opinion on kid's guitar.

[mgaut051]

Hey all,

Just stumbled upon this:

http://www.loogguitars.com/

3 string guitars for kids. 185$. Assemble together - paint it if you like.

I have a 3 year old I'm dying to get into this.

Worth it?

 

[mayfly]

Just get a $30 Uke instead.  Then they'll be singing your own songs for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5szGv8S9-44

 

[reluctant-builder]

Just get a $30 Uke instead.  Then they'll be singing your own songs for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5szGv8S9-44

That is the most damned adorable thing I've seen today. Damn it when I see things that make me want to have kids.

Edit: And he appears to be left-handed, well done!

 

[mgaut051]

Cute!

My 3 yr old has the attention span of a goldfish...

I guess you're right....


BUT I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GUITAR BUILDER'S FORUM AND I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR A REALLY GREAT EXCUSE TO BUILD ANOTHER tiny GUITAR

 

[erogenousjones17]

I think those are Loog kits are really neat. It's not just about getting a child's guitar; it's also about instilling the joy of building and doing things for yourself. That said, at nearly $200, they're just too pricey for what they are: a child's guitar.

 

[reluctant-builder]

I think those are Loog kits are really neat. It's not just about getting a child's guitar; it's also about instilling the joy of building and doing things for yourself. That said, at nearly $200, they're just too pricey for what they are: a child's guitar.

It would be interesting to suss out what it would cost to make one from scratch. It seems like the only truly difficult bit would be shaping the side of the guitar, but the Loog's look very cursory, overall, which leads to me believe that you could get any halfway decent two pieces of wood, cut them to shape and size, cut a hole in one, and voila. Still, for all that effort, buying wood for a neck and planing it, even if it is only for 3-strings, installing frets in a tiny fingerboard ... $185 doesn't seem too unreasonable. It's probably way more than the thing is worth, but there's the added "neat" factor of assembling it, and its child-friendly colorful fret markers.

You could go buy a cheapo Mark II guitar for 40 bucks or something, but that would have six strings and truly be a POS. But it's totally sufficient for an absolute beginning guitarist, to gauge any interest they have in playing, for next to no outlay.

Edit: I think I just dated myself somewhat; did a search for Mark II and got very few matches for the cheap student guitars of which I was thinking. Guess they're not made anymore.

 

[elgravos]

I definitely think they are pretty cool.  There was another thread on these some time ago.  The whole gist of it was linked to how the "crowdsourced" the money to launch the company.  I'm glad to see it worked out.

I would be game to buy one despite the price - which does appear a little steep.  Their talking point is that they are actually made using half decent wood and are well built and properly intonated - unlike pretty much anything under $100 you can find in Target or the kids' section generally.  Of course, I haven't played one so maybe that's all BS - but one can only hope.

I also obviously dig the idea that you have to build it yourself (and the fact that you can trade up to a longer scale neck as your kid grows).  My daughter is still too young for this otherwise I would definitely get her on (and use it myself).  She already quite enjoys playing all my guitars so this would be a good insurance policy if nothing else as it would hopefully keep her two year old hands away from my higher spec axes.

 

[reluctant-builder]

Listening to two of the videos:

http://vimeo.com/22804921

and

http://vimeo.com/15168491

It sounds to me like the Loogs lose intonation up the neck.

 

[animal control]

I hope said 3yo is going to be doing the heavy lifting of the assembly with a little guidance. I would be willing to spring that much for a project I could share with my grandkid. This post is quite inspiring! What a project for lots of work in progress shots.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I think those are Loog kits are really neat. It's not just about getting a child's guitar; it's also about instilling the joy of building and doing things for yourself. That said, at nearly $200, they're just too pricey for what they are: a child's guitar.

I agree with this statement 100%.