3/4 size classical guitar for an adult?

[MartinBarre]

I'm obviously a big fan of Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson has always played 3/4 size (or even smaller!) classical guitars. I have a 6 string full size acoustic and a 12 string but I find both to be a pain in the arse because of their size (being predominantly an electric player, I hate big bodied acoustic guitars!)

I'd quite like to get a cheap solid-top classical guitar and a 3/4 size would let my 6 year-old daughter get into it too. But I see a lot of things on the net saying an adult needs a full size guitar, which seems plain wrong to me. I won't be playing it live, unamplified so why does it need a big body?
Are the necks on 3/4 size classicals much smaller than the neck on an RR5 or whatever? I doubt it. :think:

And if adults NEED a full size guitar, how the fuck did Ian Anderson write and perform so many classic songs on small ones?

Case in point:

[straycat]

Got to see JT one time and its was a pretty magical show.

[Gartron]

I'd have a look at the fender esc80. At £71 quid you can't go wrong !!

[wilkinsi]

I'd have a look at the fender esc80. At £71 quid you can't go wrong !!

Fender or Fisher Price?

[MartinBarre]

Actually the Fender was the one I was thinking about. GuitarGuitar have them so I could actually go up and try one and take my daughter too. There's a cool review by a Glaswegian on Youtube too, seems a decent guitar.

[Gartron]

Funny , I was thinking of picking one up as well at some point!

[MartinBarre]

Great Scottish minds think alike eh :-)

[pianoguyy]

I'm obviously a big fan of Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson has always played 3/4 size (or even smaller!) classical guitars. I have a 6 string full size acoustic and a 12 string but I find both to be a pain in the arse because of their size (being predominantly an electric player, I hate big bodied acoustic guitars!)

I'd quite like to get a cheap solid-top classical guitar and a 3/4 size would let my 6 year-old daughter get into it too. But I see a lot of things on the net saying an adult needs a full size guitar, which seems plain wrong to me. I won't be playing it live, unamplified so why does it need a big body?
Are the necks on 3/4 size classicals much smaller than the neck on an RR5 or whatever? I doubt it. :think:

And if adults NEED a full size guitar, how the fuck did Ian Anderson write and perform so many classic songs on small ones?

Case in point:

I don't know what 'the Tull' uses.
But I do know a thing or two about guitars.


Are you sure that you want a 3/4 sized guitar? All I keep seeing you say is about the big body.
Full size, 3/4 size, half-size, student size, etc etc -- they are not body sizes. Although, body size does come into play with them.

It refers to scale length.


Your electric is probably 25.5". The body is a strat or les paul or v, or whatever body you have. No matter what body style you have, the scale length is fairly standard.
The acoustic is no different. The scale length should be full sized. Your body can be a dreadnaught (what most people call full size), or a jumbo (even bigger), or an orchestral (smaller), or thin body, or shallow body, or any number of things...

Classical guitar bodies are slightly smaller then the typical steel string. So is their scale length.
Their necks are much wider and thicker. This is to accommodate the different ways the strings are played.

There is also a spanish instrument called a requinto. They look like classical guitars, but are slightly smaller. They are also tuned higher, ADGCFA.
Sometimes called a tenor guitar by english speakers.


I ran into this a lot at the store. People said they didn't want 'full sized' but they really meant they didn't want a dreadnaught. I just had to educate them on what they meant and what was available.


As far as the kids go...
I say that by the time they turn 8, they need a full sized guitar (i started a few months before I turned 8 with tremendous results). Obviously, a kid's arm can't handle a dreadnaught, but they do need the scale length.
At 6, you can buy them a 3/4 size which they will grow out of. Or a full size that they will grow into.

[MartinBarre]

Okay, so what you're saying is I want a full sized classical guitar with a smaller body? Any links to entry level ones like that?

[pianoguyy]

Okay, so what you're saying is I want a full sized classical guitar with a smaller body? Any links to entry level ones like that?

What I am saying is that classical guitars have smaller bodies to begin with, but that also you can buy a steel string with a smaller body.
Scale length is the important thing, body size is a personal preference.


You're going to need to find a store that carries a large variety of acoustic guitars. Test out all of the various body styles. Get your hands on it. Feel it. Touch it. Experience it.
And take the kid. Have them test them out too.

[84sups]

Just play what feels right to you. A strat-acoustic for instance has a smaller body with a full size scale length. Body size will make a tone difference. Basically its a personal preference thing

[Mudlark]

I had a 3/4 Fender classical...looked like an MC-1 but not certain.. and I found it extremely comfortable and had no problems with the neck or fret board dimensions. The neck of course was short but the fret board was plenty wide. Chording was a breeze and its small size and weight made it possible to practically lay on the couch and watch TV while playing.

I seem to recall a Squier logo instead of Fender but I can't picture it my head anymore. I'd recommend it for a child or an adult, without hesitation.

[coloradoman25]

i bought a taylor smaller body its getting more play than all my electrics combined over the last 4 months lol

[84sups]

Those baby Taylors are full scale length with a little body. They sound big too, ebony fretboard and bridge if I remember right

[coloradoman25]

I didnt get the baby i got the smaller body 114 but the one i got is discontinued it was a legacy model or something. Its killer and sounds huge action is low as can be.