Please recommend a "Beginner" guitar

[jdinco]

Gotta be around that $200. mark, I'm thinking something 3/4 size. It's for a 11 year old girl wanting to learn guitar. Of course she may or may not stick with it. And I know to have a setup done on what ever she ends up with....any recommendations from those that have been there?? Thanks in advance.

[acoustigoat]

How tall is she? I'm 5'4" and the Yamaha FS800 is a good fit, especially since the body depth is a bit slimmer. It is a full scale, not 3/4 though.

[jimcaleca]

Whatever you decide on, make sure it has a good setup. Easy to fret always helps the beginner stay interested.

[L20A]

Originally Posted by jimcaleca

Whatever you decide on, make sure it has a good setup. Easy to fret always helps the beginner stay interested.

This is very important.

A small guitar in that price range will sound thin and boxy.
You can learn on one but be prepared to upgrade if the student stays with it for very long.
It may be hard to justify the cost of a set up on a $200.00 guitar but it is very important.

This one would be my choice.
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-JR1-Ac...6%3A1253548011

[SugarmillMan]

Originally Posted by L20A

This is very important.

A small guitar in that price range will sound thin and boxy.
You can learn on one but be prepared to upgrade if the student stays with it for very long.
It may be hard to justify the cost of a set up on a $200.00 guitar but it is very important.

This one would be my choice.
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-JR1-Ac...6%3A1253548011

They speak the truth. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize it's for an 11 year old girl so she will need a fairly low setup.

[Swamp Yankee]

you might even consider a 3/4 size nylon string. It's a lot easier on the fingers to play a nylon string guitar. If she takes to it - a steel string may be in her future.

[Mandobart]

Buy used. Absolutely. There is a very good likelihood you'll be moving this guitar along in just a few years - she'll get bigger, get better, get tired - either way she'll be done with this guitar. Why be out the cost of a new guitar? Get a decent quality used git with a good setup.

[semolinapilcher]

It's been a few years but my girls had great luck with a Daisy Rock. The neck was great, and it was almost comical how durable that thing was, especially since it had a bowl back. Not sure they make that model any more, but what a fun and easy guitar.

[fazool]

I bought my daughter a Daisy Rock guitar. They are often ridiculed as toys (without remembering that those models are aimed at 5-10yo girls)

Daisy Rock guitars is a company founded by a hard rocking heavy metal female guitarist (which belies the stars and heart and flowers motif on some).

As I understand it, she wanted to entice young girls to play guitar, then offer them a real guitar to step up to that fits their ergonomics well.

The solid body electrics are very good guitars.


I would also recommend and Ibanez Artwood AC240 - have only ever heard raving good things about them (including my own review of mine). Put light strings on it and give it a very easy setup.

[AZLiberty]

Originally Posted by Swamp Yankee

you might even consider a 3/4 size nylon string. It's a lot easier on the fingers to play a nylon string guitar. If she takes to it - a steel string may be in her future.

I hear this repeatedly and frankly think it's terrible advice.

I started on a nylon when I was 10 or 12 and gave up guitar for a decade or so. A nylon string fretboard (even scaled down) is simply far too wide for smaller hands to reach even simple chords.

[Nyghthawk]

The FS800 Yamaha is a good beginner that actually sounds very good. Folk size, 25 inch scale. Solid spruce sound board. I love my FS700, it is easy to play.

[geetaruke]

I’m a big fan of the Yamaha FS series suggestions but more in line with the size request, I’d take a hard look at the Cort Earth Mini.

http://www.cortguitars.com/en/produc...ew.asp?idx=138

[Tony Burns]

Originally Posted by fazool

I bought my daughter a Daisy Rock guitar. They are often ridiculed as toys (without remembering that those models are aimed at 5-10yo girls)

Daisy Rock guitars is a company founded by a hard rocking heavy metal female guitarist (which belies the stars and heart and flowers motif on some).

As I understand it, she wanted to entice young girls to play guitar, then offer them a real guitar to step up to that fits their ergonomics well.

The solid body electrics are very good guitars.

.

Ill second this --Many of them come with stickers -so a young lady can personalize them as well -helps them keep with it -latter on you can get them something better .

[jdinco]

Great suggestions....her Mom is checking out the Daisy Rocks, they look perfect for her. And there's some deals since it is Black Friday. Many thanks to all that replied and yes....it will get a setup.

[Tony Done]

Does she have any strong opinions on genres or performers? If she does, I would be getting something that suits, be it electric or acoustic.

What I did for my daughter, who was bit older than that, was bought a cheap Samick steel string and modified it to take nylon strings. Nice and quiet and very easy to play. I personally wouldn't go with a small guitar, I would go full scale with a small body.