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Pros:
- Good sound for price
- Affordable
- Beginner-friendly
Cons:
- Not the highest quality tonewood
- Might want to change strings
Guitars are like cars (Yes, let me indulge in this probably unnecessary analogy). You get your first car, it is cheap (maybe even a hand down from your parents) and basically works only when the mood strikes (yeah… I don’t think the analogy works in favor of beginner guitars but let’s keep going). Even though it is not the best car you have ever had the pleasure of driving it will forever and ever have a special place in your heart.
Just like your first car, your first guitar is a stepping stone to something more advanced and better, but that does not really mean that the first one has to be an absolute failure that will mentally scar you for the rest of your life. Fortunately, there are dozens if not hundreds of high-quality beginner-friendly guitars (and probably cars too, I wouldn’t know) that will not cost you too much and only help you out in your journey of learning guitar. Weird and unnecessary analogies aside, let’s discuss Jasmine JC27CE-NAT J-Series.
Build
The JC27CE-NAT is an orchestra cutaway acoustic-electric model with solid spruce top and advanced “X” bracing that creates great volume while also making the structure very durable. The back and sides are made of sapele while the neck is made of nato. Now… you probably will not see Sapele and nato in the “Top Ten Highest Quality Tonewoods For Your Guitars” list because they are just not that great.
BUT if you are looking into more affordable models that are not only acoustic but acoustic-electric you need to know that there are some things manufacturers have to economize on. That being said, Sapele and nato are not so bad that they ruin the sound. Definitely not. They might not be as durable as some other tonewood but hopefully, if you treat the guitar right, it will last you long enough for you to advance and buy a more expensive and high-end model.
Hardware
Now as for the hardware. The JC27CE-NAT has synthetic bone nut and saddle. Synthetic bone has become more and more popular with affordable and even more expensive guitars because it is cheaper (duh) and of a decent quality. Maybe it is not the same as a real bone but I am pretty sure that most beginners will not be able to notice a difference between the sound of guitars that have a synthetic and real bone. The chrome hardware and chrome die-cast machine heads are easy to use and durable. This model also ships with Phosphor Bronze Light strings. Light strings are a good option for beginners. They are easier to handle than medium and (God forbid) heavy gauge strings. And, of course, if you are not satisfied with the sound and feel of the light strings you can always change to medium gauge which I personally prefer on most of my guitars.
Jasmine JC27 Sound
Because of the bracing pattern, this guitar vibrates very freely, adding to already decent sound. The tone is well-balanced. I would not say this model has the best volume of all the guitars on the market but for the price, you are paying it is pretty damn good. Personally, I prefer medium gauge string so if you find the sound lacking maybe try changing the strings from light gauge to achieve the optimum sound.
Electronics
The Fishman Isys III with Built-In Tuner is a perfect fit for this model. It has an Active onboard preamp, a chromatic tuner with on and off switch as well as all the necessary controls (Volume, bass, mid, treble). With the Fishman Isys III, you can rest assured that the sound on your guitar will be perfectly conveyed. On top of that, it is fairly high quality so you will not have to worry about it just deteriorating within a month.
Conclusion
As a beginner who is slowly trying to learn more and more about guitars or an avid acoustic guitar fan who is just getting into acoustic-electric guitars, Jasmine JC27CE-NAT J-Series might be a good starting point for you. It is affordable, has quite a decent sound and okay electronics. Remember, your first guitar does not have to be perfect or even close to perfect, especially if you are on a budget. What matters is that this model is functional and comfortable enough for beginners.
Click here to find out more about Jasmine JC27CE-NAT J-Series.
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