5 Best 3/4 Electric Guitars (All Budgets)

• Find a ¾ size guitar that fits your playing style
• Understand how a ¾ size differentiates from a full-size guitar
• Learn why you might choose a ¾ over a full-size guitar
• Also, check out our post on the best 3/4 size acoustic guitars

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¾ size guitars are getting more and more popular. Where once, if you were looking for a ¾ size guitar, you could have been restricted to a classical (or even a kids) guitar, you can now get a tonne of electric options that sound great, play great, and don’t cost a fortune.

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve scoured the web looking for the best options for any budget, and we think we’ve nailed this list.

Read on for our picks of the best ¾ size electric guitars in 2023.

What Are The Best ¾ Size Electric Guitars?

It’s great that if you’re searching for a ¾ size guitar, you really don’t have to compromise on tone.

Whether you’re a metalhead or just looking for something to strum some nice cleans on, there’s an option for everyone.

We’ve chosen the Squier Mini Jazzmaster as our pick. This really is a versatile guitar that has great tone regardless of whether you’re cranking the distortion or running the clean channel.

Similarly, Epiphone’s Les Paul Express is a great option for an all-around fantastic guitar. It leans more towards an overdriven sound, so if you’re into the lesser-heavy side of rock music (I’m talking about blues, classic rock, and indie), then this is a solid choice for you.

If you’re new and looking to dip your toe into playing guitar or just want a cheap option that does a great job, then you can’t go wrong with the WINZZ EGM100.

1. Squier Mini Jazzmaster (Our Pick)
2. Epiphone Les Paul Express (Best All-Rounder)
3. WINZZ EGM100 (Best Budget)
4. Ibanez miKro GRGM21M (Best For Rock & Metal) 
5. Squier Mini Stratocaster (Best For Cleans)

1. Squier Mini Jazzmaster (Our Pick)

Overview

Don’t let the name fool you; the Mini Jazzmaster can do so much more than jazz! Complete with the legendary Jazzmaster look but in a smaller format; this is a great guitar that would suit the majority of players.

Jazzmasters have been seen in the hands of players such as Robert Smith (The Cure), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), and even Jim Root (Slipknot).

Key Features:

• 22.75 Inch Scale
• Two Squier Humbuckers
• Three-Way Toggle Switch
• Maple Neck and Fingerboard
• ‘C’ Slim Neck Shape
• Hardtail Bridge

Review

If you’re familiar with the full-sized version of the Jazzmaster, then you may notice that most of the complicated electronics are missing in this version.

Personally, I think this is a great choice as this opens up the ¾ size Jazzmaster to both new players who may just be getting to grips with the guitar and also anyone looking for a casual guitar to leave around the house and pick up for the odd bit of noodling.

But by no means does this mean that the guitar is lacking anything. The two humbuckers deliver a crisp tone in the bridge position and the familiar Fender warmth at the neck.

The humbuckers provide a bit of a kick if you’re using overdrive or fuzz but without becoming uncontrollable. 

The chrome hardware looks great, and the tuners do a great job of keeping the guitar in check. All in all a fantastic guitar that we’re huge fans of and a great option for anyone searching for a ¾ size electric.

Pros

• Great all round sound
• Legendary Jazzmaster look
• Humbuckers sound great with cleans or overdrive

Cons

• Jazzmaster players may miss the more advanced electronic configuration 
• Might not suit players who enjoy super high gain tones

2. Epiphone Les Paul Express (Best All-Rounder)

Overview

Let’s be honest; everyone loves a Les Paul! In the Express model, Epiphone has created a superb, scaled-down, and transportable version of the classic Les Paul.

This model attempts to pack everything you’d expect from a Les Paul but with a smaller model suitable for kids or anyone looking for a compact version.

Not only is this great for anyone who travels regularly but for smaller people who might find the weight of a Les Paul off-putting, it’s a great option that won’t break your bank (or back!)

The one downside is these are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of, so if you spot one and think you might want it, buy it quickly!

Key Features:

• 22’’ Scale Length
• 21 Frets
• Bolt-On Mahogany Fretboard
• 1 Epiphone 650R and 1 Epiphone 700T Ceramic Humbucker

Review

Good things definitely come in small packages with the Les Paul Express!

While this guitar is designed to be a smaller version of its Les Paul cousin, it really does feel solid in your hands with all the familiarity of a Les Paul, such as that classic neck feel.

It also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to tone, being suited to cranked distortion but also dialing back to a small amount of overdrive for a punchy, bluesy tone.

The three-way toggle allows for quite a breadth of tone options, with the master tone and volume pots giving plenty of variation regardless of which pickup you opt for.

I would say if you’re more of a clean player, then this might not be the option for you, but unless you are a very hardcore audiophile, then you’re going to get a great tone that you enjoy.

As mentioned, these are tricky to come by, so finding one might be a bit of a challenge, although, at the time of writing, we saw the Les Paul Express available on the Epiphone site.

Pros

• Great for overdriven and distorted sounds
• All the goodness of a Les Paul (but smaller!)
• Great Look

Cons

• Can be difficult to find
• It might not be the best option for those just looking to play clean

Related: 7 Of The Best Les Paul Style Guitar Copies!

3. WINZZ EGM100 (Best Budget)

Overview

We’ve included the WINZZ EGM100 in this list as the best budget option. That’s not to say this isn’t a great guitar, but for more experienced players, you may find spending a little extra pays off.

This is definitely a great all-rounder that is geared more toward beginners and children. It rocks a pretty bold look, with various colors available.

This may not be for everyone, but if it’s a budget you’re working to, or perhaps you want to buy your kids their first electric guitar, then it’s a pretty solid bet.

Key Features:

• 19.69’’ Scale Length
• Double Cutaways
• Maple Neck And Fingerboard
• 1 Single Coil Pickup

Review

It’s probably wise not to jump in and compare this with the likes of the Mini Jazzmaster or Les Paul Express.

This guitar is clearly aimed at the beginner and children’s market, but this isn’t necessarily a reason to turn your nose up at it.

In fact, anyone looking for a simple option can’t go wrong with this model. The single pickup and volume control are easy to use (this is great for kids and anyone just starting out who might wonder what the heck a tone knob and pickup switch even does!).

For anyone looking to get their kids into music, it’s hard to imagine them not being inspired to play with the EGM100 series.

They look great, are comfortable for children or people with smaller hands, and while they aren’t the most versatile option on the market, they do a great job for a very low price.

Of course, more seasoned players might find this is a little basic for them, particularly if you’re looking for multiple-tone options and it’s not really a guitar designed for tracking or gigging sessions.

That said, it does exactly what it sets out to do and provides a solution for those on a budget, for kids wanting to learn, or even for anyone who just wants a cool guitar to have at home to pick up and play.

Pros

• Extremely affordable
• Great for kids
• Simple

Cons

• Experienced players would find it limiting
• Not much versatility in tone

4. Ibanez miKro GRGM21M (Best For Rock & Metal) 

Overview

Ibanez has been a heavyweight in the guitar world for many, many years, and the miKro GRGM21M is their own ¾ size electric guitar.

Although not a ‘household name’ brand in the same light as Fender or Gibson, Ibanez makes some truly incredible instruments that have been played by the likes of Joe Satriani, Korn, Nita Strauss, and The Offspring, to name a few.

They’ve packed a lot into this small guitar which will really appeal to metal and hard rock players. Not only that, but you get the super slick Ibanez look as well.

Key Features:

• 22.2’’ Scale
• Maple Fretboard
• Bolt-On Neck
• Infinity R Ceramic Humbuckers
• 5-Way Pickup Switch

Review

If you’re a metal fan, you’ll probably love the GRGM21M’s design out of the box. It has the slick, almost 80s-style Super Strat look with pointy double cutaways meaning it’s easy to get to those hard-to-reach higher frets.

The two humbuckers sound great in either position, with a great response to slight crunch or overdrive. Where this guitar excels, though, is high gain tones.

The fretboard is comfortable and easy to navigate, which will appeal to shredders, but the guitar does perform surprisingly well with cleans.

The color schemes on these guitars are quite striking, which could be off-putting for some, but personally, I love them.

If you are a metal player, you might be into drop tuning, so it’s worth mentioning that because of the smaller scale, you may find that slackening the strings means keeping in tune is difficult, and your tone may suffer.

However, this really is a bit of a downside of buying a ¾ size guitar, so it wouldn’t be fair to knock points off of Ibanez’s score just for that!

Pros

• Great for high-gain tones
• Comfortable fretboard (great for shredders)
• Looks great

Cons

• It might be restrictive for anyone wanting to play cleans
• Drop tuning can be an issue

5. Squier Mini Stratocaster (Best For Cleans)

Overview

If you think of an electric guitar, then a Strat is probably the first thing that would come to mind, so it’s no surprise to see Fender getting in on the ¾ size guitar market with their Mini Stratocaster.

They’ve done a great job of condensing the features of a typical Strat into a much smaller package.

For anyone unfamiliar with Squier, this is the more budget end of the Fender guitar line (similar to Gibson and Epiphone).

That said, while Squiers are often associated with cheaper instruments and starter bundles, they are becoming increasingly popular as they don’t cost a fortune and can still offer a killer tone.

This is evident in the Mini Stratocaster, which plays and sounds great and is a solid option even if you aren’t just looking for a ¾ size guitar.

Key Features:

• 22.75’’ Scale
• Maple Neck with Indian Laurel Hardwood Fingerboard
• 3 Single Coil Pickups
• Master Volume & Master Tone Controls

Review

You will first be impressed with the twangy, jingly cleans that you’d expect from a Stratocaster-style guitar.

The three-way pickup switch provides versatility whether you’re after warm neck tones or a nasally middle pickup style sound.

Naturally, we’re going to gravitate towards a clean sound with a Strat, but even with some fairly high gain sounds, this performs pretty well (keep in mind, though, that the higher the gain, the more hum and feedback you’re going to get from those single coils!).

The guitar looks like the business as well. The distinct Strat shape, design, and color are all you’d expect from a Strat, and it looks remarkably good even at a smaller size (whereas some ¾ size guitars can look a bit stubby and out of proportion).

One of the selling points of this guitar is its flexibility. If you’re buying your son or daughter their first guitar, it’s a great option.

If you’re looking for a compact, travel-sized instrument, it’ll suit your needs down to the ground. If you’re an experienced player looking for a space saver, then you won’t be disappointed with the Mini Stratocaster.

Overall, there isn’t much to criticize with this guitar. Of course, if you’re mainly going to be playing with heavy distortion, then a model like the GRGM21M may be more suited to your style, but this is a great all-rounder with tons of flexibility. 

Pros

• Great sounding cleans
• Versatile
• Signature Strat look

Cons

• Not great for high-gain players

FAQs

Why Would I Need A ¾ Size Guitar?

¾ size guitars are becoming increasingly popular for several reasons. Whereas in the past, a ¾ size guitar may be classed as a children’s guitar or for someone with small hands, people are opting for them now as they can be transported easily and can even be a space saver if you are limited on space at home.

The advancement of ¾ guitars means that they sound great, so you don’t need to compromise on tone or playability if you are wanting a guitar that suits your lifestyle on the move.

What Is The Difference Between A Full Size And ¾ Size Guitar?

The main difference is simply the size. A full-sized guitar typically has a scale length of 24’’ and over, whereas a ¾ size guitar will have a scale length of 20 to 24’’.

For more, check out our in-depth guide on the differences between ¾ and full-size guitars.

Is A Guitalele The Same As A ¾ Size Guitar?

A guitalele does share some similarities with a ¾ size guitar in that it is smaller than a full-sized guitar and often branded as a ‘travel guitar.’

A guitalele typically has a scale length of around 17’’, which can be even smaller than a ¾ size guitar.

A guitalele is also tuned differently. Where a 6-string guitar is tuned E-A-D-G-B-E, a guitalele will be tuned A-D-G-C-E-A and normally uses nylon strings, making it similar in many ways to a classical guitar.

We’ve broken down the differences in our article Guitalele vs Guitar (Differences & Which Is Best For You?)