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What Is a 7/8 Size Guitar?

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A 7/8 size guitar is a guitar with a body about 7/8 the size of a full-size 4/4 guitar, with a shorter scale length and a smaller body. It keeps 6 strings and standard tuning E A D G B E, and it sits between a 3/4 size guitar and a full-size 4/4 guitar.

What 7/8 size means

A 7/8 size guitar is a guitar built at about 7/8 the size of a full-size 4/4 guitar. The body is smaller and the scale length is shorter, while the guitar keeps 6 strings and standard tuning E A D G B E. It sits between a 3/4 size guitar and a full-size 4/4 guitar, so it suits a player who finds a full-size body too large but wants more than a 3/4 size offers.

How a 7/8 guitar differs from 3/4 and 4/4

The sizes 4/4, 3/4, 1/2 and 1/4 describe the body size of the instrument, and 7/8 sits between 3/4 and 4/4. A 7/8 guitar has a larger body and a longer scale length than a 3/4 guitar, and a smaller body and a shorter scale length than a 4/4 guitar. The string count and the tuning stay the same across the sizes: 6 strings tuned E A D G B E.

What to measure before you choose

Compare guitars by their scale length and body size, not by their names. The Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa lists a 23-1/4 inch scale length, and the Enya NEXG 2 lists a 23.7 inch scale length, so two guitars sold as small bodies can still differ. Hold each guitar in playing position and check the reach to the first fret and how the body sits against you before you decide.

Check the case, bag and warranty

A smaller body still needs a case or bag that fits it. The Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa and the Guild Traveler Mini Dreadnought each include a gig bag, and the Enya NEXG 2 includes a custom-made gig bag. The Washburn and the Guild list a limited lifetime warranty, and the Enya lists a 2-year warranty, so check the warranty term on the listing before you buy.

Care for a smaller guitar

Wipe the guitar with a soft dry cloth after playing, and use water and mild soap only where the maker allows it. The Guild Traveler Mini Dreadnought has an open-pour natural satin finish, so wipe it with a soft dry cloth and keep it in its deluxe gig bag when you carry it. Store the guitar away from heat and damp. For anything beyond cleaning, such as a setup or a repair, ask a repair shop.

What you need

Washburn Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa Travel

Washburn Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa Travel

A 7/8-size Grand Auditorium body with a comfort carve-away, a 23-1/4 inch scale length, and a gig bag included.

  • Solid top
  • Case or gig bag included
  • Body shape: Travel
  • Top wood: Koa
  • Lifetime warranty stated
Guild Traveler Mini Dreadnought Mahogany w/Gigbag

Guild Traveler Mini Dreadnought Mahogany w/Gigbag

A mini dreadnought with a mahogany top, back and sides, a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and a deluxe gig bag included.

  • Case or gig bag included
  • Body shape: Dreadnought
  • Top wood: Mahogany Wood
  • Lifetime warranty stated
Enya NEXG 2 Deluxe Carbon Fiber Smart

Enya NEXG 2 Deluxe Carbon Fiber Smart

A carbon fiber acoustic-electric with a built-in 50W wireless speaker, 20 presets, an onboard looper and drum machine, and a custom-made gig bag.

  • Built-in pickup / EQ
  • Case or gig bag included
  • Top wood: Carbon Fiber
  • 2-year warranty stated

These come from our ranked list Best Travel Acoustic Guitar, which compares them spec by spec.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 7/8 size guitar the same as a travel guitar?

Not always. The Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa is sold as a travel size guitar with a 7/8-size body, but a guitar can be a travel size without a 7/8-size body, so check the body size on the listing.

Does a 7/8 size guitar use standard tuning?

Yes. A 7/8 size guitar has 6 strings tuned E A D G B E, the same standard tuning as a full-size 4/4 guitar.

What scale length does a 7/8 size guitar have?

It varies by model. The Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa lists a 23-1/4 inch scale length, and the Enya NEXG 2 lists a 23.7 inch scale length, so compare the figure on each listing.

Do 7/8 size guitars come with a gig bag?

The three guitars here each include one: the Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa includes a gig bag, the Guild Traveler Mini Dreadnought includes a deluxe gig bag, and the Enya NEXG 2 includes a custom-made gig bag.

More how-to guides

Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.