"Living Room Guitar" Recommendations

[Rexsblues]

So I have a baby that's going to be crawling/walking over the next year, and she's also obsessed with guitars. I'd like to keep a guitar on a stand in the living room that's accessible, but I don't feel comfortable putting my old Gibsons in such immediate danger of a headstock break.

I'm looking for a small-body guitar in the $500 and under range that I can keep out on a stand without worrying about it getting knocked over. My seagull makes a nice beater, but it's not very comfortable for couch playing, which is why I'd like something smaller. Your suggestions are appreciated!

[Tico]

In your situation I wouldn't change the guitar.
I'd change from a stand on the floor to a wall-mounted guitar hanger well out of reach of the child.

[DetroitDave]

Have you considered getting a used Taylor GS Mini?
In your price range and they seem to be made not only for travel but for couch playing as well.
I bought mine used ($300), and I let my twin granddaughters (just crawling now) touch it as much as they want (except for the headstock, which I put my hand over. There are some wire ends there that could hurt them).
Not only do I strum it, but I also beat out some percussion tones on it, which gets them trying to strum or slap it as well.

[Acousticado]

Would a wall hanger work for you?

[Ludere]

The Alvarez AP66 is a nice little 12-fret all-hog guitar with a short scale and 1-3/4” nut that can be had for around $325 new ... they call it a parlor, but it’s actually closer to a 00 ...

hate to see it get beat up though, so maybe get a wall hanger too?

~ Paul

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Would a wall hanger work for you?

What he said.

[Fatfinger McGee]

Keep the beater seagull on a stand to encourage her obsession and give her something to play along on, and put the Gibson on the wall for you.

Otherwise, maybe Recording King for that Gibson look on a budget. I’ve heard good things about the Simon and Patrick folk guitars. Also the Alvarez AP.

[Rexsblues]

Originally Posted by Fatfinger McGee

Keep the beater seagull on a stand to encourage her obsession and give her something to play along on, and put the Gibson on the wall for you.

Otherwise, maybe Recording King for that Gibson look on a budget. I’ve heard good things about the Simon and Patrick folk guitars. Also the Alvarez AP.

Definitely have been encouraging her to explore guitar! She loves to strum on the strings while I make the chord shapes. She's only 8 months old and I'm already a proud dad. I like the Recording King idea. Alvarez looks pretty cool too.

[jklotz]

Well, your user name has "blues" in it, and you play vintage Gibson's. You didn't say what you like to play or what kind of guitar you were after, but I think I might have gotten the picture. My "beater" is a Loar LH-200 which may fit the bill. I got a blem for a song a few years back on flea bay. Another suggestion would be the Farida guitars Elderly is selling. I haven't played one, but I keep hearing good things about them.

Hope this helps

[sayheyjeff]

I’m pretty pleased with my RK Dirty 30s. Took it trade with no intention of keeping it nearly 2 years ago. I leave it out on a stand in the living room most all the time. I don’t even leave my other guitars around the house in their cases. I can’t compare the RK to other guitars that have been mentioned as Inhave never played them. However, the RK fills that need for me. I took it to a luthier when I got to be sure I wasn’t going to misrepresent it when I sold it. He did a quick set up on it and we put a new set of strings on it and suddenly it was a player. It’s just a touch bigger than my PJ and a little smaller than my 00. Even came with a sound hole pickup that works. I play it round the house, on the deck, and in the yard. I used to have a Seagull Folk and The RK is not a nice as the Seagull. However, it may check a lot of your boxes for around $200 new. Send me a note if you want to ask questions about the RK.

Jeff

[Acousticado]

Perhaps consider a Yamaha FSX800C...at Sweetwater for $320.

[Vapour]

Go to Corner Music and check out an Eastman E1 or E2 series. All solid, well made, great tone, and from a local dealer that will make you a deal.

[Winfielder]

Seagull Mini Jumbo

Cedar top with laminated wild cherry back/sides, only around $200 used.
Surprisingly great tone for such a cheap 'couch' guitar.

I never would have known to keep an eye out for one myself if not for having read about it here on this site Turns out everybody was right about how good it is.

I owe AGF a similar debt for making me aware of the Yamaha FG830 (as a great starter guitar), the Alvarez MD60ebg (as a poor man's D18), and everything Eastman (high-end sound for mid-level pricing).

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Tico

In your situation I wouldn't change the guitar.
I'd change from a stand on the floor to a wall-mounted guitar hanger well out of reach of the child.

Yes, ^this.

I have 3 kids, 6 grandchildren. Babies can get hurt very easily. They can pull things down on top of themselves and those guitar tuners can poke a child's eye and cause other injuries.

But you can buy another guitar anyway, just don't put it on a stand.

[Kittoon]

Baby + guitar = damage. To both.