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By Carol McComb
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Five great children's guitars
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Until fairly recently, there were only a few manufacturers that made guitars specifically for children, and most of them resembled toys rather than musical instruments. The current market offers many choices in children's guitars, both steel-string and nylon-string. I tested five 3/4-size instruments, ranging in list price from $109 to $275. Some are unadorned, and others are surprisingly detailed. None of them is especially loud, but there are noticeable differences among these guitars in volume, tone, and playability
The majority of these instruments are nylon-string guitars. It is easier to make an inexpensive, pleasant-sounding, small nylon-string guitar than it is to make the equivalent steel-string guitar. Though louder than nylon-string guitars, small steel-strings tend to have a trebly sound, due to a combination of size and string composition. Issues of tone aside, nylon strings are also easier to press down. Because of this, many children start out on nylon-string guitars. However, a large percentage of these same kids eventually "graduate" to steel-string guitars.
In reviewing these guitars, I examined the integrity and playability of each instrument. I inspected glue joints and noted the woods used for the sides, back, soundboard, fingerboard, and bridge of each guitar; its general appearance; and any additional decorative embellishment. I then measured each guitar for string length and nut width, checked string spacing for any inconsistencies, sighted down the fingerboard for straightness and consistency in fret height, and checked for fret accuracy. Lastly, I played the guitars; examined the action (string height); listened for tone, balance, and volume; and noted whether or not the instrument stayed in tune. I also wanted to include a child's point of view. To this end I gathered input from four young guitar players ranging in age from eight to 11: James Frederickson, Lilah Hubbard, Rebecca Pierce, and Quinn Sullivan. They independently reviewed the guitars at Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, California, where I teach guitar lessons. My assistants judged the guitars' appearance and size and tested for playability and tone.
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