Quaranteenager wants acoustic

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

My daughter turns 13 tomorrow. Super sh!tty time for a kid to have a birthday, given the Social Distancing rules. As such, I am looking to get her something special. To my absolute delight, she has requested an acoustic guitar.

My first impulse was to let her use my Westerly-era Guild D55 (until she was ready for something of her own). Then, I saw her room. It hit me like a ton of bricks that sharing my trusty old Guild was a really bad idea. If she were to damage it, i would be pretty upset. Knowing that would probably discourage her from picking it up. So now, she gets her own acoustic.

While I was initially looking to get her a Baby Taylor, I am starting to lean toward an Alex Lifeson SE (A15AL) because (1) I am a die-hard PRS fan and (2) she'll want an acoustic with an internal pickup system. After hitting the PRS site, it looks like the A15AL is out of production so I am actively searching the net for a clean used one.

I am asking for input from those who have been down this road with their own kid(s). If you have a youngster learning to play, what did you get him/her? I am especially interested in hearing about guitars that have worked-out well and guitars that have not.

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Before PRS acoustics...I was (and still am) a pretty big Seagull fan. Got my son his first decent acoustic (S-6, I think??). Absolutely great guitars for the money.
Enjoy the hunt.

 

[WEDGE]

I took my daughter into GC and let her pick her own, figuring she would be more inclined to stick with it if she had some input. My only input was to keep her on budget and not let her pick something that played horribly.

The bad part is it didn’t ‘take’ and it sits dusty in her room unplayed. For you if you get her the Lifeson at least you’ll get a cool guitar if she abandons it, I am stuck with a Purple Luna with flowers on it.

 

[CandidPicker]

My daughter turns 13 tomorrow. Super sh!tty time for a kid to have a birthday, given the Social Distancing rules. As such, I am looking to get her something special. To my absolute delight, she has requested an acoustic guitar.

My first impulse was to let her use my Westerly-era Guild D55 (until she was ready for something of her own). Then, I saw her room. It hit me like a ton of bricks that sharing my trusty old Guild was a really bad idea. If she were to damage it, i would be pretty upset. Knowing that would probably discourage her from picking it up. So now, she gets her own acoustic.

While I was initially looking to get her a Baby Taylor, I am starting to lean toward an Alex Lifeson SE (A15AL) because (1) I am a die-hard PRS fan and (2) she'll want an acoustic with an internal pickup system. After hitting the PRS site, it looks like the A15AL is out of production so I am actively searching the net for a clean used one.

I am asking for input from those who have been down this road with their own kid(s). If you have a youngster learning to play, what did you get him/her? I am especially interested in hearing about guitars that have worked-out well and guitars that have not.

Hans,

My first acoustic was a Yamaha FG-160 dreadnaught my Dad & I checked out at a local piano/guitar shop. I wanted the next level up, but Dad said that one was too rich for my blood. Couple months fast-forward, the FG-160 shows up under the Xmas tree in a cardboard box made to look like a sports car.

That was 1974. Since then, Yamaha has been upgrading their product line, including their entry level models with improved build quality, cutting back on expensive though sustainable tonewoods, but still making a quality product.

If perhaps you have a chance, try a Yamaha dreadnaught. I think your daughter will appreciate your choice.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

My suggestion is to buy something that will be easy for her to play. According to one of my friends who has worked at a music store for 40 years, the #1 reason teens quit playing guitar, and especially girls, is because it hurts their fingers to play. He said he always suggests the best playing affordable guitar and usually does a setup to get the action as low as possible, and adds lighter strings.

I'd get a GS Mini and slap some 10s on it.

 

[jxe]

L-5.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I had Bodia’s Lifeson SE at my house for a minute, and I gotta say I was mad impressed by it.

 

[garrettb]

My kiddo is two months behind yours.

A couple years ago she was showing interest, so I picked up a Baby Taylor. The narrow nut width, small body and short scale were great for her size at the time. It was well built and surprisingly loud. She didn't stick with it (hardly touched it at all, actually) so I sold it on. I had bought it used and there are always a ton of these available, so I got most of my money back.

But at 13, yours might be ready for something full scale length. I bet the thinner body of the Lifeson would be a good fit for a child. I started playing on my 13th birthday, on a Yamaha FG-75 (small body Martin style).

 

[Tucson Thump]

I bought my son a Baby Taylor and it went with him to China, Africa, and the Solomon Islands.

Now I would buy him a Mini GS. Easy to play, easy to use for other tunings, easy to take somewhere with friends, and has a good sound and will be kept for a long time. I have two; one for standard or DADGAD and another for Nashville tuning.

 

[BrianC]

I have 2 acoustics a 6 and a 12. I rent a travel guitar sometimes for vaca. I played a Taylor GS Mini E recently and find them to be sooo good and not a toy like others. I would get that for about $6-700 or so.

If she tires of it then boom its yours!

 

[BrianC]

Also when you get one tune it down and put electric strings on to start. Easier to play and gentile on the finger tips. Tone will suck but its temporary.

 

[AP515]

Rethink holding back on the Guild. I learned on my mom's 58 Martin for years. I was married before we could afford another guitar. I knew how careful I needed to be with the "family guitar". Great risk, great reward. She will be responsible if she knows that she is important enough for you to risk your Guild for her to begin a life's worth of passion on a very valued guitar. A $50 dollar guitar will get $50 bucks worth of practice. A treasured guitar will demonstrate to her that her effort is valuable.

 

[matonanjin]

Before PRS acoustics...I was (and still am) a pretty big Seagull fan. Got my son his first decent acoustic (S-6, I think??). Absolutely great guitars for the money.
Enjoy the hunt.

I'm not much of an acoustic player so my input is just very slightly worth more than nothing. But my only acoustic is a Seagull S6 Classic M450T. I like it a lot. I, like probably everybody, started with a beginner acoustic. I don't remember what kind. But when I started shopping for a better one found the Seagulls great value.

Completely off topic but I have had this overwhelming urge to play acoustic lately! I have no idea why. for the past week or two over half of every practice session is with the acoustic.

 

[veinbuster]

I’ve taken a couple of cracks at this.

One daughter was given my old classical. I wouldn’t have started her there if it hadn’t really appealed to her because it is hard to feel good on when starting.

One daughter really wanted a 12 string. I let her try mine (Taylor 300 series jumbo) thinking it might have her reconsider. It didn’t so we went to the local acoustic specialist and I played a bunch of sub $1,000 12 strings while she listened to decide what she liked. I commented on size and ease of managing the neck. She picked one from the Godin family, Simon and Patrick I think. Everything Godin makes is good value and they are generally on the easy playing side.

A niece was a bit younger at 7 or 8 and her parents got her a crap guitar, so I gave her a Baby Taylor. It was perfect for her. She played it regularly for a couple of years until her instructor moved away. She still has it but plays less often now that she is cheer leader aged.

I think the baby Taylor is a bit too small for your daughter, but I think they have other good choices. The GS mini has been mentioned and their GC 12 fret is an excellent package. This would probably be my starting point.

To AP515’s point: if I had this decision today, I would offer my daughter the Taylor mahogany grand concert 12 fret, the bigger Taylor grand symphony or my original Norman (which has been on long term loan as a starter before). Once she settled on what she liked, I would get her something that suited her aesthetically if she preferred that to taking over mine.

EDIT: I should comment on the experience for the girl. Going to the store to pick a guitar was a joyous occasion for my youngest daughter. She brought the case home and painted it. Her current apartment has the wall decorated to match her case artwork and the guitar hangs in a position of honour a bunch of years later. Not played a lot, but treasured.

The niece I delivered a guitar to in Texas (from Ontario) was honoured (she happened to be a Taylor Swift fan and it was her edition of the guitar). It was a lasting experience for her.

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Also, older Yamaha FG series guitars are really nice, as long as the top hasn't bubbled up too much.

 

[Mike Duncan]

I would vote for the Baby Taylor. Great guitar, good size, not too expensive.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I am stuck with a Purple Luna with flowers on it.

That sounds dope.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

The SE acoustics seem to be a lot of guitar for the money.

 

[Egads]

I got my nine year old a new Yamaha 3/4. Not working out too well. I've played it more than her, and I hate it! The intonation is spotty and it sounds like cardboard.

Find a Lifeson. Like Wedge said, you'll enjoy it if she doesn't.

 

[Mark Ray]

If you decide to buy, the Lifeson is a good choice. I snagged one at a blowout price after everyone knew RUSH was sadly finished. The thinner body would be a big plus for a new player.