One of our grandchildren is showing a keen interest in the guitar. She's learning the Uke in school at the moment. She's been round at ours today and obviously has a real job with my guitars, so I'm going to get her a Harley Benton short scale as a starter guitar. I'm unsure of what size to get her as they do a couple, and was hoping for some guidance from those who have been through this stage with children.
She's 9 years old and average height. I'm torn between two models, both Strat type guitars.
Guitar 1 has a scale length of 578mm and a total length of 875mm
Guitar 2 has a scale length of 492mm and a total length of 810mm
I'm happy to get her the shorter one if that's the one that fits right now, as I will upgrade it when she grows out of it, so it's not as if it's got to last her. What I don't want to do is get her one that doesn't work for her right now.
Unfortunately taking her to a guitar shop is not an option due to circumstances beyond our control.
Grateful for your thoughts and input.
Comments
I agree with that as well, they'll be able to play a normal one just as well as they would a small one at that age. Kids that age play basses.
1. IBANEZ GRGM21 GIO MIKRO SHORT SCALE MINI ELECTIC GUITAR
2. Jackson Dinky Minion JS1X Black AM · Electric Guitar
3. Squier Fender Stratocaster 3/4 Mini Electric Guitar (also comes in pink)
Check here for Andertons reviews:
Jackson Minion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu-yawi1nv8
Ibanez Mikro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DETAPMJC21I
My advice would be to first check if the child could handle a full size Jackson Dinky which are small bodied guitars, anyway, so not much bigger than the Minion, or the Ibanez Mikro mentioned above. This would save you the expense of buying another guitar as the kid grows, and she would get used to Standard Tuning. You can try a Jackson JS11, or a JS22. The JS32 will cost a bit more.
The 3/4 scale guitars are tuned to G starting on the 6th string, and they can be little buggers to get it right, although I noticed that the chaps at Andertons are using Standard Tuning on the Minion.
A full-size is completely unsuitable, she's had a quick strum of my J35 and it's far too big, completely pointless. I know girls in the 20s who play big Taylors with a bit of a struggle and you can tell they'd have a much easier life on a smaller guitar. A 3/4 is much easier to play - it's in no way a lesser instrument. There's no need to tune to G, just tune to E, everything intonates fine and the strings are slightly slacker so, again, easier for a beginner to get on with.
To answer the question, 578mm is normal for 3/4 scale, 492 does indeed sound too small.
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/190426342779008--dangelico-premier-utica-natural-spruce
(I cannot vouch for the Harley Bentons but I always feel kids should start on an acoustic.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8UV7SAhvG4