Electric guitar for a boy.

[Eleven]

One of my progeny is 8 and a reasonable piano player. He also plays drums. He wants to play electric guitar and given his personality I suspect it is his instrument.

Should I buy him an electric guitar? If so what do I buy for a boy?

[skahigh]

This is going to depend to a certain extent on what type of music he likes. There are no limits so to speak but brands like BC Rich and Jackson tend to be more metal focused where a Fender would be more bluesy for example.

Also, what budget and have you considered amplification? There are options like headphone amps if you want to start cheap to see how he likes it and save yourself from having to listen to it.

[Eleven]

skahigh said:

This is going to depend to a certain extent on what type of music he likes. There are no limits so to speak but brands like BC Rich and Jackson tend to be more metal focused where a Fender would be more bluesy for example.

Also, what budget and have you considered amplification? There are options like headphone amps if you want to start cheap to see how he likes it and save yourself from having to listen to it.

He likes Nirvana but also pop stuff. I am guessing bluesy.

[Mastodon2]

Eleven said:

He likes Nirvana but also pop stuff. I am guessing bluesy.

Just get him a Squier Strat starter pack, can't go wrong with that. No point over-thinking his first guitar, as long as it's decently built so as to play properly and stay in tune, it's all he needs to get started. Guitar and amp for about £180 iirc.

[suthol]

Mastodon2 said:

Just get him a Squier Strat starter pack, can't go wrong with that. No point over-thinking his first guitar, as long as it's decently built so as to play properly and stay in tune, it's all he needs to get started. Guitar and amp for about £180 iirc.

Good call, if he can cope with the scale length. One of my mates found a 3/4 scale Ibanez strat type thing for his young bloke

[conkerman]

I bought my son an Ibanez micro. Its a really nice little guitar and holds tune well.

Was about £140.

[BorkFactor]

Mastodon2 said:

Just get him a Squier Strat starter pack, can't go wrong with that. No point over-thinking his first guitar, as long as it's decently built so as to play properly and stay in tune, it's all he needs to get started. Guitar and amp for about £180 iirc.

Be wary if it is an Affinity series one, they are a bit crap and the Standard series ones don't cost much more and are worth it IMO.

I had a Squire Strat with humbuckers for my first electric at a similar age, was a great guitar