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Thom lamp

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5763 Location: Exeter, UK
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 10:19 am Post subject: Starter Acoustic Guitar for kids |
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Any shortscale parents have any recommendations for guitars for kids starting to learn? My eldest daughter is going to be 9 in August and wants a guitar for her birthday. Originally I was thinking something nylon string to make it easier to play, but not sure that will cut it. She likes the look of the new Fender California acoustics, the one I looked at was 24" scale and a small-ish neck so that might be an option.
Any advice on what is good/bad from your experience would be great. Cheers. |
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Bacchus Whatever's handiest

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 20980 Location: wandering
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 10:34 am Post subject: |
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One of my pupils has one of those and it's nice, if unspectacular. It sounds alright, buy it's easy to play and looks cool, and those are probably more important.
I'd shy away from nylon stringed also. The size of the fretboard can make fretting difficult for small fingers and it's pretty much a different instrument. _________________
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Freddy V-C NOD FLANGERS

Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 4892 Location: Halifax
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 10:53 am Post subject: |
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I had a nylon string as my first guitar, aged 10. I wasn't keen and it kind of dulled some of my initial enthusiasm for playing. Like Paul says, it's almost a different instrument really. _________________ BEIGE PALACE | THANK |
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Thom lamp

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5763 Location: Exeter, UK
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 10:57 am Post subject: |
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Perfect, thanks guys. Paul - sounds ideal for what she wants. She likes the Malibu in Aqua so clearly gets her taste from me! |
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sunshiner .


Joined: 02 Nov 2012 Posts: 5015 Location: Around the corner
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 11:36 am Post subject: |
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There's a small Yamaha JR1. A solid instrument that even your grandchildren might play
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matte30is wrote: |
Someone man up and get a balloon. |
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Bacchus Whatever's handiest

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 20980 Location: wandering
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 11:41 am Post subject: |
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Another option might be one of the cheaper sigmas. If she's right handed she can borrow mine for a month or two to see how she gets on (I've broken my hand so don't really need it). _________________
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robroe Bon Jovi Fan Club!!1

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 49146
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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MY DRUMMER HAS THAT JR YAMAHA
ITS THE FIRST THING I PICK UP AND PLAY WHEN I WALK IN THE DOOR EVERY TIME I GO OVER THERE. ITS FUNNNNN |
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Thom lamp

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5763 Location: Exeter, UK
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Bacchus wrote: |
Another option might be one of the cheaper sigmas. If she's right handed she can borrow mine for a month or two to see how she gets on (I've broken my hand so don't really need it). |
Thanks Paul, appreciate it. I think your first comment was important, and that's the look of the guitar. I think the colours of the Fender series make them more appealing to a 9 year old and maybe more likely to play it/stick with it. I think I saw some in Mansons the other week so will go check them out.
Sorry to hear you broke your hand! |
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Doog mid-century modem

Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 21310 Location: London
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Definitely don't overlook a proper set-up and manageable strings; I don't think I would have ever stuck with it if I'd started out on some of the low-end acoustics I've played over the years.
Fortunately, those one-string Iron Maiden riffs sounded amazing on my mum's classical guitar |
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Bacchus Whatever's handiest

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 20980 Location: wandering
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 10:22 am Post subject: |
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Thom wrote: |
Bacchus wrote: |
Another option might be one of the cheaper sigmas. If she's right handed she can borrow mine for a month or two to see how she gets on (I've broken my hand so don't really need it). |
Thanks Paul, appreciate it. I think your first comment was important, and that's the look of the guitar. I think the colours of the Fender series make them more appealing to a 9 year old and maybe more likely to play it/stick with it. I think I saw some in Mansons the other week so will go check them out.
Sorry to hear you broke your hand! |
There's also a lot of value in it being her own guitar that she can cherish. _________________
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Thom lamp

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5763 Location: Exeter, UK
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 7:14 am Post subject: |
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Doog wrote: |
Fortunately, those one-string Iron Maiden riffs sounded amazing on my mum's classical guitar |
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Jagtornado .

Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 167
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 9:01 am Post subject: |
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How about a Ibanez or Gretsch parlour guitar? Nice and good sounding guitars with a shorter scale. But watch out not all parlour guitars have shorter scales.
Take a look at this, this guitar costs about 180 euro new in Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJofYjk_Sl0 |
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Doog mid-century modem

Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 21310 Location: London
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 9:07 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, the Gretsch Jim Dandy parlour ain't bad, but all 3 that I've played needed the action brought down; at that price point, most shops just sling them on the shelves straight from the box. |
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robroe Bon Jovi Fan Club!!1

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 49146
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 11:03 am Post subject: |
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This is why I love the guitar so much though....
Every time I pick one up at a shop I'm like this feels like I set this up, people are going to hate it. But it's for me |
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