A test and comparison of 3 spending plan (under $300) “Parlor Guitar” design acoustic guitars; the Fender CP-100 (http://amzn.to/1JMCkJ4), Gretsch Jim Dandy (http://amzn.to/1MNUsCT – on sale! http://amzn.to/1U9r1i6), and Epiphone EL-00 (http://amzn.to/1NvkAmg).
Spoiler listed 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 covering.

The Gretsch Jim Dandy is the tiniest of the 3, and although it sounds smallest (practically along the lines of a tenor ukulele) it forecasts well, and would make an extremely cool second acoustic guitar if you own a dreadnought sized guitar and are searching for a complimentary tone, specifically for tape-recording!

The Fender CP-100 is basically what I was searching for in a “parlor” sized guitar; a present midrange that sounds excellent for fingerpicking and thumb plucking blues, and will not sound excessively “boxy” when strummed. The body size is just right for bring for songwriting in the tour bus, musing in the park, or busking on the street. And if somebody steals or pulls a Bluto Blutarsky on it, you won’t misery for having actually lost an irreplaceable vintage Martin or such.