kiddy guitar scale length that I can still tune EADGBE?

[Jupiter]

I want to get an electric for my 7-year-old, and I'd like to get her something smaller than a regular guitar, but I also want to stick with standard tuning. I know that some of the real little ones are tuned up a 4th. I'm wondering what is the shortest scale length that can still be tuned EADGBE without the strings flopping all around.

 

[trev333]

I've got a small scale length guitar made out of a solid piece of Queensland Maple... a "hippy" family made them locally and used to play them at the local markets.. running through 12V car cassettes with a jack wired to the two tape head wires...
I've got a similar small bass to match...

the scale length is around 19 1/2 " or 500mm.. with a 1 5/8"nut.... I used to have it tuned to standard no worries, not sloppy at all....... or sometimes open/dropD for slide/metal.etc... I took the old "ricka looking " PU out to try in a normal guitar....
this little thing ripped through a jcm marshall stack... I took it to a party once and let the band guitarist try it out... he used it on a few tunes...

I'll get it back together soon, you need small fingers to play 6 strings on it... I might make it a 5 string...open G machine,.

 

[Blazer]

I had one of THESE for the longest time.

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It played just fine with normal E tuning but I liked it more if I tuned up to A. I eventually pulled it apart and put the neck on my double neck.

They also come in a strat-style version.
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Or for the rocker-to-be...
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They are good fun.

 

[Codger]

I can’t answer the “shortest scale” question, but I bought one of these a while ago for a travel guitar. It’s a 24” scale. I really like it as a travel guitar. It would probably make a great kid’s guitar. I use it in standard tuning. The nut is 1.5”, took getting use to for me, but probably great for smaller hands.
http://www.rondomusic.com/product3371.html

 

[Jupiter]

I can’t answer the “shortest scale” question, but I bought one of these a while ago for a travel guitar. It’s a 24” scale. I really like it as a travel guitar. It would probably make a great kid’s guitar. I use it in standard tuning. The nut is 1.5”, took getting use to for me, but probably great for smaller hands.
http://www.rondomusic.com/product3371.html

Yeah, I was just looking at that one. Don't know if she'd go for black, though...

 

[KevinB]

Fender's Strat Junior uses a 22 3/4" scale, Yamaha's JR1 acoustic uses a 21 1/4" scale, and Rickenbacker's famous 325 (John Lennon) models use a 20 3/4" scale. Any shorter and you may well have to go up a string gauge or two to get E tuning.

 

[big-daddy-59]

Yeah, anything under a 24" scale would probably be better off strung with at least 10's if not 11's.

 

[onenotetom]

Try to find a USA made Peavey T-15. 23.5" scale length with a thin neck. There are some out there with amp in case which are pretty cool. I have strung them with 8's for a beginner to start out with and it played well.

If you can find one for the right price it should hold it's value over other options. I also have a mini-strat. The used Peavey is easily worth twice as much as a new mini-strat in my opinion.

 

[mellecaster]

At 7 yrs. old, do you really feel She will be Jamming w/ others and needs

to be in Std. Tuning ?

 

[onenotetom]

My theory with kids has always been short scale, light strings and electric. Easy to play and the amp makes it fun.

Then there is this - enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a5rhAEUlXU

 

[Jupiter]

At 7 yrs. old, do you really feel She will be Jamming w/ others and needs to be in Std. Tuning ?

Well, she'll be jamming with ME, I hope. Plus, I reckon it's simpler when the hands shapes and the sounds match the teacher's. And I'd like her to learn the notes on the fretboard, so I'm looking first for something that will play in standard tuning.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

At 7, my son started with a Martin LXM acoustic. I just measured the scale and it's 23". It gets strung with 11's. I've bought a number of 24 3/4 scale guitars over the years and he's played all of them in his 2nd and 3rd grade orchestra. He's also got a 28" scale Ibanez Mikkro bass. He's 11 now and got the bass for his 10th birthday.

 

[mellecaster]

Well, she'll be jamming with ME, I hope. Plus, I reckon it's simpler when the hands shapes and the sounds match the teacher's. And I'd like her to learn the notes on the fretboard, so I'm looking first for something that will play in standard tuning.

I understand your point...but I'd string her's with .008s or .009s and tune up

3 or 4 frets so the strings have some normal tension for a short scale,

and then just Capo yours to match when showing her stuff.

 

[craigs63]

I have had a Chiquita travel guitar for a while (19" scale, as seen in Back to the Future). It has a set of string gauges printed on the back of the headstock, I think they start at .013 for the high E. I've never had much luck with the intonation on it, I may give up and just put 10's on it and go up to G or so. That plain .024 or so G string is just nasty.

 

[bender66]

Yeah, I was just looking at that one. Don't know if she'd go for black, though...

Thought I got an update from Rondo a coupla days ago with a burst 3/4 scale "B" (blemish) for sale. They were practically giving it away.

 

[notdave]

Rickenbacker's famous 325 (John Lennon) models use a 20 3/4" scale. Any shorter and you may well have to go up a string gauge or two to get E tuning.

I think a Ricky could be a little expensive for a child beginner :neutral:

The Squier Mini might be a more suitable choice.

(link removed)

it's certainly more wallet friendly. And it comes in girly pink

 

[shortycaster]

Yeah, I was just looking at that one. Don't know if she'd go for black, though...

Similar to that Rondo one, but made by Washburn, the Hannah Montana guitar is Tele-like, and purple, and can be found new on ebay for $60 shipped.
If I recall correctly the nut width is 1.5" Don't know about the scale, but I'm sure it's 24" or less.

 

[KevinB]

I think a Ricky could be a little expensive for a child beginner :neutral:

The Squier Mini might be a more suitable choice.

(link removed)

it's certainly more wallet friendly. And it comes in girly pink

The objective of my post wasn't to recommend a particular guitar - I don't think anyone in their right mind would buy a $3K guitar for a 7-year old . It was to answer the OP's question about short scale lengths that can still be tuned to E.

 

[shortycaster]

The objective of my post wasn't to recommend a particular guitar - I don't think anyone in their right mind would buy a $3K guitar for a 7-year old . It was to answer the OP's question about short scale lengths that can still be tuned to E.

Yeah, but once that question is answered the rest is just GAS.

The kid will outgrow the smallest guitars very quickly, so it really doesn't make any sense to get anything smaller than 22". Scale length 22-24" is gonna be most versatile and sound the best.

I'm the thread killer, me strikes again.