#spec ops: the line starters

[hopeformankind]

@devoteyrheart sent:

“Welcome to Hell. We’ve been waiting for you.” - from mike. mb during the fall of wall maria?

spec ops: the line starters.

What met Mike at first, after he'd given the recently-appointed Commander such horrific reports, Erwin had stared almost deadpan at the words that cursed his gaze. It was the worst possible scenario, something that happened so suddenly, so-- so out of nowhere, merely a few days after they'd gotten to Wall Rose just before they themselves would've experienced the fall... the sightings of a Colossal Titan, sixty meters tall, taller than the Walls, that took out the Southern gate of Wall Maria at Shiganshina district as another Titan with armored flesh like a knight's had broken through the Northern gate.

It was like some sick, cruel joke. A joke played on him after all of the casualties seen from Commander Sha-- Keith's expeditions, now they'd only double. A leader was needed now, more than ever, but could Erwin truly succeed in such a role? When they'd been met with what could only be described as the worst fucking casualty that could ever befall Humanity?

Perhaps not. But they couldn't go back now. Regretting these decisions would only dull future decisions... all that'd be left for them is to curl up and die. And Erwin would not have that.

" 'Wall Maria's been breached'... " Erwin read aloud as if to cement such a horrific realization in his own mind, yet despite the stress this would all put upon him, there was no doubt about it. The cogs could be seen just turning in his head through those icy eyes, which began to narrow in focus. Erwin suddenly slapped the report down onto his desk, standing up with urgency.

" Seems to be Hell truly has been waiting for me... Everyone else in the Walls, too, by the looks of it. But if we're able to limit civilian casualties, then the better, despite our circumstances. " Instantly, the Commander was in work mode, something often seen from his Section-Commander days of course, but this was something far more calculated than what might've been considered before. The blonde focused on the other before him, lips pursing for a moment. " Send a request for emergency rations, I'll accompany you-- we're preparing for a sudden expedition that will leave us setting out in a few days. I want to make sure we get the refugees of Wall Maria to reach Wall Rose safely. While I trust in our fellow Regiments... " A pause, perhaps realizing his place.

" ... I cannot guarantee their success rate when it comes to battling the Titans. We will get into the Long-Distance Scouting Formation as I'd proposed to Shadis before his resignation and make sure everything is color-coded. "

" If we want this done properly, everyone needs to come together. Not just the Garrison scrambling along the Walls while the Military Police and them are left to clean up the messes. Do you understand? " He knew Mike did. Erwin would trust Mike with his life-- one of the rarer things that Erwin could ever give. He's known Mike since the earlier cadet days. Hange, as well. And yet...

... Some part of him felt ready to falter, deep down. An operation of this magnitude when they'd already lost so many soldiers... Erwin had to turn away and compose himself. Deep breaths.

He'd need to prepare for a gamble, then. Their first expedition with himself as leader... he'd need to find funding, make sure they had enough rations to handle the journey to help escort the refugees across Wall Maria to Wall Rose. It'd take days. Weeks, perhaps... and that was if Premier Zachary had faith in them. After everything with Keith? He was sure it'd be damn near zero faith, but Erwin would still work despite that. Helping refugees and survivors was their top priority.

[vincememes]

spec ops: the line starters

change pronouns as needed. all quotes were taken out of context from the game.

❛   orders ain't worth following if it means leaving people to die.  ❜  

❛   you brought this on yourself.    ❜  

❛   what happened here was out of my control...  ❜

❛   i- i didn't mean to hurt anybody...  ❜  

❛   how many are alive today, i wonder?  how many will be alive tomorrow?  ❜  

❛   your friends, dead. the world on fire. and you... alone.  ❜  

❛   you're a failure. finally, something we have in common.  ❜  

❛   welcome to hell. we've been waiting for you. ❜  

❛   someone has to pay for your crimes. who is it going to be? ❜  

❛   it takes a strong man to deny what's in front of him.  ❜  

❛   and if the truth is undeniable, you create your own.   ❜  

❛   we’ve all lived bad lives. we all sin.  ❜  

❛   forgive me, but... that's the problem. you don't know you.  ❜  

❛   the truth is that you're here because you wanted to feel like something you're not: a hero.  ❜  

❛   i'm here because you can't accept what you've done. it broke you.  ❜  

❛   you needed someone to blame, so you cast it on me: a dead person.  ❜  

❛    no matter what happens next, don't be too hard on yourself.   ❜  

❛    even now, after all you've done, you can still go home.  lucky you  ❜  

❛    and on you marched. and for what?  ❜  

❛   that guy? you shot that guy? i liked that guy...  ❜  

❛    he had a... dog... maybe? i didn't really know that guy.  ❜  

❛   you know nothing of life, my friend.  ❜  

❛   if you did, you would know the truth is whatever we wish it to be.  ❜

❛  how many people have you killed today?  ❜  

❛   there is no difference between what is right and what is necessary.  ❜  

❛   if you were a better person, you wouldn't be here.  ❜  

❛   you are still a good person.    ❜  

❛   can you even remember why you came here?  ❜  

❛    do you feel like a hero yet?  ❜  

❛   to kill for yourself is murder. to kill for your government is heroic. to kill for entertainment is harmless.  ❜  

❛    cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two conflicting ideas simultaneously.  ❜  

❛   you cannot understand, nor do you want to.  ❜  

❛   but this isn't real, so why should you care?  ❜

❛   we cannot escape anguish. it is what we are.  ❜  

❛   there is no escape.  ❜  

❛   life begins at the other side of despair.  ❜  

❛   no one can help you now.  ❜  

❛   collateral damage can be justified, if the gain outweighs the cost.  ❜  

❛   freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.   ❜  

❛   i exist and i find it nauseating.  ❜  

❛   you can't go home.  ❜  

❛    it seems that reports of my... survival... have been greatly exaggerated.    ❜  

❛    you're no savior.  your talents lie elsewhere.   ❜  

❛   i know the truth is hard to hear, but it's time.  ❜

❛   you're all that's left, and we can't live this lie forever.    ❜  

❛    if you don't mind me asking, what was it like? how did you survive all this?  ❜  

❛   ... who said i did?  ❜

[oncejaw]

(ooc) the way saturn reblogs one (1) post with Spec Ops: the Line related starters and I immediately go into .exe has stopped working mode. 

I cannot begin to express how much this game has destroyed me, and now that I think about it for more than three seconds, how relevant it is to the Warriors in particular, and AoT in general, so if you like shooter games with a very strong narrative that I can’t reveal too much about without ruining it, do yourself a favour and play or or watch a let’s play, it’s quite short (more or less five hours I think?) and well worth the experience if you can stomach war-related themes in video games.

[majornelson]

This Week’s Deals With Gold And Spotlight Sale Plus Franchise Sale

Here are this week’s games and add-on deals on the Xbox Games Store. Discounts are valid now through 28 October 2019.

These deals will expire at 10:00 am UTC on Tuesday October 29th 2019

Xbox One Deals

Content TitleContent TypeDiscountNotesNBA 2K20Xbox One X Enhanced30%DWGWreckfestXbox One Game10%DWGForza Motorsport 7 Fate of the Furious Car PackAdd-On80%DWGMudrunner – American Wilds EditionXbox Game Pass67%DWGGravelXbox One X Enhanced80%DWGStellaris: Console EditionXbox Game Pass30%DWGAge of Wonders: PlanetfallXbox One X Enhanced20%DWGNeed For SpeedXbox One Game75%DWGThe Jackbox Party PackXbox One Game50%DWG2DarkXbox One Game80%DWGAge of Wonders: Planetfall – Deluxe EditionXbox One X Enhanced20%DWGAge of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium EditionXbox One X Enhanced30%DWGAsdivine DiosXbox One Game30%DWGAwesome PeaXbox One Game30%DWGBroken Sword 5 – the Serpent’s CurseXbox One Game75%DWGCrawlXbox One Game50%DWGDegrees of SeparationXbox One Game50%DWGDigerati Mixer Bundle Vol.1Xbox One Game75%DWGGravel Special EditionXbox One X Enhanced80%DWGMudRunnerXbox Game Pass75%DWGMXGP2Xbox One Game70%DWGNBA 2K20 Digital EditionXbox One X Enhanced30%DWGNBA 2K20 Legends EditionXbox One X Enhanced30%DWGNeed For Speed RivalsXbox One Game75%DWGR.B.I. Baseball 19Xbox One Game50%DWGSEUM: Speedrunners from HellXbox One Game60%DWGSnake PassXbox Play Anywhere67%DWGStellaris: Console Edition – Deluxe EditionXbox Game Pass30%DWGThe King’s BirdXbox One Game50%DWGThe Shapeshifting DetectiveXbox One Game40%DWGTour de France 2018Xbox One Game75%DWGTrailmakersXbox One Game20%DWGValleyXbox One Game80%DWGWreckfest DeluxeXbox One Game10%DWGWreckfest Season PassAdd-On10%DWGKerbal Space Program Enhanced EditionXbox One Game75%DWGMafia III Season PassAdd-On50%DWGXCOM 2: War of the ChosenAdd-On67%DWGGrand Theft Auto VXbox One Game50%DWGGrand Theft Auto V: Premium Online EditionXbox One Game50%DWGGrand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition & Great White Shark Card BundleXbox One Game35%DWGGrand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition & Whale Shark Card BundleXbox One Game35%DWGGrand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition & Megalodon Shark Card BundleXbox One Game55%DWGGTA Online: Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack and Megalodon Shark Card BundleXbox One Game20%DWGGTA Online: Megalodon Shark Cash CardXbox One Game15%DWGMudrunner – American Wilds ExpansionAdd-On33%Spotlight SaleDeer Hunter: ReloadedXbox One Game70%Spotlight SaleDeer Hunter: Reloaded – Canada Region PackAdd-On70%Spotlight SaleHunting SimulatorXbox One Game80%Spotlight SaleMy Little Riding ChampionXbox One Game60%Spotlight SaleJYDGEXbox One Game60%Spotlight SaleTime RecoilXbox One Game60%Spotlight SaleDark Quest 2Xbox One Game50%Spotlight SaleDont Starve: Shipwrecked Console EditionXbox One Game50%Spotlight SaleCandle: The Power of the FlameXbox One Game70%Spotlight SaleBundle – HoPiKo and Tango Fiesta BundleXbox One Game80%Spotlight SaleArmelloXbox One Game50%Spotlight SaleArmello – Deluxe BundleXbox One Game50%Spotlight SaleBow to Blood: Last Captain StandingXbox One Game50%Spotlight SaleDescendersXbox Play Anywhere25%Spotlight SaleBen 10Xbox One Game40%Spotlight SaleAdventure Time: Pirates of the EnchiridionXbox One Game40%Spotlight SaleHotel Transylvania 3: Monsters OverboardXbox One Game40%Spotlight SalePaw Patrol: On a RollXbox One Game25%Spotlight SaleDreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New RidersXbox One Game25%Spotlight SaleUglyDolls: An Imperfect AdventureXbox One Game25%Spotlight SaleCrayola ScootXbox One X Enhanced40%Spotlight SaleFallout 76Xbox One X Enhanced40%Franchise SaleFallout 4Xbox Game Pass60%Franchise SaleFallout 76 Tricentennial EditionXbox One X Enhanced50%Franchise SaleFallout 4 Season PassAdd-On50%Franchise SaleFallout 76: Tricentennial Pack UpgradeXbox One Game50%Franchise SaleFallout 4: AutomatronAdd-On40%Franchise SaleFallout 4: Contraptions WorkshopAdd-On40%Franchise SaleFallout 4: Far HarborAdd-On40%Franchise SaleFallout 4: Game Of The Year EditionXbox Game Pass60%Franchise SaleFallout 4: Nuka-WorldAdd-On40%Franchise SaleFallout 4: Vault-Tec WorkshopAdd-On40%Franchise SaleFallout 4: Wasteland WorkshopAdd-On40%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division 2Xbox One X Enhanced65%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Deluxe EditionXbox One Game70%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division Franchise BundleXbox One Game75%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege – Year 4 PassAdd-On20%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Year 1 PassAdd-On40%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands – Season PassAdd-On60%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Gold EditionXbox One Game50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The DivisionXbox One X Enhanced80%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands – Year 2 PassAdd-On50%Franchise SaleGhost Recon Wildlands – Fallen GhostsAdd-On35%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands – Narco RoadAdd-On35%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Ultimate EditionXbox One X Enhanced50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege – Blitz Bushido SetAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege – Montagne Bushido SetAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege – Smoke Bushido SetAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege – Tachanka Bushido SetAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Gemstones BundleAdd-On40%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Gold EditionXbox One X Enhanced70%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Ultimate EditionXbox One X Enhanced70%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division Gold EditionXbox One X Enhanced80%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Frontline Outfit PackAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Sports Fan Outfit PackAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Upper East Side Outfit PackAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Last StandAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Season PassAdd-On70%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – SurvivalAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Military Specialists Outfits PackAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Marine Forces Outfits PackAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – Streets Of New York Outfit BundleAdd-On50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s The Division – UndergroundAdd-On50%Franchise Sale

*These offers are only valid for Xbox Live Gold members.

Please note: prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by region.

Xbox 360 Deals

Content TitleContent TypeDiscountNotesThings on WheelsArcade80%DWGCall of Juarez: GunslingerBackward Compatible65%DWGCall of Juarez: Bound in BloodBackward Compatible50%DWGCall of Juarez: The CartelBackward Compatible75%DWGSaints RowBackward Compatible75%DWGSaints Row 2Backward Compatible75%DWGSaints Row: Gat Out of HellBackward Compatible75%DWGSaints Row: The ThirdBackward Compatible75%DWGSaints Row IVBackward Compatible75%DWGPreyGames On Demand80%DWGSpec Ops: The LineBackward Compatible80%DWGXCOM: Enemy WithinBackward Compatible80%DWGRainbow Six VegasBackward Compatible67%Franchise SaleRainbow Six Vegas 2Backward Compatible67%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced WarfighterBackward Compatible50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2Backward Compatible50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future SoldierBackward Compatible50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell BlacklistBackward Compatible60%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double AgentBackward Compatible60%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell ConvictionBackward Compatible50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Splinter CellBackward Compatible50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Pandora TomorrowBackward Compatible50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos TheoryBackward Compatible50%Franchise SaleTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double AgentBackward Compatible50%Franchise SaleFallout 3Backward Compatible50%Spotlight SaleFallout 3: Broken SteelAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout 3: Mothership ZetaAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout 3: Operation: AnchorageAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout 3: Point LookoutAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout 3: The PittAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout: New VegasBackward Compatible50%Spotlight SaleFallout: New Vegas: Dead MoneyAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout: New Vegas: Honest HeartsAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout: New Vegas: Lonesome RoadAdd-On40%Spotlight SaleFallout: New Vegas: Old World BluesAdd-On40%Spotlight Sale

*These offers are only valid for Xbox Live Gold members.

Please note: prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by region.

via Xbox Live's Major Nelson https://ift.tt/31x9jex

[fleetingfan77]

The Flaw in Every Crystal

Chapter 19: 'Life in Praxus' Part 3

Aka: Daily Life?

So, Jazz and Prowl are now back from the second visit to the gardens with Jazz as a now full citizen and given to all the perks, including his own crystal starter kit. 

The chapter begins with Prowl waking up and doing a scan for Jazz, since Jazz is still understandably terrified and prone to curl up in his sleep. Though this night, whether due to exhaustion, joy still from the day before, or just wanting someone else to curl up with, Prowl wakes to find Jazz curled up against him.  

Prowl, finding it cute and probably more in line of what is expected of sub behavior, decides to indulge in being curled up around Jazz. Prowl also starts showing more physical affection to Jazz via petting his wings. Jazz of course responds positively to this sort of physical affection after being so long without. Prowl acknowledges that Jazz will need much more time to become calm around Prowl, though I do wonder what Prowl’s full imagined timeline is since I can’t believe he has it fully open to letting things progress naturally at any point.

Jazz of course, after awakening to find his kidnapper/torturer so close to him, freaks out. In Jazz’s desperate bid to get away, he ends up spraining his wing by hitting it wrong. It can be due both to the wings still being relatively new additions to Jazz’s frame so Jazz has less time to account for their size and movements along with Jazz’s unfamiliarity with the room itself. Prowl, at least, and probably through his police training knows to approach Jazz slowly and to speak softly as not to startle Jazz into trying to flee and injure himself further. This of course fails and Jazz ends up falling off the berth.

Prowl then mistakenly puts Jazz in a hard place since Jazz can’t fix the wing on his own yet doesn’t trust Prowl not to hurt him. Thus unable to run or fight Jazz falls back on freezing as a natural reaction. Prowl feels distress that Jazz is distressed yet unwilling to let Prowl help, as Prowl feels that it is his duty to do so and feels as though the punishment part of the training should be over. Jazz however has never gotten a memo about this and is instead in a constant state of anxiety over the uncertainty of his predicament. Jazz can only plea for Prowl not to hurt him, as he did before in THAT ROOM.

Prowl then promises Jazz he won’t hurt Jazz, probably meaning it as well until he feels Jazz does something wrong again. Jazz, of course knowing Prowl has hurt him before has no reason to believe that he will not be hurt this time but is in no position to refuse any offer of help. So Jazz is forced to calm himself down.

It is funny that Prowl asks Jazz to be strong for two klicks to reset a wing when we have seen Jazz endure torture before at Prowl’s hands. Though in the moment Prowl is probably just trying to be more comforting and perhaps falling back on learned police scripts for dealing with hurt civilians.

I wonder if Prowl was able to sense any of the hatred Jazz felt towards him for a moment or if it was drowned out by the pain that Jazz was in.... Prowl then automatically went to give Jazz a pain blocker since he is now in “good dom looking out for his poor sub” mode of operating. And Prowl does want Jazz to now play as the sub in need of comfort, shown by Prowl repeatedly asking if Jazz is in pain, or okay, and extending his field out to Jazz. 

Jazz himself is arguing about whether to take the comfort Prowl is offering him, or not allow himself any comfort with Prowl and therefore protect himself more when Prowl turns on him again. It is interesting to see these problems come up and reminds me of a prior fic where ‘Prowl” was erased and the “new” Prowl was mated to Soundwave but still loved Jazz. Jazz, undertaking his own mission to bring both to his side even thinks to himself multiple times how easy it would be to just take comfort in the two and forget everything else, or in his own words “go insane”. The Jazz in that fic never did, though he did come very close. The Jazz here, with no Spec Ops training and currently no visible hope of escape, does go and accept comfort from Prowl. And he is comforted by this, allowing himself to drift away and forget his current situation for awhile.

Prowl allows this to go on till it is time for him to leave for work, at which point he tries to convince Jazz to move up onto the bed. Jazz, having been “woken up” and given orders by Prowl once again retreats back into himself, answering the way he assumes Prowl wishes him to. Though even if he asked Prowl to stay, Prowl would probably say it would be ludicrous to stay by Jazz’s side for a bent wing and that he has to go. 

Jazz, in an act to comfort himself in a tactile fashion without having to rely on Prowl, wraps himself in a blanket. The blanket can also serve as Jazz’s attempt at protection going back to childhood fears of monsters under the bed who would grab you if you were not covered. Prowl then gets Jazz some of his diluted energon. 

Jazz is then given run of the building for the ....third time? With no explosions for once. Though Prowl is extra weary when entering his home. Jazz, for his part has continued to take comfort in the blanket and move on to tending to his crystals, which are dependent on him to develop. 

Prowl then tries for the most awkward attempts at small talk with Jazz. Jazz however takes this to be in a condescending tone and is defensive thinking Prowl is saying that Jazz wasted the day away when Jazz just wasn’t up to causing anymore harm. Prowl doesn’t even offer how his day went in return. Instead Prowl decides to change topics to get Jazz to speak to him a bit more by complementing the garden Jazz has started. Jazz is not up to conversing though and remains quiet before returning back to his work leaving Prowl with no idea how to continue any conversation. Prowl though takes comfort in that at least Jazz has shown an interest in something and is not just catatonic, assuming that the awkwardness will naturally fade with time as Jazz get more used to Prowl as his mate.

 I wonder if Prowl simply doesn’t want the embarrassment of a mate wrapped in a comfort object which is why he thinks to only allow Jazz to continue on for a day longer acting like that? 

Prowl also offers still to take Jazz anywhere in the city Jazz would like to go before or after the doctor visit.

Jazz does actually show some of his growing comfort with Prowl in this new situation by making a joke about the blanket accepting him as family now. Or it is a joke to simply cover his real fear of being separated from it. Unfortunately, Prowl is unable to determine how to respond and the joke dies a sad and lonely death on the kitchen table.

Thus we leave again to return on Jazz’s check-up.

Till Next Time!

[fcrfcraway]

Apologies for not doing anything this evening.

I had a major mood drop and ended up getting stuck in another Whose Line shaped hole on yotube.

Luckily yesterday was a productive day.

Hopefully tomorrow (today really as it’s gone midnight here lol) will be better.

I’ve thought about maybe putting out a starter call for my new Alliance/New Republic Spec Ops OC Nes Datra. But then I realised my trying to come up with starters right now is probably not the best idea, lol.

Anyways, I’m heading off to bed now.

Night!

[alanjguitar]

The Best Acoustic Guitars for Small Hands

Dreadnoughts can be cumbersome, and other standard sized acoustics can be a real hassle to play if you’re a player on the smaller scale.

If this is a hobby you want to love but just can’t seem to find the right sized guitar, you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re buying for your child or just looking to get a guitar that not only sounds good but feels great to play, this list of the best acoustics for small hands has a wide range of excellent guitars for you to choose from.

Our Recommendation

Coming in at #7 we’ve got a starter guitar from Hola! Music, the HG-36N. This guitar in itself is nothing super special, but its handy beginner’s bundle comes with picks, a strap, and two months of free live lessons, a value worth multiple times the total cost of the instrument itself.

Taking the win is the California series Fender Redondo Classic. This acoustic electric is all solid wood and features a fast-playing slim taper neck that makes riffing and throwing down chords a breeze for even the smallest hands.

The Top 7 Best Acoustic Guitars for Small Hands – Overview

#7 Hola! Music HG-36N Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Spruce

Body – Mahogany

Neck – Mahogany

Fingerboard – Walnut

Bonus Feature- Starter bundle

Pros

Starter player’s pack with picks, strap, and gig bag

¾ sized body great for smaller players

Extremely low cost

Cons

Average tone

Pickguard is unattached

Review

Hola! Music specializes in instruments made to get beginners off the ground in a hurry.

The HG-36N is a ¾ sized acoustic that sits comfortably in the lap and requires no unreasonable amount of stretching to get going on.

Although its tone is just average due to its laminate top and standard bracing, it just hits the mark for what you need in a practice setting.

It’s not too loud, so parents won’t have to worry about going crazy listening to the first couple months of mis-fretted de-tuned chords.

The HG-36N is sold as part of a basic player’s pack which includes a strap to reduce playing fatigue, always useful picks, and the best addition, two months of live free online guitar lessons.

Teaching yourself any new skill or hobby can be a challenge without the proper guidance, and with these free lessons you can be sure that you or your child will quickly advance from the miserable first weeks of learning basic chords to the pleasure-filled days ahead of making real music.

#6 Martin LXK2 Little Martin Koa Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Koa

Body – Koa

Neck – Birch

Fingerboard – FSC Certified Richlite

Pros

Modified 0-14 body size gives 14 frets clear of the body

Slightly larger and louder than a ¾ sized guitar

Martin quality at a low price

Cons

Laminate woods don’t sound as pure as solid

Review

The rival short-scale guitar to Taylor’s Baby models, the LXK2 is Martin’s koa edition of their signature Little Martin series. Look here for an in-depth look at this model’s cousin, the Little Martin LX1.

The LXK2 has a modified concert style body whose size falls in between a ¾ size and a full size dreadnought, making it small enough for players with smaller hands and giving a boost to its overall tone and volume.

Like most smaller guitars it features a reduced nut width, so fretting chords and licks is painless and easy.

You won’t get the same brightness from the Little Martin as you will from the Baby Taylor, as the body is bigger and deeper and the laminate woods used in the LXK2 emphasize the bass end more than the mid and treble.

It’s put together really well, following the line of quality common to all Martin models, and its HPL construction makes it resistant to climate-induced warping, making for a great travel acoustic.

If you’ve always dreamed of playing a Martin but are hesitant to pay loads for their full-size dreadnoughts, the LXK2 is a great option.

#5 Taylor Baby Taylor BTe-Koa Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Solid Koa

Body – Koa

Neck – Mahogany

Fingerboard – West African Crelicam Ebony

Electronics – Taylor ES-B pickup + preamp combo

Pros

Behind-the-saddle piezo picks up more tonal nuances than under saddle designs

Bright, plucky tone

Taylor branded quality

Cons

Tone can be too bright for picks at first, mellows with time

Review

If you’ve done any research into small acoustic guitars, you’ll know that Taylor’s Baby series is one of the highest ranked names in the game.

Taylor assures high quality in each of its instruments and remains one of the most sought after brands of our time thanks to the attention to detail and superior craftsmanship inherent in all of their models.

We’ve talked about the Taylor Baby guitars in other reviews, but this was our first time checking out the Taylor Baby Koa.

Koa is a wood you might know from traditional Hawaiian ukuleles and is not a very common guitar tonewood. Its main flaw is that in new instruments it can be extremely bright sounding.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you love a bright sounding instrument, but for a common acoustic tone it’s a bit of an outlier. Fortunately, koa “breaks in” over time, meaning as it ages it becomes more mellow and warm sounding but retains its punch and clarity.

The Taylor BTe-Koa is great for small hands in that it’s all around a small guitar but carries a big, professional voice that you can play anywhere from at-home to plugged-in on the stage to meet all your musical needs.

We’ve got a full breakdown of the Little Martin vs. the Baby Taylor here.

#4 Yamaha JR1 FG Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Spruce

Body – Locally sourced tonewood

Neck – Locally sourced tonewood

Fingerboard – Rosewood

Pros

The smaller version of Yamaha’s famed FG series

Clear, rich tones

Small scale and great playability

Cons

Laminate top and unknown back and sides wood make overall tone variably inconsistent with each model

Review

We love Yamaha’s FG series and were happy to try out the mini version with the JR1.

The Yamaha JR1 FG keeps all the perks of great playability and good tone that we love about the full-size FG series, while reducing the body and scale size to provide an acoustic that is great for small-handed players.

If you’ve played a Yamaha, you know that they keep their acoustics traditional, with a tone that sits slightly above average overall but is well-balanced and immensely enjoyable to riff in.

It’s bright, clear, and well articulated, and Yamaha’s scientifically designed bracing pattern maintains a solid response and decent volume for a small-sized guitar.

The JR1 FG makes a great travel instrument, a perfect student guitar, and an exceptionally well-designed affordable model for any player with small hands looking for their first instrument.

#3 Yamaha APXT2 Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Spruce

Body – Locally sourced tonewood

Neck – Locally sourced tonewood

Fingerboard – Rosewood

Electronics – System 68 preamp + ART 1-way pickup

Pros

Slim neck profile for fast, fun playing

Smooth cutaway for easy upper fret access

Yamaha’s cutting edge acoustic electronics

Cons

Laminate top reduces tonal purity

Review

Yamaha’s APXT2 is their ¾ sized edition of the popular APX500II model.

It features an extra-slim neck that is great for players with small hands or anyone who enjoys a faster acoustic neck.

With simple but powerful and clear-sounding electronic capabilities and a smooth cutaway, you can plug in and practice upper range arpeggios with no problem.

Unfortunately, the APXT2 is made with a laminate top and unknown back and sides wood, so while it still sounds alright, it lacks the premium tone of higher end Yamaha acoustics.

Despite the tonewood choices, it’s still one of my favorite smaller acoustics thanks to its great playability and comfortable design.

#2 Ovation Celebrity Standard CS28P-RG Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Laminate Quilted Maple

Body – Lyrachord

Neck – Mahogany

Fingerboard – Ovangkol

Electronics – OP-4CT preamp + CP-100 pickup

Pros

Ultra-slim neck and shallow body for maximum playing comfort

Full-size acoustic with crisp, highly articulated tones

Upper end Ovation electronics

Cons

Rounded Lyrachord body may be an unusual feel for some players

Review

The first guitar I became familiar with was an Ovation, and I’ve remained a big fan of theirs 16 years later.

I first played acoustic to prove to my parents that I had the dedication to learn an instrument so that they would buy me an electric, so I practiced rock solos and heavy metal arpeggios for hours on this Ovation.

You might think that sounds tiresome, but thanks to Ovation’s super slim neck profile and staggeringly low action, I was able to pull off arpeggios that would be impossible on most other acoustics.

Players with small hands will immediately notice the difference in playing an Ovation, as their necks are slim, with a narrow nut width, reduced string spacing, and an overall feel of an electric guitar.

The Celebrity Standard Classic has all these features and a beautiful look to top it off. Its maple and Lyrachord body form a tone that is overall heavy in the high end, but with enough bass to make rhythm work sound like a semi-chorus filled dream.

You’ll have to get used to the unusual body design, as the convex back of this guitar doesn’t sit in the lap like standard dreadnoughts. But, once you plug in and see how good it sounds thanks to the optimum design and high quality pickup + preamp combo, you’ll be more than happy to learn to adjust to the necessary posture changes.

#1 Fender Redondo Classic Check On Amazon >>

Specs

Top – Solid Sitka Spruce

Body – Solid Mahogany

Neck – Mahogany

Fingerboard – Pau Ferro

Electronics – Fender/Fishman pickup + preamp combo

Pros

All solid wood for sonic superiority

SlimTaper “C” neck profile for electric guitar playing feel

High quality Fender design

Cons

None

Review

I saved the best for last and now am pleased to introduce you to the Redondo Classic from Fender’s California series of acoustic guitars.

You’ll notice right away that this is an unusual acoustic, but in all the right ways.

Its body is designed for ultimate comfort and reduction of playing fatigue, using a slope-shouldered shape and gently curving cutaway that tops most other acoustic models in total posture support.

You’ve come looking for guitars for small hands, and you can’t get any better in a full-sized acoustic than the Redondo Classic.

Its neck is similar to those found on Stratocasters, with a vintage SlimTaper profile that gives you enough support for hours of chording but a narrow enough radius that you can solo the night away.

The all-solid wood construction gives you the purest, richest tones, and its quartersawn scalloped X bracing pattern maximizes volume and durability.

If you want a guitar for small hands that’s still big in voice and volume, the Fender Redondo Classic is the best choice available today.

Buyer’s Guide

Who Should Buy an Acoustic Guitar for Small Hands?

If you’ve tried playing a full-sized acoustic but easily tire from painful stretching and suffer from frequent hand and finger cramps, a guitar for small hands could solve your problems.

These guitars are great for petite people, whether they be women, children, or just smaller-framed guys.

You might think the best option is to struggle with a full-size acoustic for the rest of your musical journey, but you have options and there’s no need to put yourself through an unpleasant experience when you can buy a guitar that is sized to meet your needs.

Want to see some guitars we think are specifically good for girls? Take a look here.

What Makes a Guitar Good for Small Hands?

There are a few factors at play in these guitars — nut width, scale length, and fingerboard radius.

The nut width is the measurement of the guitar’s nut, the horizontal bar at the top of the neck that controls string spacing.

The narrower the nut, the closer the strings, and the less you need to stretch your fingers in order to form chords.

Scale length is the distance between the nut and the saddle.

The shorter the scale length, the closer the distance between frets, and the less you need to stretch to play complicated riffs or chords that span several frets.

Fingerboard radius refers to the profile of the neck, or how much it curves and at what angle. Larger radiuses require more of the palm of your hand against the back of the neck, while smaller radiuses allow more reach around. You can learn more about fingerboard radius from this article by Sweetwater.

Each of these guitars has been chosen by a combination of these attributes, and are all generally smaller than full-sized guitars in each area, making them the better choice for players whose hands feel overwhelmed by standard-sized acoustics.

Can People with Small Hands Play Full-Size Acoustics?

I’m a firm believer that nothing is impossible, and that if you’re determined enough you can do anything you set your mind to.

Sure, people with small hands can play standard acoustics, but when the option is available to buy a guitar of comparable tone and quality with a size that is more comfortable, I think you should take the smaller choice.

My hands are about average, and I can play a standard neck with no real problem. However, I often opt for these smaller guitars because they feel more fun and don’t require me to overexert myself for huge stretches.

I can play faster and with less effort on smaller acoustics, so I always try to get guitars with slim necks.

If for whatever reason you’re determined to play a full-size acoustic but have small hands, my advice is to take it slow, do proper warm-up exercises, and take a break if you start to feel a lot of pain or cramping.

Are you a beginner looking for a standard sized acoustic? We’ve got you covered in this list.

Can These Guitars Be Upgraded?

For most of these guitars, there’s not a lot of upgrading that can or should be done.

All except the Hola! Music HG-36N come with solid tuning machines, so there’s no need to upgrade the tuners except for on this model if you find that it keeps coming out of tune.

The main way that most acoustics can be improved is by upgrading or adding a high-quality electronics system. This can really boost your musical experience, allowing you to play with effects or increasing the quality of your sound on-stage and in-studio.

This article describes the different types of acoustic pickups you can choose from, detailing the benefits of each variety.

Are These Guitars Good for Children?

If you’re shopping for your kid’s first guitar, I would recommend any of the ¾ sized models listed here.

Children who have expressed a huge interest in playing music might be worth the investment in one of the higher end guitars such as the Baby Taylor or the Little Martin.

If you think there’s a chance they’ll soon become disinterested in this new hobby, don’t spend too much, and opt instead for something like the Hola! Music model.

The larger acoustics in this list, such as the Ovation or the Fender, have body sizes that will be too big for children younger than, let’s say, 11 years old. So for your younger and smaller kids, keep the guitar in the proper size category and get one of the ¾ sized models.

We’ve got a full review of great kid’s guitars you can check out here.

The Final Word

I love a good short scale, slim neck acoustic, and have had a great time reviewing the models in this list.

They’re all super fun to play, and most of them sound exceptionally good for guitars in this category.

If you’re tired of hurting yourself trying to hit those Satriani-style chords on a standard dreadnought, do yourself a favor and really consider getting a guitar that’s made to suit your size.

And don’t forget, there are plenty of good electric guitars for small hands, with the best models reviewed by us here.

    The post The Best Acoustic Guitars for Small Hands appeared first on Beginnerguitar.

from WordPress https://beginnerguitar.pro/best-acoustic-guitars-for-small-hands