The GRGM21M miKro packs legitimate electric guitar tone into a compact 22.2-inch scale length that fits younger players perfectly. The basswood body keeps the weight kid-friendly, and the Infinity R pickups deliver real Ibanez tone -- not the weak, tinny sound you get from some junior guitars. The maple neck and fingerboard play fast and smooth, which matters because young players give up quickly on instruments that fight them.

The Blue Burst finish looks sharp and grown-up, which is important when you are trying to get a kid excited about practicing. This is not a toy guitar -- it is a properly built short-scale instrument that sounds good through an amp and feels rewarding to play. Once they outgrow it, the miKro holds its value well as a travel guitar too.