Guitar for 9 year old

[bazza1603]

Hi,

My Sons got an interesting in playing acoustic guitars, and now wants one for xmas. I am only looking at spending £50 to start with, until I am sure he wants to progress.

Will keep checking Gumtree and Ebay for a decent secondhand, but wonder if anyone could point me in the direction of something else?

Thanks

Barry

[davidd]

bazza1603 said:

Hi,

My Sons got an interesting in playing acoustic guitars, and now wants one for xmas. I am only looking at spending £50 to start with, until I am sure he wants to progress.

Will keep checking Gumtree and Ebay for a decent secondhand, but wonder if anyone could point me in the direction of something else?

Thanks

Barry

Alf started when he was 8, I bought him a £25 acoustic from the local Sue Ryder shop (they sell them new). It was the perfect thing for him to start with. Even though he now has some really good guitars the old acoustic still gets played most days.

[Kinky]

davidd said:

... stuff ...

I was going to suggest the exact same

But do check all the other charity shops too.

[vladcjelli]

If you haven't got a Sue Ryder nearby, Aldi are knocking a reasonable looking guitar out at a shade under £35.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-27-...

Also have guitar stands at about £7.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-27-...

[BorkFactor]

I had one of these for my first guitar when I was 8, punches well above its weight for the price and still sounds good today! They play very well with a nice low action which is nice for a beginner.

http://www.andertons.co.uk/steel-string-acoustic-g...

You should be able to find a second hand one for a LOT less than that, Epiphones really don't hold their value that well. I have seen a couple around the £60 - £70 mark which I think would be ideal.

[dojo]

3/4 size valencia or a stagg, both normally have reasonable quality control in the factory and you get something you can work with for a couple of years.

[davepoth]

Consider a classical guitar to start with. the nylon strings are much easier to fret, which will make early progress much quicker. That's probably the important bit.

[bazza1603]

Have this on order via Flubits for £60. Am hunting around if anything else comes up...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0015Y6KP4/ref=...

[wizzard67]

bazza1603 said:

Have this on order via Flubits for £60. Am hunting around if anything else comes up...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0015Y6KP4/ref=...

A dreadnought might be a bit big for a 9 year old. Maybe a 3/4 sized classical would be better for him - Like this

[bazza1603]

wizzard67 said:

A dreadnought might be a bit big for a 9 year old. Maybe a 3/4 sized classical would be better for him - Like this

I have read a few review from children using these ones as the scale is small. Seen them get a few recommendation as a decent beginners guitar

[wizzard67]

A dreadnought will have a big body but may have a narrow neck (which is good for smaller hands), he may have trouble getting his right arm over the body at first with this style of guitar.

I'd still go for a 3/4 size classical first (I started on one when I was 7 and went on to a dreadnought size when I was about 13 - I still find a dreadnought body a bit big now). Also, as mentioned earlier, the nylon strings are easier for a beginner - steel strings can make the fingertips sore until you have been playing for a while and develop harder skin on them.

Do you have a local music shop you can go to and try a couple of different size guitars out? Even just looking at the different sizes would give you a good idea.

[bazza1603]

Am trying to cancel the order...

I suppose a 3/4 crap guitar will be better than one that's one big...Getting my priorities wrong

[BorkFactor]

I really wouldn't worry about the dreadnought too much, I had one when I was 8 and didn't have a problem with it!

[bazza1603]

Sons left handed as well... I know you can restring them

I think a 3/4 will be better.