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Permalink Reply by Ryan Turner on August 29, 2014 at 7:32am

Have you built your neck and attached to the box yet? You might find the regular size and scale is fine for him

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on August 29, 2014 at 7:34am

Here's a nice article I found on what scale lengths work for kids. http://guitardreams.wordpress.com/2008/04/19/kids-electric-guitars/

They're saying for a child your son's age, something in the neighborhood of 22.2". The scale length is the length of the vibrating string - so it's the length from the nut to the bridge. The actual guitar will be longer than that.

So just build a regular style cigar box guitar, except the neck is shorter. There is a scale length calculator here: http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator

Practice installing frets on the some scrap wood first to get the feel of it.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Borczon on August 29, 2014 at 7:43am

why not build him a ukulele instead. Short scale, 15 inches for a concert size. The frets can be make from toothpicks since the strings are nylon so no real learning curve there. Also you can find tuners really cheap on ebay. I just got 4 of them for under 2 dollars. There are some really good free plans out there as well. Just google cigar box ukulele or check the plans section here.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Tobul on August 29, 2014 at 9:44am

Thanks folks. I haven't started on anything yet. Those links look like just what I need Skeesix, thanks!

I am not sure he would like a kid, but I sure would! I love hawaiian music. Seems like I found my second build.

Aaron

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Tobul on August 29, 2014 at 11:46am

Err...that "kid" should be "uke". Danged auto-UN-correct.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on August 29, 2014 at 7:40pm

Hi Aaron,

I made a couple of these last year, which are kinda like a cross between a Uke and a Dulcimer...

Effectively they have a Ukulele scale (Soprano 13") but just 3 nylon strings with diatonic fretting. I made one for my daughter and one for a friend's, both of whom were under 2 at the time and they had lots of fun with them. My thinking was these are a good first instrument as there are very few 'wrong' notes, and it's very easy to pick out a melody on the top string and play the other two as drones. You could easily scale it up for your boy though.

I have the plans somewhere, let me know if you would like them.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Tobul on August 30, 2014 at 2:57am

Richey,

That looks like a great beginner instrument. I would love the plans if you have them. Thanks!

Aaron

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on August 30, 2014 at 2:59am

Cool. I'll dig them out when I get home.

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Permalink Reply by wormil on August 31, 2014 at 6:00pm

I made one with a 22" scale, it would be perfect size for all but the smallest children. 

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