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Five great children's guitars
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From left, Art and Lutherie Ami, Squier MC-1 and MA-1, Hohner HC 03, and Strunal 5757.
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Art and Lutherie Ami
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Reminiscent of the small Stella and cowboy-style guitars popular in the '40s and '50s, this 3/4-size (24 7/8-inch scale), steel-string guitar has a stained cherry top with a plain, painted soundhole decoration and cherry back and sides. Its tone is quiet but well balanced. My assistants found the Ami to be heavier than the rest of the guitars we tested and suggested that it might be less suitable for smaller children. The action on this guitar was quite high, partially because there was too much relief in the neck. The problem was easily solved by adjusting the truss rod. I found the Ami to be about average in playability and found its tone to be better than average for such an inexpensive steel-string guitar ($199).
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Fender Squier MC-1
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The nylon-string, 3/4-size Fender Squier represents a very good value thanks to its list price of $139. It features an agathis (a hardwood found in Australia and Malaysia) top with stained agathis back and sides, an ebony fingerboard, a rosewood bridge, and a 23º-inch scale. The wood of the soundboard on the guitar we tested exhibited a strange grain pattern that, combined with its satin finish, created an unpleasant plastic look. The Squier's tone is quiet and lacking in sparkle, but the action was comfortable.
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Fender Squier MA-1
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This 3/4-size Squier is another great buy from Fender. Built of the same woods as the nylon-string Squier, its appearance is very similar (right down to the plastic-looking satin finish). This guitar got mixed reviews from my testers, mostly because of its smaller size. Lilah and Quinn (who are smaller themselves) liked it very much, while James and Rebecca (bigger kids used to larger guitars) found the instrument to be too small. I found the action to be higher than desirable for beginners and the tone to be a bit tinny, which is not unusual for a small, steel-string guitar. Still, with a list price of $149, it's a great value.
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Hohner HC 03
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At $109, this 3/4-size nylon-string guitar is an absolute winner! Its fit and finish are very reasonable, considering the price. The Hohner has a gloss finish with mahogany back and sides, a spruce top, a rosewood fingerboard, and a 23-inch scale. The tone is nice (though rather quiet), the action is reasonable, and the no-frills appearance (including the painted soundhole rosette) is pleasant. All four testers found it easy to play. As the least expensive instrument of the bunch, the Hohner offers great value. If budget is your most important consideration, this guitar should be high on your list.
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Strunal 5757
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This nylon-string, 3/4-size guitar is a beauty and a cut above the other guitars reviewed in workmanship and appearance. With mahogany back and sides, a solid red cedar top, and a 22 3/4-inch scale, the Strunal's volume and tone rivals many larger, more expensive guitars. The sound is sweet, and the instrument projects very well. We were all impressed with its refined appearance and features, especially its detailed soundhole rosette and high-gloss finish. All four testers liked this guitar very much, although the action could stand to be lowered a tad at the nut. Its $275 list price might put off some parents, but in my opinion it's an excellent value. Strunal also offers other small-sized guitars, some of which feature laminated tops and lower prices.
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