Description
Review of the Smartxchoices 38 Inch Kids Acoustic Guitar Bundle Kit
The Smartxchoices 38 Inch Kids Acoustic Guitar Bundle Kit is a reduced size steel string folk acoustic sold with a small accessory pack, aimed at children, teenagers and adults with shorter arms who want a first instrument that arrives ready to tune and play. It sits in the lowest tier of the acoustic guitars the site tracks, and the whole package is built around getting a beginner through the first few months rather than around tone refinement. Everything below comes from the manufacturer listing and the specification table published with it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Body length of 38 inches suits smaller players. A shorter body and a narrower waist mean a child can wrap an arm over the instrument without the lower bout pushing the fretting hand out of position, which is the most common reason a young beginner stops practising.
- The bundle covers the first purchases most beginners forget. A gig bag, a strap, a spare string set, a pick and a pitch pipe are included, so nothing else has to be ordered before the first lesson.
- Steel strings give clear note separation. Alloy steel strings project more sharply than nylon, which makes it easier for a learner to hear whether a chord is fretted cleanly or is buzzing.
Cons
- The listing contradicts itself about size. One line calls the instrument a “complete 38 inch full size folk acoustic guitar” while another says it is designed for young learners with a compact body. Both cannot be true. A full size steel string dreadnought is normally around 41 inches, so 38 inches is a reduced size instrument regardless of the wording used.
- The fingerboard wood is a weak point on paper. The specification table lists a basswood fretboard. Basswood is soft, and fretboards are usually made from harder timbers such as rosewood or walnut because frets seat better and wear more slowly in hard wood.
- Tuning aid mismatch. The description mentions an easy to use tuner, then advises downloading a phone tuning app, and the accessory list only contains a pitch pipe. A pitch pipe is far harder for a beginner to use accurately than a clip on tuner.
- The specification table and the description disagree on wood. The table lists a birch top and neck with a basswood body, back and fretboard, while the description says only “all wood construction” with no species named. Nothing in the listing identifies which surface is which.
Detailed Product Description
The body measures 38 by 14 by 3.25 inches and the whole guitar is listed at 5.5 pounds. The specification table gives basswood for the body and back with a birch top, while the neck is birch and the fingerboard is basswood. Basswood and birch are both inexpensive, tight grained timbers used across the budget end of the market. They are stiff enough to hold a shape and take a finish, and the trade off is a tone that is even but short on the ringing overtones a spruce top produces. For a learner working through open chords, this matters far less than the fact that the instrument stays together and holds a tuning.
The fingerboard carries 19 frets according to the description, which is generous for an instrument this size and means the upper positions are reachable even though most beginners will not use them for a year or more. The neck is described as slim, which helps small hands close a barre chord. The bridge is fixed, with no adjustable saddle mechanism, so string height is set at the factory and cannot be raised or lowered without shimming or sanding the saddle. If the action arrives high, that is a job for a local technician. The guide to guitar action and setup covers what to check and what a reasonable string height looks like.
What Comes with the Product
The listing states the box contains the guitar, a carrying case, a shoulder strap, an extra set of strings, a pitch pipe and a guitar pick. Accessories are packed in small boxes placed inside the guitar carton, which the manufacturer asks buyers to check on arrival.
Not included: a clip on electronic tuner, a capo, a guitar stand, a spare saddle or nut, a hard case, a strap button at the heel in some configurations, and any printed or online lesson material. The strap ties to the headstock at one end because there is no upper strap button, which is normal at this price tier but means the knot has to be tied properly to be safe.
Who It Suits
This kit suits a child aged roughly eight to thirteen, a small framed teenager, or an adult who wants a knockabout guitar for a sofa or a caravan and does not want to risk a better instrument. It is also a reasonable choice for a household that wants to test whether interest in guitar lasts before committing to something better. The guide on what size guitar to buy for a child explains how to match body length to arm reach.
Look elsewhere if the player is an adult of average build who intends to keep playing, because the shorter scale will feel cramped within months. Anyone who wants a solid top, an onboard pickup, or a fingerboard that will take years of hard use should also step up. The YMC 38 inch starter kit and the Lankro A10 38 inch bundle compete at the same size, and the other Smartxchoices 38 inch bundle is the closest sibling.
How to Maintain
Wipe the strings down with a dry cloth after every session, because sweat is what kills a cheap string set fastest. Keep the guitar in the supplied bag when it is not being played, away from radiators and away from a window that gets direct sun, since a laminate body still swells and shrinks with humidity swings. Change the full string set rather than replacing single strings once the tone dulls, and see how often guitar strings should be changed for a schedule. Loosen the strings a little if the guitar will be stored for several months. The finish cleans with a slightly damp cloth and nothing stronger.
Tips and Recommendations
Budget for a clip on tuner straight away. It is the single accessory that makes the biggest difference to a beginner, and the supplied pitch pipe will frustrate most learners. The manufacturer notes that the guitar ships with the strings slack to protect the neck in transit, so expect the first week of tuning to be unstable while the strings stretch and settle. Retune before every practice session for that first week and the guitar will hold pitch far better afterwards. A full beginner starter kit comparison is worth reading before settling on any single bundle.
Warranty & Support Information
The listing states that a defective or broken guitar will be replaced by the manufacturer, but it does not publish a warranty length, a claim process or a contact route. Treat that as a replacement offer at the seller’s discretion rather than a defined warranty term, and keep the order record.
Product FAQ
Is this a full size guitar? No. It measures 38 inches, and a full size steel string acoustic is normally around 41 inches. The listing uses the phrase “full size” in one bullet, which conflicts with the stated dimensions.
Does it have steel or nylon strings? Steel. The specification table lists alloy steel strings, and the description confirms six steel strings.
Can it be plugged into an amplifier? No. There is no pickup or preamp listed, so amplification would need a separate soundhole pickup or a microphone.
