Full Size Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Buying your first full size guitar is exciting and intimidating in equal measure. There are thousands of options ranging from £50 budget instruments to £5,000+ professional-grade guitars. Deciding which full size guitar is right for you doesn't require expertise—just clarity about what matters. This guide cuts through marketing jargon and focuses on exactly what to check when you're buying a full size guitar, regardless of your budget or playing level.

First: What You're Actually Looking For in a Full Size Guitar

Before you start shopping for a full size guitar, be clear about your needs. Are you buying a full size guitar for a beginner who's just starting? Are you buying a full size guitar for yourself as an intermediate player looking to upgrade? Is this a full size guitar for recording, gigging or bedroom playing? Will you want to gig with this full size guitar eventually, or is it purely for practice?

These questions determine which features matter. A beginner's full size guitar needs comfort and playability over tone. A professional recording full size guitar needs consistency and projection. A gigging full size guitar needs durability above all else. Visit our complete guide to full size guitars if you want to understand construction and tonal characteristics. This buying guide focuses on helping you choose the right instrument for your actual needs.

Full Size Guitar Body Shapes (and What Each One Does)

Dreadnought (the Classic Full Size Guitar Shape)

The dreadnought is the most popular body shape for a full size guitar. It's large and boxy, it projects loudly, and it has a balanced warm tone with good bass. If you're buying a full size guitar for folk, country, pop or rock, a dreadnought is the safe choice. They're comfortable to hold, they sound loud enough for gigging, and they're available at every price point.

Grand Auditorium (Mid-Size Full Size Guitar)

Slightly smaller than a dreadnought, the grand auditorium full size guitar is more comfortable for smaller players and it sounds slightly brighter. Many fingerstyle players prefer a full size guitar in this shape because it balances volume with responsiveness. It's a great compromise between the classic dreadnought and something too small.

Jumbo (the Large Full Size Guitar)

The jumbo full size guitar is loud—the largest body shape. It projects powerfully and has rich, warm bass. The trade-off: a jumbo full size guitar can be uncomfortable for smaller players and it's harder to play intricate fingerstyle work. Buy a jumbo full size guitar if you're gigging acoustically and you want volume and impact.

Classical (Nylon-String Full Size Guitar)

A classical guitar is a full size guitar with nylon strings, a wide neck and a warm, mellow tone. If you're buying a classical full size guitar, you're committing to nylon strings and a different playing technique. Classical guitars are specialised instruments—buy one only if you specifically want to play classical repertoire or if nylon strings appeal to you.

Key Specs That Actually Matter When Choosing a Full Size Guitar

Wood Quality and Type

The wood shapes the tone of your full size guitar. Spruce tops (the most common) give a bright, clear sound. Cedar tops warm and mellow the tone. Mahogany bodies add warmth and punch. Rosewood backs and sides add richness.

In budget full size guitars (under £300), the wood quality is inconsistent. The tree, the season it was logged, the drying process—all of this affects how a full size guitar sounds and plays. This is why two £100 full size guitars can sound completely different. Read reviews from people who've actually played that specific model of full size guitar. Specs on paper don't capture the real-world tone.

Neck Width and Profile

A narrow neck (1.8 inches or less at the nut) is easier for small hands and fingerstyle players. A wider neck (1.9–2 inches) is more forgiving for beginners with large hands who find a narrow neck cramped. When you're buying a full size guitar, this is one of the most important comfort factors. A wide-neck full size guitar you enjoy playing beats a narrow-neck one that frustrates you every session.

Action (the Height of the Strings)

The action is how far the strings sit above the fretboard. High action makes a full size guitar harder to play (your fingers hurt more). Low action makes it easier but risks buzzing if it's too low. The sweet spot for a full size guitar is around 2.2 mm on the bass side and 2.0 mm on the treble side—but this is personal preference.

When you're buying a full size guitar, try to play one before you buy it. Press down on each string. Does your finger hurt? Does the full size guitar feel hard to play? If so, you can adjust action, but that costs extra. Look for a full size guitar that plays comfortably right out of the box.

Playability and Fret Quality

Run your finger along the frets of a full size guitar. Do you feel bumps or dips? High frets cause buzzing. Low frets cause dead spots where strings don't ring clearly. A well-made full size guitar has smooth, level frets. Budget full size guitars often have uneven frets.

Try the full size guitar at the higher frets (12th fret and above). Does it play cleanly? High-fret playability separates cheap full size guitars from good ones. Many beginners never play that high, but a full size guitar with poor high-fret playability is frustrating to upgrade into.

Bracing (Internal Structure)

You can't see it, but the bracing inside a full size guitar affects how it resonates. Different bracing patterns (X-bracing, ladder bracing, etc.) give different tonal characteristics. This is beyond most buyers' scope—just know that the bracing affects tone and durability. Read reviews specific to your model of full size guitar to see how other players feel about the tone.

Common Pitfalls When Buying a Full Size Guitar

• Buying based on price alone and ignoring playability. A £200 full size guitar that plays beautifully will keep you motivated longer than a £500 full size guitar that hurts your fingers. Playability matters more than price for beginners.
• Assuming more expensive means better sound. A £1,000 full size guitar is not 10 times better than a £100 full size guitar. The jump from £100 to £300 is significant. The jump from £300 to £1,000 is incremental. The jump from £1,000 to £3,000 is subtle and requires trained ears to notice.
• Ignoring the importance of trying before you buy. Some full size guitars feel wrong in your hands (too heavy, neck too thick, body too large). You only discover this by playing one. Online reviews can't replace this. Try to play before you commit.
• Buying a cheap full size guitar "for now" and planning to upgrade later. A full size guitar that frustrates you every time you pick it up gets abandoned, not upgraded. Spend a bit more upfront on something you genuinely enjoy playing. You'll practice more, improve faster and stick with it.
• Overlooking the cost of maintenance and setup. A full size guitar needs a setup after purchase (action adjustment, fret levelling, if needed). Budget £50–£150 for this. Also factor in strings (£10–£20 for decent ones), picks and a capo. A £300 full size guitar + £100 setup costs £400 total—more than the guitar alone.
• Buying a full size guitar based purely on looks. A beautiful full size guitar that plays badly is worse than a plain full size guitar that plays brilliantly. Tone and playability matter infinitely more than aesthetics.

Price Tiers and What You Actually Get

Under £200

Budget full size guitars from brands like Epiphone, Fender Squier and Stagg. Playability is hit-or-miss. Some sound surprisingly decent; others are frustrating. The wood quality is inconsistent. Action often needs adjustment. Most beginners should avoid this tier unless they're renting or borrowing.

£200–£400

The sweet spot for beginners. Full size guitars from Yamaha, Ibanez, Epiphone's higher tiers and Fender Squier's premium lines live here. Playability improves noticeably. Wood quality is more consistent. A full size guitar at this price point will serve you well through years of playing. Most beginner-to-intermediate players buy here.

£400–£800

Solid professional-grade entry point. Full size guitars from Fender, Gibson's lower-tier models, Epiphone's premium lines. Tone improves further. Playability is very good out of the box. A full size guitar at this price point won't hold you back as you advance. You're buying an instrument you'll genuinely enjoy for decades.

£800–£1,500

High-end full size guitars. Quality is excellent. Tone is nuanced and responsive. Full size guitars at this level are used by professionals and amateurs alike. You're paying for consistency, quality wood and excellent craftsmanship. The improvement over £400 full size guitars is real but incremental.

Above £1,500

Boutique and premium full size guitars. Custom-built, rare wood, handcrafted bracing. At this level, you're buying a specific tone character or investing in a collector's instrument. A £5,000 full size guitar is not objectively "better"—it's different. Only buy here if you have deep experience and you're chasing a specific sound.

Practical Buying Checklist

• Decide what body shape appeals to you (dreadnought, grand auditorium, jumbo, classical).
• Try a full size guitar before buying. Feel the neck width. Press the strings. Does it hurt?
• Check the action. Is it comfortable? Too high or too low?
• Run your finger along the frets. Does the full size guitar feel smooth or bumpy?
• Play higher frets (12th fret and above). Does the full size guitar play cleanly?
• Read reviews specific to that model of full size guitar from actual players.
• Budget for setup costs (£50–£150) on top of the guitar's price.
• Ask yourself: will I actually enjoy picking up this full size guitar every day? If not, keep looking.

Final Word

The best full size guitar is one that feels great in your hands and inspires you to play it every day. A full size guitar that costs £300 and makes you excited to practice beats a full size guitar that costs £1,000 and sits in the corner gathering dust. Buy something honest, learn it well, and upgrade later if you genuinely need to. Most of the world's best guitarists learned on affordable full size guitars—not because those guitars were perfect, but because they played them relentlessly and fell in love with the instrument.

Frequently Asked Questions