First electric guitar
Discussion
I want to buy my son who is 11 his first electric guitar for Christmas. He has been playing the acoustic guitar for a year or so with lessons and has passed a couple of exams. I am a complete guitar novice. Budget is 2-3 hundred pounds to include the amp and other essential kit. The local music shop seems to want to shift what he has in stock so I'm unconvinced of his advice so far. Are there any specific brands I should avoid or look towards?
Fender Mex Stratocaster. Simple, cheap, once set up works a charm and will be more than capable for a new guitarist.
Fender Mex Strat
If you don't want to spend as much as a Mex costs, go for the Squire range, however these have a 'cheap' image which is complete rubbish. Cost vs. Quality, they come out better that some of the more expensive US made ones.
Squier Strat
Stuff like Gibsons, which great for tone and sustain etc, are heavy and cumbersome. Will make learning difficult and not pleasurable.
While I'm sure their are many other more suitable models, I personally think there is nothing wrong with starting on a Strat as it covers all the bases. If he develops a taste for a particular genre, then there are other makes to look at who may be more capable in those styles.
Fender Mex Strat
If you don't want to spend as much as a Mex costs, go for the Squire range, however these have a 'cheap' image which is complete rubbish. Cost vs. Quality, they come out better that some of the more expensive US made ones.
Squier Strat
Stuff like Gibsons, which great for tone and sustain etc, are heavy and cumbersome. Will make learning difficult and not pleasurable.
While I'm sure their are many other more suitable models, I personally think there is nothing wrong with starting on a Strat as it covers all the bases. If he develops a taste for a particular genre, then there are other makes to look at who may be more capable in those styles.
I'd reccomend a Squier stratocaster. If you're not familiar, Squier is effectively the junior/budget brand for Fender. I started off with a squier (still have it) and it's more than capable for a beginner electric. The build quality is good, and the advantage of being a stratocaster is that there is a lot of scope for future upgrades, easy maintenance etc. Entry level are £100, going up to the standards at ~£200.
Alternately, Epiphone is Gibson's junior/budget and likewise produce affordable, quality guitars (i've got one of them too). Avoid the likes of Stagg, Vintage, BC Rich. Yamaha also do decent strat knockoffs.
Don't let anyone tell you that Squier/Epi are cheapo brands, they're often severely underrated and more than capable for the budget musician.
I appreciate very well how difficult music shops are, they often want to shift the latest shiny objects. If you go in and tell them what you want (i.e sound vaguely like you know what you're looking for) then they'll tend to accept you can't be fleeced. Most stores will have package starter deals including amps. I'd suggest to get a small (15 watt) amp, don't get too concerned over the brand or quality - the guitar is the more important bit at this point.
ETA: I agree with Camaro above, but I would be wary with buying a Fender - considering his age, it's a bit of a step up in terms of value and you need to accept that whatever you get will probably get a bit battered. I know that my first electric didn't exactly get treated perfectly until I really got into it.
Alternately, Epiphone is Gibson's junior/budget and likewise produce affordable, quality guitars (i've got one of them too). Avoid the likes of Stagg, Vintage, BC Rich. Yamaha also do decent strat knockoffs.
Don't let anyone tell you that Squier/Epi are cheapo brands, they're often severely underrated and more than capable for the budget musician.
I appreciate very well how difficult music shops are, they often want to shift the latest shiny objects. If you go in and tell them what you want (i.e sound vaguely like you know what you're looking for) then they'll tend to accept you can't be fleeced. Most stores will have package starter deals including amps. I'd suggest to get a small (15 watt) amp, don't get too concerned over the brand or quality - the guitar is the more important bit at this point.
ETA: I agree with Camaro above, but I would be wary with buying a Fender - considering his age, it's a bit of a step up in terms of value and you need to accept that whatever you get will probably get a bit battered. I know that my first electric didn't exactly get treated perfectly until I really got into it.
Edited by storminnorman on Saturday 3rd November 10:29
Edited by storminnorman on Saturday 3rd November 10:31
What does he like to listen to/want to play?
Dont buy one for him, buy one with him, he NEEDS to play it first. After a year he will want to play it himself and get one that he finds more comfortable and suitable.
Remember electrics sound different, so its important that he gets one that in a few years time he will be happy with.
Dont spend too much on an amp, cheap 60quid ones will do fine, he can alter his sound with pedals (basically they change the tone from anything from wierd hawkwind sounds to echo, different types of distortion etc) until he wants to splash out on a bigger/better amp.
PM me if you want help on guitars after youve had a chat about what sort of music he wants, sure there are some good allrounders but if he has certain tastes (heavy metal guitars will be different from jazz guitars for example!) it will be best to get something more suitable.
Good luck
Dont buy one for him, buy one with him, he NEEDS to play it first. After a year he will want to play it himself and get one that he finds more comfortable and suitable.
Remember electrics sound different, so its important that he gets one that in a few years time he will be happy with.
Dont spend too much on an amp, cheap 60quid ones will do fine, he can alter his sound with pedals (basically they change the tone from anything from wierd hawkwind sounds to echo, different types of distortion etc) until he wants to splash out on a bigger/better amp.
PM me if you want help on guitars after youve had a chat about what sort of music he wants, sure there are some good allrounders but if he has certain tastes (heavy metal guitars will be different from jazz guitars for example!) it will be best to get something more suitable.
Good luck
I chose an Epiphone Les Paul for my friends' 11-y-o son recently. The weight definitely was my concern but I was surprised it's actually not bad at all. It feels much lighter than my Gibson Les Paul Customs. Les Paul actually has shorter scale than Strat, so this is also something to consider. He bought a Les Paul Standard but try Junior or Special, they are even lighter and thinner. You could also try SG's as they are probably more suited for small people.
Gemm said:
I chose an Epiphone Les Paul for my friends' 11-y-o son recently. The weight definitely was my concern but I was surprised it's actually not bad at all. It feels much lighter than my Gibson Les Paul Customs.
I believe the Epiphones may be made from different and possibly chambered. I wouldn't set much store by chambering. Les Pauls have been chambered for years for reasons of weight & not tone. I'm not a subscriber to the theory that chambering them kills the tone. Also, you would expect an Epi to be made from cheaper materials if for no other reason than the asking price.
Besides, we are talking about a beginner guitar for a boy, not a match fit Albert Hall killer for Slash.
Besides, we are talking about a beginner guitar for a boy, not a match fit Albert Hall killer for Slash.
Vintage V100TSB - Les Paul copy
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/vintage-v100tsb-tobacco-su...
Look at these a while ago for my 13 year old.
They're roughly around the £200-230 mark (depending on finish) and everyone I've spoken to about them only has good things to say.
Solid mahogany body, fixed neck and John Wilkinson hardware.
I ended up buying an Epiphone Explorer GT though for £150 but would have had the Vintage had that not turned up.
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/vintage-v100tsb-tobacco-su...
Look at these a while ago for my 13 year old.
They're roughly around the £200-230 mark (depending on finish) and everyone I've spoken to about them only has good things to say.
Solid mahogany body, fixed neck and John Wilkinson hardware.
I ended up buying an Epiphone Explorer GT though for £150 but would have had the Vintage had that not turned up.
Edited by Fastra on Monday 5th November 12:26
hwajones said:
Might be worth looking for a 3/4 size?
I forget how big my fingers were when i was 11 but the neck might be easier to grasp...
The problem is that if he gets something decent, like a squier/yamaha/epi etc, then it can last the lad a long time. I'll admit, when I got my squier around the same age it was a bit akward, but obviously I grew into it and still use it from time to time. 3/4 size would be a wasteI forget how big my fingers were when i was 11 but the neck might be easier to grasp...
On a related note, my Ebay sniper thing went wrong on a 1960 Strat over on USA Ebay that ended on $6100, The guitar was all original, checked out correct & I punted it at 8000 bucks expecting to lose. In other words, it would have been mine.
I doubt an opportunity like that will come around again anytime soon. Bugger.
I doubt an opportunity like that will come around again anytime soon. Bugger.
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