Choosing a guitar is an ordeal as it is, but choosing one for your kid is even more confusing. It may seem that the majority of electric guitars for kids on the market are simply toys, and are not the âreal deal.â Of course, these guitars do not need to have the latest high-tech electronics, complicated Floyd Rose bridges, and powerful humbuckers. Yet, if you look carefully, you can find the axes that match the quality and the sound of the âbig boys.â Here are some of the best guitars for kids out there. Trust me, your kid will be delighted to get one of those.
Best Electric Guitars For Kids 2021 â Reviews and Top Picks
- Epiphone’s Les Paul Player Pack
- Body type: Solid
- Body shape: Les Paul
- Body wood: Alder
- Neck: C-shaped
- Neck material: Hard Maple
- Pick up: 650T / 700T Humbuckers, Open Coils
- Fretboard wood: Rosewoood
- Frets: 22
- Bridge: Tune-o-Matic Bridge, Stopbar Tailpiece
- Tuners: Precision 14:1
- Squier by Fender Mini Strat Electric Guitar
- Body type: Solid
- Body shape: Ÿ size Stratocaster
- Body wood: Laminated Hardwood
- Neck: C-shaped
- Neck material: Maple
- Pick up: Three Standard Strat Single-coil Pickups
- Fretboard wood: Indian Laurel
- Frets: 20
- Bridge: 6-saddle Vintage-style Hardtail bridge, String-thru
- Tuners: Standard Die-cast
- Ibanez Mikro GRGM 6
- Body type: Solid
- Body shape: MiKro
- Body wood: Poplar
- Neck: GRG, Bolt-on
- Neck material: Maple
- Pick up: Humbuckers
- Fretboard wood: Maple
- Frets: 24
- Bridge: Fixed
- Tuners: Standard
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One of the best ways to introduce kids to the world of electric guitars is to get a player pack, and you canât go wrong with the Epiphoneâs Les Paul Player Pack. It includes a real Les Paul Special-II LTD, a 10-watt Electra guitar amp, clip-on tuner, strap, and picks. The guitar itself is equipped with 2 open coils humbuckers and a Tune-o-Matic bridge. Overall, a great starter pack for learning.
We like
The most valuable thing about the guitar is all the guitar accessories that come with it. It has everything to learn the basics of playing the electric guitar. Les Paul Special-II LTD has decent sonic power, with clear thick tones. A smooth, playable neck makes it easy to learn a variety of techniques from shredding to chording. And most importantly, all that costs almost nothing.
we dont like
The axe in the player pack has some serious fret buzzing and frequently goes out of tune. The guitar also has a somewhat toy-like feel to it.
PROS
Comes with a 10-watt Electra amplifier, gig bag and guitar accessories
Quality Les Paulâs sound
Fast neck
Affordable
Cons
Fret buzz
Poor tuning stability
Toy-like feel
If you are looking for a guitar for your kid who is already a Jimi Hendrix, Richie Blackmore or Eric Clapton fan, there is no better choice than the Squier by Fender Mini Strat. It is a Ÿ sized version of an original Stratocaster with a slimmer shorter neck. It is built for kids and adults with smaller hands. The guitar features classic three Strat single-coil pickups, chrome hardware and tuners, 6-saddle vintage-style hardtail bridge and 5-way pickup selector.
We like
Despite the smaller size, this Mini Strat has the same iconic Strat sound as its larger counterparts. The vintage hardtail bridge adds some juicy intonations throughout the whole length of the fretboard. The neck itself is slimmer than most Strats which increases the playability. The sonic controls, single-coil pickups, and hardtail bridge are exquisite, precise, and easy to operate. The guitar also comes with a wide range of guitar accessories and an amp.
we dont like
Poor tuning stability and fret buzzing if not set up well. Might require a trip to the guitar doctor.
PROS
Classic Strat sound
Slim, fast neck
Playability
Incl. Amplifier + Cable, Guitar Strap, Pick, Tuner
Cons
Poor tuning stability
Occasional buzzing
Ibanez Mikro GRGM 6 is a special undersized body axe, made specifically for the shorties or kids. The guitar has a smaller size and features a shorter 22-1/5â scale, but it sounds just as good as the original Ibanez axes due to the original Ibanez humbuckers.
We like
Despite an undersized profile of the axe, it is as powerful and punchy as any other Ibanez guitars. The smaller body and scale are ideal for short arms, while medium frets are perfect for the small hands, making it suitable for the kids and teenagers. The axe also features a thin neck, great for shredding, bending and general playability. Flexible humbuckers deliver think, bright and punchy tones great for metal and rock genres.
we dont like
The guitar goes out of tune rather frequently and, in general, takes a long time to tune properly.
PROS
Undersized body
Medium fret size for small hands
Playability
Metal and rock tone
Cons
Poor tuning
If your kid is a fan of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan or the Beatles, and strives to play like Syd Barrett or George Harrison â the easiest way to start is by giving them a guitar theyâve already played. Squier by Fender Affinity Series Telecaster is the best option for that as it gives you a classic Telecaster sound. The axe is sturdy and features a simple, but reliable and failproof set up: alder body with maple fretboard and neck, two vintage-style single-coil pickups, two control switch nobs, fixed six-saddle vintage bridge. As far as beginnersâ guitars go, itâs one of the best electric guitars for kids.
We like
A solid, affordable blues guitar option Affinity Telecaster provides traditional warm and tangy Tele sound, despite the unconventional Tele set up. Single-coil pickups provide strong and clear sound, while the six-saddle bridge allows for precise and juicy intonations, and chrome tuners – impressive tuning stability. The set-up is rather basic, but for a beginner guitar â itâs all one would need.
we dont like
The pickups are great for mellow blues and jazz, yet they arenât the strongest part of the axe. If you try to push rock and metal out of it, you are bound to get some serious humming.
PROS
Signature Tele Sound
Solid sonic power and intonation
Tuning stability
Affordable
Cons
Pickups humming
Weak pickups
Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012 may remind you of Stratocaster, and you wonât be wrong. The body and neck shapes are inspired by Stratocasters, yet the sonic qualities and set up are entirely different. The Agathis axe is equipped with three pickups (single-coil pickups at the neck and middle and a humbucker at the bridge), a vintage-style tremolo bridge with a whammy bar, a five-way selector switch and chrome tuners. Basically, a Strat with the rock and metal sound.
We like
Despite the low price and an unpopular choice of tonewood, the Pacifica Series PAC012 is an impressive guitar. The sound quality and tones are top-notch. Yamaha is best at sound, after all. The H/S/S configuration allows for versatile genres, and smooth playability all along the fretboard, which gives an opportunity to test multiple styles of play. It might not be as powerful and clear-toned as the more expensive options, but you get juicy rock tones for rock and clear warm sound for blues. Whatâs not to like!
we dont like
The tuners are rather stiff, and the axe goes out of tune easily â you may need a trip to the guitar doctor to fix that. There is also occasional buzzing at the lower sounds.
PROS
Quality sound and build
Versatility
Playability
Affordable
Cons
Weak tuners
Buzzing
This Chinese-made axe is more impressive than it may seem at first glance. The solid body is crafted from the quality alder, with a single-piece C-shaped maple neck and laurel fretboard. It is equipped with two vintage Telecaster single-coil pickups with Alnico magnets, which give the axe itâs signature warm Tele sound. As far as hardware goes, the axe features a 3-saddle hardtail bridge and vintage tuners.
We like
This axe would be perfect for a beginner of any age â a kid or an adult. The guitar is medium size, rather thin neck and pretty light, so itâs comfortable and easy to play. The use of alder enhances sound stability. Two vintage Alnico V single-coil pickups give the guitar the warm, clean Tele sound. As with any Tele, you can play a variety of genres like blues or jazz, and its excellent playability allows you to practice different styles of play. And besides, itâs very affordable.
we dont like
The jack input is a bit off, which causes some unwanted humming.
PROS
Warm and clear Tele tones
Playability and versatility
Sound stability
Affordable
Cons
Poor jack quality
Humming
Avengers assemble! Excuse me. But every Marvel fan will get me; Peavy Rockmaster is a dream guitar for us (and now, they are not only for kids). Back to the topic, though, this axe is made specifically for kids from 9-14. The basswood body is a Ÿ size of a normal guitar, standard fretboard (21 frets) and a super simple, yet quality set up. The single humbucker is enhanced with a pull/pushing coil-split, which gives you both humbucker and single-coil sounds.
We like
Design is even more important for kids than adults. With characters from Marvel, Star Wars and DC universes, Peavey Rockmaster makes the process of playing the guitar more appealing to kids, which makes them come back to practice over and over again. The axe itself is very durable, meaning that It wonât break after the first time your son drops it on the floor. The smaller size makes it easier for kids to play, and the sound set up is very practical. The tonality of such a small guitar is amazing, though! Clean and strong, minimum buzzing and distortion. Hands down, the best kids electric guitar.
we dont like
Donât get us wrong; it is a guitar for children. It has a somewhat toy-feel and wonât give you the perfect sound. Yet, is this a bad thing for a kidâs guitar? Absolutely not.
PROS
Catchy design
Playability and practicality
Decent sound
Durability
Cons
Starter guitar
Toy feel
Another guitar kit that has everything your kids need to kick start their guitar journey. The starter pack includes Gibson electric guitar, a small amp, guitar strap, cables, picks and even an instructional CD (who need CDs nowadays though). The guitar itself features Ÿ size single-cutaway Linden body, with a single humbucker, stop-tail bridge and chrome tuners.
We like
This pack is simply awesome for a young kid. The guitarâs smaller scale is easy to hold and play with small hands. The sound is not particularly impressive, yet it’s clean and strong. For such a small price, the starter package includes more than it, in fact, should. It wonât be the best guitar and equipment, yet it is very practical and ideal for complete beginners whoâve never held a guitar in their life.
we dont like
Unless you replace the strings and tuning keys, the tuning is a nightmare. Goes out of tune super-fast, yet there is nothing unfixable. The buzzing at high action can also be rather annoying â a trip to the guitar doctor and your kid will be super happy.
PROS
Affordable
Decent sound
Features all necessary items
Practicality
Cons
Poor tuning
Fret buzz
Starting off: Acoustic VS Electric Guitars
It is believed that complete beginners should start with acoustic guitars; I donât believe thatâs true. If your heart is set on playing the electric guitar, there is nothing stopping you. Both guitars require different skills, and you do not need to learn to play the acoustic guitar before the electric one. And there is no need to buy both! Better spend that extra cash on accessories for the electric guitar.
Guitar Scales: Standard VS Small
The only bulletproof reason you should go for a smaller scale guitar (or Ÿ size) is if you are looking for an axe for your kid. Standard scale guitars will be too heavy and too large for their small hands. They simply wonât be able to hold them, let alone practice. If you are an adult and happen to have small hands, you can opt for a smaller scale as well, yet itâs not your only option. There is a variety of options with a thinner neck profile, which will help you fix the issue.
What to look for in electric guitars for kids?
Like in any other guitar, there are three important things that you need to pay attention to: tonewood, hardware and electronics. The majority of guitars made for kids are made from cheaper materials, so if you are looking for the best sound, tone stability and resonance – choose basswood.
Great hardware is hard to find on these guitars, as strings, bridge, tuning knobs and other minor parts tend to be of poor quality. The good news though, is that you can always replace it, so overall itâs not a bad issue.
Last but not least – electronics. I think those good pickups are the key to a great guitar. So be very careful when choosing this. If you look for clean, sharp and warm sounds – single-coil pickup is your choice. Humbuckers give you more versatility, color and rock tones. Single pickup configuration is easiest to operate, so itâs always better to start off with those.
You should also consider the durability of the instrument. Kids may be clumsy, so its crucial to get something that wonât break within a day.
What is the ideal budget for a kidâs electric guitar?
If you are a billionaire, you can find options of beginner guitars for over a $1,000. However, kids have a tendency to grow, so if these guitars have a smaller size – they will have a hard time playing it in a few years. So, this kind of guitar is not a long-term investment.
Instead of buying an expensive axe, look for an option under $300, like most of the options in the list above. Itâs very affordable, and the sound quality is quite decent, at the very least. Besides, you wonât regret spending money on it if your kid loses interest in playing at some point.
Guitars: New VS Used
Some people would say Iâm wrong, but unless you are a hardcore guitar fan or a die-hard fan of one or another band, you should always go for a new guitar. Used guitars have a great history, but they are extremely unpredictable. Itâs not about who has owned them, but rather the conditions they are in. They very well can have internal damage, and if you are a complete beginner, you wonât be able to understand if the guitar is damaged or not.
New guitars are always the best electric guitars for kids. The equipment is brand new, and there is a lesser chance of malfunction. Besides, you can always return or replace it if there is something wrong with it.
What accessories should you get?
Every electric guitar needs an amp, several packs of extra strings, picks, guitar strap and cables. The amp doesnât have to be of superior quality; a small portable one will do. If you donât wanna bother choosing all of these things, guitars with a starter pack like Epiphone Les Paul or Maestro by Gibson would be the easiest option. The quality will not be as perfect as stand-alone pieces, but they do their job, and itâs a great deal when youâre on a strict budget.
Itâs also a good idea to grab a tuner (preferably an electric one) to make tuning easier. After your skills improve, you can expand your number of accessories and get yourself some pedals and other sound effects.
Should the guitar be set up?
If you are a complete newbie â absolutely. If you are picking up the guitar for the first time in your life, and itâs completely out of tune, chances are, youâll be so-o-o bamboozled. All new guitars come with a factory set up, which is your lifesaver. Youâll hear how a guitar should sound, and whenever itâs out of tune, just work your way back to the original tune. As soon as you master the standard guitar tuning, you can experiment with the tunings and find your sound.
Conclusion
The best kidsâ electric guitars arenât that hard to find. You donât need to chase for the unique brands, models, pickups configuration, hardware and exquisite electronics. The guitars should have a basic set up, solid sound, be light and have smooth playability. It can be a smaller scale or simply have a thin neck profile â both will work for your kids. If you donât want to spend much time or money on accessories, choose starter packs like the Epiphone Les Paul Starter pack.
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