Hi,
I'm shopping for my 6 year old nephew, with the motor skills of a 12 year old. He's a bit bigger than the average 6 year old and he's been hitting me up for an "a-tos-tic" guitar for over a year. Any suggestions for an acoustic guitar for a young player?
great action a must
"If it is nothingness that awaits us, so let us act as if it's an unjust fate"
I've never seen a good 1/2 size or 3/4 size guitar. I've seen some better than others, but none I can recommend.
I'd just go to your local acoustic specialist store and play what they have till you find one you think isn't as bad as the others.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -- HST
Couple of years ago I heard a guy playing a 3/4 size nylon string Hohner in the store. It sounded pretty good.
Wonder if your kid might not do well with a full size guitar, though?
Too bad most all of the acoustic offerings nowadays are dreadnoughts, a parlor guitar might be perfect. Or a classic, which is smaller than a dread. They have big necks, though.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Steel string? Baby Taylor or Big Baby Taylor if it is in the budget. I bought a Yamaha FG1JR or something like that, but it doesn't sound like much.
____
Steve
I would suggest a full sized guitar. Epihone has some fairly good ones in the 300$ range.
dreads are big and wide, but a concert size is less deep and wide.
Steel string? Baby Taylor or Big Baby Taylor if it is in the budget. I bought a Yamaha FG1JR or something like that, but it doesn't sound like much.
Good choices all. Also check out the SAMICK "Tennesee Traveler" Its a 3/4 size 'parlour guitar'.
Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. - Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977)
I wouldn't suggest a full size given the boy is only 6 yrs old - it'll swamp him!! Maybe have a look at the Hohner or Yamaha range. Ideally of course I would go along with the baby Taylor idea, but that will hit the pocket a little.
D
What did the guitarist do when he was told to turn on his amp?
He caressed it softly and told it that he loved it.
Just had another thought, Doesn't Squier make guitars with Graphics on them?
And what about a Baby Martin with the Felix the Cat on it....
Cute for a 6 year old :)
Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. - Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977)
check out the washburn F11S i'm trying to get at MF. it's appears to be a heck of a guitar for a starter.
solid cedar top, body & neck binding, sealed grover tuners, etc...
$200
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Washburn-F11S-Solid-Cedar-Top-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=513822
#4491....
I like Washburns, and their low end guitars are good values. My first guitar is a transparent red D11, actually made in 1998, but I bought it new in early 2001. Made entirely of laminated "Mountain Ash." It's attractive, nice to play and sounds great. It's been my main player the last few days. (I rotate 'em around.)
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Baby Taylors are good, but I prefer the deeper tones of the Little Martin. Baby Taylors are brighter in sound to my ear. Both guitars are easy to play and well-sized for a young player.
In Australia there are couple of good choices, that you might be able to locate over there.
Tanglewood Baby
http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/default.asp?cID=26463177&sID=26465112
Ashton Joey Acoustic
http://www.ashtonmusic.com.au/productView.asp?productID=367
Both fairly impressive, but at a better price point than a Baby Taylor or Martin.
Regards,
Paul
Something I'll throw out, too: I think an open tuning like Open D, E, G or A is an ideal way to introduce a beginner, especially a young one, to the guitar. He can get a full major chord by barring the strings at any fret. I can teach a complete beginner how to strum a 12-bar blues this way using the open strings, 5th and 7th frets in a few minutes. Save that advanced standard tuning stuff for later.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Something I will throw out.. since I have a daughter who did the same thing to me last year (at age 6 no less ).. I picked up a 1/2 size Dean off ebay for about 25 bucks plus shipping. For a small child it is actually a decent guitar. It holds the tune pretty well. I retune it about once a week after the harsh beatings it takes. I have actually played a little on it and the sound is not great but it is better than those 1/2 sizes you see at the major retailers and for a child who is just interested in learning it makes a great starter without hitting you in the pocketbook.
I wanna Rock N Roll all night... Ahh who am I kidding I'll be in bed at 9 pm....
My son has a 3/4 sized Dean Playmate that sound pretty good. The tuners are cheap and the neck isn't too great, but it was only $75.
I have a Art & Lutherie AMI with a solid cedar top that I use for camping trips. It sounds very good for its small size. Very bluesy. The neck is a little thick though.
I've also see a 3/4 sized Yamaha at Guitar center that was very well built and sounded nice but I don't remember the model.
