Whether your child was bewitched by Jimi Hendrix’s Stratocaster or enthralled by Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s SG, it’s likely that the electric guitar’s command over their waking moments hasn’t ceased. The only prescription? More guitar. Luckily for you, Sweetwater carries a vast range of classic electric guitars and newly designed axes that will offer their fretboards to your child at a moment’s notice. Read on, and you’ll find the new sonic companion that’ll bestow musical edification and enrichment to your child’s life!
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
Electric Guitars for Kids
Squier Mini Strat Electric Guitar
As children, many of us are drawn to the Strat, thanks to the spirited fingers of folks such as David Gilmour or Jimi Hendrix and even contemporary players like Tash Sultana. If rockin’ guitar sounds resonate with your child, then you can’t go wrong with a Squier Mini Strat. This short-scale guitar easily fits in smaller hands and sits comfortably against the body, thanks to its ultra-smooth contours and cutaways. Three single-coil pickups bring those superb classic-rock tones while also providing a tonal domain that covers the realms of many contemporary players.
Squier Mini Jazzmaster HH Electric Guitar
Often favored by contemporary indie, alternative-rock, and even pop musicians, the Jazzmaster’s resurgence keeps on going. That’s because this guitar delivers seriously cool tone, and the Squier Mini Jazzmaster HH even offers a three-way toggle switch for its dual humbuckers, meaning kids can readily experiment with gritty growls and jazzy jangles. Its smaller body size makes it a perfect fit for kids, and it looks cool enough to rock your socks off.
Epiphone SG Special Satin E1 Electric Guitar
You’ve seen and heard it in the hands of Angus Young, Pete Townshend, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Jake Kiszka, but now it’s time to hear it in your child’s hands — plus, you don’t have to spend a fortune. The Epiphone SG Special Satin E1‘s aesthetic attitude, brought forth by a vintage finish, finds a rival in its tone, thanks to two humbuckers that really cook. Though it’s a full-scale-length guitar, the SG Special yields a comfortable playing experience with its compact body shape and rosewood fretboard. You’ll churn out some killer tones with this bad boy. A note if you want to take it onstage: the SG never fails to turn heads.
Ibanez AZES Electric Guitar
The Ibanez AZES offers entry-level players unique onstage playability, rad electronics, and fantastic tone at a price that goes easy on the purse strings. Explore these models for a guitar that brings electrifying capabilities to almost any musical genre, thanks to nine different pickup sound combinations. For a kid who is serious about learning and has a shredding future ahead of them, the AZES line outfits them with both single-coil and humbucker tones, allowing for experimentation with both types of pickups — a great introduction to all the guitars they’ll voraciously collect down the line.
Yamaha PAC012DLX Pacifica Electric Guitar
Kiddos and beginners often favor Yamaha guitars for a few main reasons: tone variety, excellent playability, diverse yet easy-to-understand controls, and — last but not least — a radical tremolo. The Yamaha PAC012DLX Pacifica is truly a bang-for-your-buck guitar — and not just because of the humbucker. It also sports two single-coils for a classic and beloved HSS configuration that pummels out tone to simply rock their amp. A full-scale fretboard with a C-shaped neck fits comfortably into hands new to the instrument and may easily become their favorite neck shape moving forward. Wait until you see the smile on their face with this one!
Electric Guitar Starter Packs for Kids
Don’t want to go through the process of handpicking every piece of gear your little guitar virtuoso needs to get plugged in and playing? We don’t blame you. Luckily, Sweetwater has tons of all-encompassing starter packs and bundles that bring together the essentials, so your kid can rock it right out of the box — no research required to find the perfect amp, gig bag, cables, or tuners.
Epiphone Slash “AFD” Les Paul Special-II Performance Pack
This Epiphone Slash “AFD” Les Paul Special-II Performance Pack will set your child up for rock ‘n’ roll glory. Slash himself even had a hand in designing this lightweight, smaller-body Les Paul with open-coil humbuckers. The guitar’s built-in tuner will save your child time and won’t require them to keep track of a separate tuning device. Paired with a screaming, gain-driven, 15-watt combo amp reverentially named the Snakepit-15, it’ll definitely put a sparkle in their eye. The pack also includes a premium gig bag, picks, a strap, an instrument cable, and some free eMedia guitar lessons. Ignite their love for rocking hard with this Performance Pack that supplies a Slash-made-famous tone!
Epiphone Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior Player Pack
You won’t be an American Idiot when you snag this Epiphone Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior Player Pack. It all starts with a beginner guitar that punches way above its weight while also boasting some solid electronics and playability. A P-90 pickup, beloved by pro guitarists for years, stars on this Les Paul with stellar tone. A 15-watt combo amp complements the guitar with enough volume for unstoppable jamming and rocking out at all hours. Replete with a gig bag, an instrument cable, a strap, picks, and a tuner, this pack outfits your little tyke with the necessary equipment to hone their skills.
Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Pack
Children who are starting guitar from scratch will need more than just an instrument. That’s what makes the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Pack such a great choice for beginners. For starters, you get a Squier Strat, which is among the most-played electric guitar models in the world. This easy-playing guitar boasts a lightweight poplar body, a comfortable C-shaped neck, and a high-gain bridge humbucker that’s tailor-made for red-hot hard rock. This pack also includes a Frontman 15G amplifier that delivers huge Fender sound in a fun-size, portable package. This amp includes normal and drive channels, plus a headphone jack for silent practice. The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Pack also comes with a strap, a cable, picks, a gig bag, and a 3-month Fender Play subscription — everything a new player could ask for!
Yamaha GigMaker Electric Guitar Pack
A surefire axe that’ll win over kids without a doubt is the Yamaha PAC012 Pacifica. This Yamaha GigMaker pack sports one of these rad guitars, favored by guitarists both young and old, along with all the trappings to make it really sing. A pair of single-coils joins an open-coil humbucker on this beastie for a tone that’ll absolutely knock your kid off their feet! At least, it will once you plug it into the included Yamaha GA15II guitar amplifier. A strap, picks, a tuner, a cable, and a sturdy gig bag are ready to tackle the beginnings of a shredding career in the hands of your little tyke.
Kramer Focus Electric Guitar Player Pack
For your future shredder, this Kramer Focus Player Pack is complete with the groovy Kramer Focus electric guitar that sports three pickups (two single-coils and a humbucker), a recipe for dynamite tone, especially when you throw in that tremolo. Once your kid plugs into the Kramer Electar 10-watt amp, they’ll be on their way to the big time. They can even take their newfound knowledge to the stage, thanks to this pack’s included gig bag, strap, guitar cable, picks, and clip-on tuner. When you really want them to keep playing, give them everything they need with this starter pack!
Epiphone Power Players Pack
The Epiphone Power Players Pack will give any player the inspiration to create the next classic riff. With the option of either a Les Paul or an SG body — reminiscent of those guitarists we loved growing up — these guitars are sure to turn heads when performing. Tailor-made for a beginner guitarist, the Power Players Pack sports a shorter scale, slimmed-down mahogany body, and comfortable “D” profile neck perfect for speedy fretting. Tone will be the least of your worries, as these guitars are equipped with humbuckers that’ll give your guitar that classic rock ‘n’ roll tone we love. This pack also includes a strap, picks, an instrument cable, and a gig bag so that your new guitarist has all the tools to get rocking right away! Don’t forget to add a guitar amp!
Pass the Torch to the Next Generation
Whatever guitar you choose, your child’s happiness and enthusiasm to practice will tell you that you made the right choice. Luckily, with this buying guide and Sweetwater’s expert Sales Engineers standing by, you can’t go wrong. If you have any questions about what guitar will work best for your child’s size or favorite genre, then give Sweetwater a call at (800) 222-4700. Our kids are the future of music; let’s do our best to encourage, prepare, and inspire them!
