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My granddaughter is interested in an acoustic guitar. She has access to electrics and one of my classicals, but I think she wants a steel string of her own. I get it! Problem is, I have no idea of what to suggest. I suspect something in a smaller body, not a parlor, would be best. What do any of you think might be a good option without breaking the bank? Something with good playability that will last her some years. Probably like to keep it less than $1000. I know, everyone wants guitars on the cheap!

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Waddy

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Time to make a steel string. I would suggest a classical size body with steel string bracing. Fun to build.

An om sized guitar should be just about right. It's an instrument that she will never grow out of.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Hey Waddy!

A couple of suggestions for you and this is a question that we are frequently asked by our clients as such we have a couple of decent recommendations for you.

I understand that you want to keep it under $1K so I hope that you don't mind if my advice to you perhaps saves you half of that amount....

The Canadian Godin brand makes Seagull and A&L. Both are outstanding values and well within your price range. I think that it's A&L that makes a little parlor or L-OO sized steel string that can come in black too... that is an excellent little guitar. They also come with or without a pup installed and IIRC can be had for less than $500. They are well made, North American made, and IIRC Godin uses White Oak on some of them that our friend Hans will agree with me is an excellent tonewood and then some.

The other suggestion is the Taylor GS Mini. They are also excellent values, very well made, can be had off the Internet for less than $600 I believe. Taylor's quality control is one of the best in the biz and I would not hesitate to purchase a GS Mini sight unseen from an Internet reseller. Just please avoid Gu*tar C*nter, the seat of evil of the Lutherie world...

The GS Minis are built to take 13's but they do fine with 12's or even "custom lights" which are a decent choice for new players and smaller hands just getting into steel strings.

Either would be a great choice, are very well built, excellent values in terms of quality/playability/cosmetics etc and either should last decades with a little care.

Wow! Thanks, Hesh, for that information. I certainly respect your opinion highly, and will definitely look into both of those guitars. That sounds just about right for what we were thinking. Not looking for a show stopper, just a decent, playable guitar that she can keep.

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

+1 on the GS Mini, plans are out there to build one.

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"I've been had again"
Tim Benware
Creedmoor, NC

+2 on the Taylor GS Mini. IMO, one of the best values out there. I've played several, and they all blew me away. Kathy Matushita had one she'd built at the GAL convention in July. It's a great little guitar. She'd probably have a source for a plan.

Waddy, I think I hear a GS Mini build calling out for you!


Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I like smaller guitars because I like to build with heavier woods (mostly ebonies). Build an OM that tapers from 3" to 4". My OM design is 3.5" to 4.5" and is very comfortable to play. I can't stand sitting down with a dreadnaught anymore. My crappy skills yielded a good sounding guitar. It has one tone bar, en ex-brace, sound hole reinforcement and a UTB only. I was worried that it wouldn't sound good with the lack of bracing but it sounds better than any Taylor I've ever played (maybe just I'm partial to mine since I made it lol). Anyway if you built something like that I think she'd keep and play it for life.

I made my daughter a guitar based on Martin's 12-fret 0-16 New Yorker model. It's a great size for her.

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George :-)

being a guitarmaker, why would you consider buying a guitar and not building her a guitar?...

My youngest daughter started playing when she was ten, 4'-11" tall, we borrowed a baby Taylor which was a good fit, she graduated to my "O" and now she's 14 going on 15, 5'-9" she's swiped my 13 fret Nick Lucas, I'm going to build her an OM this spring. They grow up to quick

I'm not building one because I have never built a steel string, and have two classicals on my bench now. Just found out about this desire a couple of days ago. All my builds have been solera based, and I haven't ever done a bolt on neck or anything but a Spanish style. Too much to learn and why would I want to give her my first attempt?

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Good reasons. Plus I have a hard time building one for less than $500. Good project for a few years down the road. Plus by then she may be leaning classical.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

"I'm not building one because I have never built a steel string, and have two classicals on my bench now. Just found out about this desire a couple of days ago. All my builds have been solera based, and I haven't ever done a bolt on neck or anything but a Spanish style. Too much to learn and why would I want to give her my first attempt?"

I think it is easier to build a "good" steel string than it is to build a "good" classical. Factories do it all the time. You could build a simply adorned LG style in spruce and mahogany with the forms you have, for less than 2 bills. We all have a limited amount of time, and have to decide who we will spend it on, but having a guitar made by her grandfather would probably mean more to her than anything store bought.
I'm sure your first attempt at a steel string will turn out fine.

I'm sure that Waddy could build one too and likely as nice or nicer than what he could purchase.

But for me when I produce a guitar with my fondness for highly famed this or that and Adi tops, Waverley tuners and a decent case it would cost me $1K to produce and 150 hours of time that I don't have.

And then there is this: She's a teenager and learning to play and as such would a family heirloom instrument have the utility of a very nice Taylor GS Mini? More specifically that dorm room that may be in her future with that infamous radiator in the room in the only corner where the guitar would look cool to be displayed in that is of course before the radiator dries the thing out and pops braces....

One of our clients who has a Hog topped GSM has over time had us install a pup, make a compensated bone saddle, and last week a custom bone nut with the spacing modified for his hands. Waddy will be in a perfect position to service the instrument, upgrade it, and even make it more playable for his grand daughter's personal preferences so there is ample opportunity for Waddy to make it special and personal even with a commercially produced offering.

There may be a GSM in my future because the value is so very present in these and knowing as I do that they are built for mediums and with Taylor's uber clever neck joint these things represent REAL value to me even though I am perfectly capable of building one myself.

"But for me when I produce a guitar with my fondness for highly famed this or that and Adi tops, Waverley tuners and a decent case it would cost me $1K to produce and 150 hours of time that I don't have."

Indeed, if you build it that way, I believe you are right. but with an "AA" grade Sitka top, solid mahogany B&S, Grover Statites and simple purflings and bindings I think 40 hours would get it done. If it was built "Stella" fashion maybe less time. Some of my nicest guitars have been my simplest. But make or buy, that's always a choice.

Waddy, if you go the OM route I may be able to help. I've got everything to make OM's (plans, templates, jigs, etc.). If you are only building one steel string, it would save you from having to tool up for it.

Lots of good tips and ideas here. I appreciate all comments. I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen if I have to build it. Too many other obligations hanging in the wind. Not to mention, having to have 3 or 4 more classical guitars done for the spring guitarfests in this region. Already have 5 that I know of where I'm displaying instruments. Really need to have some new stuff to show, and I am not a speedy builder. I'm really limited to 1 at a time assembly. I can do parts for a couple at a time, but when it comes to getting them done, only one at a time works. Need to discuss options with her daddy. He'll have some say-so in all this too.

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Another vote here for the GS Mini. A great value for one heck of a nice little guitar. If you shop carefully and buy at a decent price, you will be able to get most of your money back should you decide to sell it. I have been trying to score a used one at a bargain price (rarely occurs) for over four years and I am late to the party every time. They are very popular.

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jw ( o)===:::

I want to thank all of you guys for putting on your thinking caps and providing me with sage advise. Problem has been solved in an unexpected way. She doesn't want a steel string, misunderstanding, she just wants a guitar of her own, so she doesn't have to ask to use the one they have. I have just the right guitar, already built. 640 Romanillos Classical, EIR and German. Should be just right. Have to repair a crack in the top, from a dry snap a couple of years ago, but that should be simple. A little finish touch up, and she should have a good Christmas. Thanks again for all the help.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Nice purfs!

That's great news Waddy! Everybody wins now. She will treasure it always!

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Lucky girl.

Waddy, that's great . She couldn't have anything better!

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Outstanding Waddy Better in all respects than anything that money could have bought. Something she can treasure for a long time from a special person - can't think of anything better.