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Post subject: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 7:10 am
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My eight-year-old daughter has just started guitar lessons. Her teacher recommends that I purchase a three-quarter size acoustic guitar. I don’t know much about smaller guitars.

I assume that the MA-1 would be a suitable choice, but I also wonder whether I should consider the Newporter Traveler. How do they compare in size and weight?

Are there any other small guitars in the Fender range?

(I don’t think my local guitar shops have much of a range of 3/4-size guitars, so I’ll probably be buying online. Not much of a chance to try before I buy!)


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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 2:50 am
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tobyaw wrote:
My eight-year-old daughter has just started guitar lessons. Her teacher recommends that I purchase a three-quarter size acoustic guitar. I don’t know much about smaller guitars.
I assume that the MA-1 would be a suitable choice, but I also wonder whether I should consider the Newporter Traveler. How do they compare in size and weight?
Are there any other small guitars in the Fender range?
(I don’t think my local guitar shops have much of a range of 3/4-size guitars, so I’ll probably be buying online. Not much of a chance to try before I buy!)



Personally, I'd give a child an electric guitar, not an acoustic guitar.
It is the high/hard action of acoustics that's hard and no fun to practice.
Get a 3/4 sized baby Strat or Mustang or whatever.
String it with 7's
Get a cheap amp
and let her rip
She will better hear when notes or chords sound good
and she can have a blast making noise when you are not around :lol: :lol: :lol:

Also, if you get an acoustic and it's too hard to play,
then, they may hate music and hate practice forever :x
They may run away with boyfriends and turn anti-social :lol:
They may go back to school and study :idea:

Good luck. Toppscore :)

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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:00 am
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+1 on a 3/4 electric. Much easier for kids hands. I recently purchased the Pink Mini Squire Strat for my 3yr old daughter to start her guitar lifestyle on. And then I built a 9V "Smokey Amp" circuit into it so she can rockout without the need for a wired amp.

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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:50 am
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AaronK wrote:
+1 on a 3/4 electric. Much easier for kids hands. I recently purchased the Pink Mini Squire Strat for my 3yr old daughter to start her guitar lifestyle on. And then I built a 9V "Smokey Amp" circuit into it so she can rockout without the need for a wired amp.



gotta get some photos of the Joan Jett in action :)

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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:06 pm
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Thanks for the advice. Beth is keen to play an electric guitar — and has tried and liked the Squier mini strat — but her teacher would prefer to teach on an acoustic.

To accommodate this I’ve decided to go both ways. In Dundee today I bought her a Tanglewood travel-size acoustic (seems like a decent little guitar for £99), and I’ve put a bid on a second-hand Squier mini strat on eBay.


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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:28 pm
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Cool, let us know how that goes.

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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 12:56 am
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tobyaw wrote:
Thanks for the advice. Beth is keen to play an electric guitar — and has tried and liked the Squier mini strat — but her teacher would prefer to teach on an acoustic.

To accommodate this I’ve decided to go both ways. In Dundee today I bought her a Tanglewood travel-size acoustic (seems like a decent little guitar for £99), and I’ve put a bid on a second-hand Squier mini strat on eBay.



Get at new teacher.
Never heard that one.
Not only are acoustic's action strung higher,
if you use wire strings, then tension is real rough on kids.
Also, if you get nylon strings, they are not fun,
and what eight year old wants to do Row Row Row Your Boat, Beatles or Dylan???

And, the teacher "preferred" acoustic.
Ask the "teacher" if they like money?

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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:27 am
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Toppscore wrote:
Get at new teacher.
Never heard that one.
Not only are acoustic's action strung higher,
if you use wire strings, then tension is real rough on kids.
Also, if you get nylon strings, they are not fun,
and what eight year old wants to do Row Row Row Your Boat, Beatles or Dylan???

And, the teacher "preferred" acoustic.
Ask the "teacher" if they like money?


In a small town, there isn’t a lot of choice of guitar tuition for an eight-year-old. The sensible and convenient option is for Beth to have guitar lessons organised through her school, but in order to do so one has to accept the way that the school’s music department works — they prefer to teach on acoustic, and they require all pupils to regularly perform to other pupils, whether solo or in groups.

Beth is happy to accept these limitations, as she know that what she learns on her acoustic can be used with her electric, and as a couple of other pupils in her class have lessons with the same guitar teacher, she will have peers to play with.

Oh, and it appears that I’ve won an eBay auction for an Epiphone Les Paul Express, so looks like the girl will have an electric to play on too.


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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:53 am
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tobyaw wrote:
Toppscore wrote:
Get at new teacher.
Never heard that one.
Not only are acoustic's action strung higher,
if you use wire strings, then tension is real rough on kids.
Also, if you get nylon strings, they are not fun,
and what eight year old wants to do Row Row Row Your Boat, Beatles or Dylan???

And, the teacher "preferred" acoustic.
Ask the "teacher" if they like money?


In a small town, there isn’t a lot of choice of guitar tuition for an eight-year-old. The sensible and convenient option is for Beth to have guitar lessons organised through her school, but in order to do so one has to accept the way that the school’s music department works — they prefer to teach on acoustic, and they require all pupils to regularly perform to other pupils, whether solo or in groups.

Beth is happy to accept these limitations, as she know that what she learns on her acoustic can be used with her electric, and as a couple of other pupils in her class have lessons with the same guitar teacher, she will have peers to play with.

Oh, and it appears that I’ve won an eBay auction for an Epiphone Les Paul Express, so looks like the girl will have an electric to play on too.




Yes. I am bringing my nephew along, as well.
Compromise. Get that acoustic and the 3/4 electric.
They are cheap, anyway. Then, get simple acoustic pickup
that clips in the guitars hole. INHO, this way she can do
her school work (my bet is it will be challenging)
then after 20 minutes of practice, let her rip it up with an amp.

Tell her Uncle Toppscore is watching :)

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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:34 pm
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My two cents is that you should seriously consider a 3/4 classical guitar for your child. Fender makes a good one http://www.fender.com/products/mc-1-3-4-nylon
I am a relatively new guitar player and have 3 guitars (Traveler guitar EG1, Seagull Mariner acoustic and a La Patrie Classical). True that the electric guitar has easy action but it is still a steel string. When I was starting guitar lessons a few years ago the soreness of finger tips dictated when I stopped practicing- i suspect it will be the same for your daughter. I am rarely sore these days but even so I can play my classical all day long. I can also sit in front of the tube and play quietly without a peep from the Mrs. I wouldnt attempt that with my other guitars.
Again just two cents from someone who appreciates ALL guitar styles. :)


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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:51 pm
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acroonertoo wrote:
My two cents is that you should seriously consider a 3/4 classical guitar for your child. Fender makes a good one http://www.fender.com/products/mc-1-3-4-nylon
I am a relatively new guitar player and have 3 guitars (Traveler guitar EG1, Seagull Mariner acoustic and a La Patrie Classical). True that the electric guitar has easy action but it is still a steel string. When I was starting guitar lessons a few years ago the soreness of finger tips dictated when I stopped practicing- i suspect it will be the same for your daughter. I am rarely sore these days but even so I can play my classical all day long. I can also sit in front of the tube and play quietly without a peep from the Mrs. I wouldnt attempt that with my other guitars.
Again just two cents from someone who appreciates ALL guitar styles. :)


I found that this was the preferred method for my students as well. A classical guitar will
also help the students learn proper "arching" technique in the lower chord positions.
They do make great 'parlor' guitars as well, to pick up and play anytime and the nylon strings are easy on the student's fingers.

Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: 3/4 size guitar for a child
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 10:18 pm
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The problem I find with classical guitars is the Action is too high and the Neck is too wide for little hands and fingers. But if you can find one that does not have this then the nylon strings are a blessing on the fingers.

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