Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

B

blueman335

Mojo's Minions
I have a friend with a 4-year old son that's expressed an interest in playing electric guitar and he wants to get him an inexpensive but half-way decent one for him. I have no idea where to begin. Obviously it's got to be small and the action has to be adjustable so it's easy to play. Has to stay in tune too. Do they have special sized strings for them? It's a balance of not knowing if the kid will stay interested or will take care of the guitar, with getting something decent that won't discourage him because it's awful to play.

So, who's got experience with this? I'm sure some of you dads and uncles have been thru this.
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

We have 3/4 scale squier strats with built-in amps and speakers at the shop right now.

$80, and a five dollar strap...instant rock star.

Pretty sure it's just set up with 9's...
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

There are only 3 brands that I know of that make small guitars for kids. Ibanez (I think), Squier, and Epiphone.

My sister got a squier for my nephew (he was 6 at the time) with 9s and he didn't have a problem with them.

the epi is a LP Jr and I've seen a flying V version of it also.

513575_f520.jpg



Not sure about the Ibanez.
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

Yeah, the ones that look good to me are the squier and the ibanez.

I don't like how the epi looks like because of the small body.

The flying V looks great

274849.jpg


Here's the ibanez but I do recall seeing a different one

570370.jpg


It all depends on what the kid wants too. He/She is the one who is going to play it so, it's up to him/her. My nephew asked for a red strat so that's what he got.

*edit*

The guitar is gonna need a setup after you get it. My nephew's strat could have had a better fret job. The electronics (5 way switch, pots, pickups) are crap and the strings it came with were crap also. That said, it's well worth the money considering it's all minor stuff. The neck and body had no problems. The finish looked great......he didn't take care of it so the poly finish has tons of scratches and dents now. Hope this helps.
 
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Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

I bought my little girl a small Fender Strat for $ 90.00 and repainted it a custom egplant purple for her. The Ibanzez Mikro would be a good choice or go with this ESP/LTD KH-Jr, what little boy would't think this is cool? I would stay away from a V though to hard to hold when sitting down, for a kid to learn on anyway.
 
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Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

Well I would get a 1/2 scale for a 4 year old, my 4 year old has a dean acoustic. My nine year old has 3/4 scale guitars, and they are really too big for a 4 year old.
But the 3/4 can be tuned to standard tuning and the 1/2 really cant. I got the black squier and put cute stickers on it (for my daughter)
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

You could always try those --- what are they called? --- You know the guitars with the short scale lengths that are easy to play and those double pickups that make everything sound good no matter what you play? What are those called....just can't put my finger on it....


OH! Gibsons!

You could try a Gibson. Perfect for a child.


-Hunter
thefinger.gif
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

ImmortalSix said:
You could always try those --- what are they called? --- You know the guitars with the short scale lengths that are easy to play and those double pickups that make everything sound good no matter what you play? What are those called....just can't put my finger on it....


OH! Gibsons!

You could try a Gibson. Perfect for a child.


-Hunter
thefinger.gif
Click to expand...

Mweheheheh!!!

How about a Chiquita? ;) Bonus points if you can tell me what quintessetial 80's movie it appeared in.

571924_f520.jpg
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

B2D said:
Mweheheheh!!!

How about a Chiquita? ;) Bonus points if you can tell me what quintessetial 80's movie it appeared in.

571924_f520.jpg
Click to expand...

I forgot about this guitar, I just emailed a company to get some info on it. I remember EVH holding one of these in a picture I had. Thanks for the reminder.
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

MF has a Washburn "Hannah Montana" 3/4 size guitar for $49. I saw one ata local music store and it felt just like any low doallar Epi or Dean. Seemed pretty solid. FWIW

-dave
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

If he wants something on the cheap, I'd suggest Beaver Creek for a 3/4 size acoustic and the Squier Mini strat for electric. The music store I work at carries Beaver Creek acoustics, and for the money you really can't ask for better craftsmanship. For a $145(CDN) all-laminate-body acoustic it sounds good. I'd be quite content with it if I was 5-10 years old and wanted a guitar.
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

I've played those Ibanez Micros before in a shop. From what I know they don't hold tune too well. THey're also quite small.
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

Promo_MiniPlayer.gif

cept at my shop they're $80.

i spent my last shift with one strapped on, walking around playing it while helping customers. I was amazing.
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

Got_tone? said:
There are only 3 brands that I know of that make small guitars for kids. Ibanez (I think), Squier, and Epiphone.

My sister got a squier for my nephew (he was 6 at the time) with 9s and he didn't have a problem with them.

the epi is a LP Jr and I've seen a flying V version of it also.

513575_f520.jpg



My nephew had this one, pissed me off it would not stay in tune for a minute.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Child's Guitar - Suggestions Needed

My first recomendation is don't. I have absolutely no faith/belief that the kid is REALLY expressing an interest in it, and even if they are it won't last a week once they find out how difficult it is and it will become a bang bang noise toy.

But, if you must I dig the little epi LP.

And if the kid really is interested - yay.

But honestly, I'm thinking 8-10 at a minimum to have any chance of success.
 
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