The Best Electric Guitar for Kids 6-10: Fender Squier Mini Strat

SUMMARY: This is the best option for a beginner electric guitar for a child ages 6 to 10 for kids who want to learn the basics on an excellent quality guitar without breaking the bank. Obviously, for the price (around $100) you won’t be getting the very best quality sound and features. Although for a child who is starting, it is a great instrument to use until they grow out of it or progress to a level where you can justify upgrading to a higher-priced guitar.

PROS: Affordable price, small size, and it is lightweight. It stays in tune well and is made by a high-quality brand.

CONS: You will want to change out the strings to a heavier gauge to help the Mini Strat stay in tune.

If you want to make sure you get a high-quality instrument at an excellent price for your child, our top pick is the Squier by Fender MINI Strat. It is a ¾ size electric (22.75″ scale length) that is a smaller version of the very popular Squier Bullet by Fender. Its small size and lightweight make it a great first instrument for kids ages 6 to 10. It plays well, stays in tune, and is the perfect size for younger kids. Once your kids move onto a full-sized model, the Mini Strat can be used as a travel guitar for players of all ages

Read More: How to Find the Best Electric Guitar for Your Child

Appearance

The body is, of course, the standard Stratocaster shape, which has been proven over time to be a great design and is one of the most copied shapes around. The Mini Strat has a nice vintage Stratocaster look to them that comes in classic colors like Black, Torino Red, Blue, Sunburst and not so classic pink. The finish is glossy and smooth, and both the body and the neck look and feel like a real Strat.

Playability

The Mini Strat is an easy instrument to play. The neck is smooth and very nicely finished, and the strings are close to the frets, making it easy for small hands to play and progress quickly. Also, the smaller size and lightweight of the body makes it comfortable and easy for kids to hold.  Generally, players can play this model right out of the box with little in the way of modifications.

Sound

It is a decent sounding Stratocaster with a good strong tone. It sounds like a strat, so it’s a little twangy, which is nice. For the most part, it stays in tune well and has no noise from the pickups.

Electronics

The electronics on the Mini Strat are decent for the price. It has three single coil pickups which are standard Squier Strat features, so it does sound like a typical Stratocaster.

Hardware

The hardware is very solid on this model. The tuners aren’t the greatest but they are okay for kids and will work well enough to keep it in tune, and they are easy to use once they have gotten used to them.

Workmanship

All in all, for the price you would be hard pressed to find anything better. These Mini Strats are easy to modify and customize (if that is something that you are into). Everything on this guitar is solid, and it’s assembled and finished nicely. One issue with the quality on cheaper guitars is that frets are not made well and the fret end can be a little sharp on this model, which can be a bit of a problem for kids, although in this price range it isn’t uncommon.

Things to look out for with this guitar

The strings that come with the guitar are a bit light for a short-scale guitar which can lead to tuning problems. It’s a good idea to switch to a heavier gauge string if you don’t like having to tune the guitar often. Although the more practice your kids get with learning to tune their guitar, the better, so you may want to leave the string as they are.

The tuners can be hard to turn when the guitar is right out of the box, but usually, with use, they will loosen up.

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Specifications -Squier Mini Strat Electric Guitar by Fender
Body Material -Laminated Hardwood
Body Finish -Polyurethane
Body Shape- Stratocaster®
Neck Material -Maple
Neck Shape- C-Shape
Scale Length -22.75” (578 mm)
Fingerboard – Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius -9.5″ (241 mm)
Number of Frets -20
String Nut- Synthetic Bone
Nut Width -1.6” (40.6 mm)
Position Inlays- Dot
Bridge Pickup -Standard Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup- Standard Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup- Standard Single-Coil Strat
Controls – Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching- 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup”
Bridge – 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strat Strings-Through-Body Hardtail
Hardware Finish -Chrome
Tuning Machines- Standard Die-Cast
Pickguard -1-Ply White
Control Knobs- White Plastic
Switch Tips- White
Color- Black, Torino Red, Pink, Blue, Sunburst

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