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I'm planning on building a guitar fit for a small child under 10 years. Does anyone have any info on body size, scale, string selection, nut width, string spacing, or anything like that? Any direction on where to look would be appreciated.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Might see if can get hands on a baby talyor or small folk type guitar (I think some were made pretty small and with nylon strings) If can get one study and take measurements, and design something along those lines. Not suggesting make it nylon string, but was just thinking of the smaller body size. A parlor plan might work also.

Thing is might want to make it big enough and built for when child gets bigger, and learn on if going to trouble and expense of building one.
Would make it with 1 11/16 nut, but as kid gets bigger and keeps playing, it make it so could make a new neck and put it on later, the bolt on like taylor uses. Look at parlor scales but for me would stay with the standards (whatever that is, I bet this could start a whole new thread) I would also think of 12 fret rather than 14.

But I would sure make it small enough for child, but big enough to make it usable for years. I know, kids get bigger fast and why limit it to a year or so as the kid grow. Point is think of its use for the future and not just under 10. That way get several if not many years out of it.

John How makes a small ladder brace guitar that would be great I think for now and later. If really small kid, and want one for time kid stays small only, buy a cheap one and then move from there. See if kids decide if they want to stick with it. If not building a bigger one, will be there in future or some other kid. I know redundant, but I kind of know what speaking aout as until last few years most of what I did was for kids. I also made a really small one based on a plastic guitar bought off ebay once. No matter made of solid woods and built better than the plastic (or even plywood cheap ones) not a really good sound and grandson grew out of it soon, and not great for long term playing, lessons, etc.

Just thoughts.

My son bought a 3/4 size Strat for his daughter. He plays it without a problem, and said he actually likes the small size, but she, @ 6, does not have the hand strength to play it yet. Not an acoustic, but the size issue and the scale should translate.

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

LMI has a couple of plans for small guitars based on early Martin designs.
Check their catalog #'s PL 45 & PL 30.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I have been asked by several clients to build a child's guitar for a 8,9, or 10 year old. I give the same answer to all of them. "A 10 year old will be 15 years old in a blink of an eye". It is far better to build a parlor guitar or a 3/4 body for them and give them the ability to grow into it and have a guitar to play for a life time rather than to build one for a young age.

That said I think the Baby Taylor is a great youth size guitar So tha is the size and scale I would copy.

JPO

J.,
I've got a little ladder braced Yamaha FG-75 Nippon Gakki that I learned on when I was 10 years old. It was the perfect size. But the neck feels like a baseball bat. If you want to study it when you are here in May, just let me know. By the way the total body length is 19", lower bout is 14 1/2" and upper bout is 11".

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I'm in the process of building a little Gibson L-00 "style" guitar from Mark Swanson's plans and I think with the 24.9 scale and light strings it will be great for a travel guitar and also for my little ones to get their arms around. ( 4 under 13yrs old)

I also think you can pretty much make one very inexpensively as smaller tonewood is a little cheaper and you can keep the look very minimalist as it's just a small guitar.

I think Hesh has constructed a few of these instruments as well?

Ray

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

This guitar was built from the LMI plans (I think the PL30)

I built this for my then 10 year old daughter, and it fit her real nice. But Michael is right - a few years later I found myself building her a bigger one. She quickly outgrew it.

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John Ressler

I'm currently building a guitar similar to a 1932 Martin 0-17. Here are the specs:

12 fret
total length 37 3/4"
body length 19 1/8"
body width upper 9 1/2"
body width lower 13 1/2"
body depth upper 3 3/8"
body depth lower 4 3/16"
fingerboard at nut 1 7/8"
fingerboard at 12th 2 5/16"
soundhole diam. 3 5/8"
scale 24.9"


I found a tracing of the body, including the bracing, over on the "Unofficial Martin guitar Forum".

http://umgf.com/

Do a search there and you can find a lot of information there if you are interested in the old Martins,
and a lot of them are the smaller versions.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

I built a size 5 Terz for my kids. I like playing it. I won't outgrow it, but if they do, it will be all MIIIIINNNNNE!!!!!!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I love the look and sound of a Terz also, and if they grow up and want a bigger guitar - burbanks right - youll inhierit the little beauty!!!
Cheers
Charlie

I got a style 5 kit from John Hall at Blues Creek Guitars with an Adi top. I'll post some pictures when I get the finish on it.


He also has molds and bend forms for the style 5.

The MIMF has plans for a baritone uke/ small guitar.

http://www.mimf.com/library/small_guitar.gif

Hope this helps.
Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

I bought a dean Playmate for my son.

size was good but he was too young and too left handed!!

It was only £50 new so you ccould buy one, measure off it, improve the bracing to get a GOOD guitar and then flog the dean on Ebay.......

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