I’ve put this in the General discussion as I’m not sure where to put it. I’ll try to keep it brief, I play guitar, badly, and a couple of years ago let my young grandson showed a lot of interest, he loves music, loves making up his own songs and constantly sings. Great, better than a screen, so I introduced him to my guitar, roll on 6 months later and I found a kids Fender type with amp at a local auction house. It looks and feels like a real one, not plastic, it’s total junk but cost me £22 including fees and is a nightmare to restring but he loves it . Two years on I’d like to get him a much better one for Christmas, ive been looking around and Squire make one I think will be fine but he really, really loves playing grandma’s Gibson, he loves the tone. I’ve just got a promo email from Gibson announcing a tie in with a company called Loog, they make kids guitars apparently but they only have 3 strings!! Can any of you guitarists out there please tell me what the benefit is to a child, I’m not getting it. (Sorry, I lied, I haven’t kept it brief).
I can’t see the point of a guitar with only three strings - it won’t help him learn guitar properly.
If he likes Gibson style guitars their “budget” brand is Epiphone, but even those have got quite expensive.
I would look at Harley-Benton guitars from Thomann in Germany - they are Chinese made lookalikes of the big brands but are well made for the price and good value.
Certainly better than an unknown brand from Amazon etc.
How big is he? Does he need a 3/4 size or was he okay with the Gibson?
I would look at Harley Benton (unless you won’t buy Chinese). They have some lovely LP (and everything else Gibson-shape).
For example Harley Benton SC-200 BK Student Series – Thomann International
He’s 5, yep I know very young but it’s something he really focuses on and enjoys. He has to sit in the middle of the settee with my guitar across his lap, not ideal but in a very short space of time he’s gone from making a discordant racket to trying to copy cord shapes and listening to the sound of each string. He already knows the name of each string, Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie made it very easy for him. He’ll need a 3/4 which I know Squire do and not expensive, but I never thought of Harley Benton, so I’ll give them a look. Thanks Porridge.
Thank god for that, I just thought I was being thick! To me it’s like giving a kid half of the alphabet and not giving them the rest until they’re 9! Just crazy, he’s already used to 6 strings so why send him backwards!
Does he live here? If so, maybe go French and introduce him to an épinette which is played sitting down
Another vote here for Harley Benton - I gig with one of thier Aeolus series guitars, and it’s a decent instrument that can sit alongside cheaper Gibson and Fender instruments.
The advantage of a child-size guitar is obviously comfort, but if he’s starting to play Grandma’s full size Gibson then apparently it’s not a problem. Avoid Fender style guitars because of the longer scale length. The one exception is the Squier Sonic style guitars, which have a deliberately short scale length and slightly smaller body in an adult guitar. I.e. Squier Sonic Mustang HH California BL – Thomann UK note that Thomann are based in Germany.
There’s quite a big choice in shorter scale stuff available that’s not just a junk ‘kiddie’ guitar.
No Jane, he’s in the UK and I can’t teach him too often as we live a good 2 hours away, traffic depending.
I think he definitely needs a smaller size so his fingers can get to grips with the fret board more easily, my Les Paul is a heavy beast and the neck’s awkward for small fingers, he does like the SG, finds it a bit easier but the necks too long. Thomman was where I was looking but truly never thought of Harley Benton’s. If I didn’t think he’s ready I’d leave things as they are for now, but he’s a determined little lad, knows what he likes and for a very active kid, when he gets to play guitar he focuses and concentrates. He watches what my fingers do and tries to replicate on his guitar with some success, if he continues to learn its his choice but I think it’s important to have the option, I’ve promised to pay for lessons if he when/ if he decides to. His impression of Angus Young and Thunderstruck is hilarious 
Thanks to you all for your replies, I’ll definitely take a look at Harley B’s, hopefully he’ll get a love Christmas surprise this year. I’ll post a picture update of the chosen guitar as an update, if that’s ok?
They do ship worldwide though - I’ve bought recording gear from them and had it shipped to UK. Shouldn’t be a problem apart from delightful UK import duty.
Otherwise there is Andertons in the Uk who do sell kid-sized guitars, though mostly Squiers on the electric side.
I’ve bought from them before and delivery to UK is usually within a week but I cant remember the delivery charge, I’ll check that out first so thanks for the reminder Chris. I’ll check out Andertons too, when I looked they didn’t have much but maybe new stock in the ramp up to Christmas, seems to have started very early this year.
Wow Debby! Sounds like you could form a speed metal band soon!
I learnt on my dad’s Gibson ES-135 from about 5 years old and loved putting my eat to the headstock. The guitar was far too big for me and hurt my fingers (I remember) and was so afraid of scratching it.
So, off to a musical instrument shop in London we went and he got me a 3/4 classical guitar. Boo…always wanted an electric…Then as got older I got my own kit and the collection got bigger until I had me a proper Les Paul, a proper Strat and a proper Tele. (proper meaning US made) but I kept the Fender Valve amp just to annoy the cats.
Realising that I only play for me, I got rid of the Les Paul and the Strat but kept my favourite Tele - not the most confortable but love the country twang. Oh..still have a couple of 6 string acoustics but a classical one somewhere with one of my sisters.
The ES-135 is still lurking with my dad. He’s mean, and won’t give it to me.
So each guitar has a history and for me, a love hate relationship.
So.. why don’t you take him to a guitar shop and let him see and decide? He will remember this experience for ever and ever…
…for me, the Squire 3/4 Strat is really comfy and easy to play. You can’t control where is made if new and I don’t think they even make the 3/4 in Mex. Nothing wrong with Chinese made instruments
(Oh, get a valve amp 
) (…You prolly have some having said that)
Enjoy the journey.
Valve amps will always get a recommendation from me, although even 5W is too loud at home.
O MY, now that is my idea of fun, the little one would be in heaven, 2 of his most favourite things, ( please don’t anyone sing that appalling song!). Did you get it recently John?
No, I sort of buy Lego I like and then it hangs around until I’m sick or something. I googled the guitar and it’s “retired”. Now the dilemma is do I make it, or sell it for a profit 
I’ll make it.
I made these recuperating from an op a few weeks ago. My daughter had a whole Lego city we built together when she was little. We dedicated a bedroom to it 
I started off with an Epiphone LP copy, lovely guitar but I promised myself that if my recovery went well a year on I’d buy myself a grown up LP, it did so I did and can honestly say I love playing it, it’s my go to guitar. I do like the SG, that was a whim purchase but I did trade the Epiphone, so I didn’t feel guilty as my playing doesn’t deserve them. But hey, you can’t take it with you and either my eldest son or youngest grandson can have a nice inheritance. Can’t say I’m a great Fender fan, had the chance to buy a second hand 10 year old Telecaster, hardly ever played, not a scratch or ding in sight. Several things put me off, first it was Mexican made, but the thing that put me really off was it had been left for years in a damp room and not in a case, add to that the price was way off beam, I politely refused. As for acoustic, I never intended owning one but in June whilst visiting an old friend, her partner produced a Taylor Big Baby, great condition a few dings but nothing much, he’d got it 5 years ago but realised guitar wasn’t for him, so I managed to acquire one by accident. Having said that, apart from having to get to grips with fatter strings and larger fret board I’ve developed a liking for finger picking, hard work for me but fun, thanks Bob Dylan. Yep, I’ve got a valve amp, that was not my fault, my husband bought it for me as a surprise, (got it at auction way cheap), please don’t tell AM, as it’s wayyyyy to big for our house, it’s a Marshall, ummm 50 watt, but it does make a beautiful sound, came with a 6 way foot controller that had never been out the box. Have to say when he bought it into the house I just stared, damn thing scared the hell out of me but I’m over that now. As for decent music shops, non near me I’d have to take him to Newcastle or more likely Edinburgh or Glasgow, even the nearest city to his home has only a couple of pretty rubbish shops, maybe I’ll take him to Gibson Garage in London one day🤔
You could try selling it, I might just know an interested buyer, price depending although I do have a birthday looming and a husband that owes me a present😂