How we make this guitar better
The work we do on this guitar greatly reduces the risk of your child quitting before they even get started. Your child will experience far less finger discomfort so they can learn faster, better and play longer. As a result, this guitar will easily respond to their playing and will not be a learning obstacle. We have thoroughly inspected, seasoned, setup and adjusted this guitar to exacting specifications. This is a minimum 10 day process which results in this guitar being very easy to play and sounding its best.
- We inspected this guitar for quality construction and finish before we invested time in seasoning and adjusting.
- Next we tuned the guitar to standard pitch and hung it in a temperature and humidity controlled room for a minimum of 9 days. This allows the woods to settle and stabilize under tension and prepares it for our adjustments.
- After the 9 day seasoning process the truss rod was adjusted to give the neck and fingerboard enough relief to allow for the vibration arc of the strings over the length of the fingerboard. This allows for easy playability without string buzz on the frets.
- We cut and filed the bridge saddle to the proper height for easy playability (action) up and down the fingerboard and sanded the bottom flat and smooth for maximum energy transfer of the strings through the saddle and bridge to the guitar top. This helps produce the best balanced tones and overtones.
- Next we cut the nut slot of each string to an exact depth for proper string height (action) above the first fret. This helps to make the guitar extremely easy to play, especially in 1st position.
- All frets are checked to be level with the surrounding frets. If not, they are honed, re-crowned and polished. This makes the fingerboard an even playing field for extremely easy playability and is a major contribution to the groundwork of accurate technical development. You get better playing results, learn faster and experience far greater enjoyment making music.
- We file all sharp fret ends that protrude beyond the fingerboard edge so they do not scratch the fingers while playing.
- We hydrate and/or oil the fingerboard and bridge.
- The guitar is cleaned and polished with a museum grade polish.
Please see the following link for more information on our FirstGuitar Custom Setup and Adjustment.
Our Thoughts
This 1/2 Size 34″ guitar along with our setup and adjustment process makes it very easy for your kids to be successful in learning to play the guitar. Our setups and adjustments greatly reduce finger pain and discomfort so they can immediately experience good results. Your kids will learn faster and play longer. These positive results generate the desire for continued learning which greatly reduces the risk of quitting or developing bad technical playing habits. This guitar is easy for kids to hold and the width of the fingerboard is perfect for the hands of the young player. In almost every aspect this guitar is properly proportioned for kids. The sound is balanced and clear which helps in early ear training. The guitar “feels” right to play and kids are excited to play it as it looks like a full size guitar, only it fits them.
The internal construction and braces are the same as full size guitars, but in a smaller version and the fingerboard meets the guitar body at the 14th fret just like a full size guitar which helps young players easily transition to the next size guitar. The die cast tuning machines are another great feature. Kids will have a greater opportunity to learn to tune earlier and do it better.
Notes
Notes for Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers
We have setup and adjusted this guitar to professional standards. As a result, we can present your child with the best sounding and easiest playing guitar possible. The guitar is well adjusted and stable so it can effectively hold the adjustments for longer periods of time with proper care. Your child can play more often, learn faster and get results that encourage continued learning.
Your child can learn to play notes and chords that ring clearly and develop proper playing technique. Learning can also be accelerated with the guidance of a good teacher. This after all, is what every parent and teacher wants for kids who have expressed an interest in playing the guitar. Their education is affected by the playing quality of the guitar, the materials they have to work with and the encouragement of those around them.
Notes for Guitar Teachers
You will find it very easy to teach children on our FirstGuitar Custom Setup and Adjusted Guitars because we have inspected, seasoned and reworked this guitar at the neck, fingerboard, saddle and nut so it is extremely easy to play. We have removed all the variables that cause a guitar to be difficult or impossible to play which causes many new players to quit the instrument.
This guitar will enhance the teaching and learning process because it is so easy for your students to play notes and chords clearly. It will easily respond to your students playing and will accurately reflect their efforts and move them forward to better technical and musical development. It is also easy to accurately tune so they can tune more often which greatly contributes to early ear training. You can spend your time doing what you do best – teaching the joy and excitement of learning how to play an instrument – without the instrument itself being a barrier to learning. Our FirstGuitar Custom Setup and Adjusted Guitars will make it easier for you to teach and easier for your students to learn.
Specifications
Features
- For Ages 6 to 9
- FirstGuitar Custom Setup and Adjustments
- Excellent Craftsmanship
- Visually striking
- Laminated Spruce Top for structural integrity
- Traditional X-Style top braces for maximum power and projection
- Fully Functional Truss Rod for Neck Adjustments
- Professional quality Die Cast Tuning Machines insure smooth, fast and accurate tuning
- Distinctive Professional Appearance
Recommended String Gauge
No greater than Light Gauge Strings .012 through .054.
Finish and Construction
- Transparent Red Gloss Finish
- Select Laminated Spruce Top
- Catalpa* Back & Sides
- 2 Piece Back with Abalone Type stripe
- Adjustable Mahogany Neck
- Cream Bridge Pins with Abalone Dot
- Abalone Type Rosette
- 7 Ply Binding with Abalone Type Strip
- Single Ply Cream Fingerboard Binding
- Chrome Die Cast Tuning Machines
Measurements
- Overall Length…………… 34.5”
- Scale Length …………….. 22”
- Nut Width ………………… 1.5”
- Fretboard Radius ……… 16”
- Body Depth ……………… 3.125″
- Body Length ……………. 16”
- Upper Bout ………………. 9”
- Lower Bout ……………… 12.75”
- Waist ………………………. 7.75”
All measurements to the nearest 8th inch.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Catalpa*is a very sustainable hardwood and tends to be on the softer side of the hardwood scale. It has a straight grain and superb stability with very low shrinkage rates. It is relatively easy to work and glues and finishes well. The general appearance is somewhat like ash.
FirstGuitar Easy-to-Play Guarantee
- We are so confident in the quality and easy playability of our guitars that we offer a 100% Money Back guarantee.
- If within a 30 Day Trial period you don't find our guitars to be the easiest to play in their class, we will refund the purchase price of your order. See our Return Policy for details.
- Inspected and adjusted to the specifications of Jim Thomas, founder of Thomas Music Co. and co-founder of FirstGuitar.com.
- No one knows the needs of the new player better than a dedicated professional music/guitar teacher.
- For this very reason every guitar that comes through our doors goes through a 26 point inspection and adjustment process.
- This is your guarantee of a guitar that is selected, inspected and adjusted so you can experience greater success in learning to play the guitar and develop proper technique.
- See our Inspection and Adjustment process.
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