There are few things cuter than a tiny electric guitar, especially when it looks like something Keith Richards might have played. Now Fender and Loog are celebrating the 75th anniversaries of two of the most famous instruments in music history with a pair of kid-sized guitars that look remarkably like the real thing.
The new Fender x Loog Precision Bass and Telecaster cost $229.99 each and are designed to introduce children to electric instruments without forcing them to wrestle with full-sized guitars. Both have three strings, smaller bodies and the classic Fender styling that has graced stages for three-quarters of a century.
The big news here is the Precision Bass, which marks Loog’s first attempt at making a bass guitar. Based on Fender’s original 1951 design, the instrument features a compact scale, a single pickup and three strings. It comes in White Blonde, Candy Apple Red, Sea Foam Green and a limited-edition Hello Kitty Black finish.
The original Precision Bass helped establish the electric bass as a serious instrument, giving musicians an alternative to hauling around enormous upright basses. The Loog version is considerably smaller, but the company says it still produces a proper electric bass sound. There’s even a standard quarter-inch output jack, so your aspiring bassist can plug into an amplifier and annoy the neighbors just like a professional.
The Telecaster, meanwhile, comes in the classic Butterscotch Blonde finish with a black pickguard. It’s a miniature version of the instrument that helped define the sound of rock, country and countless other genres. Like the other guitars in the Loog lineup, it has three strings instead of six, making it easier for beginners to learn basic chords and start playing songs.
Both instruments feature authentic Fender headstocks and Loog’s three-string fretboard design. They’re manufactured by Loog in collaboration with Fender, so these aren’t simply toy guitars with a famous logo slapped onto the headstock. They’re functional instruments intended to teach children the basics of playing music.
That’s an important distinction. Plenty of cheap children’s guitars look the part but are difficult to tune, uncomfortable to play and generally frustrating for anyone trying to learn. Loog’s approach is to simplify the instrument itself while preserving the basic experience of playing a real guitar.
The three-string setup is central to that idea. Kids can learn chord shapes and melodies without having to deal with all six strings of a conventional guitar. The company also offers a learning app with video lessons and game-like exercises, allowing beginners to practice at their own pace.
Each instrument comes with access to the Loog Guitar app and an exclusive Fender activity book featuring games, trivia and other exercises. The book is a nice addition, particularly for parents who would prefer their children spend a little less time staring at a screen.
For Loog founder Rafael Atijas, the bass is something of a personal project.
“Launching Loog’s first bass alongside the 75th anniversary of the Precision Bass is especially meaningful. It’s also full circle for me, since bass was the first instrument I played at 13,” he said.
The collaboration also makes sense for Fender. The company has spent decades selling instruments to musicians of every skill level, but learning guitar can still be an intimidating experience for young children. A smaller instrument with fewer strings offers a way to get started before graduating to a full-sized Stratocaster, Telecaster or Precision Bass.
Of course, there’s a limit to how far three strings will take you. These instruments are designed as starting points rather than direct replacements for conventional guitars and basses. Eventually, a child who sticks with the instrument will need to learn the additional strings and techniques used on a standard model.
Still, I like the idea of giving kids something that looks and feels like a real musical instrument instead of a plastic approximation. There’s something satisfying about seeing a miniature Precision Bass with a proper pickup and output jack, particularly when it comes in the same finishes as its considerably larger relatives.
The Fender x Loog Precision Bass and Butterscotch Blonde Telecaster are available now for $229.99 each through Loog, Fender and selected retailers worldwide. The Hello Kitty Black Precision Bass is available exclusively through Loog and selected retailers.
If you’ve got a budding musician in the house, these might be a good way to get them started. Just remember that buying your child an electric bass also means you may soon be buying an amplifier. And possibly some earplugs.