Mando for a child

[babymedic]

I'm thinking of getting my neice a mando for her fourth birthday, and am considering a couple models. Now, she loves bluegrass, but I don't think she'll care about scrolls and f holes--and, she is the most fastidious child I've ever known, so I'm not looking for something that's indestructable.

I had been planning on the weber sweet pea, but I recently discovered mid-mo's kid-mo mando. Can anyone who has played either of these models tell me if they think they're kid friendly? And, if anyone knows of any other quality mandos in the $300 price range, please let me know what they are!

Thanks! Amy.

[8ch(pl)]

I would start with the 4 string Kid mo. The Sweet pea has an adult scale length. The Kid-mo is shorter. The 4 strings may be easier to handle for a younger learner.

[saznpins]

Hi Amy,
The sweet pea is great, I love it http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I've read here that you can string it with just 4 strings for a child, and then when they get stronger you can put on the full 8. And you won't have to upgrade to do it http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I think I've even seen a picture of two around of a kid picking a sweet pea.

Oh, they're great to travel with or keep at work, too ;)
Cheers,
Sarah

[JiminRussia]

Dang! I misunderstood the heading. I thought that this was a swap offer and I had a chance to get rid of a rug-rat and get another mandolin.

[Jim M.]

Well, I got pretty good kids, so it would take at least a Nuggett for me to trade one. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

But seriously, both Sweetpea and Kid Mo are very good mandos. With a 4-yr old, I'd recommend a Kid Mo because, like Glen said, it has a shorter scale. You wouldn't start a 4-yr. old on a full scale fiddle, so why start on a full scale mando. And use very light strings. Fingertips tend to be pretty soft at that age and they can get discouraged if it starts hurting.

[John Flynn]

You can also get a uke and order a custom string set to have it strung like a 4 string mando. Advantages: Much cheaper, even shorter scale for the short reach, even easier on the fingers.

[markdavenport]

I have a Sweet pea I bought for my son..
I'm going to post it in the classifieds
for sale... it's a nice kiddie mando but
he never took to it...