Would you buy an 8-year old a regular sized guitar?

[cg]

My son wants to learn. He is on the smaller size for his age. I want him to have a blast learning to play. Full size or smaller bodied guitar? I am leaning smaller bodied guitar.

[kimock]

My son wants to learn. He is on the smaller size for his age. I want him to have a blast learning to play. Full size or smaller bodied guitar? I am leaning smaller bodied guitar.

My littles get more use out of the ukulele, baritone, concert, and soprano than any of the guitars that are laying around. Boys, three and six.
I would agree with the small body acoustic if you think your son is ready tackle a six string right from the start. Go for it, but if he seems intimidated by it or wanders off, try the bari uke.
Super kid friendly axe.

[magdream]

yes, if his name is shaq jr. :D

[sanhozay]

I have had uke's around the house for my 8 year-old twins and truth is they get some good mileage but my son's been on me for awhile to pick up a guitar. My daughter leans towards piano and has good discipline for it.

Last year I pilgrimage to the used record store with my son and he picked up a Golden Smog CD {on his own, by random chance} and then started going through my collection, really digging the electric guitar oriented sounds.

I thought about picking him up a 3/4" acoustic but most players I asked told me to get him a guitar based on the music he likes, so I purchased a mini-strat. Under $100 a pretty decent piece. Probably will pick him up the mini 3 watt Vox amp and call them both a simply, wonderful Christmas present.

It'll be his first real taste and I just want it to be fun, no expectations. At some point he'll either get the fever or not. Eight is so young but he isn't ginned about his sister's growth on the piano and he really wants to play the wah pedal!

[Dexter.Sinister]

I got the kids a Baby Taylor to start out at that age. They moved on to a full-sized Fender P Bass and a home-built electric guitar.

They messed around on my axes for awhile and they agreed that something with a shorter scale and thinner neck was better to start. Otherwise I think they would have gotten frustrated.

DS

[Clean Channel]

I started playing at age eight on a full sized classical and it was never an issue.

I usually recommend a 3/4 for a six year old, but by eight or nine, you can go full sized. An eight year old will grow out of a 3/4 in no time. Saves you buying a new instrument in twelve months.

[Dexter.Sinister]

I started playing at age eight on a full sized classical and it was never an issue.

I usually recommend a 3/4 for a six year old, but by eight or nine, you can go full sized. An eight year old will grow out of a 3/4 in no time. Saves you buying a new instrument in twelve months.

True, but when the Baby T was "too small" I got to use it. Pretty cool as a tenor, eh?

DS

[straightblues]

Go small. I bought 3/4 size accoustic and a squier mini electric. They are good places to start. My 12 year old still plays them. I don't think she needs anything larger even now. I am thinking of buying the small Martin for her for
Christmas so she can have a better acoustic.

I occasionally gig with the Squier Mini. Once you set them up properly they are nice players and they sound good stock.

[BobbyFudge]

My son just turned 9 and he is on the bigger side. He started lessons about 6 months ago and soon outgrew the 1/2 acoustic. I got him a Epi Casino for his b-day....which he does fine on but he likes my SG better so I'm letting him use that now.

It is amazing how fast they progress...!

[hellbender]

After finally getting to play a GS Mini at BB a few days ago, I would have to emphatically recommend it for the smaller hands of a youngster. I have never heard a small guitar with that big of a voice before. If only the had stuff like that in the 60's.

[Stevil]

i got my 7 year old niece a smaller Ibanez Gio a while back. i think one of her step siblings pulled the strings off it & it's remained in that state ever since.

[darkstar11]

My son is 9. We got him a Squier Mini Strat and it is perfect. I have handed him my Strat several times and he is not ready.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx14/darkstar_11/sam_9guitar.jpg