Advice regarding build for a child....

Kalimna

Greetings folks,
I will be making an acoustic guitar for my 6 n a half year old this year. Hopefully to be finished before his birthday in June.
So, my question is what style/scale should i aim for? He has no experience playing guitar but has asked for an acoustic because 'its not as loud as your other ones'.
I wasnt necessarily thinking of a 3/4 size guitar, but maybe a 12th fret parlour? 
Thoughts?

Cheers,
Adam

WezV

A short scale parlour with a simple ladder bracing.  Aim to go for something that can take nylon or steel strings to give options as he grows

Kalimna

Sounds much like what i had in mind. May i ask why ladder bracing? I suspect my preference would be for nylon, and make another one for steel string later on rather than compromise the design in that way.

Cheers,
Adam

WezV

I think some of the old ladder braced acoustics have a lot of charm.  I quite like it on the smaller bodies and it will work with either string type. 

octatonic

I've built a ladder braced parlour- it has its own character but I would much prefer doing an X braced parlour.

I'll try to find some pics of the one I built.

octatonic

Soundboard bracing: 



Completed, but not finished:

WezV

nice comparison vid here



I mainly suggested it for its ease of build and easy repairability, but i really don't think ladder bracing is a terrible thing, just lots of terrible ladder braced guitars made in the past.

octatonic

Yes, it makes a lot of sense for a build for a kid, especially as it will save about 5-6 hours.

Kalimna

Thanks for the pictures and advice. I may just try out the ladder bracing, just as an experiment. The reduction in time (though im not sure i understand why its all that much less work - a few less braces to prepare and no x-brace notch to cut) is not an issue though.
I shall post up a WIP when i get started.

Cheers,
Adam

BigMonka

@Kalimna that's an amazing gift for your child, great stuff!
The only my dad ever made me was chicken nuggets and chips!