Are there any 3/4 scale teles out there?

[Big Steve]

My boy is turning 8 and I am going to get him a new guitar for his birthday. Are there any small teles out there? I see several small strats like the Squier Mini. Anybody have any experiences with any of these 3/4 guitars?

 

[MaskedRider]

I never saw a 3/4 scale Tele.I have a 3/4 scale Rickenbacker which I love.I believe that the Mini Stats(Fender and Squire) are that same scale.Maybe something like a Duo-sonic/Musicmaster or Mustang would work.

 

[photoweborama]

I gave my son a squier mini strat. I love it. It sounds and plays great. I do all my own work, so I'd know if it was junk. but it intonates, and is just an awesome little guitar. I use it more than he does.

I heard rumors the Squier had intended putting out a mini Tele at the same time, but scrapped the idea.

 

[Jack Wells]

The Squier Mini Strats are great little guitars for a kid's first guitar. If properly set up with heavier strings ........ like 11s, they play pretty nice. The also make a good platform for practicing your refinishing. Well worth the $100 they cost.

.......

 

[milkshape]

I'm keeping my eye out for a beater mini strat, with two ideas in mind. First make a template from it on the home grown pin router, Second make a template that's just the neckpocket and cut a 3/4 tele shape around it. But the pickens seem to be slim, ebay prices don't seem worth it compared to new and so far craigslist and the local shops in my area have turned up zilch. Any ideas where I can find a beater mini?

Love the rick mini!

 

[Big Steve]

I'm keeping my eye out for a beater mini strat, with two ideas in mind. First make a template from it on the home grown pin router, Second make a template that's just the neckpocket and cut a 3/4 tele shape around it. But the pickens seem to be slim, ebay prices don't seem worth it compared to new and so far craigslist and the local shops in my area have turned up zilch. Any ideas where I can find a beater mini?

Love the rick mini!

Ain't that the truth. I have been watching the mini strats on ebay and almost every auction has gone for almost the new cost at Guitar Center with shipping included. I really thought there would be a lot for cheap but I sure haven't seen it.

Man, I really want the tele shape not a strat. At least these minis don't have a trem bridge.

 

[Djohnson]

Honest Ron in Oklahoma City makes a Tele mini heres a link
http://www.honestronsguitars.com/style3.htm

 

[Jack Wells]

Honest Ron in Oklahoma City makes a riduculous mini Telecaster. Look at this thing .......... it looks riduculous.

......

He uses a standard 25.5 scale length neck. Anyone could do that. This guitar wouldn't be good for a kid. Who is he building these for? How many grown up players complain because the Telecaster body is too big?

$400 ................ get a reality check Honest Ron.

 

[NewOldStock]

Speaking of small guitars...

I see a few national acts a year, both rock and country, where a guitarist is playing one of these Steinbergers. Even one in Charlie Daniels' band when they last visited the casino here.

Aside from a travel guitar, it'd be hard to picture a smaller body than this. And these are played by professional adults. Given the choice, I'd much rather have the one jwells posted above.

 

[Jerrod]

I see a few national acts a year, both rock and country, where a guitarist is playing one of these Steinbergers. Even one in Charlie Daniels' band when they last visited the casino here.

Aside from a travel guitar, it'd be hard to picture a smaller body than this. And these are played by professional adults. Given the choice, I'd much rather have the one jwells posted above.

Different strokes. I'll take the Steiny over that little Tele monstrosity any day.

 

[Djohnson]

Honest Ron in Oklahoma City makes a riduculous mini Telecaster. Look at this thing .......... it looks riduculous.

......

He uses a standard 25.5 scale length neck. Anyone could do that. This guitar wouldn't be good for a kid. Who is he building these for? How many grown up players complain because the Telecaster body is too big?

$400 ................ get a reality check Honest Ron.

Think he does them that way to avoid a lawsuit

 

[Jack Wells]

Maybe I'm missing something here. USACG makes a downsized Telecaster body that takes the 25.5 scale neck. Maybe there is a market for them............ but I won't be a part of it.

.........image removed

 

[alisonslp]

new - help!

I know this is an old thread but I have the same situation... I also have an (almost) 8 yr old. Has been taking lessons for 9 months on a child size acoustic used for suzuki lessons by his older cousin many years ago. He's ready for a bigger guitar and wants an electric. Teacher is recommending the 3/4 telecaster. Image is below.

But I'm now worried, after reading some of your posts. Personally, it looks like a good guitar for his size (4ft tall - average arm length). But I know absolutely nothing about guitars...

So what say you? TIA

Alison

 

[milkshape]

Well people around here seem to like rondo and their site lists the scale as 24" for the tele and the body dimensions are smaller than a full size so it appears to be a shruken down tele. As a comparison the mini strat info at musicians friend lists the scale length at 20 3/4". There's a scratch and dent strat at MF for a little less that the $99 they usually charge. Some reasonably desirable scratch and dent items seem to go quickly in my experience. So if he likes the tele over the strat I'd order the rondo tele that is unless the music teacher's is cheaper than the rondo site . Looks like rondo has two 3/4 teles (blond and burst) and two 3/4 strats (vintage white and daphne blue) But then again he may be able to handle something bigger that he can own forever, have you tried letting him lose on a standard scale

 

[ScottB1973]

I am getting Frankinstein Guitar Works to build up a mini-telecaster for my young son. The body will be 25% smaller than the standard tele body, with a 3/4 scale neck on the guitar with Telecaster style headstock.

I just found this forum tonight while searching for mini telecasters to get ideas for my sons guitar, but it looks as though they may not be as widespread. When I spoke with Seppo (who also is my neighbour!) he said no problem at all!

While I dont play myself, I am hoping the youngster will take after his grandpa and be able to play his 72 Telecaster thinline someday! Since there will be no hope in me being able to use it!

I will bookmark this site and post some photos when Seppo completes his creation!

 

[andromeda673]

www.rondomusic.com makes a 3/4 tele, from what I read, there pretty awesome.

There on the first page of guitars near the top

 

[blackbook]

24" scale is not 3/4

The Rondo looks great--but its not a short enough scale for a small person. My 6 year old daughter has been playing on my 23" scale mini martin and its still a big spread.

The mini strat has a 20 3/4" scale length. That's going to help my kid get closer to one finger per fret position. That is if she keeps up with her lessons until christmas.

 

[Fortsbest]

I thought a while back I read a post where someone was buiding a smaller Tele and had ordered a smaller scale neck from a company called LMI. at least I think that was the name.

 

[SimpleOne]

keep in mind that the Rondo SX tele types have a neck that is pretty narrow at the nut, 1.5 inches wide (that is narrow!), whereas the standard Squier is in the area of 1.650 inches wide. Can google reviews of this and you may find some have said that the guitar is meant for child sized hands as adult fingers may not be able to function with strings this close together. A de facto kid guitar. Still want one though!

 

[drdos]

I gave my son a squier mini strat. I love it. It sounds and plays great. I do all my own work, so I'd know if it was junk. but it intonates, and is just an awesome little guitar. I use it more than he does.

I heard rumors the Squier had intended putting out a mini Tele at the same time, but scrapped the idea.

Bought my girls the same, a mini strat. It works and sounds good, and I use it more than they do as well..