Best Parlor Guitar Under $1000 (Jan 2023 Update)

At first I was going to say it's a great guitar for the price, but that really doesn't do this thing justice. It's just a great guitar. It has a great sound, it feels good in your hands, it's easy to hold and to play. I can't fault this guitar at all. The action was a bit high out of the box, but the tech at Guitar Center gave it a great set-up and now it's very easy to play. I'm planning to give this one to my daughter, but I would happily keep this myself. I have only been playing guitar for a few weeks, but even I can make this thing sound good!Todd

There is a place in my project studio for FS800: 48 years ago I sold Yamaha Guitars and found them excellent. When the group "America" presented a acoustic sound (Horse with No Name; Ventura Highway; Tin Man . . . et al) the solid rhythms of Yamaha solid top guitars proved Ideal. Through the years I have experimented with various genres as a singer songwriter; now a days I have returned to folk and "heavy on" acoustic guitar sounds. To complement my more expensive guitars I needed something that could deliver the solid rhythms I fondly recall. Now the Yamaha FS800 excels for finger styles as well: I layer tracks this guitar is a breeze to play and its character naturally stands out in the mix. I cannot see a beginner or a more advanced guitarist going wrong with The Yamaha FS800. JHajarhill

Perfect couch and campfire guitar. Sustains and project very well with a surprisingly round warm sound. Gorgeous burst finish much nicer in person. String spacing is slightly narrower than standard, make note. Bridge saddle needed to be shaved down for lower action. Neck and frets were perfect otherwise. Tuning very stable. A set of 11-52 will be next string change. Love playing this thing, and exploring alternate tunings! It seems Yamaha's reputation is true.Greg

I played this instrument along with a couple of competitor's parlor guitars in the price range at a local big box music store. This Fender was head and shoulders above the rest. The others (both 12 frets) had the look and feel of toys and a small body sound. The CP60s has a nice tone and responds well to both strumming and finger style. I can't believe the quality, playability and sound of this guitar for this price. It out performs several full dive guitars in the price range. The only reason I didn't buy one at this time was a recent acquisition of another instrument from MF.Brooks

I purchased this guitar for my wife who has been learning to play a ukulele in open G tuning. Now she is applying what she can do on the uke to her new Fender parlor guitar. It sounds great and the size of this guitar is a perfect fit for her. The neck feels fantastic…more like the feel of one of my Fender electric guitars.Sidemeat Mielke

Overall: This is a nice Guitar. I use it in open tuning for slide style. It has a nice bluesy tone. It is a nice size. It would be great for a young beginner. For the money it is very nice. I have not had to deal with Ibanez. I do know they have good Q.C. Cause the produces are great. The best part I have bought several Guitars and music products from zZounds, they take good care of there Customers. You can trust zZounds to be the best!Timothy

Ok, I really had no intention of writing a review on this guitar before I received it but, here I am… My expectations were marginal for a $150. Chinese guitar, let me be honest, I'm not a fan! (In fact, time will tell if it stays at 5 star status…) So, I needed a "parlor" style for small room gathering type of stuff. With great hesitation, I just picked one! PROS: Out of the box (!!!), it was amazing! Here is why, this is what really matters to a guitar player… Play-ability, tone, sustain! On all three, 5 stars! I was pleasantly stunned by all three, wasn't expecting that! (the fact is: a real guitar player knows when a guitar "sings" and when it doesn't, this one does!)… The neck is nicely finished, string highth is perfect! (4/64") as well as the nut highth (.018), There is no buzzing! … Fret ends are well done, no sprout at all (yet). Sustain and tone is quite impressive for a small body guitar (really!!). The things that don't matter so much: it comes with an extra bridge and bridge pin! No cosmetic flaws on this guitar! Binding on the guitar at the heal joint, neck joint, at the nut, is crisp, clean, perfect! Glue joints on the bracing were clean; visually, the bridge is tight to the body! CONS: In the realms of "perfection" the nut is the tiniest (maybe .02mm) shifted to the treble side, yes you can feel it with your thumb and first finger but doesn't negate all the "pros"! When I change the strings I'll pop the nut and re-glue it perfectly… frets are slightly "gritty", that's not a real flaw, it's a $150. guitar! And yes, the "feel" of the tuners are cheap but functional… At the end of it all, I wish I had a guitar like this when I started playing! Your experience may be different, I am ecstatic with this purchase, I'm confident I got one of the good ones!! (that being said), time will tell the rest of this story… Buying guitars online is at best, a "crapshoot", Hope this helps! Stick with a great online store like AMC… Exceptional return policy and customer service! Cheers…Randall

The factory set up was a major disappointment. The absolute worst of any guitar purchase in 40+ years. The only instrument I've ever owned with factory actions this high was a square neck resonator. Yes it really was that high. Turns out it cost less to pay for a professional setup than the shipping charges involved with a return to MF. Once setup properly the guitar sounds and plays wonderful. The PN15 is physically larger than any of the other "parlor" sized or travel guitars (Martin LX, Baby Taylor, Dirty 30, Jim Dandy, Fender CP-100 etc.). It is much closer to a 00 or standard classical sized body. The Ibanez PN-15 has a pleasant well balance voice and good volume. Sure it's not going to compare to a solid rosewood dreadnought for volume or bass response but it's not designed to. The neck is extremely comfortable, (ignoring HORRIBLE factory set up). The overall fit and finish is flawless. The body and neck have real binding (not painted on like some competitors). Bottom line: if you're looking for a 50's throwback, boxy small tone this is NOT your guitar. However if you want a very good sounding small(er) guitar at a reasonable price this is just the ticket. But be prepared to add the cost of a professional set up to the purchase price. Would I replace this if lost, stolen or damaged? Yes, but I'd play before buying next time.Tallgrasspicker

For what it is – a very cheap, small, travel guitar, this is great. You'll need a strap as it doesn't sit high enough on your leg to be comfortable to play. Also – the action was high, but a bit of adjusting with a belt sander on the saddle and that came down well. The scale length is short, but plays OK – takes a bit of getting used to from my full-sized acoustics. Putting a capo on it and making chords further up the neck is tight, but OK. Sound is very good for a travel guitar of this size. This would be a great kids guitar or even for an adult beginner. I did put 11s on it – sounds a bit weaker, but is fine, and that's what I use on my other acoustics. I had a washburn rover before – this is better, though not as small, but worth the extra size, I think. I have a GS Mini, which is much better, but a good bit larger, and much more expensive. Tuner works good, haven't tried plugging it in yet. Bought this for the boat – seems pretty sturdy.Alexander

I bought this guitar because I have chronic pain and am a small lady and found that even smaller acoustic guitars are too big and bulky and unplayable. I like to play high up on the neck so wanted a cutaway and occasionally perform so having an electro-acoustic version means it ticks all the boxes. When play acoustically it does sound really tinny, there's not getting away from that. It also tends to be unbalanced toward the neck end, so I need a strap to keep it in place. But it is much more playable for practice and I am almost managing to play bar chords again. Not chance on a normal size guitar. It has a full fret board just smaller but not too small.Michelle S.

I ordered this for my pastors wife who wanted to learn a new instrument. She is tiny ( less that 5 ' tall) and a full size guitar would not fit her body type. I was shocked when the guitar came in. The photos on line do not do the finish justice. I was even more shocked when I played it. Most student guitars in this price point have horrible action. The set up on this from the factory was great. It was very easy to play and the sound was extremely good for a thin body acoustic . Then we plugged it in. I could not believe the sound quality of the electronics in this guitar. On Sunday, I pulled out after church and let the music team take turns with it. Everyone that played it raved about every aspect of this little guitar. The instrument also came with a quality gig bag. The material was thick, padding was good, the zippers and hardware appeared to by sturdy. Even more importantly, she loved the guitar. I highly recommend that you consider this one for your beginner or intermediate guitar student. Both Children and small adults should be pleased with this one.Greg H.

I have been a professional guitar player for over 25 years and this guitar is a great "beater". It's construction tolerances are pretty tight and idicitive of a more expensive instrument. I replaced the bridge pins with brass ones for a bit more sustain .Then I strung it with some 11's for electric guitar for the unwound G-string for the blues bending ya know? Then about a 1/3rd turn of the truss rod and bingo it's playing like an axe three times the price. NO PREAMP which for me is great cause they all are quite lame. That being said it has a built in tuner which is nice. NOW the machine heads are a little on the cheap side BUT for 15-25 bucks you can put some good ones on and this guitar will sound even better! Finish wise I like the satin finish. BUT an inlaid headstock and sound hole would be nice BUT for the priceI can't complain!!! From a few feet away a listener cant tell if it's inlaid or silk screened just that it sounds GREAT! LOL. So overall I love this guitar I will update this review after i put some new tuners on but these work fine I'm just really picky! I can not get over how CRISP the tone is for such an inexpensive guitar. As a guitar for a beginner or a seasoned pro you can't go wrong with this one. sounds great plays great you can leave it alone out of the box and it's great for a beginner or as a beach/outdoor guitar…Put about $25 to $40 of modifications into it and it's a good backup axe for gigging and a nice extra guitar to have in the studio. I really really like this guitar and am very surprised at the build quality and tone for the cash.strangemeasure

I just got this guitar just right now and I'm impress by the built and it sounds very nice. I will update my review after more jamming but 5 star as of right now. It has a very warm tone to it.Rok Le

Future purchase will be all wood with high finish. I had to adjust the neck/action. It is easy to play and I enjoy the size. For the money I am satisfied.Dennis

I got this strictly to have something convenient and small to play. I was not expecting very much. I am not a great guitarist but I am an estate liquidator for many years and have seen and played a lot of guitars. This blows away just about anything you could ever get in this price range. Action is great, (I took the bridge down a hair myself, but didnt need to) It stays in tune, has great intonation throughout the neck and sounds pretty bright with great low end for such a small guitar. Couldnt be happier with it.capeannauction

Out of the box I loved the look and feel of this parlour guitar. Initially sounds a bit dull but you don't know how old the strings are so decided to change them. At the same time I swopped the cheap plastic nut and saddle for bone and replaced the bridge pins for Ebony. Fitted D'Addario EJ40 Silk & Steel Normal (.011-.047) strings. Cost 27 for all bits so 147 for the finished guitar. Didn't have to touch the truss rod. Electronics works fine and the built in tuner is accurate better than a clip on. Over the years I had two or three goes at finding a budget priced 1930's styled folk/blues guitar and failed miserably. This guitar is brilliant it looks great and sounds great (after the mods) if it had been delivered like this I'd have give it 10 stars, its a keeper.shelhook

I lead worship every week at my church and I was needing a back up to my main acoustic, which happens to be another Ibanez acoustic (artwood series). I was looking for something a little smaller that would travel well, be a good beater guitar for camps and not be expensive. This fit the bill perfectly! When I first played one at a shop I was really amazed with how full it sounded and how nice it played. The electronics are okay, nothing to oooh and ahh over, but they work. My only gripe with this guitar is that the tuners aren't that great and I find myself tuning quite a bit on a Sunday morning. Might replace them eventually, but otherwise you get a lot of guitar for the money here. Most other smaller/parlor sized acoustics in this price range aren't acoustic electric or they seriously lack in quality. I got mine at a local music store barely used for a killer price, but I wouldn't have minded paying the full price on here. Took a little adjusting when I got home to get the neck where I like it, but nothing other than that. I can definitely see this one sticking around for years to come and being a solid back up and even main guitar on occasion.dstaudy

Love this parlor guitar. I'm using it as a lap slide. Sounds great! I did some research before my purchase It came down to the Gretch Gin Rickey and the Recording King Parlor guitar and this Ibanez. I chose the Ibanez because it's got an active pickup with the built in tuner The others only have a passive pickup.cove1955

I REALLY wanted to like this guitar. It is larger than your average parlor, but I'm a big guy so it was a great size for me. I like the thicker neck compared to some other guitars (like my Jim Dandy parlor). And the tuners worked pretty good. UNFORTUNATELY I had to return the first guitar because the high E string wouldn't tune properly. Before going all in and changing the strings, adjusting the truss rod and bridge saddle I called MF and they said it should be playable right out of the box (with minor tuning). So they agreed to an exchange. Cut to two weeks later when my replacement arrives. I immediately tuned it and it did not have the tuning issue my first PN12E had. Ok, this might be a keeper. But I quickly noticed the EXTREMELY sharp fret ends. I've heard of people complain about this before and never understood… until now. Now they aren't cut-your-fingers-till-they-bleed sharp, but sharp enough that after ten minutes the side of my pinky was pretty roughed up. But I thought, well, I have fret files, maybe when I change the strings out I'll deal with that someday (in hindsight terrible idea. a new guitar should NOT be sent out like this). THE FINAL STRAW was when after lying on my couch playing the guitar for about 20 minutes I lifted my right forearm off the guitar body and heard a popping sound. Not sure if I was hearing things, I tried it again… pop. I've isolated the popping to basically the area where your forearm rests. I can gently push/squeeze the guitar there and it makes a popping sound EVERY TIME. My guess is some of the bracing inside was not glued properly. So I'm done with ever considering the PN12E Mahogany Parlor Acoustic-Electric Guitar. Maybe you'll get one built right and have a fantastic guitar. Or maybe you'll go through two like me and be left questioning whether to ever consider Ibanez again.Daringo

Really nice instrument. I had been looking for a Parlour guitar as intermittent arthritis in my hands has been making playing a regular dreadnought electro-acoustic or acoustic painful sometimes. I had my eye on Cort Parlour guitar as it had a nut width of 45mm and I thought it might help my fingers. Several times I nearly bought one but hearing them on various online videos there was just something stopping me. Then I came across the Jim Dandy. As soon as I heard it online I wanted one. I was dubious as the nut width is listed as only 42.86mm but took the gamble to order one. I was not disappointed. The tone is really bright and you can feel the notes ringing through the tiny body. I can highly recommend one and would not hesitate to recommend GAK.co.uk as your go to supplier.Nick

I went to GC and tried out several small guitars, a Fender, Cort, Mitchell, I even tried a small Taylor. I honestly preferred this Gretsch to even the Taylor. The guy at GC had to go to the back room to get one, he took it out of the box and i tuned it up. Right out of the box it played great. It stays in tune and all the way down the neck each note rang true and in perfect tune (this was not true of most others). Its small but not tiny and the 24" scale makes it playable , its not just for kids. It will be an awesome travel guitar, but I play it at home too. Fantastic value!John

For the price this is am outstanding guitar. I opted for this over a little martin, mainly on the price tag. It doesn’t feel cheap at all. The fretboard is really playable and the parlour body doesn’t feel noticeably smaller than my grand auditorium shaped acoustic. I wanted a travel guitar, but instead I have put my other acoustic into its case and this has pride of place in my front room. Stop thinking about buying it and buy it!Kristian J.

Yes, the tonal range is great, especially the piezo pickup, nicely playable and overall looks and finish seem perfect. But, with nicely contoured access to the high notes let down by the overly large neck heal which starts a fret or two earlier than my other electric guitars. Another annoyance is the very cheap knobs which don't sit straight on the pots. I have a guitar costing a tenth of the price with better fitting knobs. The battery compartment is a bad joke of a design, as the battery holder comes out with the wires attached, you then have to prise up the battery from its contacts and the lever it out for replacement. Overall these are minor annoyances on what is a great guitar but, at this price I expected better. Oh yes, it came with a hard case. Which doesn't fit properly and with no tags or brand markings so who knows what it was made for. It did come with two loose bits of foam, one which was floating around unsure of its purpose.Kevin L.

PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo — I've owned and played this guitar for about three months now. Bottom line: I'm very happy with it–and would recommend it–in spite of a couple issues. There are dozens and dozens of videos that go into detail about the appearance, fit, and finish of this guitar so I won't bother with all that except to confirm that it is very well made overall. The magnetic pickups sound fantastic, period. The piezo pickup was putting out FAR too hot of a signal, distorting at low guitar volume, but once I learned how to adjust the trim pot for it (thanks to the PRS guitar forum website), that problem was solved and now it sounds good. It's a tad bright in my opinion but that's easily fixed with the tone knob on any amp or with an EQ pedal. The battery compartment opens easily enough, but getting the 9V battery out of it without breaking the plastic frame is a challenge. Fortunately, the battery isn't used unless you plug a cable into the PIEZO/MAG jack. The 3-way selector is garbage and I was experiencing crackling and signal drop right out of the box. HOWEVER, this is a known issue and several reviewer videos mention it so I knew what to expect. My soldering skills are only beginner-level (and I've never worked on a hollowbody before) so I paid to have a pro replace the switch for me. MF has offered to credit me the amount of the repair once I send them the receipt, so that's good. The Guitar Case — This shipped with a hard case, which I'm not happy with. When the guitar is properly seated and the lid is properly closed and latched, there is a quarter-inch gap around the bottom (see pics). That's not good. There are several (expensive) case options that are touted as "PRS and PRS-style" cases but they WILL NOT FIT this particular guitar because the lower bout is 14" wide (at least an inch wider than other PRS models). Also, it's about an inch thicker (front to back) than a Jazzmaster so a Jaguar/Jazz case won't work either.RiserGrease

I received the Black Gold Burst version about a week ago. It's a BEAUTIFUL guitar. The pictures don't do it justice. The f-holes really add to the appearance. Fender ALSO makes a hollowbody guitar, but they went the round sound hole direction, which, IMHO, is hokey looking. The sound is INCREDIBLE! I have 4 other electric guitars, including a Fender American Standard Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG and an Ibanez Prestige- They are ALL wonderful guitars, and each has its own personality, in how they play AND how they sound. THIS guitar has a sound that TRANSCENDS ALL of my other guitars. There are a number of videos on YouTube. BUT, as with the appearance, they simply DO NOT do it justice. The humbucker pickups ALONE produce a sound that is CLEAR and RESONANT. Adding the sound from the piezo pickup sends it over the top! ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS. I was a little reluctant to purchase a guitar made in China. However, the CONSTRUCTION and FINISH are PERFECT! PLUS, the cost is WAAAY less than the equivalent US-made version. I hope I've given you the idea that this is a SPECIAL guitar, BECAUSE IT IS!Kevin

Got this from Guitar Center Cerritos. Priscilla and the tech provided excellent customer service. The guitar required no setup, great sound, and yes it's perfect for me. I i recommend it and the Cerritos store.Pancho M

I bought this as a present for my daughter, it's her first guitar and the 3/4 size fits her perfectly without compromising on the sound. Excellent quality from Fender, would highly recommend.Christine C.

I was disappointed in this guitar. Having owned many Yamaha acoustics over the past 25 years, I found the quality to be lacking. The tuners were cheap, the intonation was bad, and the sound was very boxy. Even at the £330 sale price, it felt like a toy guitar. I was looking for something smaller than my FG5 and LJ16 to use on a casual basis and travel about. This did not fit the bill.Matthew H.

My ability to stretch my hand to finger chords is severely limited by dupuytren's contracture (google it for some depressing light reading). I hadn't owned an acoustic for five years as a result. I got the itch to own one again, and when I saw 23.5 inch scale, (excellent) gigbag included at this price, I went for it. And I'm glad I did. While the sound is not huge, it is good and the feel, fit and finish are outstanding. It has inspired me to play a lot more than I was playing, which was already over two hours a day. And that's really the best compliment that you can pay a guitar, isn't it?Jaye

I was excited to. receive this guitar having tried a showroom model. I have been playing it fir two weeks and have the food further examination llowing observation .1 batteries do not lasting (a week for me ). setup looked good a felt good to play except for a buzz on the g string. I noticed that 12th fret appeared higher. I know this is removable and would ask what I should do as it is under warrranty. but I am disappointed ate the thought of the hassle I nw have to get it fixed. over to you pmt ….P C.

I was looking for a good beginner's guitar, and I wanted something with nylon strings. I did a pretty extensive search in order to find an instrument that was relatively inexpensive yet had some degree of quality. I read reviews on this particular model, and most seemed to be pleased. I was able to purchase one that, I'm guessing, had been returned, and I was very pleased with both the reduced price and the condition/quality of the guitar. The guitar itself has a very beautiful and mellow tone. It stays in tune, only requiring minor adjustments from time-to-time. I would not recommend this for young people or those adults with smaller hands, as the neck is somewhat wider than one might expect. All-in-all a very fine instrument for the price.Swewpa

This is the best beginner/student classical guitar there is bar none. It's full size and the intonation is spot on, the tuners (whilst basic) are fully functional and consistent. The bridge saddle has 3rd string compensation and is set to a low-ish action. Putting a new set of EJ45's opens up the sound considerably (don't play with the crappy strings that are on it). Great second or studio guitar for the experienced player. Stick it in a half decent case and you'll have a fantastic holiday guitar for around £150. The spruce soundboard already sounds good and will improve with age. Buy, play it – chuck it about. – it's very well made and robust. Finish is shiny and cleans with a wipe. Buy it today.Warwick M.

We purchased two of these for my pre-teens, who have been studying guitar in school. Both loved the instruments, which match the model they use in school. Nice, clean, warm sound, and clearly well-made instruments.Amy Beee

I have a number of acoustic type guitars – both steel and nylon strung. When playing these I rarely strum – it's a finger style combination of rock, flamenco, folk, blues and jazz ( a real mixture). The first thing I did was to change the strings (D'Addario Silk & Steel). As a result this little Fender beauty has turned into an excellent parlour guitar: it's responsive, lovely to play and remarkably loud for its size. Build quality is good and the sound projects well. If you're a chord strummer, I wouldn't suggest that the Sonoran is for you – but it responds superbly to finger style playing. It's subtle and responsive. For the money, it's very, very good. And of course, it's very, very easy to lug around. Love it!Gillian B.

Pretty nice sounding instrument! Way less money than most solid wood, small bodied shorter scale guitars, & stacks up decently against “higher end” offerings. As a traditionalist, the onboard electronics were an annoying detraction, but in practice the pickup system sounds far more natural than I was expecting. And as a couch/practice guitar, having a tuner on the instrument is handy, I’ll grudgingly admit. If I were the type to plug in an acoustic on stage, I’d get good use out of these features. There are a few other general things that caught my attention, listed in no particular order. The dynamic range is an interesting departure from typical full scale acoustics. It’s quieter when finger picked softly, but as loud or louder when dug into with a pick. Definitely doesn’t sound small when played with authority, & generally has great resonance. I’ve yet to try lighter strings, but with 12 gauge phosphor bronze, it doesn’t feel too slinky or incredibly different than a longer scale length acoustic. I do find it a tad more comfortable, but not a night & day difference. The only lesser aspect is mostly down to the stock setup. Action was a little on the high side, & the G# fret under the low E string was a little high, so G chords buzzed on that string. This doesn’t detract from my over all impression, as I’m imagining most folks buying a decent instrument will end up setting it up & leveling fretwork to taste. All in all, mine’s a very nice acoustic guitar by any measure, & its sound punches way above its weight class in terms of cost. I dig it.WJJ

This Fender guitar is awesome. Out of the box it is almost perfectly set up. The intonation is off just by a little bit and only with 2 or 3 strings. The sound seems a little washed while playing chords, but single notes are loud and clear. All the frets have edge treatment, nice and smooth. The synthetic bone used for the nut and bridge are way better than plastic, allowing for a long sustain. The guitar could use better tuning keys, but the guitar stays in tune good enough. Over all my guitar was built well, and I'm glad it sounds good, too. I would recommend this guitar for all beginner guitar players because of the sound quality, and anyone else who don't have the money for their dream guitar.Tim

Bought this mainly as a travel guitar. My go too guitars are a Taylor 12en and a Córdoba orchestra CE nylons along with a selection of steel stringed instruments. Compared to all those guitars the Yamaha is a disappointment and it serves me right for buying a guitar on line I'd never played. The action is high, even for a nylon, and makes playing tiring. Try to lower the action and there is buzz from the D string. The sound, either through quality headphones or an acoustasonic amplifier is really "synthetic". It is difficult to really pick out the ring of individual strings when playing relatively fast. So it doesn't help much during practice – the sound is just too "blurred". The much talked about STR electronics are not very useful in improving the sound. I'm debating taking it back to guitar center and trading it in. But it has its uses when I need to be quiet like in a hotel while traveling. But that's all it will be used for, because I never enjoy the sound it makes compared to a real nylon acoustic. It's really expensive too, worth $300 at best.Graeme A

I've played classical guitar for 40 yrs and fingerstyle jazz/blues for 25 yrs. Most of the guitars in my collection are expensive collector's instruments: Taylors, Gibsons, and a handmade classical guitar by the Spanish Luthier Ricardo Sanchis, to name a few. While I don't play publicly much anymore, I have performed classical guitar in concert. I'm no pro, by any means, but a good Saturday still includes at least 4 hours of playing. As for the SLG200NW, I am ALWAYS amazed at how great this guitar sounds. I run it through a Fishman Aura (get one), and the sound is nothing short of SPECTACULAR. When run through a good pre-amp (or imaging), it sounds like a VERY expensive instrument. This guitar is super responsive to touch, producing both delicate nuance and big sound without a hint of string buzz or hiss. Most remarkable for me is how playable it is. The fingerboard, action, and frets gives me the feeling of "glide" that I do not get with any other guitar. The machine heads are also very responsive, and the guitar stays perfectly in tune. Clearly one of the most obvious benefits (aside from the above) is the ability to play silently without disturbing anyone nearby. This is ESPECIALLY helpful when practicing scales or repeating passages hundreds of times; we all know how irritating this is to others. Slip on headphones and get lost, undisturbed and without disturbing others. This aspect (even without great sound) would've been enough for me. For true classical purists, get the wide neck. The feel is exactly like a good classical guitar. The version with the smaller neck is just too cramped for classical playing. Again I suggest using it with a good pre-amp. It's worth it. Final note on Yamaha classical guitars: Many years ago, I was in a master class at the Royal Academy of Music in Madrid. I had Yamaha classical (my first guitar). EVERYONE else had a Ramirez. My teacher, a pupil of Segovia, heard my Yamaha and could NOT believe his ears!Indigo

Two design flaws: The strap buttons screw in and out to attach the top of the "body." They loosen over time as the strap moves making it easy for them to fall out and the guitar to fall on the floor. Also the upper part of the "body" is very "sharp" and digs into my forearm much more than any other guitar leaving a lot of red creases. Aside from these flaws the quality is good but I just don't enjoy playing it possibly due to the action or the lack of tone/authentic feel. I also dislike it when I see people perform with this guitar. People should play real guitars in performance IMO.Christopher

Got this to downsize from dreadnought and I am extremely pleased. Specs on MF, M&A, GF, all say dreadnought on body type, it's a triple-o concert. Found the correct specs on Fender, which would make sense because they are the manufacturers. Medium strings sound better than light (in my opinion). Great buy and well constructed! My first all solid guitar & I would buy again! Fenders are economical and good quality! It's got really good sound and Fingerstyle sounds amazing! My arm does not fall asleep, from blood circulation being cut off, like it did with the dreadnought! If you are looking to learn Fingerstyle, or play Fingerstyle, and are looking for a comfortable guitar this is it! Also would recommend it for electric players who might be looking to play an acoustic!Guitarist

I play American Fender electrics and was curious about these acoustics. Being made in China, I was a little hesitant but the solid Mahogany back and sides convinced me to pull the trigger. I am glad I did. This guitar has a very full balanced sound. Great projection. The neck is very comfortable though I prefer a satin finish. I have a pretty aggressive pick attack and vibrato and this thing has stayed in tune very well. I am very impressed. Time will tell how this holds up, but so far I would absolutely recommend checking out this Paramount series. Loving it. (nice quality case too)Just my opinion

On my previous review I forgot to mention that the bridge pin, for the low E string, had a split towards the end and half way up on the side. I had taken the strings off to do a detailed cleaning and seen the split. Thankfully it came with one spare so I could finish my work and none of the other pins had any splits. Glued the split one, with wood glue, and have another spare! Guess it can be expected for a wooden bridge pin to split like that as it has the pressure of the string pulling against it. Had seen a video on YouTube that a guy bought a second hand one (Fender pm-3) and had the same issue. Note to anybody who buys a guitar with wooden bridge pins, check them after buying before it has a chance to break and fly out while you're playing! Other than that I am totally satisfied with the guitar and it's constructed very well!Guitarist

For what it is – a very cheap, small, travel guitar, this is great. You'll need a strap as it doesn't sit high enough on your leg to be comfortable to play. Also – the action was high, but a bit of adjusting with a belt sander on the saddle and that came down well. The scale length is short, but plays OK – takes a bit of getting used to from my full-sized acoustics. Putting a capo on it and making chords further up the neck is tight, but OK. Sound is very good for a travel guitar of this size. This would be a great kids guitar or even for an adult beginner. I did put 11s on it – sounds a bit weaker, but is fine, and that's what I use on my other acoustics. I had a washburn rover before – this is better, though not as small, but worth the extra size, I think. I have a GS Mini, which is much better, but a good bit larger, and much more expensive. Tuner works good, haven't tried plugging it in yet. Bought this for the boat – seems pretty sturdy.Alexander

I bought this guitar because I have chronic pain and am a small lady and found that even smaller acoustic guitars are too big and bulky and unplayable. I like to play high up on the neck so wanted a cutaway and occasionally perform so having an electro-acoustic version means it ticks all the boxes. When play acoustically it does sound really tinny, there's not getting away from that. It also tends to be unbalanced toward the neck end, so I need a strap to keep it in place. But it is much more playable for practice and I am almost managing to play bar chords again. Not chance on a normal size guitar. It has a full fret board just smaller but not too small.Michelle S.

I ordered this for my pastors wife who wanted to learn a new instrument. She is tiny ( less that 5 ' tall) and a full size guitar would not fit her body type. I was shocked when the guitar came in. The photos on line do not do the finish justice. I was even more shocked when I played it. Most student guitars in this price point have horrible action. The set up on this from the factory was great. It was very easy to play and the sound was extremely good for a thin body acoustic . Then we plugged it in. I could not believe the sound quality of the electronics in this guitar. On Sunday, I pulled out after church and let the music team take turns with it. Everyone that played it raved about every aspect of this little guitar. The instrument also came with a quality gig bag. The material was thick, padding was good, the zippers and hardware appeared to by sturdy. Even more importantly, she loved the guitar. I highly recommend that you consider this one for your beginner or intermediate guitar student. Both Children and small adults should be pleased with this one.Greg H.

I love this little guitar. I bought mine from the GC store. I have Taylor GS mini for my RV, but it's still too big and too loud in a small rv with others. I saw the Traveller guitars and thought I'd go to a GC and try it out. I'm too new at this so got the GC sales person to play so I could hear the difference using a big amp. The ones with the pickups were hot and a little bitey for me as I only really play acoustic. The Piezo pickup acoustic sounded mellow and it was on the guitarathon sale for 100 dollars off. That tipped it for me. It's small, extremely light and when unplugged, extremely quite quiet. It's so small, I'm finding that I pick up this one more than the regular guitars. Bear in mind, it's not acoustic or electric, so it's not going to sound like anything else. I bought a headphone amp and also use a regular amp when I can be loud. When practicing unplugged at night, it's loud enough for me, but nobody else can hear it. Also, I've found that if I press it tightly to my side, the lower notes reverberate in my chest. With the acoustic pickup there is no tone or volume controls, so everything has to be done through the amp. I'm getting used to that. With no body and only the wire bottom, it takes a little time before it begins to feel normal. The only negative is if I don't hit the notes perfect, I can get some fret buzz. All in all, it's so different from any other guitar, I would suggest trying it in person first. You will either love it or hate it. And remember it's a small travel guitar you can also use regularly. Play it both amplified and unplugged and see if you think it will work for you.Mike

Great intermediate acoustic. Thinner, lightweight body that makes it very comfortable. Neck design more like an electric with rolled fingerboard edges and smooth frets. Cutaway enables a surprising amount of high end fret access. Piezo amplifier is really deep and rich sounding. Colours and design features convey nice 1950s vibe: well made and very good finish. Action a little high, but badly so, just that it could be lower – but a set up would rectify this. Overall a fear guitar at a superb price and inspiring to look at and play.Chazz

This Fender guitar is awesome. Out of the box it is almost perfectly set up. The intonation is off just by a little bit and only with 2 or 3 strings. The sound seems a little washed while playing chords, but single notes are loud and clear. All the frets have edge treatment, nice and smooth. The synthetic bone used for the nut and bridge are way better than plastic, allowing for a long sustain. The guitar could use better tuning keys, but the guitar stays in tune good enough. Over all my guitar was built well, and I'm glad it sounds good, too. I would recommend this guitar for all beginner guitar players because of the sound quality, and anyone else who don't have the money for their dream guitar.Tim

I just purchased a Fender Newporter Player in Ice Blue Satin and I'm very happy with it. I hadn't picked up a guitar in twenty years and finally decided to do so. This guitar has a full, rich tone and is easy to play. The walnut fretboard is very smooth and the neck is straight and the intonation is consistent. Regardless of where you play a note on the fretboard, it has the same exact sound. I cannot say that of guitars I have owned in the past. This is an excellent guitar for rhythm, fingerpicking, and singing. The only downside is that you won't be able to do a lot of lead work on this guitar. I recommend changing out to lighter strings, but only one or two grades lighter. Still, you won't get the same action as a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster. But that is what the Strat and the Tele are for. Overall, this guitar is an excellent investment. Have fun playing!Billy G.