Electric for a 12yr old...

[WindyCommon]

My son is talking about electric guitars. He's a little over 5 feet tall, and conventionally proportioned for a 12 year old. Plays piano and drums quite well, so has some musical ability.

Should he start with a short scale? Or will it be better for him to start out now on a full size?

If short scale, is there anything better value than the Squier strats?

If the short scale won't benefit him, he can start with one of my guitars, I have a twiddly Ibanez somewhere with a slender neck that might be good to learn on.

I'd just like to get him started in the right way so he doesn't get put off early on.

Views/experiences welcomed....

[Podie]

Learn full size - Yamaha 112s are better made than Squires (IMO)

[Mr_Yogi]

My Son who's 10 now has been learning for a couple of years and he got a fulled sized Les Paul last Christmas as his first electric. The Les Paul has a shorter scale length than a strat so is a little easier for stretches. It also helped that a Blue Les Paul was the guitar he really wanted, I think when your a kid (and maybe an adult too) that you like the look of the guitar is very important to keeping interested.

[Skii]

The Harley Benton SC-450 gets very good reviews

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_450plus...

[Mave]

I's go straight for a full size - he should be able to manage it at 12 anyway, and he'll probably be getting bigger quickly relatively soon!

[WindyCommon]

Thank you all for your input.

Looks like full-size is the way to go.

[Stig]

Full size - definitely. My son (13) recently bought his first, an Epiphone SG. Not the easiest thing for a beginner to play, but he loves AC/DC so I didn't argue

[dojo]

Podie said:

Learn full size - Yamaha 112s are better made than Squires (IMO)

/thread

Having taught 1000's of students. This is all the advice you need.

(If you go for another make don't get Gibson/Eppy - The headstock design means that if it get drops/falls (invertible) the chance of a snapped neck is MUCH higher)

Edited by dojo on Thursday 22 November 14:49

[Skyedriver]

dojo said:

Podie said:

Learn full size - Yamaha 112s are better made than Squires (IMO)

/thread

Having taught 1000's of students. This is all the advice you need.

(If you go for another make don't get Gibson/Eppy - The headstock design means that if it get drops/falls (invertible) the chance of a snapped neck is MUCH higher)

Edited by dojo on Thursday 22 November 14:49

Another vote for the Pacifica, mines a 112 son has a slightly lesser Yamaha (102?)