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Despite the Minion name, this cool electric guitar thankfully has nothing to do with the annoying yellow characters in the Despicable Me series! No, this is Jackson’s JS1X Dinky Minion – a cute but powerful electric guitar that’s perfect for kids. However, with some cool features and an even cooler price tag, adult players will definitely see the appeal too… Let’s take a closer look.
Starting with style, and the JS1X Dinky Minion boasts super-cool palette of eye-catching finishes including Neon Orange, Bright Blue, Ferrari Red and the slightly more conservative Gloss Black. The 22.5” scale length solid poplar body sports Jackson’s classic modified Super Strat body shape, that’s 2/3 the size of a regular guitar, proving small and comfortable enough for any kid, whether sitting or standing.
The reinforced bolt-on maple neck, with a slim and narrow profile, is also very easy for small hands to get around. This neck sports a rosewood fretboard and a full 24 jumbo frets, with Jackson’s distinctive pearloid sharkfin inlays. You also get the classic Jackson reverse headstock, which just adds to the overall appeal of this well-made little performer. However, it really feels in need of a good setup and string change out of the box, which can be performed by either an adult or a local guitar store, usually for a small fee.
As for hardware, the Minion comes fitted with decent stock components that keep the price low, but perform reasonably well. It has two high-output Jackson humbucking pickups, which are tended to by a three-way selector switch, and a single master volume and master tone control. This gives kids enough versatility while keeping things simple. It also has a set of chrome tuners and a fixed bridge – there’s no whammy bar, but this is great for overall tuning stability.
For the small price and size, this guitar actually sounds amazing. Of course, it depends on the amp you play it through, but clean tones were warm and clear, while the Minion was chunky and relatively full in tone when played with distortion. Genuinely, this is one of the best sounding kid’s guitars you can buy. Performance worthy? If you’re thinking about school talent shows and battle of the bands, this instrument could certainly hold its own!
As electric guitars for kids go, it’s quite hard to beat the Jackson JS1X Dinky Minion – especially if your youngster has an interest in rock and metal. But even if not, this guitar’s playability and comfort, not to mention great sound, makes it well worth the sub-$200 price tag.
For more info about the Jackson JS1X Dinky Minion, click here.
For more electric guitars for kids you might like, click here.
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