How to Choose Your First Acoustic Guitar
Buying Guide | Guitars
Size first, strings second, brand last, and why setup beats spending more.
By the team at The SoundTrap, Mildura | Updated September 2026 | ~8 min read
The short answer Get the size right first, then the string type, then worry about brand. For a child under about 11, a 3/4 nylon-string classical like the Valencia VC103 at $109 is the right answer nine times out of ten. For a teen or adult starting out, a full-size steel-string around $300-$500 is the sweet spot. And whatever you buy, it must be set up, or none of the rest matters.
The one thing that matters more than brand
A guitar's setup, the string height, neck relief and intonation, determines whether it's a pleasure or a punishment to play. A properly set up $150 guitar is easier and more rewarding to learn on than a badly set up $900 one. This is not a sales line; it's the single most common reason we see beginners give up, and it's fixable in half an hour on the bench.
Every guitar we sell is set up before it leaves the shop. If you buy elsewhere, online, secondhand, from a big-box store, get it checked. It's the cheapest improvement you will ever make to an instrument.
Step 1: Size
| Size | Player age (rough) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 4-6 | Very small. Genuine instruments, not toys |
| 1/2 | 6-8 | |
| 3/4 | 8-11 | The most common children's size by a mile |
| Full size | 11+ | Most adults and teens |
Age is a guide, not a rule, arm length and hand size matter more. The test: seated, the child should be able to reach the first fret comfortably without leaning or straining their shoulder. If they're reaching, it's too big. Bring them in and we'll sit them down with two or three sizes; it takes five minutes and removes all the guesswork.
Step 2: Nylon or steel strings?
Nylon-string (classical) guitars have soft, low-tension strings and a wide flat neck. Much gentler on fingertips, which is why we recommend them for younger children and anyone worried about sore fingers. Warm, mellow sound. Suits classical, Spanish, folk and singer-songwriter playing.
Steel-string (acoustic) guitars are louder and brighter with a narrower neck, and they're what most modern pop, rock, country and blues is played on. They hurt more at the start, that's just physics.
Our honest position: for a child under 11, start nylon. For a teenager who wants to play the songs on their phone, start steel, they'll push through the sore fingers because they're motivated, and a nylon guitar won't make the sound they're chasing.
Our picks, children
Best for kids 8-11
Valencia VC103 3/4 Size Classical Guitar
$109.00
3/4 size | nylon strings | multiple colours
The guitar we put in more Mildura kids' hands than any other. Nylon strings are kind to young fingers, the 3/4 body actually fits them, and at this price it isn't a disaster if they change their mind. Set up and checked before it leaves us.
View it Smallest size
Valencia VC101 Classical Guitar
$99.00
1/4 size | nylon strings
For genuinely small children, around four to six. A real instrument at miniature scale rather than a toy, it tunes properly and holds pitch, which a toy guitar will not.
View it Left-handed kids
Valencia VC103L Classical Guitar, Left Hand
$115.00
3/4 size | nylon | genuine left-handed build
A proper left-handed instrument, not a right-handed one strung backwards. Left-handed children are too often handed the wrong guitar and told to cope, they shouldn't have to.
View it Something different
Loog Mini Acoustic + Accessory Pack
$189.00
3-string | toddler and young-child scale | includes winder, picks, strings and flashcards
Three strings instead of six, so a very young child forms real chords immediately rather than struggling with six-string shapes. Brilliant for four to seven year olds, and the chords transfer directly to a full guitar later.
Our picks, teens and adults
Best first steel-string
Takamine G11 Series Dreadnought Acoustic
$479.00
Full-size dreadnought | mahogany top, back and sides | steel strings
An all-mahogany dreadnought with a slim, satin-finish neck, which is the first thing a beginner's fretting hand notices. Mahogany top, back and sides give it a warm, detailed tone that suits strumming and singing along, and the synthetic bone nut and compensated saddle mean it plays in tune up the neck once it has been set up. If you want one full-size guitar to learn on and keep, this is our value pick.
View it Buy once, cry once
Takamine G30 Series Dreadnought Acoustic
$699.00
Full-size dreadnought | steel strings
The point where a guitar stops being a starter instrument. Takamine's build quality and playability at this level is genuinely good, and it's an instrument you'd still be happy with in ten years rather than one you'll outgrow in two.
What to budget, realistically
| Budget | What you get | Honest verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Under $100 | Small nylon-string kids' guitars | Fine for young children if set up. Avoid for adults |
| $100-$200 | Good children's guitars, entry classical | The sweet spot for kids |
| $300-$500 | Solid full-size steel-strings | The sweet spot for adult beginners |
| $700+ | Solid-top instruments you keep for years | Worth it if you're confident you'll stick with it |
Don't forget the extras: a tuner (essential), a strap, a few picks, a spare set of strings, and a bag or case if it's travelling. Budget $50-$80 on top for the lot, ask us and we'll put together what you actually need rather than a padded bundle.
Common questions
Should I buy secondhand?
It can be great value, with one caveat: get it checked before you hand over money. A cheap secondhand guitar with a warped neck or lifting bridge can cost more to repair than it's worth. Bring it in, we'll look it over and tell you straight.
Is a starter pack worth it?
Sometimes. The good ones bundle genuinely useful extras; the poor ones pad the price with a nylon strap and a plastic pitch pipe. Ask us to price the guitar plus only the extras you'll use, it's often cheaper and always more useful.
My child wants an electric, but everyone says start on acoustic. True?
No, and this myth costs a lot of kids their interest. If a child wants to play electric, buy electric, electric guitars are physically easier to play (lighter strings, lower action, thinner neck). Motivation beats tradition every time.
How do I know if it's set up properly?
Press a string down at the first fret, it should take gentle pressure, not a fight. Look along the neck for excessive bow. Play each note up the neck listening for buzz. If any of that's off, it needs a setup, not a new guitar. We do them on the bench here.
Come and try before you buy
We're a real music shop at 121 Langtree Avenue, Mildura, not a warehouse and not a PO box. Everything here is on the floor, set up properly, and you're welcome to play it before you decide. Not in town? We ship Australia-wide and we're happy to talk it through on (03) 5023 3662.
The SoundTrap | Independent music & pro audio, Mildura VIC, since 1987 | thesoundtrap.com.au
Written by people who set up instruments for a living. Prices and stock current at September 2026, check the product page for live pricing.