The 10 Best Electric Guitars for Kids
Are you looking for the best electric guitars for kids? Well, you’re in the right place!
Many kids show an interest in learning music, but when they do not receive the support from their parents, the interest eventually dies out. There is nothing worse than a child giving up on something that could have turned them into a child prodigy.
As parents, it is crucial to let the children pursue their interests, as it helps in the growth and development of their mind and personality. It makes them identify their potential.
If a child wants to play the guitar, parents can encourage them by buying the type of guitar they want to learn. There is nothing wrong with letting a child develop a skill that could help them succeed in life.
While there are thousands of different guitars out there, not all are good for beginners and kids. There are not many guides on the internet that can help parents find the perfect guitar for their little stars.
In this post, we’ll be reviewing 10 of the best electric guitars for kids to help aid your purchasing decision.
Table of Contents
Our Top 10 Best Electric Guitars for Kids
Playing electric guitars excites many children, and many express their wish to learn to play an electric guitar. This list has been generated after a thorough analysis of the market. As there are innumerable models in the market, we have shortlisted the ones that are excellent options.
If you’re short on time, then here is a complete list of the best electric guitars for kids that we will be reviewing in more detail throughout the post:
- Fender Squier 3/4 Size Kids Mini Strat Electric Guitar
- Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4 Size Mikro Electric Guitar
- Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar
- Stagg S300 3/4 BK Standard S Electric Guitar
- Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster
- Squier by Fender Bullet Mustang HH Short Scale Beginner Electric Guitar
- Epiphone Les Paul Express”Travel-Size” Electric Guitar
- Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012 Electric Guitar
- Asmuse Headless Electric Guitar Overhead Travel Guitar
- Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Solid-Body Electric Guitar
Fender Squier 3/4 Size Kids Mini Strat Electric Guitar for Kids
The Fender Squier Mini Strat bundle comes with everything you need to start playing. It captures the classic look and feel of a real Fender Stratocaster in smaller package that kids will have no problem holding.
The Fender Squier ¾ is a model that many parents choose for their kids due to its impressive features and specifications. Before getting into the depth of why this model is on this list, let us first discuss its features and specifications.
Specifications
- 3/4-size body
- 22.75″ scale length
- “C”-shaped maple neck
- 20-fret fingerboard
- Three single-coil Stratocaster pickups
- Five-way switching, and vintage-style hardtail Stratocaster bridge
- Number of strings: 6
- Weighs 16.96lbs
- Dimensions: 50.5 x 16 x 5 inches
- 20 frets
Features
For kids belonging in the age group from 6 years to 12 years, this model by Fender will work wonderfully, especially for those who admire the color pink. Kids associate a lot of their moods with colors, and when they choose a guitar in color, they like; it will encourage them to play and learn.
This guitar is suitable for kids with small hands.
A Complete Bundle
The company offers a complete bundle that is designed specifically for beginners, kids that are six years or older.
It includes the guitar, a black 10G amp, clip-on chromatic tuner, 10ft instrument cable, a comfortable strap, three guitar picks, a free trial of online lessons, and Austin Bazaar Guitar essential instructional DVD.
Familiar Fender Tone
Even though it is a kid-friendly version by the company, it brings that familiar fender tone.
Easy to Play
The guitar by Fender is known for the ease it offers to the guitar players. It is very lightweight and features a thin body, which makes it easy for kids to handle the guitar in perfect balance.
Tuning
It also features an easy-to-play C-shaped neck profile. Moreover, this guitar offers solid tuning stability with its hardtail bridge.
Adding to its features is the 5-way switch with single-soil pickups, offering a wide sonic variety.
Comfort
Using this guitar helps children play the guitar with complete comfort as it alleviates wrist pain that may arise due to the use of a full-scale guitar.
Tone
The crisp and rich tone lets a guitar player enjoy a pristine and clear sound similar to Fender’s full-scale guitar.
Pros
- It is one of the most affordable options in the market.
- It comes with amp, cable, tuner, and comfortable strap.
- For guitar maintenance, a polishing cloth is included in accessories.
- An instructional DVD is also part of the package.
- It is built for easy playability.
- The structure makes it easy for kids to play the guitar with complete comfort.
Cons
- The stings of this guitar may go out of tune after some time and have to be replaced with new ones.
- The amp is not of good quality.
- It is only for learning purposes and cannot be used by professionals.
Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4 Size Mikro Electric Guitar for Kids
Out of the many guitars manufactured for kids, this is one that parents can definitely consider. Below are the summarized specifications of this kid-friendly guitar.
Specifications
- 22″ scale Maple neck
- Set-up like the full-size GRG models
- Left-handed model available model
- 22″ scale Maple neck offers low tension and small size
- Perfect for beginners
- Set-up like the full-size GRG models
- Left-handed model available model (GRGM21BKNL)
- 8.43lbs
- Dimensions: 37 x 3 x 14 inches
- Number of strings: 6
Features
For parents who want to give a toy-guitar to their little rock stars, this one might not be a suitable choice. It is the first compact version that has been designed by Ibanez, and it encompasses top features.
It is perfect for intermediate players as well, especially for those who want to get their hands on a guitar with a small neck and body. It is for left-handed guitar players.
It is a version of the company’s most popular RG guitar.
Easy-on-Pocket
Many parents do not think it is wise to invest a huge in purchasing a high-end guitar for kids. If this is the case, this compact version by Ibanez makes the cut. It is a part of the company’s budget models.
It offers excellent value for its price, something that attracts parents.
Type of Sound
Ibanez has designed its Mikro specifically for the players who like heavy music, typically hard rock and metal type music.
The Right Age Group
Experts do not recommend this guitar for children older than ten years. However, for kids in the age group of 6 to 10 years will definitely have a great time learning on this fantastically compact guitar.
Kid-Friendly Design
As this is designed for the kids, the design features a thin neck. Moreover, it weighs less than 9lbs. The design allows a kid to play the guitar with ease and convenience. The maple neck has low tension; pushing down on strings is smooth, which does not require excessive force.
It is a short scale model by Ibanez, due to which a user might struggle a bit with tuning. However, this problem can be solved by using a heavier gauge for switching out the strings. The sound is heavy due to its dual humbucker pickups and the absence of single-coil pickups.
Pros
- It is an affordable guitar that belongs to the budget collection by the company.
- It is very lightweight and features a very thin neck.
- The look of the guitar is very stylish.
- Great for kids, beginners, and professionals.
Cons
- Tuning is a bit troublesome.
Epiphone Les Paul Special II Beginner Electric Guitar
The Epiphone Les Paul Special II is an excellent guitar for beginners. It captures the essence of a Gibson Les Paul Junior offering an iconic tone, great build quality and playability at an affordable price.
The Les Paul Special guitar by Epiphone is one of the most frequently chosen guitars for kids. Parents can review the specifications to judge whether it is a smart option or not.
Specifications
- Mahogany body
- 700T Humbucker pickups
- Rosewood fretboard
- 24.75 Scale
- Number of strings: 6
- Weighs 10lbs
- Dimensions: 45 x 17 x 7 inches
Features
When enlisting the best electric guitars for kids, it is essential to mention the Les Paul electric guitar by Epiphone. It is an affordable guitar model as Epiphone manufactures the budget models for Gibson.
Good Quality Hardware
The hardware quality is worth mentioning. The machine heads, the tune-o-Matic bridge are all made of good quality.
Ease of Changing Strings
The guitar comes with a stopbar allowing kids and parents to change the strings of the instrument with ease.
The Sound
Adding to the features of this guitar is the Epiphone-designed pickups – a 700T, and a 650R at the neck. The pickups are humbuckers, which makes the guitar keep the unwanted noise at bay.
The sound produced by this guitar is clear and features good aggression when the overdrive is cranked up.
Pros
- It is a budget-friendly guitar.
- It comes with an amp, a strap, picks.
- The sound produced by the guitar is clear and pristine.
- The guitar features smooth frets, no buzzing, straight and true neck.
Cons
- The bridge is not able to adjust individual string height.
Stagg S300 3/4 BK Standard S Electric Guitar for Kids
The Staff S300 is a 3/4 size Stratocaster style guitar. It is an excellent beginner guitar that offers a familiar design, good build quality, decent specifications and is easy to play for smaller individuals. Overall, it's an excellent value for the price.
The S300 by Stagg makes it to our list of top 10 best electric guitars for kids. The specifications and features impress many parents.
Specifications
- Solid Alder Body
- Bolt-on Hard Maple Neck
- Rosewood Fingerboard with 20 Frets
- 3 Single Coil Pickups
- Classic “S” Style Tremolo Bridge
- Weighs 10 pounds
- Dimensions 37 x 15 x 5 inches
- Number of strings: 6
Features
An affordable guitar that offers top-quality build quality, this guitar by Stagg is a model that many experts recommend for the young rock stars. It looks great in terms of aesthetics and is an excellent choice for kids.
It is a guitar that has been designed for left-hand kids.
Designed for Beginners
This model by Stagg often receives critical reviews, but people need to understand that this one is manufactured for kids and beginners only. It is a not choice for professionals, and once a kid becomes well-versed about playing the guitar, they will have to move to a new version.
Pros
- It is perfect for kids and beginners.
Cons
- Designed for left-handed guitarists.
- It is suited for beginners only.
Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster Beginner Electric Guitar
The Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster is an excellent beginner Telecaster style guitar that captures the classic look and feel and a real Telecaster at a fraction of the price.
Specifications
- Slim and comfortable “C”-shaped neck profile
- Loaded with dual Squier single-coil Tele pickups with 3-way switching for genre-defying sonic variety
- 6-saddle Tele bridge for fine intonation adjustment
- Sealed die-cast tuning machines for smooth, accurate tuning
- Satin neck finish
- Also available in left-handed
- Dimensions: 44.5 x 4 x 14.5 inches
- Weighs 9.9lbs
- Number of strings: 6
Features
Exceptional build quality and great value for money make the guitar a good option. The fact that it is designed for beginners makes many parents choose this for their kids.
Simple & Great Value
The features that make it a top choice for beginners is its simplicity of both design and usage.
Ready to Play Out-of-the-Box
An unadjusted guitar is not a suitable option for kids. The guitar by Squier has designed this guitar to suit the needs of kids, which is why everything is adjusted before-hand. Users can start playing immediately after unboxing it.
Thin Body & Lightweight
The guitar features a thin body and weighs less than 10lbs. These are the factors that make this guitar a top choice for many parents.
Pros
- It does not require adjustability.
- The matt finish is impressive.
- It is lightweight and features a thin body.
- Exceptional build quality.
Cons
- The pickups are not of the best quality.
Squier by Fender Bullet Mustang HH Short Scale Beginner Electric Guitar for Kids
The Squier by Fender Bullet Mustang guitar is a short scale guitar that offers a similar feel look and feel to a Stratocaster, but has 2 humbucking pickups. It has a thin and lightweight design which makes it extremely easy to play for smaller individuals.
Specifications
- Maple neck with “C”-shaped profile
- 21-Fret Rosewood Fingerboard; Rock-solid tuning stability
- Three single-coil Stratocaster pickups with five-way switching
- Vintage-inspired Hardtail Bridge
- 1-year warranty included
- Weighs 9.1lbs
- Dimensions: 44.2 x 15.1 x 3.9 inches
- Number of strings: 6
Features
When it comes to entry-level or kid-friendly guitars, this model by Fender is hard to ignore. It offers amazing specifications, and its features are pretty impressive.
Lightweight
This guitar by Fender weighs less than 10lbs. It is a feature that most parents look for when purchasing a guitar. The fact that it has been designed for beginners and kids proves that its build quality is according to it.
Perfect First Guitar
Experts believe that this guitar is a perfect option for a first guitar because it supports all types of tunes.
Pros
- It is an excellent option for beginners.
- It is very lightweight.
- It is one of the most affordable options.
- Comfortable neck and fingerboard.
Cons
- The pickups require improvements.
- It lacks the finishing touches.
Epiphone Les Paul Express” Travel-Size” Electric Guitar
The Epiphone Les Paul Express offers everything you know and love about Gibson Les Paul Juniors, but in a smaller and less expensive package. It's a travel sized guitar that's idea for carrying around with you, or if you're just a smaller individual.
Making to the list of top ten kid-friendly guitars is Les Paul Express”Travel-Size” Electric Guitar by Epiphone. It is a pocket-friendly guitar that is designed for traveling. Perfect families that travel a lot.
Specifications
- Full-size 22″ scale-length neck
- SlimTaper Neck Profile
- Epiphone 650R and 700T Humbuckers
- Mahogany Body
- Okoume Neck
- Weighs 10.34lbs
- Dimensions: 44 x 6 x 19 inches
- Number of strings: 6
Features
Looking for an exceptional quality option with excellent build-quality? This model by Epiphone is a perfect choice. Even though it is a full-scale guitar, its lightweight makes it perfect for kids to handle easily.
Good for Traveling
This is a travel-friendly model designed by Epiphone. It weighs just 10lbs and neck can be removed, and it can fit in a small carry bag.
Sound
The sound provided by this guitar is worth highlighting. Even though it is a cheap option in the market but for the price one pays, the sound quality is comparatively pretty good.
Ideal for Small Hands
This guitar by Epiphone is an ideal option for kids. It has been designed for users with small hands.
Pros
- It offers good pickups.
- A great looking guitar, scoring high on aesthetics.
- Perfect for beginners and users with small hands.
- It is one of the most travel-friendly options.
Cons
- It cannot be used directly after the box.
- It requires adjustment and tuning to be done by a professional.
- The build quality is not very impressive.
Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012 Beginner Electric Guitar
The Yamaha Pacifica PAC012 is probably the best value beginner guitar on the market. It offers a modern Strat Style body, versatile pickups, amazing playability and an inexpensive price point. This is my go-to recommendation for any beginner.
The Pacifica collection by Yamaha is a go-to collection of guitars for people looking for an instrument offering the best value for money. In its series, the PAC012 is the most frequently chosen guitar by the beginners; the lightweight makes it perfect for kids.
Specifications
- Agathis Body
- Maple Bolt-On Neck
- Sonokeling Fingerboard
- Vintage Tremelo
- 5 Position Switch
- Weighs 12 pounds
- Dimensions: 43 x 18 x 4.5 inches
- Number of strings: 6
Features
The specific collection by Yamaha has been praised for its high-quality sound and impressive playability for over a decade. The wide variety of sound character with its top-quality built and lightweight makes it great for kids.
Playability
The first feature that needs to be discussed is the playability of this guitar. It is easy to play and adjust, which encourages many experts to recommend this model for beginners and kids.
Sound
Adding to the guitar’s features is its sound. Even though it is a beginner-level guitar, it offers a dynamic sound quality.
It comes with two single-coil pickups that can be found on the neck, middle, and humbucker, which help in producing professional-grade sound.
Easy Controls
Unlike the other beginner level and kid-friendly guitars, this one offers easy controls. It comes with a push/pull split-coil tone and master volume control knobs.
Protection of Strings
The die-cast tuners and tremolo style bridge help in protecting the strings of the guitar. It does not let them fall out of adjustment easily.
Pros
- It offers easy playability
- It comes with easy controls, making it perfect for kids.
- One of the best and most affordable options available in its category.
Cons
- There is a lack of instructions for the accessories.
- The pickups require some improvement.
Asmuse Headless Electric Guitar Overhead Travel Guitar
The Asmuse Headless Electric guitar is a travel sized guitar that features a full scale length, 24 frets and a dual humbucking pickups. It is lightweight, has excellent playability and a small, ergonomic form factor.
We cannot complete the list for the top ten kid-friendly guitars without including this heath electric overhead travel guitar by Asmuse. Featuring an adjustable guitar bridge system, this guitar works amazingly well for young guitar learners.
Specifications
- Special tiger eye processing
- Headless with a lock nut to protect the guitar strings
- Guitar strap closure for quick locking and unlocking the guitar strap
- Special modular bridge for update and exchange
- Portable size for travel or performances
- Weighs 8.13lbs
- Number of strings: 24
Features
It is one of the most gorgeous-looking guitars in its category, which gives its users a super-nice touch. Available in green, blue, and black, this guitar makes a kid fall in dee admiration for this instrument after getting their hands on this outclass guitar.
Portability & Convenience
Talking about the exceptional features of this model by Asmuse offers, it is a great option when it comes to offering convenience to the user. It is much smaller than a full-scale guitar, yet it offers features similar to one.
The playing area is the same as that of a typical-guitar, but it comes with a headless design.
Protected Guitar Strings
The headless design usually makes people concerned about strings slipping out of the tube. Will this might be a common problem for such guitars, but this one comes with a locking nut.
The nut protects the strings and does not let the strings fall out of tune, something that will make the experience of kids wonderful.
Sound & Tone
It is essential to discuss the sound and tone of this guitar, which is both impressive and luxurious. It is full of sound and offers thick bass.
Ease of Playing
The next feature to put light upon is its ease of playing. The higher hardness of the maple neck makes it easy to play this guitar freely.
Playing this feels much more comfortable and lubricated.
Another feature that makes it easy for a kid to play is its straps buckle. It comes with a KD strap buckle allowing kids to play the guitar while roaming around the house.
Pros
- It is much smaller than a full-scale guitar but offers all professional-grade features.
- It comes with a strap buckle.
- The sound quality is impressive.
- Offer ease of playing for kids.
Cons
- There are no instructions provided for tuning or restringing.
Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Solid-Body Electric Guitar
The Traveler Guitar is an innovative headless guitar design that offers a very compact design that is ideal for travel. It has excellent playability, is lightweight, durable and feels similar to a real guitar while being very compact.
Impressive design and ultra-light piece of instrument, this guitar by Traveler Guitar serve as a top choice of parents for their kids. It is packed with amazing specifications that make this guitar suitable for the kids.
Specifications
- Full 24 3/4″ Scale electric travel Guitar
- Fits in airline overhead bins.
- 3 lbs. 2 oz. & 28″ Long!
- One-piece Eastern American Hard Maple neck-through-body design
- Features a dual-rail humbucker pickup
- Includes Gig Bag
- Dimensions: 384 x 12 x 5 inches
- Number of strings: 6
Features
Parents are always on a lookout for a guitar that is suitable for the use of their kids. When they stumble upon the ultra-light solid-body electric guitar by Traveler Guitar, they cannot choose any other model.
Perfect Body, Weight, & Size
It is the best in its category because it is by far the smallest, lightest, full-scale electric guitar. Easy to handle with small hands, this guitar features an In-Body Tuning System, which uses standard tuning machines that are placed in the body, instead of the headstock.
A Full-Scale Guitar
The most impressive part of its features is that it is a full-scale guitar. Even though it is easy to handle and light in weight, it provides professional-grade sound quality. It offers the specifications of a pro-guitar despite being 28% shorter and 68% lighter than the typical guitar.
A Great Traveling Companion
Another added feature of this guitar is that it is a great traveling companion. The lap rest has a simple detaching-mechanism which allows users to reduce the guitar further in size and place it safely in a bag.
If a family is into the tradition of frequent traveling, this guitar is a smart option.
Tone
Even though this guitar is very small, it offers a killer tone. The one-piece neck-through-body design features an adjustable tune-o-Matic style bridge and a dual-rail high-output humbucker, which blesses this guitar with a dynamic tone and sound.
Pros
- It offers excellent value for money.
- It is the lightest and smallest full-scale guitar.
- It is travel-friendly.
- The build quality is exceptional.
Cons
- There is no volume button on this guitar.
How to Choose the Best Electric Guitar for Kids (Buyer’s Guide)
Choosing a guitar, whether for a beginner, professional, or a kid, is an overwhelming process. The thousands of models by hundreds of manufacturers available in the market, make guitar selection a challenge.
However, when choosing an instrument, several factors come into play. Choosing without bringing these factors into consideration is near to impossible.
While searching for the best instrument for the kids, parents need to focus on the following factors.
Size
One of the most significant factors here is the size. A guitar too large for a kid will make it difficult for them to hold the guitar in the right position.
Moreover, the large size will prevent the kid from making the proper reach with both hands. It makes a child raise his or her arm as high as the shoulder, which puts them in an awkward position and even causes pain.
Many highly motivated children may ask for a larger size, but as parents, people need to start with baby steps and purchase a size that suits the body-type of the kid.
Playability
While unadjusted guitars are not a problem for professionals and regular players, they have the skills to adjust the playability of the guitar as per their requirements; it is not a smart option for kids.
When purchasing a guitar for a child artist, a guitar that is adjusted for easy playability is a smart choice. Children who have difficulty in pushing the strings down to get a clear note will make it impossible for them to experience the development of motor skills.
Moreover, it will not be possible for them to enjoy the benefits of the journey that one passes to learn an instrument.
Many parents overlook this factor because they are unaware of the fact that musical instruments are not always made to be played right out of the box. Easy playability aids learning and develops a child’s interest in playing the instrument.
Price
Another factor that parents have to consider is the price of the guitar. There are two elements, in this case, build quality and brand—top brands Collings, C.F Martin, and several others design high-end guitars.
For a kid, it is best to look for a brand that offers a good build quality at a lower price. Getting a low-priced guitar to instill motivation in children that if they learn to play guitar, they can upgrade to a high-end version
For starters, it is smart to get a good quality guitar in a reasonable range as a kid can roughly use it to learn all types of techniques on it. Once they excel in it, they can get a better one.
Brand
While there are a lot of brands manufacturing hundreds of guitars, it is best to choose a brand that designs guitars for children explicitly. Some of the best brands parents can choose to include Yamaha, Fender, Ibanez, Stagg, Squier, and Epiphone.
Conclusion
There is no denying that choosing the best electric guitar for kids is challenging. This guide has been prepared to help struggling parents direct their efforts in the right direction.
We have listed the 10 best electric guitars for children based on our experiences and other users’ reviews and have also discussed the factors that are essential to consider when purchasing a guitar.
Before shortlisting the guitars, it is best to understand the factors of considerations. Once you have an idea of what you should be looking for, it makes it easier to find the perfect guitar for your child’s needs.
Parents who encourage their kids to pursue their passions by creating an atmosphere where they can learn and grow are the ones that deserve to be credited for their efforts. These children grow up to be happy individuals living with no regrets in life.
By choosing an electric guitar specifically for a child is very thoughtful, and one of the best tactics to be great parents!