Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric guitar review: A popular electric acoustic model available in many colors and both right and left orientations. There’s something for everyone in this guitar.
The Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric guitar is a popular purchase, judging by the number of reviews and articles written about it. There are literally hundreds of questions answered on the Amazon listing for this guitar, and it usually scores 4.5 out of 5 stars in reviews. For a guitar costing under $200, that’s not a bad tally, given how much some instruments can cost.
This Thinline is an affordable acoustic-electric guitar that’s designed to be lightweight and easy to handle. It has a thin line body, which means it’s slimmer than traditional acoustic guitars and features a cutaway design that allows easy access to the higher frets.
In this review, I will give you a close look at its history, sound quality, build quality, customizations, and much more so that you can have a clear understanding of whether this guitar is right for you or not. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
Jameson Thinline Acoustic Electric Guitar (At A Glance)
- Full-size Thinline cutaway acoustic-electric guitar
- Can be played acoustically or plugged in
- Die-cast tuners with built-in EQ
- Comes with a gig bag guitar case and picks
- High gloss finish
- Decent electronics, stock pickup
- Built-in superior quality EQ and durable materials
- Die-cast enclosed tuners
- Portable, excellent sound and playability
- The guitar case is included
- The kit consists of free picks
- Comes with an original high gloss dark blue burst finish
- Also available in seven other finishes
- Budget and Beginner-friendly
- A great number of positive feedback
- Amazon's Choice
- Some material problem arises after using it for a few months
- Some electrical features are not available
- You might have to buy a strap button
- Needs frequent tuning
- You have to buy the amp separately
History And Origin
The Jameson Thinline acoustic is a 41-inch full-size model, but it has a thinner body than usual, with a width of only 3 inches. That makes it appealing to novice players and anyone who prefers a slimmer guitar on comfort grounds.
It sounds like a classic acoustic guitar, but it’s thinner. What’s not to like? Oh, it also has an electric option as well. Even better, surely? The family-owned company R W Jameson, based in Nashville, has a name for providing good quality US-made equipment to musicians of all levels. It is designed for playability, versatility, and comfort. Plus, the guitar comes with a starter pack including a gig bag, shoulder strap, a spare set of strings, a selection of picks, and a cable. Now that’s what we call value.
Body And Neck
The Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric guitar is, first and foremost, thin. The body is only three inches thick, meaning it is a very comfortable guitar for beginners to play. Often, playability is a central concern for new guitar students, and this instrument has all the ease of an acoustic, but is thinner, with a single-cutaway to maximize comfort. The top of this full-size 41-inch guitar is made of spruce. The body is Nato (or sometimes basswood) with a high gloss, and there is binding on both the body and neck. The neck is made of maple and has white dot inlays. The model is available in a variety of striking colors to make you feel like a rock star even while you’re learning to play like one.
Fretboard And Bridge
The guitar has a rosewood fretboard and an adjustable bridge.
Electronics And Hardware
This guitar has a piezo passive pickup configuration and die-cast enclosed tuners. It has great versatility, whether unplugged or amped. If plugged in, it has a customizable tone using the built-in 4-band pickup/EQ. The cable is supplied with the starter pack, but you will need your own amp. The built-in pickup produces a bright, mid-range sound with a choice of settings. It has a standard headstock with six tuners.
This guitar will generally hold its tuning, although having a tuner to hand is always a good idea. The strings are either steel or brass, which are ideal for acoustic playing. You might want to change to lighter strings if you are hoping to play it mainly as an electric guitar.
Finish
The Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric is a full-size guitar with a high gloss finish. It comes in a range of colors to suit all tastes.
Sound Quality
- The guitar has a mid-range sound quality, especially when played through an amp.
- It has high trebles and a good bass sound too.
Sound Demo
Build Quality
- The build quality is generally durable, with a variety of woods used in the construction.
- Most models come with brass strings, although some are seemingly provided with steel strings, according to the specs.
Playability
The Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric guitar scores highly on playability. A number of features seem designed to maximize your comfort, including the width of the body (just 3 inches thick), the cutaway position and shape, and the versatility afforded by being both a capable acoustic and an efficient electric guitar.
It is a full-size 41-inch model but even younger players may find they can play it easily due to the design. The company says it is suitable for players of any level who want an affordable acoustic-electric model. For ease of use, the starter kit comes with everything you will need to start playing immediately, except an amp.
Versatility
As you might expect from an acoustic-electric, this Jameson is a pretty versatile beast. When plugged in, it produces a mid-range sound, so is not expressly for playing metal or rock licks. If you want to do that, you would perhaps be advised to look for an electric guitar that is designed to shred and distort. The electric tone is customizable, however, with a range of settings available through its 4-band pickup/EQ.
Design And Looks
The Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric guitar is a good-looking piece of kit. Available in a range of bright colors, it is very comfortable to play and the thinner body makes it a good choice for anyone who wants to hone their coordination skills. It is available in both right and left-handed orientation and has what most reviews describe as a ‘classic acoustic guitar’ shape.
Available Colors
The guitar comes in a choice of colors: black, natural, blue (left or right-handed orientation), red, or pink.
Accessories
There is a comprehensive starter pack available from most suppliers, comprising a gig bag, spare strings, a selection of picks, a strap, and a cable for connection to the amp.
Some starter kits do not appear to include a cable, so you might have to source your own preferred brand and length of ¼ inch jack cable to be able to plug your new acquisition into an amp. Whether or not you go for a starter kit that includes a cable, you will have to beg, borrow or buy an amp.
Other optional extras which you might find useful are a tuner and a guitar humidifier to keep your instrument at its best.
Customization Tips
It’s always possible to swap out strings for your preferred type, as long as you replace them with a similar type. The medium gauge brass strings can be replaced with steel on this model, or you could opt for lighter gauge strings to play the guitar mostly as an electric instrument. The guitar’s bridge is adjustable for your additional comfort.
Value For Money
This versatile guitar is good value for money at under $100. It looks good, plays well, and is suitable for every level of player. It also has a starter pack with some useful extras to make it even easier to pick up and play as soon as you receive it. No need to wait – it will play as an acoustic as soon as it’s tuned, is likely to hold its tune, and can be customized as and when you want to change things around.
What Sets Jameson Thinline Apart From Its Competitors
The Jameson Thinline electric acoustic has a little bit of everything for everyone. It’s suitable for acoustic or electric use by any level of musician. Can’t get more inclusive than that. Plus the blue option is available in either right or left-handed orientation. And all this for under $100.
Choose Jameson Thinline Acoustic-Electric If
- You need a full-size guitar with a Thinline body.
- You are either right or left-handed orientation.
- You need an electric acoustic model at an affordable price.
- You want the option to choose from different variations of colors.
- You need extra accessories to start you off or supplement anything you already have.
- You want a guitar that looks and sounds good.
Don’t Choose Jameson Thinline Acoustic-Electric If
You should consider alternatives to the Jameson Thinline if you prefer:
- A guitar that is either only acoustic or purely electric
- A dreadnought-style guitar
- To avoid the potential for quality control issues which have been reported by some reviewers
Although to be fair, if you inspect your guitar closely within the first 30 days of purchase, if you notice any issues, you should be able to trigger the warranty for a replacement or refund.
Alternatives
- Incredible sound, impressive tone, standout projection, and incredible sonics.
- Fine hardwood construction: X-braced, A-grade Spruce wood, known for resiliency and versatility.
- Thinline cutaway design full-size (41") guitar for better access and more comfortable playing.
- Includes the Ashthorpe guitar, a soft nylon "gig bag" guitar case, 3 celluloid picks, onboard 4-band pickup EQ, cable, a shoulder strap, an extra set of strings, and an owner's manual.
- Classic acoustic guitar design
- Electric-acoustic versatility
- Perfect for students and all levels
- Designed for comfort
- Sold as a complete kit
- 6-string
- Dreadnought design
- Whitewood body
- 25-3/8" scale length
- Nato neck
FAQ
How often does the Jameson Guitar need Tuning?
Generally, reviews seem to agree that the Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric guitar does not need tuning very often. Once it has been set up correctly, the instrument is likely to hold its pitch for quite a while with only minor adjustments as long as it’s played regularly and kept safe from extreme temperatures.
Is this an Electric Guitar that you can Shred and Distort?
The Jameson Thinline is not really suited for shredding and distortion. The built-in pickup/EQ has a variety of settings but if your heart is set on learning to play like a rock god, then you should look for an electric guitar that is specifically designed for the heavier sounds of rock and metal.
Does this Jameson Thinline Require Batteries Amplify?
It plugs into an amp, so you will need a cable. The pickup is built in so will be able to be used once the guitar is plugged in.
Does the Jameson Thinline Acoustic Guitar come Pre-tuned?
Guitars generally will need tuning before they can be played for the first time, then adjusting before each subsequent session. The strings are often slackened off before shipping to reduce the chances of damage to the instrument in transit.
How is Jameson Thinline Guitar Packaged for Shipping?
The guitar is shipped in a reinforced cardboard box, with internal packaging to keep it steady.
Final Verdict
So there you have it, the Jameson Thinline acoustic-electric guitar review. In short, it’s good value for money, sounds good, looks good, and is easy to play.
