Electric guitar for a beginner?

[Oneflewover]

My 13 year old boy is interested in taking up the guitar. I've no knowledge at all about such things - anyone point me in the right direction? Cheers.

 

[Banbeer]

Squire Stratocaster or Yamaha Pacifica also a Strat (relatively cheap to buy but good), you will need an amp but can buy new quite cheap, don't get him an acoustic as they're harder to press down the strings and may struggle to get a decent sound and give up.

 

[Clint]

I bought my lad a Squire Stratocaster..he tuned it up with his iPad...now it's AC/DC,Hotel California..and all sorts!! He played violin for ages in secondary school but gave up coz it "wasn't cool" and said the guitar was easier. I got him a uke for Christmas..he loves that!

 

[An Ankoù]

If he decides to go down the air guitar route, I still have my original Astrocaster complete with case. The fretboard's shows a few signs of use, but then it has taken a hammering. over the years.

 

[Oneflewover]

Squire Stratocaster or Yamaha Pacifica also a Strat (relatively cheap to buy but good), you will need an amp but can buy new quite cheap, don't get him an acoustic as they're harder to press down the strings and may struggle to get a decent sound and give up.

Great, thank you. They are in the right sort of price bracket

 

[Oneflewover]

If he decides to go down the air guitar route, I still have my original Astrocaster complete with case. The fretboard's shows a few signs of use, but then it has taken a hammering. over the years.

I have literally no idea what one is , but what are you looking for for it?

 

[johncrobinson]

My first guitar was a Fender Strat it it was a really nice guitar but over about 2yrs i really struggled with it.
I could not play bar chords,slide,notes no matter how hard i practiced neither would it stay in tune for more than 5mins (original style whammy bar.}

I traded it in for a Gibson ES-335 just because i liked the look of it nothing else
All of a sudden i could play,!!!!
Bar chords EASY sliding and bending EASY.
The answer turned out to be really simple the guitar had a nice "action" that's all.And it would stay in tune for days at a time,

I know they say a bad workman blames his tools,But in my case it transformed my playing so much i went on to record and even teach professionally.

 

[Oneflewover]

My first guitar was a Fender Strat it it was a really nice guitar but over about 2yrs i really struggled with it.
I could not play bar chords,slide,notes no matter how hard i practiced neither would it stay in tune for more than 5mins (original style whammy bar.}

I traded it in for a Gibson ES-335 just because i liked the look of it nothing else
All of a sudden i could play,!!!!
Bar chords EASY sliding and bending EASY.
The answer turned out to be really simple the guitar had a nice "action" that's all.And it would stay in tune for days at a time,

I know they say a bad workman blames his tools,But in my case it transformed my playing so much i went on to record and even teach professionally.

Quick search suggests the Gibson might be waaaaaay out of his price range

 

[Rodcx500z]

The main thing is as above the action, get one that has a bad action it's a nightmare to play

 

[lupinehorror]

Quick search suggests the Gibson might be waaaaaay out of his price range

there's always epiphone but the decent ones still aren't cheap (got a dot studio along with an EVH and a goth explorer)).
as @Rodcx500z says a good setup can make a mediocre guitar play great.

 

[Oneflewover]

The main thing is as above the action, get one that has a bad action it's a nightmare to play

Cheers, I guess that that's the point, I have no notion of what is a 'bad action' or otherwise

 

[johncrobinson]

Yup the point of my post was the action,Not the brand.

Its a bit complicated to explain on a post Oneflewover,Basically action is how the guitar is set up and adjusted.
If you buy from a good music shop ask them for a pro setup in my day it cost £30 but a good shop (if you buy from them) should set it up for you.
EDIT As will a lot of private sellers.

 

[johncrobinson]

You would think the manufacturers would attend to these sorts of things but there is a complication.
For example my strat was made in Mexico (cheaper) rather than the USA (Lot more expensive and far superior.)

Nowadays a lot of product is made in China,!!! Quality control----forget it.
Its now down to the purchaser to iron out the wrinkles.

 

[Bobtheblob]

What's your budget?

 

[Oneflewover]

What's your budget?

It's one of those where I want to give him a fair crack of the whip, but don't want to spend loads on something that he ultimately doesn't commit to. Something like £150 - £200 I reckon. Cheers

 

[johncrobinson]

One final tip on the subject of action,What is called a low action is much easier to play and saves beginners fretting fingers.
Sore fingers is one reason i would NOT recommend a steel strung acoustic.

Yamaha made a strat "clone" a few years back called the Pacifica I have "breathed" on a few of these,They are excellent value, Were about £100.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I will agree electrics are easier to play than acustics, i have a yamaha acustic a 310 my first guitar

and a squire fender i prefare the yamaha after i fettled it

 

[Oneflewover]

One final tip on the subject of action,What is called a low action is much easier to play and saves beginners fretting fingers.
Sore fingers is one reason i would NOT recommend a steel strung acoustic.

Yamaha made a strat "clone" a few years back called the Pacifica I have "breathed" on a few of these,They are excellent value, Were about £100.

Thanks John, you are the second person to recommend the Yamaha, bit more than 100 notes now, though still in budget

 

[Alastair70]

I bought my son and Epiphone SG when he was 9. Now 19 and still playing it. It’s good quality for the price point. It’s hard to go wrong with a basic Squire or Epiphone.
If his guitar heroes play Fender go squire, if it’s Gibson go Epiphone. At 14 I was all about Hendrix, Clapton and Rory Gallagher so I went down the strat route. Nowadays I’d probably end up with a Les Paul copy.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Years ago a mate of mine had an ovation acustic it was a joy to play