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Kids Guitar, Scale length?
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=14986		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Shane Neifer [ Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:18 pm ]
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Hi y'all....

I have glued up a top and back for a guitar for my 5 year old son. Our 7 year old son takes violin lessons and the younger fella wants to start guitar lessons. So I want to make him like a 3/4 scale guitar or something. Not full size but something that will actually sound like a guitar and not a cardboard box like the small $90 unit that we bought for him a couple of years ago. So, any ideas about scale length for a kids guitar? I will likely draw up a shape but body dimensions would be welcomed as well. This will be a steel string with light strings.

Thanks

Shane
Author:  Anthony Z [ Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:20 pm ]
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Shane I am building one for my 9 year old daughter -- not totally anologous to your situation. I am building a classic Martin O shape, 24.9" scale and with a nut width of 1-5/8". You can tune it down and capo the guitar. Your young lad will be a teenager before you know it.

My 11 year old has a Karol small bodied parlor with about a 24-inch scale length and a 1-5/8" nut width. It's just over 12" at the lower bout.... Guitar is an absolute cannon in sound.
Author:  John Elshaw [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:19 am ]
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Shane, my 8 year old has been playing about 11 months and has a 3/4 size guitar that is perfect for him. The scale length is approx 24 inches. The nut is 1-3/4 and string spacing at the saddle is 2-1/8. The lower bout is 13" and the upper bout is 10".

For a childs guitar, I would urge you to consider a nylon string guitar for several reasons. First the string tension is much lower and a LOT easier on little fingers. Second, the nut is slightly wider which is actually an advantage for a child until they can manipulate their fingers well enough to avoid muting other strings. Third, I think it's easier to get a better tone on a small scale nylon than SS guitar. For a 5 year old, I think you might want to consider a 1/2 size guitar. There is a huge difference at that age when it comes to hand size. Also, it will be difficult for a 5 year old to develop calluses while a nylon string will be much easier. Usually pain=no practice at that age.

Here's a short video of my 8 year old and his 3/4 size guitar (you can tell he's thrilled to be playing the guitar for the forum) .

   
3/4 size guitar

Cheers!

John
Author:  Don Williams [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:21 am ]
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Shane, you can also consider a size 5 instrument which is a great size for a learning child.
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:38 am ]
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John, please tell your son thank you for performing for us. I was impressed by his playing and I appreciate seeing how he and the guitar "fit" together. I know things like that are embarrassing, but he did a wonderful job.
Author:  James W B [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:27 am ]
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John, your son did a great job, very impressive.
Will he give me lessons?Shane let us know how this project goes.Someday I`ll be building a guitar for my grandaughter so this is something I`ll be checking into in the future.
                        James
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:54 am ]
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Hi Shane,

Another thought might be a small-bodied guitar, 12 fret to the body, using a scale somewhere in the 25.4 range. Then, put a capo on the 2nd fret, and leave it there.

That would allow little hands to make the stretch for chords (it would effectively be about a 21.6" scale), and would also be an instrument he could "grow into."

Dennis
Author:  Bill Bergman [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:19 am ]
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You might also want to consider making the neck much thinner. I see many children's guitars with shorter necks, and narrower necks, but still just as thick, which is also difficult for some small hands.
Author:  Colin S [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:24 am ]
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John said what I was going to say, my advice would be to start with a nylon string guitar for a small child. Building up calluses for steel string is a long and painful process, something that can put a child off for good.

In a number of out primary schools (5-11years) the musical instrument of choice that has taken over from the recorder is the ukelele, easier for small hands to master and get a tune out of. Have you considered this for a couple of years? That would be my choice, ukelele then 3/4 nylon before graduating to a steel string, or maybe just staying nylon who knows.


Colin
Author:  Colin S [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:28 am ]
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John, tell Shane thanks for playing for us, old Henry VIII would be proud that his tune is in such good hands! Next stop the Gran Jota!

Colin
Author:  Shane Neifer [ Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:00 am ]
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Thanks for the all of the input, and John, please do thank John junior for us! I had Leith and my wife, Val, watch it and they both had large smiles throughout his performance! The guitar we now have for him is nylon stringed and I agree that it would be easier on him and it is also the standard for learning on. Maybe I will make him one of each....

What length of body are these small guitars. I think I will search out a size 5 for dimensions as well (thanks Don!)

Shane
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