Best 25.5" Scale Acoustic Guitars in 2025
Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, you'll need to give the strings more tension to get them in tune. This higher tension will allow for a couple of things. First, you can get a lower action (get the strings closer to the fretboard) because the strings won't 'wiggle' too much when pluck and won't cause fret buzz. This can allow you to use lower tunings without increasing your string gauge, and it will make it easier to press down the strings fast.
However, the frets will also have a wider separation between each other, which can make it harder to play, especially if you got small hands. The higher tension will also make the strings feel stiffer, so bending will require more strength.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
1. Gibson Custom SJ-200 Deluxe
![Gibson Custom SJ-200 Deluxe](/images/acoustic-guitars/gibson-custom/Gibson-Custom-SJ-200-Deluxe-horizontal.jpg)
What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (3 votes)
Show All Specs
Gibson Custom SJ-200 Deluxe | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Gibson Custom | |
Year: | 2019 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | United States | |
Series: | Modern Collection | |
Colors: | Natural Burst | |
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid Sitka Spruce | |
Sides Material: | Rosewood | |
Back Material: | Rosewood | |
Bridge: | Moustache | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Grover Rotomatic w/ kidney buttons | |
Fretboard: | Ebony | |
Neck Material: | Mahogany | |
Decoration: | Mother-of-pearl Crowns with brass border | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Rounded | |
Frets: | 20 Medium | |
Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
Nut: | Bone | |
Nut Width: | 43.8mm (1.725'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | LR Baggs VTC (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Gold |
Gibson Custom SJ-200 Deluxe
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Bone Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. Gibson Orianthi SJ-200
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Gibson Orianthi SJ-200 | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Gibson | |
Year: | 2021 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | United States | |
Series: | Artist Collection | |
Colors: | Red | |
Left-Handed Version: | Yes | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid AAA Sitka Spruce | |
Sides Material: | Maple | |
Back Material: | Flame Maple | |
Bridge: | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Ebony | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Grover Keystone | |
Fretboard: | Ebony | |
Neck Material: | Mahogany | |
Decoration: | Mother of Pearl Lotus | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Rounded C | |
Frets: | 20 Medium | |
Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
Nut: | Bone | |
Nut Width: | 42.9mm (1.688'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | LR Baggs (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Gold |
Gibson Orianthi SJ-200
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Bone Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. Epiphone Frontier USA Collection
![Epiphone Frontier USA Collection](/images/acoustic-guitars/epiphone/Epiphone-Frontier-USA-Collection-horizontal.jpg)
What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (3 votes)
Show All Specs
Epiphone Frontier USA Collection | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Epiphone | |
Year: | 2021 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | United States | |
Series: | Made in USA | |
Colors: | Natural | |
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid Sitka Spruce | |
Sides Material: | Figured Maple | |
Back Material: | Figured Maple | |
Bridge: | Indian Rosewood; Belly Up | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Gotoh Keystone | |
Fretboard: | Indian Rosewood | |
Neck Material: | Mahogany | |
Decoration: | Mother of Pearl Slotted Rectangle | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Rounded C | |
Frets: | 20 Medium | |
Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
Nut: | Bone | |
Nut Width: | 43.8mm (1.725'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | LR Baggs VTC (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Gold |
Epiphone Frontier USA Collection
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Bone Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. Ibanez AE440
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Ibanez AE440 | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Ibanez | |
Year: | 2021 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | Japan | |
Series: | AE | |
Colors: | ||
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid African Mahogany | |
Sides Material: | Mahogany | |
Back Material: | Mahogany | |
Bridge: | Macassar Ebony scalloped | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Ibanez | |
Fretboard: | Macassar Ebony | |
Neck Material: | African Mahogany/Pau Ferro | |
Decoration: | Specially designed Wooden Vine inlay | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Advanced Comfort Grip | |
Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) | |
Frets: | 20 Jumbo | |
Fretboard Radius: | 15.748" | |
Nut: | Bone | |
Nut Width: | 44mm (1.732'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | Ibanez AP11 Magnetic, T-bar Undersaddle & Contact (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Chrome |
Ibanez AE440
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Electronics
- Bone Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
5. Taylor PS14ce Honduran Rosewood
![Taylor PS14ce Honduran Rosewood](/images/acoustic-guitars/taylor/Taylor-PS14ce-Honduran-Rosewood-horizontal.jpg)
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (9 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (8 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (8 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (7 votes)
Show All Specs
Taylor PS14ce Honduran Rosewood | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Taylor | |
Year: | 2018 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | United States | |
Series: | Presentation | |
Colors: | Natural | |
Left-Handed Version: | Yes | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid Sinker Redwood | |
Sides Material: | Rosewood | |
Back Material: | Rosewood | |
Bridge: | West African Crelicam Ebony | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Gotoh | |
Fretboard: | West African Crelicam Ebony | |
Neck Material: | Tropical Mahogany | |
Decoration: | California Vine | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Taylor Standard | |
Frets: | 20 Medium | |
Fretboard Radius: | 15" | |
Nut: | Ivory Tusq | |
Nut Width: | 44.5mm (1.75'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Gold |
Taylor PS14ce Honduran Rosewood
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Electronics
- Synthetic Bone Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
6. Fender Highway Series Dreadnought
![Fender Highway Series Dreadnought](/images/acoustic-guitars/fender/Fender-Highway-Series-Dreadnought-horizontal.jpg)
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (2 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (2 votes)
Show All Specs
Fender Highway Series Dreadnought | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Fender | |
Year: | 2023 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | Mexico | |
Series: | Highway | |
Colors: | Natural | |
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid Sitka Spruce | |
Sides Material: | Mahogany | |
Back Material: | Mahogany | |
Bridge: | Modern Viking | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Neck-Through | |
Tuners: | Fender ClassicGear | |
Fretboard: | Rosewood | |
Neck Material: | Mahogany | |
Decoration: | White Dot | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic C Shape | |
Frets: | 20 Narrow Tall | |
Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
Nut: | Ivory Tusq | |
Nut Width: | 42.9mm (1.688'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | Fishman Fluence Acoustic Pickup (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Chrome |
Fender Highway Series Dreadnought
- Expensive Wood
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Ivory Tusq Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Mexico
- Laminated Side Wood
- Laminated Back Wood
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Cort The Black Tree
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Cort The Black Tree | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Cort | |
Year: | 2020 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | Indonesia | |
Series: | Limited | |
Colors: | Light Burst | |
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Top: | Flame Maple | |
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid Flamed Blackwood (Master Grade) | |
Sides Material: | Blackwood | |
Back Material: | Blackwood | |
Bridge: | Ebony w/ Ebony Pins | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Gotoh SGL510Z Gold | |
Fretboard: | Ebony | |
Neck Material: | Walnut Reinforced Mahogany | |
Decoration: | Custom Black Tree Inlay | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Ergo-A Asymmetric | |
Frets: | 20 Medium | |
Fretboard Radius: | 15.748" | |
Nut: | Black Tusq XL | |
Nut Width: | 44.5mm (1.752'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | L.R.Baggs Anthem (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Gold |
Cort The Black Tree
- Expensive Wood
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Black Tusq XL Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
8. Washburn D100SWCE
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Washburn D100SWCE | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Washburn | |
Year: | 2020 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | China | |
Series: | Heritage | |
Colors: | Natural | |
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Torrefied Solid Sitka Spruce | |
Sides Material: | Mahogany | |
Back Material: | Mahogany | |
Bridge: | Ebony | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Graphtech Ratio Tuned w/Black buttons | |
Fretboard: | Ebony | |
Neck Material: | Satin Mahogany with Walnut Rails & 2-way Truss Rod | |
Decoration: | Offset 3Mm Dots | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Washburn Heritage | |
Frets: | 20 Medium | |
Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
Nut: | Bone | |
Nut Width: | 43mm (1.693'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | Fishman Presys+ Blend EQ with built in mic & tuner. (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Chrome |
Washburn D100SWCE
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Bone Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- Made in China
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
9. Schecter DJ Ashba Acoustic
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Schecter DJ Ashba Acoustic | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Schecter | |
Year: | 2017 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | South Korea | |
Series: | Acoustic | |
Colors: | Black | |
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid Spruce | |
Sides Material: | Mahogany | |
Back Material: | Mahogany | |
Bridge: | Rosewood | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Grover Rotomatic 18:1 | |
Fretboard: | Ebony | |
Neck Material: | Maple | |
Decoration: | Birds on a Wire | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Thin "C" | |
Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
Frets: | 22 XL Jumbo | |
Fretboard Radius: | 16" | |
Nut: | Bone | |
Nut Width: | 43mm (1.693'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | Fishman Sonicore Piezo (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Black |
Schecter DJ Ashba Acoustic
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Bone Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- Laminated Side Wood
- Laminated Back Wood
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
10. Gibson SJ-200 Standard
![Gibson SJ-200 Standard](/images/acoustic-guitars/gibson/Gibson-SJ-200-Standard-horizontal.jpg)
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (2 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Slightly chunky (1 vote)
Show All Specs
Gibson SJ-200 Standard | ||
---|---|---|
General | ||
Brand: | Gibson | |
Year: | 2016 | |
Configuration: | N/A | |
Strings: | 6 | |
Made in: | United States | |
Series: | Modern Acoustic | |
Colors: | Red | |
Left-Handed Version: | No | |
Body | ||
Type: | Hollowbody | |
Body Material: | Solid AAA Sitka Spruce | |
Sides Material: | Flame Maple | |
Back Material: | Flame Maple | |
Bridge: | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Rosewood | |
Neck | ||
Neck Joint: | Set | |
Tuners: | Grover Rotomatic | |
Fretboard: | Indian Rosewood | |
Neck Material: | Mahogany | |
Decoration: | Mother of Pearl Graduated Crowns | |
Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
Shape: | Acoustic Rounded | |
Frets: | 20 Medium | |
Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
Nut: | Ivory Tusq | |
Nut Width: | 43.8mm (1.725'') | |
Electronics | ||
Pickups: | LR Baggs Anthem (Preamp / Active) | |
Hardware | ||
Strap Lock: | No | |
Hardware Color: | Gold |
Gibson SJ-200 Standard
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Ivory Tusq Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock