Budget Acoustic "Parlor" Guitar Review - Fender CP-100, Gretsch Jim Dandy & Epiphone EL-00

A test and comparison of 3 budget (under $300) "Parlor Guitar" style acoustic guitars. Buy me a coffee if you like! https://buymeacoffee.com/joedocmusic Spoiler below! My opinions: The Epiphone EL-00 is the strummer of the lot, with a more scooped midrange. You need to dig in with the pick to get the tone to pop out through the thick poly coating. The Gretsch Jim Dandy is the smallest of the three, and although it sounds smallest (almost along the lines of a tenor ukulele) it projects well, and would make a very cool second acoustic guitar if you own a dreadnought sized guitar and are looking for a complimentary tone, especially for recording! The Fender CP-100 is basically what I was looking for in a "parlor" sized guitar; a present midrange that sounds good for fingerpicking and thumb plucking blues, and won't sound overly "boxy" when strummed. The body size is just right for taking along for songwriting in the tour bus, musing in the park, or busking on the street. And if someone steals or pulls a Bluto Blutarsky on it, you won't despair for having lost an irreplaceable vintage Martin or such.

Added 5 Aug 2026