Ibanez GIO RG miKro 6-String Electric Guitar - Blue Burst Finish | Compact Electric Guitar for Beginners & Travel | Perfect for Home Practice, Studio Recording & Live Performances

I received this guitar when my kid was showing more interest in playing guitar. I wanted something that was lighter than my guitars and had a fretboard with all frets reasonably accessible without having to overstretch but would also serve for them as they grew. I do recommend this for kids possibly as young as 6 if they are kind of tall or long limbed. Otherwise, I think this is a great guitar for around 8-11.To begin with, the material quality is excellent for the money:- Knobs and switches work smoothly- Tuning keys work well and hold- Body and neck materials and finish are excellent- Frets are reasonably well finished, not protrusive or sharp- Fretboard is not a wood I am familiar with, but the feel is good and the tone it helps produce is very mid-range and versatile- Pickup quality is excellent for the moneyThe guitar has a nice tone. With the amp settings set very neutrally on an amp that is normally a bit bright, this guitar was not too much either top or bottom and sits nicely in a mid-range with a minor lean toward top end (could have been the bias of the amp). This would allow for versatility of style for play from metal, blues, country, rock, and so on. It would respond well to the amp's tonal quality.The pickup arrangement is excellent. The pickup selector can select between humbucker (warmer, fuller tone) and single coil (brighter, twangier). It will let you select between neck (brighter, more for lead), bridge (mellow, rhythm). The combinations you can pick are neck humbucker, neck single coil, neck & bridge humbucker, neck & bridge single coil, and bridge humbucker. Really, really tonally versatile.Some other reviews may observe (complain) that higher up the fretboard (closer to the body), it is hard to play. That shouldn't surprise anyone. As a short scale guitar, frets must be smaller and the frets higher up are always smaller (simply how it works as the distance from the fret to the neck reduces). One should not expect to easily play high frets on a short scale guitar. However, for kids with smaller fingers, it is perfectly fine.Compared to some other guitars of similar price range, I found this to be really worth the money and better constructed. I played several mini-strats and found them all unserviceable due to very poor fretting. I did not think those would be an enjoyable experience and therefore would disincentivize the player from continuing to play and learn.This was a pleasure to play, highly versatile, and well-built.Great 3/4 size guitar. Great guitar for young players.