibanez miKro GRGM21
In case you’re looking for something compact, comfortable, and cheap, Ibanez has their miKro series within the Gio line.
In particular, we’re looking at GRGM21, a Super Strat-style guitar with bare essentials.
Two humbuckers, 24 frets, a fixed bridge, a pretty flat fretboard radius, and a scale of only 22.2 inches.
What’s more, the guitar comes with a 5-position switch, giving some of those “in-between” pickup combinations.
It’s one of the best electric guitars for beginners that you can find today.
But if you ask me, this one can serve you even when you get past your beginner phase.
Steinberger GT-PRO Deluxe
I can’t help but also mention Steinberger and their GT-PRO Deluxe guitar.
A minimalistic body design makes it light and really easy to play.
After all, the brand is known for this approach, focusing primarily on functionality rather than looks.
What’s also incredible is the instrument’s relatively lower price, especially considering all of its features.
For instance, there’s the R-Trem bridge which allows 2-way action, all with great tuning stability.
While we’re at it, you’ll also need to bear in mind that this is a “headless” guitar.
Tuning machines are at the bridge and the instrument has no headstock.
Along with that, we have a humbucker-single-humbucker pickup combo.
All three are Steinberger’s pickups.
The fingerboard radius is flatter than usual, the neck is super comfortable, and the guitar even has a “zero fret.”
This instrument does magic for pretty much any genre.
In all honesty, all of this should be accepted as the new standard for electric guitar design.
You just can’t go wrong with it. Â
The Best Guitars for Women: Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you think through which guitar is best for yourself or a woman in your life!
And if you want to read more about guitar recommendations on this blog, then check out:
Lastly, feel free to leave a message in the comments below if you have questions about this or another guitar-related topic!
