My son wants a guitar

[East Bay Rider]

My son has expressed an interest in getting/learning to play guitar. This is the one he wants (in red - based on looks alone).

I am not buying this for him, he has been saving for a while and he shoveled some driveways during that last snowstorm. He's also hoping to receive some monetary Christmas gifts. I've learned that quite a few of his friends play guitar - that could be the attraction. I will buy him some instructional DVDs and of course lessons.
My son is 11. He is very athletic. I'm hopeful that this will be a creative, relaxing, calming activity that he can enjoy amidst the hectic sports schedules coming in the spring, and an alternative to X-Box.
I know he CAN do it. I hope he WILL do it. We shall see.

[Incurable]

There are a TON of Strat wanna-bees out there and many play and sound just as good (or nearly) as the Fender. Even the Squire version ain't bad... The most expensive version is the American Strat but he can probably do just as well w/a Mexican or even a 'homage' Strat from another maker. Food for thought anyways... I'm eyeing a 1974 Strat a coworker has. They want entirely too much for 'vintage' Fenders though. On the positive side, he doesn't know what he has. Good luck with your son's ambitions and Merry Christmas...

[Andad]

That guitar looks like it needs an amplifier. Why not buy him a drum set instead?

[Lisa]

What struck me was to suggest an acoustic guitar. Calming, relaxing - acoustic. That being said, my husband has at least 9 electric guitars that I know about - including the red Fender like the one in your pix - though his has a pearlized pickguard. And 3 acoustic - or is it 4? I suppose, though, given your son's age and what his buddies are playing, an electric guitar will be what he really wants. Don't forget the amp, and some earplugs!

[astcell]

Get him this.

[East Bay Rider]

Scouted out the chain store "Guitar Center" http://www.guitarcenter.com yesterday to get a feel for what's out there. They have complete starter kits and some low priced guitars. The Fender shown is $400.00. They have a house brand comparable model for $300.00.
Sales-guy recommended the Fender, a Schecter and the house brand.
A 15W amp is around $100.00. Then he needs a stand, a tuner, cord, books, DVD...
The way it adds up he might be going with a lower priced unit and can upgrade in a year or so as his skills improve.
Hoping to find a sale after Christmas.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by astcell

Get him this.

classic styling for every occasion

[Incurable]

Originally Posted by astcell

Get him this.

Good one...

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by astcell

Get him this.

[Arby]

I bought the exact same Fender
guitar for my son 2 years ago (even the same color).



He loves it and plays it almost every day. It was his 1st electric. He taught himself on a Fender Accoustic for 2 years before that. The Strat still looks great and sounds excellent. You can pay more for American Fenders (much more) but the Standard (Mexican?) does the job as far as he's concerned. Last year I picked him up a semi-hollow body Ibanez (Artcore) and he likes that guitar also. Read the user reviews of all guitars on musiciansfriend.com . I researched different guitars online then my son and I purchased locally at the local music store.

[Dan Pierce]

BIll,
Giving music to your son is a gift that could last a lifetime and be a very important part of his life. Has been for me.
I bought my son a Stratocaster some years ago. He loved it too much. Didn't want to scratch it [sound familiar Rolex owners?].
Good luck and keep us posted,
dP

[East Bay Rider]

That's what I'm hoping for. I also thought that with him being an only child, music would keep him company. I'm hopeful but it's up to him. Even if he doesn't latch on immediately he may later. All in all I think it's a good move.

[Travis]

IMO, a genuine Fender made in Mexico is a great guitar for the money. If he buys a fake, he will just want a real Fender in 3 or 4 years.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

That's what I'm hoping for. I also thought that with him being an only child, music would keep him company. I'm hopeful but it's up to him. Even if he doesn't latch on immediately he may later. All in all I think it's a good move.

That's spot on Bill.
dP

[Mrdi]

Buy the Fender
If you don't buy it now,
You'll buy it later.

[Incurable]

My first guitar was a Hy-Lo, cheap Chinese junk that cost $60 and bought from a long defunct store chain called White Front. It had micro-phonic pickups that, when spoken into, could be heard over the amp, not that I had one. I used an auction bought record player that I jury-rigged so that, instead of the turntable, I could plug my guitar into it. It was great as it distorted at the slightest whim and sounded like crap. Fitting... as so did I.

I can remember ogling catalogs like Sears (Silvertone) and JC Penny looking at their electric guitars and dreaming of being famous and rocking thousands of people at concerts. Much later, when I got a 'real' guitar, it was a Gibson Les Paul, bought with my own money earned with my own blood, sweat and tears. The idea that you must buy him a name brand now or you will just have to do it later is a sign of the times I guess. Do I fault my parents for buying me a piece of crap guitar fitting of my skills instead of a name brand? The thought never even occurred to me...

[Mrdi]

The fret board on a cheap guitar will not be conducive to learning to play properly, and is often the reason students stop trying to learn.
An instrument is a fine gift in many dimensions, the most affordable and the one
that you can easily control is the quality of the instrument.
If the instrument is of a caliber that allows musical growth then you have contributed significantly to intellectual and kinesthetic growth as well.
There is a high correlation among students who have been accepted to highly selective institutions of learning and their ability to play musical instruments.
Caution: The wattage of an amp does not define ones mastery of an instrument!

[jhowton]

Speaking as a parent I would say that you should buy him the guitar that he wants. If you buy him something else he may lose interest just because it isn't what he wanted and then it's just a waste.

A more important gift in my mind are the lessons, and the rides to the lessons and the ongoing support that you give. He will not see that as the real gift, but every time my son plays something for me and I smile and tell him "good job" it gives us both something that no amount of money can buy.

FWIW, I wish I had started playing guitar as a much younger person. I started taking lessons just over a year ago and feel like I have wasted the last 40 years.

[Ragu]

Speaking as a parent I would say that you should buy him the guitar that he wants. If you buy him something else he may lose interest just because it isn't what he wanted and then it's just a waste.

Very well stated!

Here is a very good "Fender" forum I frequent, lots of great people and info as on this site!

link

[East Bay Rider]

Yesterday afternoon we went to Guitar Center and he bought himself a Fender Stratocaster just like the one pictured but a darker shade of red. He also bought an amplifier, a stand, a cord, an instructional DVD/book combo, a gig bag, some picks and a handy little electronic tuner.
The guitar was regularly $399.99 but it had a small scratch/ding on the body so he got it for $262.00 and got everything else for 10% off. He was pretty excited about getting such a good deal on the guitar especially since the scratch/ding is hardly noticeable unless you're holding it and wont affect it in any way and it's the one he wanted all along.
He was a little short for all the stuff he needed so I helped him out a bit. I will inquire about lessons now from other families we know.

Unfortunately he has to write reports about the Musk Ox and the Arctic willow tree to finish a project about "Tundra" for science class so he cant play with it much today.
Who gives kids school projects to do over Christmas vacation?

[Dan Pierce]

Ah, the Fender Stratocaster. The Rolex Sub of the guitar world.
dP

[Subfiend]

Originally Posted by jhowton

Speaking as a parent I would say that you should buy him the guitar that he wants. If you buy him something else he may lose interest just because it isn't what he wanted and then it's just a waste.

A more important gift in my mind are the lessons, and the rides to the lessons and the ongoing support that you give. He will not see that as the real gift, but every time my son plays something for me and I smile and tell him "good job" it gives us both something that no amount of money can buy.

FWIW, I wish I had started playing guitar as a much younger person. I started taking lessons just over a year ago and feel like I have wasted the last 40 years.

This is great advice. I'm glad you followed it. My kids have started playing too. Good luck!