You’re shopping for a budget acoustic guitar and have two Jasmines in front of you that look almost matched on price. The S34C and the S35 share a maker, yet they feel like different guitars the moment you sit down with one.
The split comes down to shape. The S34C is a cutaway grand orchestra, and the S35 is a full dreadnought with none.
That changes more than looks. Body size and a cutaway affect how the guitar sits, how it sounds, and how easily you reach the high frets.
Below I compare their build, tone, and feel so the right pick is obvious for how you play. First, let’s look at the Jasmine S34C.
Quick Comparison
| Category | Jasmine S34C | Jasmine S35 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Grand orchestra with cutaway | Classic dreadnought | Tie |
| Back and sides | Sapele | Nato | Tie |
| Finish | Gloss | Satin | Tie |
| Upper-fret access | The cutaway opens it up | Limited | Jasmine S34C |
| Fingerpicking | Clear, bell-like, easy reach | Possible but less natural | Jasmine S34C |
| Strumming power | Thinner waist, less boom | Big dreadnought voice | Jasmine S35 |
| Overall | Fingerpickers and reach | Classic strummers | Depends |
Jasmine S34C Acoustic Guitar
The Jasmine S34C acoustic guitar has a large body presented in the grand orchestra style, which looks extremely attractive. It sports a lovely cutaway in its body (this is what the ‘C’ means in the name) and a slim, twenty-five and a half-inch Nato wood neck that has a fretboard made from rosewood.
The latter contributes to the guitar’s playability, and while it’s a budget guitar it looks like one you might pay several times its price for.
Its solid top is constructed from laminated Spruce, while its back and sides are made from Sapele, a type of mahogany that originates from Africa and is being used in favor of genuine mahogany since the trees it comes from are becoming endangered.
The underlying hardware of the Jasmine S34C consists of a synthetic bone nut and saddle (while it isn’t made from real bone it’s better than the plastic alternative), chrome-covered machine heads, and a lovely gloss finish.
The guitar comes with an Allen key and a truss rod assembly (you should never buy a guitar without a truss rod assembly). While this makes it easy to adjust the guitar to your preferences, you should only adjust the truss rod if you know what you’re doing - otherwise, take it to a local guitar tech.
S34C Strengths
The Jasmine S34C also incorporates an ‘Advanced X Bracing system’. This consists of an X intersect located behind the soundhole, adding two or three additional transverse braces (called ‘tone bars’) behind the bridge, which gives a tonally balanced voice and excellent playing stability.
This is an outstanding extra feature that’s rarely seen in guitars of this price.
The classic ‘C’ cutaway gives the player easier access to the upper frets, and because the grand orchestra body is somewhat thinner at the waist than a dreadnought, it produces a clear, bell-like tone. That shape and easy string access make it an excellent guitar for fingerpicking - or strumming and pounding, for that matter.
Overall this is a well-rounded budget guitar that produces a wonderfully balanced tone and a warm yet lively sound.
S34C Drawbacks
There’s very little to criticize at this price point. The main issue we found was that the grand orchestra body is large, so it might feel a little bulky for smaller players or younger beginners.
As with most budget acoustics, the factory strings are nothing special and are worth replacing before too long. Neither of these is a dealbreaker, and the S34C remains difficult to beat for the money.
Jasmine S35 Acoustic Guitar
The Jasmine S35 acoustic guitar is a classic dreadnought-style guitar. The dreadnought style was introduced by the Martin guitar company in 1916, and today it’s the most recognizable and popular shape for acoustic guitars.
This is because the shape produces a bold, penetrating sound with deep lows and crisp highs that have made it a favorite among guitar players. The Jasmine S35 is one of the cheapest dreadnought-style acoustics on the market.
Like the S34C, it has a 25-1/2 inch Nato wood neck combined with a Rosewood fretboard, as well as Jasmine’s patented X bracing system, chrome-covered sealed tuners, and a laminate spruce top. The back and sides are also made from Nato, and the whole assembly is finished with a gorgeous satin coat.
S35 Strengths
When playing the Jasmine S35, the chords ring out super crisp and clean - which is what dreadnoughts are known for - while still producing an excellent tone with no dead spots or buzzes. One of its best features is the full-size neck, which is comfortable and offers excellent playability.
You get all of these features in what’s still one of the most inexpensive guitars in the Jasmine range, yet it’s one of the highest-quality instruments tested at this price point. The classic dreadnought style, satin finish, and overall quality construction leave little to criticize, making it a quality instrument for a beginner or to use as a travel guitar.
S35 Drawbacks
The S35 does require some setting up when received, and the strings delivered with the guitar are relatively poor quality. These negatives are easily enough overcome with a basic setup and a fresh set of strings.
Players who want easy access to the highest frets should also note that, as a full dreadnought with no cutaway, the upper frets are harder to reach than on the S34C.
How the Jasmine S34C and S35 Compare
Both guitars are made from similar materials and feature similar construction, so the choice between them comes down to the style of guitar the buyer prefers playing. The X bracing feature found in both guitars can turn the sound quality from merely good to fantastic, and in terms of hardware, components, and design features you’re getting comparable quality at a budget price from either model.
The Jasmine S35 leans on the strengths of the dreadnought shape: a bold, projecting sound with deep lows and crisp highs, and a full-size neck that many players find comfortable. It’s a reliable all-rounder for strumming and a great first acoustic, with the main trade-offs being a needed setup out of the box and no cutaway for upper-fret access.
The Jasmine S34C arguably has the best sound quality in this price range. The grand orchestra body is thinner at the waist and produces a clear, bell-like tone, while the ‘C’ cutaway and slim neck make the strings and frets easy to reach.
That makes it especially well suited to fingerpicking, with sturdy construction and sustainable tonewoods throughout. Its only real drawback is that the larger body can feel big for some players.
When it comes to choosing between the Jasmine S34C and S35, it ultimately comes down to what you want in sound and playability. If you favor the popular dreadnought style and a punchy strumming voice, the S35 is the pick.
If you want a clearer, bell-like tone with a cutaway for easier fret access, the S34C is the better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the Jasmine S34C and S35?
The S34C is a grand orchestra body with a cutaway, while the S35 is a classic dreadnought with no cutaway. The S34C’s back and sides are Sapele, whereas the S35 uses Nato, and the S34C has a gloss finish compared with the S35’s satin coat.
Both share the same scale length, Nato neck, rosewood fretboard, spruce top, and Jasmine’s X bracing system, so the biggest practical difference you’ll notice is body shape and feel.
Are Jasmine guitars good for beginners?
Yes. Both the S34C and S35 are designed as affordable entry-level instruments, and they offer build quality that punches above their price.
The included truss rod assembly means the neck can be adjusted as the guitar settles in.
A beginner should budget for a basic setup and a set of fresh strings, after which either guitar plays comfortably and sounds well above what you’d expect at this price.
Which Jasmine is better for fingerpicking?
The S34C is the stronger fingerpicking choice. Its grand orchestra body is thinner at the waist and produces a clear, bell-like tone, and the cutaway plus slim neck make individual strings and upper frets easy to reach.
The S35 dreadnought can certainly be fingerpicked too, but its bolder, louder voice is better suited to strumming and flatpicking.
Do I need to set up a Jasmine guitar after buying it?
It’s a good idea. Like most budget acoustics, both models often benefit from a setup to dial in the action, and the factory strings are worth replacing fairly quickly.
If you’re comfortable adjusting the truss rod and action yourself you can do this at home, but if not, a local guitar tech can handle it inexpensively and the result is a noticeably better-playing instrument.
Final Thoughts
The Jasmine S34C and S35 are both excellent reminders that you don’t need a famous logo on the headstock to get a genuinely good acoustic guitar. Thanks to Jasmine’s Takamine roots and features like the X bracing system, both instruments deliver quality components, balanced tone, and dependable playability at a price that’s hard to argue with.
In the end, the decision really does come down to body style. The S35 dreadnought gives you that classic, bold strumming sound and a comfortable full-size neck, while the S34C grand orchestra delivers a clearer, bell-like voice with a cutaway that makes the whole fretboard easier to navigate.
Whichever you choose, you’re getting a lot of guitar for the money. Decide whether you want the punch of a dreadnought or the clarity and access of a grand orchestra cutaway, and you’ll be happy with either of these budget Jasmine acoustics.
