I'm going to stay out of the "who's english is english" talk here...I mean come on, its *english* who do you think speaks/spells it correctly?....no, I'm not going there...
If you can get a MIM Duo on ebay I'd highly rec it! I bought one new in highschool back in 96. My little brother (12 at the time & the size of most 8 year old girls) had no problem playing it & I (6'2") still love to play it. Its shorter the 24 scale but still fun to play, also it will take a 24 neck if you wanted to try that out. It does take strat pups so you've got some play w/ options. Also it has VERY big routes (almost just a swimming pool type) so it takes little effort to put in hb.
As far as the durability of its basswood, I'd have to say its held up really well over it 12+ hard-abused years both me & my little bro played/kick-it-around. It does have a debt/chunk missing in the but that was when I thru it across stage at a show where I got a little to excited 😀 I used it hard in shows & travel(its size is great for that) & then my bro stole/barrowed it while he was in highschool (where he KILLED 2 other guitars) & it survived all that so I'd have to give it 2 big thumbs up for that.
