Best Thinline Guitars Made In China in 2024

Here are the top Thinline style guitars made in China . So you can expect lower build quality when compared to others made in Korea, Japan or the United States. Guitars made in this country are meant for mass production, which translates into less attention to detail and quality control. This doesn't mean the product is made poorly at all. Chinese products have a bad reputation since long ago, but they've definitely improved a lot the last few years.

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. Harley Benton Hybrid Steel BK

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Harley Benton Hybrid Steel BK
FIND IT ON:
Thomann logo
Playability 75
Sound 88
Build quality 70
Value for money 88
Overall Score 78
FIND IT ON:
Thomann logo
  • From Harley Benton's 2022 Custom Line series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Sitka Spruce massive top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Custom System with a combination of piezo, magnetic and preamp (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Deluxe Die-Cast Machine Heads tuners
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  • From Harley Benton's 2022 Custom Line series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Sitka Spruce massive top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Custom System with a combination of piezo, magnetic and preamp (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Deluxe Die-Cast Machine Heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Hybrid Steel BK
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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2. Takamine GF30CE

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Takamine GF30CE
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Sweetwater logoReverb logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability 77
Sound 84
Build quality 72
Value for money 83
Overall Score 78

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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Sweetwater logoReverb logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
  • From Takamine's 2014 G series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.3"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Okoume back
  • Okoume sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ovangkol fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: TP-4TD (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Takamine Die-cast tuners
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  • From Takamine's 2014 G series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.3"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Okoume back
  • Okoume sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ovangkol fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: TP-4TD (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Takamine Die-cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine GF30CE
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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3. Washburn EA20S-Nuno Bettencourt

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Washburn EA20S-Nuno Bettencourt
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 86
Build quality 72
Value for money 82
Overall Score 77
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Sweetwater logo
  • From Washburn's 2022 Festival series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Pau Ferro back
  • Pau Ferro sides
  • Satin Mahogany with 2 way Truss Rod neck
  • Ovangkol fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys II 301T (Preamp/Active)
  • Ovangkol bridge
  • Acoustic Washburn Festival Set neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Chrome Diecast tuners
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  • From Washburn's 2022 Festival series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Pau Ferro back
  • Pau Ferro sides
  • Satin Mahogany with 2 way Truss Rod neck
  • Ovangkol fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys II 301T (Preamp/Active)
  • Ovangkol bridge
  • Acoustic Washburn Festival Set neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Chrome Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn EA20S-Nuno Bettencourt
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • NuBone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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4. Ibanez JSA20

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Ibanez JSA20
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 74
Value for money 77
Overall Score 77
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Ibanez's 2017 JSA series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce top
  • Solid Pau Ferro back
  • Solid Pau Ferro sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Acoustic Matrix (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic JSA Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
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  • From Ibanez's 2017 JSA series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce top
  • Solid Pau Ferro back
  • Solid Pau Ferro sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Acoustic Matrix (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic JSA Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez JSA20
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

5. Yamaha APX1200II

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Yamaha APX1200II
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 86
Build quality 72
Value for money 77
Overall Score 77

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM63 (SRT System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold w/Black Buttons (TM29GB) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM63 (SRT System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold w/Black Buttons (TM29GB) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha APX1200II
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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6. Epiphone PR-5E

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Epiphone PR-5E
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 77
Sound 79
Build quality 64
Value for money 83
Overall Score 73

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (1 vote)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (2 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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Sweetwater logo
  • From Epiphone's 2012 Modern Acoustic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Select Spruce top
  • Select Mahogany back
  • Select Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp/Active)
  • Pau Ferro bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Epiphone Premium Die cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Epiphone's 2012 Modern Acoustic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Select Spruce top
  • Select Mahogany back
  • Select Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp/Active)
  • Pau Ferro bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Epiphone Premium Die cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone PR-5E
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

7. Yamaha APX700II-12

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Yamaha APX700II-12
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
Playability 80
Sound 81
Build quality 65
Value for money 80
Overall Score 75

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 12 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Nato or Okoume back
  • Nato or Okoume sides
  • Nato neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM64 + ART 1-Way Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TMW28) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 12 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Nato or Okoume back
  • Nato or Okoume sides
  • Nato neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM64 + ART 1-Way Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TMW28) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha APX700II-12
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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8. Ibanez JSA5

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Ibanez JSA5
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 81
Build quality 69
Value for money 79
Overall Score 74
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • From Ibanez's 2017 JSA series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce top
  • Okoume back
  • Okoume sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Cultured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman S-Core (Preamp/Active)
  • Cultured Maple bridge
  • Acoustic JSA Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Ibanez's 2017 JSA series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce top
  • Okoume back
  • Okoume sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Cultured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman S-Core (Preamp/Active)
  • Cultured Maple bridge
  • Acoustic JSA Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez JSA5
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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9. Yamaha APX600FM

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Yamaha APX600FM
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 77
Sound 81
Build quality 61
Value for money 83
Overall Score 73

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Flame Maple top
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood back
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood sides
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM65 + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Flame Maple top
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood back
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood sides
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM65 + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha APX600FM
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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10. Yamaha APX600

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Yamaha APX600
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logoReverb logo
Playability 77
Sound 81
Build quality 60
Value for money 83
Overall Score 73

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logoReverb logo
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood back
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood sides
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM65 + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2015 APX series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood back
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood sides
  • Locally-Sourced Tonewood neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM65 + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha APX600
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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