Recommend a good 3/4 size acoustic?

1bassleft

Hello regs and passers-thru. My 10y.o's school is offering free guitar lessons with a genyooine tutor for up to seven kids (trust me, this is pretty unusual) and I've put him first on the list.

He has a Strat but they say no electrics and, in any case, he's still all over the place holding a 25" scale guitar; he's below average height even for ten. So, I'm wondering what would be a good purchase for him. Please don't say "Baby Taylor" because I'm not spunking £200, but I'd go to £60 or thereabouts.

I'm considering the Yam JR1; http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=AG00061. I've found that the top is laminated spruce and the sides and back are laminated meranti and some reviewers say the sound is thin and trebly (expected from a small body?). Alternatives are a Westfield B200s (spruce laminate and nato) and Staggs (basswood) but there may be others.

Anyone who's bought a 3/4 for a child and can give me an opinion would be a real help, thanks.

lee_UK · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

I just bought my 11yr old girl a Yamaha C70, i paid £70 for it and it's a fantastic guitar, i would recommend it to anyone, it's a full size one but there is a 3/4 variation, i think Acoustica recommended it on this forum.

EDIT: just checked the Yamaha CS40 is the 3/4 sized one, and retails at £59, bang on your budget, i bought the C70 i think they are the same woods, excellent value.

Having lessons with a couple of other pupils is the best way to go, it encourages competition and musical friendships too, myself and 2 of my friends Victor (check him out on google 'victor davies') and Charlie Rabicano who went on to a trip hop band called 'Deep Joy' learned guitar together and bonded a long friendship and made up our first band, wouldn't have got that if we had lessons on our own.

Anyway, check out the Yamaha, plus you know the resale value.. yadda yadda.

1bassleft · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:42 am Post subject:

Thanks, Lee. I turned up a dead on the CS40. Any links you can provide for me? Muchos gracias, 1BL

1bassleft · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

I retried a search with "yamaha cs-40" and this, for no reason I can make out, turned up a load of matches. Yes, looks good. 7/8 is probably even better than 3/4 at his age, nylon's kinder than the JR1's steel and GAK sell online for the aforementioned £59 + del and can send next day. I'm just waiting on the name of a guitar a girl has in school. Can't remember the Spanish moniker (of the guitar, not the girl) but it was a very pleasant sounder and she said inexpensive.

If that's not right, the CS40 looks like it will do the trick admirably. Thanks.

1bassleft · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

I placed the order for the CS40 but they're not getting a delivery before mid-October which is too late. On Saturday, I went to the local (biggish) independent. They've had a batch of 150-ish 3/4 sizers made to order in China retailing at £40. Unlike their previous 40 quidder (which wasn't any more than adequate) this was a prospect.

Laughable stuff like a "Valencia" brand name and "Casa de Guitarras desde 1972" label inside but very decent build, finish, action and tone for a 3/4 and, surprisingly for this price, Graphtech NuBone saddles.

I'm struggling to think of any new kit I've bought recently that hasn't been Chinese (600W stereo PA amp <£150, trumpet £60, classical guitar £40). They're going to take over the planet, y'know. HST, as I was walking out, I noticed a full-sized classical made in Japan, 1970s, no-lam spruce and mahogany going for £99. I'd like sproggy to grow and learn quickly before that's gone.

lee_UK · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:06 am Post subject:

so did you order the CS40??

1bassleft · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject:

Oh, I ordered it but, seeing as it wouldn't arrive before 15/10/08, I've cancelled. The "Valencia" will do fine; especially as he hasn't pulled it out of the gigbag since the lesson - idle git.

acoustica1 · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:10 am Post subject:

....seems to be in stock here my friend. Wink

http://www.dv247.com/invt/4013/

Valencia.....yes, probably very decorative on the wall.... Very Happy

.....just kidding!! Did you receive it?

1bassleft · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:53 am Post subject:

Sprog's now playing his Valencia more often. He ought to make more effort as he's improving nicely after a coupla weeks. A decent attempt at "Michael Fineghan" without much string-deadening.

Not having had tuition myself, I'm a bit surprised that he's been shown "Smoke on the Water" and the mini-arpeggio from "Chasing Cars". I used to demo this sort of thing when friends insisted on me showing them how to play. Is it usual, then?

lee_UK · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

My daughter has had 4 lessons with the guitar teacher in school, and she told me he commented on the lovely tone of the guitar! she said it was better than the usual guitars the kids bring in, (probably Argos catalogue returns) obviously she wasn't playing it when he commented but when he was tuning it up for her.

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