51 Guitars with C Shaped Necks – Both Acoustic & Electric

Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Justin Thomas

Probably the most popular and usually fits a human hand like a glove, but some thick variants can be too much to handle for small-handed players…Of course, I’m talking about C neck shape. It’s been around since the 50s and it’s still one of the most frequently used neck shapes.

For me and my small hands, guitars with C neck shape are usually really comfortable & easy to play. Of course, some really old-school thick C necks can be too meaty, but overall I like the C neck shape a lot. And because of that, I was happy to put together this article listing the top-notch guitars with C-shaped necks. Both acoustic and electric guitars. And I also reveal the 4 best ones. If you have any questions, just check the FAQ section or leave a comment.

Let’s get started!

To find out more about neck shapes, check this article I crafted: Guitar Neck Shape Guide – Shapes Explained.

Author: Teemu Suomala

More About Teemu▼

I first grabbed the guitar in 2009. I started this website in January 2020 because I couldn’t do window installation anymore due to my health problems. I love guitars and have played dozens and dozens of different guitars through different amps and pedals over the years, and also, building a website interested me, so I decided to just go for it! I got lucky and managed to get awesome people to help me with my website.

I also got lucky because I have you visiting my website right now. Thank you. I do all this for you guys. If you have any recommendations, tips, or feedback, just leave a comment, I would love to chat with you. I have also been fortunate to produce content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar.

I spend my spare time exercising and hanging out with my wife and crazy dog (I guess that went the right way…).

Hide The Rambling▲

• LinkedIn
• Mail

C Neck Shape

C-shaped necks have a round shape that just fits the hand of a human being. You get a firm grip, but the roundness enables your hand to move freely around the neck. Especially classic models with C shape had a quite thick feel. Nowadays C shape neck comes in various different thicknesses. The one above is “the standard C” shape that is usually not really hard to handle for anyone.

Modern C is round like the original C shape, but slimmer. It’s really smooth playing and doesn’t hold you back. Shoulders are almost non-existent and you have easy access to the fretboard. One of my favorite shapes for small hands, but it might even be too slim for large hands.

Check our favorite electric guitars for small hands here.

About These “Guitars With C Shaped Necks” Lists

I included different variations of the C shape on this list. I always mention which variation of C neck shape the specific guitar has. Here are some of the different variations you can find from this article:

• C = Normal C shape
• Modern C = Overall slimmer version of the normal C shape
• Thin C = Mainly thinner version of the normal C shape
• Classic C = More old-school feel, usually meatier than normal C shape
• Thick C = You guessed it, a thicker version of the normal C shape
• Medium C = Middle-ground between normal and modern C shape

24 Acoustic Guitars with C Shaped Necks

Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster is a cool acoustic guitar with a Modern Deep C neck, N4 Magnetic Single-coil & under-saddle Piezo pickup, and great quality hardware. It doesn’t offer you loud sound and great projection, but it is smooth to play and sounds really great when plugged in.

Price Range Icon Meanings:

$= $69-250

$$= $251-499

$$$= $500-999

$$$$= $1000-1599

$$$$$= $1600-

*Consider all links in this post to be affiliate links. If you purchase, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission. It helps us to keep the lights on, thanks! 🙂

27 Electric Guitars with C Shaped Necks

To me, Yamaha Pacifica 012 is the best guitar with a C neck shape for around $200. It sounds solid, is versatile, and is easy to play. Overall a great beginner electric guitar. You can read the full review here: Yamaha Pacifica 012 Review.

Price Range Icon Meanings:

$= $79-250

$$= $251-499

$$$= $500-999

$$$$= $1000-1599

$$$$$= $1600-

Our Favorite Music Store in The World!

Why?

– Excellent Customer Service (4.7/5 Trustpilot Score)

– Fast & Free Shipping

– Gear is Inspected, Tested, & Ready to Play When it Arrives to You (We love this)

– Fair Prices

Visit Sweetwater:

Browse Guitars

Check Today’s Guitar Deals

4 Best Guitars with C Shaped Necks – My Favorites

Best Budget Acoustic – Guild D-240E

What I like

• Bone nut and saddle for better sustain and overall tone
• Thin (neck 1.688″ nut)
• Great quality electronics: Guild/Fishman AP1 with Sonicore pickups
• Solid Sitka Spruce top provides clear sound
• High value for the money
• Comfortable slim C neck

What I don’t like

• The stock strings are not the best (can be a little bit rough)

Check our picks for the best acoustic guitars under $500 here.

Who is it for?

If you are after a budget acoustic that has a slim C neck and many features of a more expensive guitar, Guild D-240E is a great choice. A solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany back & sides provides a clear and full sound, and the guitar is easy to handle. The out-of-the-box strings are not the best, but after replacing them the guitar feels much better.

Check Today’s Price on

Best Overall Acoustic – Guild M-20 Concert

What I like

• Concert style body is easy to handle
• Great for fingerstyle
• Solid Mahogany top and back & sides provide gentle and sweet sound
• Stays in tune well
• Usually comes with a hardshell case
• C neck is easy to handle

What I don’t like

• Loudness and projection are not on the same level with dreadnoughts

Who is it for?

If you are after a premium level solid wood acoustic at a reasonable price, Guild M-20 Concert is one of the best options. Its neck and body are easy to handle, plus the sound is really gentle and fits fingerstyle playing well. And M-20 Concert sounds good when using a pick too.

Check Today’s Price on

Best Budget Electric – Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster Custom

What I like

• Bone nut increases sustain
• A thin neck (1.650″ nut) paired with a C neck shape is easy to play
• Surprisingly versatile
• Both warm & thick humbucker tones and snappy single coil sound are available
• Ashtray bridge gives the guitar a nice vintage look
• High value for the money

What I don’t like

• Edges of the fretboard are a little bit rough sometimes (gladly not usually)

Who is it for?

If you are after versatile all-rounder budget guitar with easy playability and a vintage vibe, Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster Custom is a great choice. Usually it’s flawless out of the box, but sometimes rough fret edges or other small finish & quality issues can happen (as with any guitar).

Check Today’s Price on

Best Overall Electric – Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR-S

What I like

• Thin C neck shape feels really comfortable
• Overall thin neck (1.653″ nut width)
• Sustainiac provides practically endless sustain (as long as the battery lasts)
• EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Humbucker offers great distortion
• Metal guitar, but still versatile
• Great quality Floyd Rose

What I don’t like

• Some folks prefer passive pickups
• Floyd Rose is not for everyone

Who is it for?

If you are after a guitar with smooth playability, mean distorted tones, and great quality hardware, Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR-S is one of the best options for under $1000. It’s got a fast playability and mean sound, but it can handle gentle cleans too. Its active pickups might not be for everyone tho.

Check Today’s Price on

FAQ

Who Should Buy A Guitar With C-Neck Shape?

If you are after a nice round neck that allows you to move your hand freely and still want the neck to have a firm grip, the C-neck shape is a great choice. Also, if you like the typical Strat, and Tele playability, keep the C-neck shape on your radar.

Pros and Cons of C-Neck Shape

Pros

• Round shape that fits a hand of a human being
• Tons of different sizes and variations are available
• Smooth to move your hand around
• Manages to offer a firm grip
• Really popular, easy to find great guitars with C neck shape

Cons

• Classic C shaped necks feel really thick
• Some find the C shape to be pretty clumsy

When and How did The C Neck Shape Start to Gain Popularity?

At the start of the 1950s, the C shape was used on Stratocaster and Telecaster models. And at the end of the 1950s it really became “a household name”. The upcoming decades made this round neck profile the most common neck shape on guitars.

Old Models Featuring A C Shaped Neck:

• 1960 Fender Stratocaster – 3-tone Sunburst
• 1959 Fender Stratocaster – 3-tone Sunburst

What Neck Shape Martin Guitars Have?

• Modified Low-Oval – This neck profile is in the middle; it is not too big and not too small. This is a “C” shaped neck. 
• Full-Thickness – This is the biggest neck that Martin guitars offer in terms of thickness. It is a “C” shaped neck. This is definitely a neck for larger hands and long fingers! If you have short fingers, stay away! 
• Modified V – This is Martin’s take on the vintage “V” neck profile. If you have never played a “V” shaped neck, I highly suggest you do so before buying. They are different by modern standards and have a completely different feel compared to the “C” shaped necks that are so popular today. 

Conclusion

I always enjoy playing a guitar with C shaped neck. Of course, it’s not the only thing affecting the playability, but to me, neck shape is still super important. And I was really happy about the overall lists I managed to put together. Some really cool guitars from high-value budget picks to premium-level shredders.

I hope this article helped you out, and maybe you even decided to get one of the guitars featured. If you have any questions, leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.

Now go, my son, and Rock!

You might also like:

5 Best Hollowbody Guitars Under $1000 in 2023 – Great for Jazz & Blues

5 Best Electric Guitars Under $200 in 2023 – Budget Guitars In-Depth Tested

5 Best Metal Guitars for Beginners in 2023 – Kickstart Your Shred Journey

Yamaha Pacifica 112V Review – In-Depth Tested

5 Best Electric Guitars for Small Hands in 2023 – The Only Guide You Need

Ibanez GRX70QA Review – In-Depth Tested