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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:	GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:	Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:	KDX200::COOPER

Created:	Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3280
Total number of notes:	61432

2663.0. "Kidsa and Guitars" by DVOPAS::WADERS::malkoski () Mon Jan 18 1993 11:09

I have a daughter who is 8 years old and wants to learn guitar. She has been in 
piano lessons for about 3 years and has started making noise lately about wanting 
to learn guitar. I haven't wanted to push guitar for all kinds of reasons, but now 
she's asking to play.

Well, I think I've found a teacher here in the Denver area who does a lot of work 
with kids, but what about instruments? The guitars I own are all pretty typical of 
modern acoustics, namely, they have large bodies which makes them unacceptable for 
a small person. I believe the criteria for a kid guitar should be: small body, a 
comfortable neck, and decent sound.

Most modern guitars fail, believe it or not, on the first item. Small bodied 
guitars are just not in fashion any more. The so-called beginners' guitars (mostly 
from Korea and Japan) are copies of Martins and Gibson, and as such follow the 
market lead and have dreanaught or jumbo sized bodies as is the current fashion. 
Plus, they have big, meaty necks.

I've been looking for used Martin 2, 1, or O sized instruments, of older Gibson 
L-O or L-1 guitars. My thinking is that while these are a bit more money to 
purchase, they will not go down in value. Trouble is, they are hard to find.

Has anyone looked into kids and guitars? WHat did you find? Do you have any words 
of wisdom on the subject?

Paul

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2663.1		TECRUS::ROST	Give me Beefheart or give me death	`Mon Jan 18 1993 11:31`	12
	You're correct about prices on Gibsons and Martins. I don't think Gibson even makes their "beginner" guitars like the old LG-0 anymore. LG-0s don't go for much these days, a friend picked one up for $250 a year or so ago. I have seen some smaller bodied Guilds recently that were less expensive then Martins of the same style but still not cheap. Does Sigma (Martin's import line) offer any small body sizes? I know they offer mandolins in the Sigma line, and Martin doesn't exactly sell tons of mandos these days... Brian
2663.2	Homespun	BSS::STPALY::J_KUHN	F.O.B (Flew over Arkansas)	`Mon Jan 18 1993 13:12`	4
	Homespun music (the people that do the Video instruction tapes) sells some reasonably priced (probably ok quality) beginner size guitars. I don't have their 800 number here though.
2663.3	another take	EZ2GET::STEWART	Fight fire with marshmallows!	`Mon Jan 18 1993 13:49`	11
	One of the guitar parts places has DIY kits for kid sized strats. A friend of mine really wants to build one of these for his girls, but doesn't have the $150 for the kit. A local store is selling what looks like the same thing, already built, for $250... They look like decent little instruments, too. So, for $150, plus $40 for a used practice amp, and a little labor, your little one could start out electric!
2663.4		GOES11::G_HOUSE	Big cheese, MAKE me!	`Mon Jan 18 1993 14:55`	8
	If you mean the little electric kits that Stewart-MacDonald's has, I don't think they're really good for kids to start on. Yeah, they're small and all, but they don't have a standard scale (it's like a 16" scale if I remember right). I think kids should start out with something that's at least close to a standard instrument (but with a smaller body). JMO... Greg
2663.5		BSS::STPALY::J_KUHN	F.O.B (Flew over Arkansas)	`Mon Jan 18 1993 16:00`	2
	re: no, I think the scale on these is much bigger than the Stewart Macdonald things.
2663.6	Classical any smaller ?	LARVAE::HARVEY	Baldly going into the unknown...	`Tue Jan 19 1993 14:13`	8
	Would a Classical guitar be a better bet ? You may find the bodies are slightly smaller and the nylon strings kinder to those l'il pinkies !! The necks tend to be W I D E though eh ?! Just a thought. Rog
2663.7		SAHQ::ROSENKRANZ	Rock with Gene & Eddy	`Wed Jan 20 1993 10:46`	6
	A recent issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine has an extensive article about teaching kids guitar. This includes techniques, music and I believe suggestions for guitars. hope this helps,
2663.8		CHEFS::IMMSA	adrift on the sea of heartbreak	`Wed Jan 27 1993 10:04`	19
	Two points - First, could someone please post details of Acoustic Guitar. Having been hoping for a replacement for Frets since it died - could this be the one? I would have to get it mailed to the UK because I am sure it is not available here. Back to the subject - I have seen advertised "travelling" guitars - and I'm sure Martin make one. It has a very small body, with an unusual shape, but a full size neck. I suppose the idea is to let you keep up your chops without humping a dreadnought sized case around. Worth investigating...............? andy
2663.9		SOLVIT::SNORAT::OLOUGHLIN	The fun begins at 80!	`Wed Jan 27 1993 13:49`	18
	A friend, Keith Lively, bought the Martin "Backpacker". I'll call up and get the price on it. I have not seen it, but it's time I stopped by to say hi anyway. I'll post something by next week on it. From what he said; It is an f____n kick! Look at this itty bitty thang - check out the tone. Hell, the Martin logo is worth the price let alone what ya get! (hmmmm, do you think he likes it?) Then again, you can get a custom Ferrington 17 inch guitar if you have loads-o-bucks. Rick.
2663.10		WMOIS::MAY_B	IT'S LIKE THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT!	`Thu Jan 28 1993 08:38`	8
	I took a tour through the Martin Factory last summer and the first few prototypes were being assembled. As I remember, the tuning head was short and stubby, the neck width look about standard but the length was shorter. The body was triangular shaped. They called it a "Back Pack" quitar. Couldn't get a price from them but I would sure like to know what one of these puppies sells for. bruce
2663.11		CHEFS::IMMSA	adrift on the sea of heartbreak	`Thu Jan 28 1993 09:57`	5
	OK guys.... I was a bit out on my initial description :-) but to answer the basenoter's question.... would it do for kids I wonder? andy
2663.12	Music for Kids	SAHQ::ROSENKRANZ	Rock with Gene & Eddy	`Thu Jan 28 1993 10:57`	22
	re: .8 See note 1944.29 for list of info on a variety of travel guitar, both acoustic and electric. Also, Subscription info on Acoustic Guitar Magazine: Acoustic Guitar is published bimonthly by The String Letter Press, Publishers, Inc., 412 Red Hill Avenue #15, San Anselmo, Ca. 94960. A single issue costs $3.95; a years subscription is $23.95. Foreign subscribers must order airmail delivery. Add $7.50 per year for Canada/PanAm; $15.00 elsewhere; payable in local funds drawn on local bank, or US funds on US bank. Correspondence should be directed to: PO Box 767 San Anselmo, Ca 94979 The article "Making music with Kids" is in the Sept./Oct. 92 issue, and I believe they sell back issues.
2663.13	Backpacker price	ISLNDS::MASHIA	Selective reality.That's the ticket!	`Fri Jan 29 1993 15:14`	10
	Bruce, The Backpacker guitar goes for $169 cash, per the latest Mandolin Bros. catalaog. $199 list, $174 card. It's also available with the 332 pickup, for $275 cash, $324 list, $284 card. Rodney
2663.14	I ordered a Back-Pack Martin	WMOIS::MAY_B	IT'S LIKE THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT!	`Wed Feb 03 1993 10:29`	10
	Re .13 Thanks Rodney I went to Hermans Music last saturday and ordered one. Your prices were correct, but they had a twenty five dollar increase effective 2/8/93 on all orders from then on. Martin is quoting october/November delivery date. It seems this little bugger is getting quite popular and they have 3 to 4 thousand on backorder. I ordered it with a gig bag ($30 value).