Best Mini Electric Guitars of 2021 – Ultimate Review

| Last Updated: December 26, 2021

Beginning your journey as a guitarist be quite overwhelming, and this feeling can be easily amplified by the price tags on some instruments!

Mini electric guitars are your little helper; whether you are just starting, or if you have small hands, they can offer you roaring sounds in a tiny casing.

In this article, we'll examine the very best options in this category available on the market. Let’s see what else they can do!

What Size of Electric Guitar Do I Need?

The ideal size of your electric guitar is dependent on your age, body dimensions, and, of course, skill level. For instance, if you have extra-large hands, you might struggle with a tiny-sized guitar, and you would rather play a full-sized guitar rather than a 3/4 one. 

In tandem with this, beginners or students (including children) would want to start on a smaller guitar, which is more comfortable to hold, is lightweight, and allows you to easily reach all the chords. If you are a traveling musician, a mini guitar would also work great for you since it does not take much space and is easy to move around with. 

Perks of Getting a Mini Electric Guitar

Here are some of the main advantages of investing in one of our recommended mini electric guitars:

Easy Playability

All of our models are specifically chosen for allowing you to play guitar comfortably for an extended period. We all know how important practice is, and a full-sized guitar can be quite overwhelming for a beginner or a person with small hands. Our models are highly playable and comfortable, meaning that you can effortlessly play and travel with your guitar as you wish. 

Portability

Many traveling musicians find it difficult to transport all their gear from gig to gig. Because of this, our mini-sized guitars are ideal for going to gigs or music classes, without having to carry very bulky gear. They are portable, lightweight, and do not require much storage space. 

High Quality

Lastly, but most importantly, all of our models are the perfect blend between functionality, durability, and value. They also appeal to different budgets, so it is impossible not to find your new best friend on our list! A guitar, whether mini or full size, has to be a long-term investment and grow with you. 

How to Choose a Mini Electric Guitar

Here’s a shortlist of considerations you need to keep in mind to help you choose the best mini electric guitar for your needs:

Type of Pickups

One of the most important features of a guitar is the pickups, as they can change the tonality of your sounds. Single coil pickups are ideal for bright, dynamic, and crisp sounds, and they are great for country and surf, but they cannot handle much distortion. If you are a rock or metal player, you should consider humbuckers, which are great for almost all music genres, apart from country and surf. 

Fender 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar

Design

The design of the guitar is also important. Although they are mini, they can vary from approximately 22” to 24”, and they can be made from mahogany, alder, and maple. The choice of tonewood will also influence your tones, so keep in mind that mahogany is excellent for country/blues; it is very attractive and resonant. 

It is not a big sounding tonewood, but it is extremely popular among guitarists. Rosewood is commonly used for fretboards in order to tame extra brightness and get warmer tones. Maple is often used for the neck, and it is acoustically transparent. 

Budget

Lastly, make sure you mind your budget! We offer you varied recommendations in the next section below, all of them chosen with an emphasis on value for your money. 

Comparison Chart of the Best Mini Electric Guitars

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Best mini electric guitar overall
  • Super distortion humbucker pickup on the bridge
  • 24” short-scale electric guitar with tuning stability
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  • High-quality sounds and affordable
  • 22” scale maple neck with increased tuning stability
  • Low tension, mini-sized guitar ideal for both beginners and intermediate
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  • Best for the money
  • All needed accessories included
  • Basswood body with a maple neck and stylish design
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  • Highly portable, ideal for traveling
  • Mahogany body and okoume neck
  • 22” scale length neck with a SlimTaper profile
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  • Three single-coil Strat pickups
  • 22” scale length, ideal for beginners
  • C-shaped maple neck for added playability
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Review of the Best Mini Electric Guitars

Once you have decided what you want in a mini electric guitar, take a look at the best options below to find one that suits your needs.

Best Overall:
Fender 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar

Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar NOS - 3-Tone Sunburst with Rosewood Fingerboard

PROS

  • Hard-shell case included
  • Increased tuning stability
  • Warm tones and vibrato effect
  • Vintage floating tremolo effect
  • Versatile with a wide array of warm tones
  • Adjust-o-Matic bridge with super distortion humbucker

CONS

  • High price range
  • Less sustain due to lower output pickups
  • Non-standard circuitry might not be for everyone

What Recent Buyers Report

The Fender Jaguar is a highly functional guitar with heart-shaking high-end tones. The Super Distortion humbucker works perfectly to deliver aggressive tones, without muddying your tonality. All sounds are clear, even when you use maximum gain. If you are a committed guitarist, you need to check out this fantastic instrument.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Our top recommendation is an all-alder body guitar with a bolt-on C-shaped maple neck for high playability. The aged, gloss finish is a true star for this guitar and the legendary Fender high-quality standards are perfectly represented by this premium instrument. This is the top-notch mini electric guitar you could ever wish for.

Who Will Use This Most

The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar is ideal for any guitarist. Although a bit on the expensive side, it is a true collector’s piece. It is worth every cent if you are a professional, and it will deliver you the best quality in one of the tiniest sizes you can find on the market.

Bottom Line

All in all, the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar is everything you can imagine and even more. The aged design, the standard Jaguar body, and all the professional features are highly recommended to anyone with an eye for quality and beauty. It is highly versatile, and it is a must if you want to wow your audience!

Runner-up:
Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4 Size Mikro Electric Guitar

PROS

  • Suitable for beginners
  • Wide range of colors available
  • High-quality sounds and comfortable to use
  • Maintains the setup of its larger counterparts
  • Mini-sized 22” guitar with low tension for easy playability

CONS

  • Neck stability
  • Needs professional adjustments
  • Electronics and humbuckers not so advanced

What Recent Buyers Report

The Mikro guitar is extremely easy to use, highly portable, and it saves a lot of space. The sounds are impressively powerful if you connect it to a proper amplifier – definitely not matching its size! The humbuckers make it great for aspiring metal players due to the thicker and darker sounds.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The Ibanez Mikro is a long-term investment in your musical career. With a flat fretboard ideal for shredding, a solid body and neck, and good quality humbuckers, this mini-sized guitar is all you need to start your career as a metal player. The dark, thick sounds are ground-shaking once you connect it to a good quality amp!

Who Will Use This Most

This mini-sized guitar is a real diamond for a guitar player; whether you are a beginner just starting your journey, or if you are more experienced but prefer a mini-sized guitar, the Mikro will awe you from the first note. The sturdy neck is designed so that it requires low tension to play, ideal for long hours of play!

Bottom Line

This fascinating mini guitar scores high on anything you can imagine – Ibanez quality standards, playability, versatility, portability, and features. Although often recommended as a beginner guitar, this Ibanez has all it needs to remain with you for many years to come.

Best for the Money:
Rogue Rocketeer RR50 7/8 Scale Electric Guitar

Rogue Rocketeer RR50 7/8 Scale Electric Guitar Wine Burst

PROS

  • Single humbucker
  • Ideal for beginners
  • Sturdy and reliable
  • Extremely affordable
  • Includes picks, carry bag, strap, cable
  • 23-1/4” scale with a string-thru design

CONS

  • No control for tone
  • No warranty for the product
  • Frets placement makes it difficult to sound in tune

What Recent Buyers Report

With proper adjustments to the strings, this Rogue guitar is the perfect beginner pack. It plays seamlessly and without effort, and it is quite easy to improve your skills. Even its design helps you play faster and faster without much practice. It is a real bargain and saves a lot of money on additional accessories

Why it Stands Out to Us

The Rogue Rocketeer RR50 is an excellent guitar for practicing, includes a master volume control, and the basswood body combined with the maple neck are made from high-quality materials. It is very budget-friendly and extremely compact, always ready for quick, easy transport. 

Who Will Use This Most

The simplicity and affordability of the Rogue Rocketeer RR50 made it ideal for any hobbyist or student who wants a budget-friendly, portable, mini-sized guitar with good features. It is a great first instrument, packed with carrying bag, picks, strap, and cable. 

Bottom Line

Overall, the Rogue mini guitar offers high value for money, and it is durable and reliable. Whether it will be your first companion in the music world or you want a fun-size guitar to strum from time to time, this instrument is the perfect and affordable addition to any musician’s music gear. 

4. Epiphone Les Paul Express “Travel Size” Electric Guitar

No products found.

PROS

  • Solid and sturdy travel guitar
  • Easy to change strings due to hardtails style bridge
  • Rosewood fretboard, okoume neck, and mahogany body
  • Tuning stability and controls for volume, tone and pickup selector
  • Easy to play high notes, ideal for rock, blues, country, shred, and others

CONS

  • Tone control is quite limited
  • Sounds brighter than a full-sized counterpart

What Recent Buyers Report

The Les Paul Express is a mini-sized guitar that will rock your world. All of Les Paul’s quality is captured in this tiny case, along with sound performance. The main difference is the change in the neck type – switching from mahogany to maple makes this tiny Les Paul a little brighter than its parent.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The Epiphone Les Paul is a solid and sturdy mini-guitar best suited for traveling. It has a 21-fret fingerboard and two ceramic humbuckers, which can be controlled through the pickup selector switch. It has increased tuning stability, and the neck shape makes changing the strings a quick and fun activity.

Who Will Use This Most

This mini guitar is highly recommended for all traveling musicians. It is incredibly compact, easy to transport and use, and takes up very little space. Another real advantage is that it keeps its tuning stability, and you can easily change its strings, so you should definitely check it out if you’re looking for a travel guitar.

Bottom Line

Do yourself a favor and check out this fantastic travel guitar. It is compact, easy to play, and the smooth maple neck adds some brightness to the sounds. You can easily play higher notes, and it is the ideal companion for blues, rock, country, and many other varieties of music.

5. Squier by Fender Mini Stratocaster Beginner Electric Guitar

No products found.

PROS

  • Increased sustain
  • Extremely easy to play
  • Powerful and versatile sounds
  • Single coil pickups give bright, articulate and dynamic tones
  • Vintage Hardtail bridge makes intonation and maintenance a breeze

CONS

  • Simplistic features
  • Needs professional setup
  • Contains a warning that it is harmful

What Recent Buyers Report

This tiny Strat is a new, redesigned guitar that makes it easier than ever to play this instrument. Not only does it have a thin body but also a slim neck with a shorter distance between frets, which is ideal for small hands. The single-coil pickups behave as expected, with brighter and more dynamic sounds.

Why it Stands Out to Us

A tiny instrument with roaring sounds! This model is ideal for anyone wanting to play a high-quality guitar with ease. There is less tension on the strings but also a short reach between the frets, which means you can play for a long time without strain. It is powerful, versatile, and ideal for any play style.

Who Will Use This Most

We wholeheartedly recommend this Squier Mini to anyone who is new to the music world and wants to learn their way around. It is easy to play and control; the features are basic, which makes it user-friendly, and it is also a great choice for children. It is powerful yet versatile, and matches any play style.

Bottom Line

Overall, Stratocasters are unmatched and highly competitive. This one is no exception either – it is versatile, reliable, durable, comfortable, and highly playable even for a long practice session. Whether you want a quick playtime or practice your guitar skills, the Squier Mini boasts all the features you need.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mini Electric Guitars

Mini-sized guitars are recommended for children, students, beginners, or experienced players who prefer a portable size for various reasons. Here is what else you should know about the advantages and disadvantages of owning a mini electric guitar.

Advantages of Mini Electric Guitars

On the bright side, mini guitars are extremely easy to use and comfortable. This is because a small guitar requires lower tension than the larger one; thus, you can play it for longer without fatigue. The small size also makes it easier to hold and carry around with you.

Additionally, mini guitars are much more affordable than their larger counterparts, without compromising on sound quality. Lastly, they are easier to maintain, which means you can tune them and change the strings more easily. On the other hand, most of them should be taken to a professional for a good setup before the first use. 

  • Comfortable action due to lower string tension
  • Portable, they can be used for traveling from gig to gig or going to music classes
  • More affordable compared to large counterparts
  • Easy maintenance when it comes to changing the strings and tuning the guitar

Disadvantages of Mini Electric Guitars

  • Usually need professional setup

Conclusion

Overall, if you thought there might not be a guitar for everyone, we hope to have demonstrated the opposite. Whatever your needs and purposes are, we presented you with a list with the top five mini electric guitars to help you with your musical journey and keep all the qualities of a full-sized guitar.



Hi there, my name is Craig. I took over Gear Savvy in mid-2019 and have had a blast writing content about music ever since. My role here is to steer the ship and ensure readers have the best information available for learning a thing or two. When I’m not working on content, I’m a husband and a dad. I enjoy spending time with my family, playing guitar, or messing around in my woodshop.