A guitar for my son

[Tater]

My son has decided that he wants to start saving his money for a guitar. I've been looking but I have no clue about what I'm looking at except that Jimmy Page looked real cool playing one. He's 11 so we need one he can kind of grow into and one that's going to hold up to the sort of abuse an 11 year old can dish out. We're going with an accoustic to start with. I'm looking for brand, model, price and maybe a good place to get one. There are a couple of music shops around here that we can go to and check the fit and function but I need to know a little bit about what I'm looking at so I know where to start looking. Thanks in advance for any info and I'll try and remember you when it comes time for his first big arena concert:D

[Wahnie]

Oooh! Guitars! My favorite!

I'll assume you're looking for something reletively cheap, so I'd look into:

Ibanez
Takamine
Fender
Washburn
Applause
Peavey

All make decent, playable acoustics under $200. Chances are, your local stores will carry most of these brands.

If not, then check: www.musiciansfriend.com

I've ordered from them many times and I've always had excellent service.

Do you play or have a teacher set up for him? If not, I can help get him started with some online lessons and links to some websites that I've found to be helpful. If he needs one on one help, I'm always online and willing to help. I used to give guitar lessons to a couples of kids here in NP. Here soon I am going to make a video lesson on Ultimate-Guitar.com covering the basic open chords, moveable barre chords and powerchords to help get beginners started. Alot of the online lessons can be overwhelming when theory buffs try to cram in all the fancy stuff, like how and why chords are formed, which is important, but is alot for beginners to take in, especially when they don't even know how to form simple chords yet.

[skeeter@ccia.com]

http://tinypic.com/nqbbk0.jpg Tater, this is one of my favorite spots in the house now to answer your question...Cheap is not always good.....I have given lessons also and know that if he can't get the proper sound and has a cheap guitar that won't hold a tune, he will not be interested and dad will have to spend more $$ in the future for a better item... Now I have owned a few diffenent ones but for me and the price I now use a New York Pro electric and acustic. I took it in for some work but was included from the music store free... Go to your local music store and they should let him play any they have in the store and help him find one that fits him and your pocket......another thing for sure to get him is an electronic tuner. Even if it is tuned string by string, it has to be in the right key or he wont get proper sound...If you get him an acustic only now....he will probably "need" an electric one in the future...so kill 2 birds with one shot here with this one....I know there are better brands out there but so far, for the money, this one covers everything I need....New York Pro....I think they sell some cheap ones by that brand but if ya find one about like the one pictured, you both will be happy for the money....
lessons...by all means and I see wahnie is more than happy to lend a hand there...good luck....

[Tater]

Thanks guys. I like some of those acoustic/electric guitars and not bad prices on that site. Another question: what size should I be looking at? I know I could walk into a store and ask but I feel like they'd sell me a smaller one just so I have to buy another one soon and we don't have that kind of money right now. Like I said, I'm looking for one that he can grow into over the course of the next couple years until our finances straighten out. Thanks again for the suggestions. That site has some nice looking guitars. I might even try and save up for a bass. Thanks.

[Wahnie]

I think a standard size guitar would work just fine. I've seen alot of kids and small adults who had no problem using a standard sized guitar. You might look into a thinner bodied guitar, if you're really worried about size. It won't sound as big and full, but they are alot more comfortable to play. Ibanez Talman series guitars have a smaller and thinner body than most, and they sound great.

[GoodOlBoy]

Check out www.musiciansfriend.com they have alot of great deals on instruments, AND the Rogue brand of guitar is a decent "starter" without a huge cost to it.

GoodOlBoy

[Wahnie]

Originally posted by GoodOlBoy
Check out www.musiciansfriend.com they have alot of great deals on instruments, AND the Rogue brand of guitar is a decent "starter" without a huge cost to it.

GoodOlBoy

I thought about suggesting Rogue, but I've never played thier guitars. I got my hands on one of thier basses and it wasn't too bad, especially considering the price. Better than a Squire anyday. I'd like to think thier guitars are similar in quality. Just avoid thier effects pedals. When I first started playing, I orded a couple of them (Wah and distortion). Absolute crap which I would avoid at all costs. Boss/Roland is the way to go for effects. Expensive, but well worth it.