Author Topic: Electric guitar and amp (Read 980 times)

oboe · « **on:** March 18, 2004, 07:03:43 PM »

My son's birthday is coming up and he'd like an electric guitar and practice amp. Who makes a good quality guitar? I think I can get a Fender Squire or Ibanez for around $200, is that good enough?

What about a practice amp? Crate? Marshall? How much do you need to spend to get good quality and decent features?

Is there anything else I need to get him, like foot pedals or something? Sorry I'm really outta my element here...

Thanks for your help!

SunKing · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2004, 07:11:07 PM »

my new baby

AMP

Start him off with somthing simple. Fender squire is a good choice. If he sticks with it then consider a more quality guitar.

My 1st amp was a nice 2 channel 350watt Crate amp. also a good choice for a beginner.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2004, 07:11:27 PM »

You have a basement, right? Far, far away from the living room and bedroom?

SOundproofed is a bonus!

Gunslinger · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2004, 07:26:29 PM »

HEADPHONES.....an amp with a good headphones jack....OH and a good set of headphones as well.

JB73 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2004, 08:58:44 PM »

age?

under 12 consider a non packaged 3/4 length neck. ask at a reputable music store, they'll know what one is. fender makes one and i believe epiphone does.

normal size epiphone is a les paul copy made by a subsidary of gibson. squire is a subsidary of fender. ibanez is ibanez.

crate makes some good amps. fender and marshall do to. get one of the 3. not an off brand.

30 watts is more than plenty for a beginner.

foot pedals are generally for distortion and stuff. have him earn the money to buy them on his own... he'll be more picky and appreciate it more. (they run from $45-a couple hundred) also decent amps have a distortion channel built in already.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2004, 09:26:51 PM »

I say screw it. Get him a nice '59 Strat with a rosewood fretboard and a killer Marshall "Bluesbreaker" amp, an original not a reissue.

On second thought, buy that for me and he can have all my guitars and amps

capt. apathy · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2004, 09:56:10 PM »

bought my kid a fender bass and amp a couple years ago.

bring cash. pick the guitar and amp out and have the guy get it ready to go. take out just enough cash to cover it, and maybe $10 more.

then you can go through the list of accessories (stand, case, cords, strap)and they will usually throw them in for free or the extra $10.

you go through each item "It doesn't come with a case? he'll need a case when he takes it to his friends house right? I guess we'll have to just wait and buy it later when we can afford everything he’ll need"

we went in about 15 min before closing time and got them to throw in everything for $5 over the price of the bass and amp (And only had to pick up the cash and head for the door twice)

as far as what brands are best I have no idea. my kid told me what the guy teaching him to play said was best for him, I just handled the buying (I don't play any conventional instruments, but I do play a mean stereo)

JB73 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2004, 10:08:13 PM »

great advise capt...

forgot to mention... music stores are generally very open to barganing prices. especially with acessories and package deals.

jigsaw · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2004, 10:27:42 PM »

List prices in music stores can usually be bargined down 10%-30% depending on the item. It depends on the dealer cost of course. Hard to get better than 30% unless it's a used item.
Lots of good suggestions on the guitar so far. Especially the 3/4 scale idea. Amp wise, look into something around 10-15 watts. Peavy and Fender both make decent gear in that range.

You can also check out Musician's Friend to get an idea of list prices before you go in.

I'm a bit surpised that no one has mentioned getting him an acoustic to learn on. When I learned to play, I was told I couldn't have an electric until I'd become a capable player.

Another place you might want to check is local pawn stores. They'll have all ranges of things. I once walked into a pawn store in Dallas a few blocks from one of the big guitar repair shops and saw a custom shop Explorer for $600.00. Almost cried.

NUKE · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2004, 10:37:10 PM »

As for the Amp, I would get the Roland Cube30 even for myself now. My brother just got one and this thing sounds great. You get a-lot for the price.

It would be a dream amp for a kid.

Roland is a very good company too....make all kinds of great, top quality stuff.

Quote

High-quality DSP guitar amplifier with 30-watt output and 10 in. speaker

Includes 8 COSM guitar amp models: JC Clean, Acoustic, Black Panel, Brit Combo,

Tweed, Classic Stack, Metal Stack, R-fier Stack

Powerful onboard EFX section includes chorus, flanger, phaser and tremolo

Independent Delay/Reverb processor

Two-channel operation (Clean/Lead) with footswitch control of channels and EFX

Recording/Headphone output for silent practice and recording

Auxiliary input for connecting CD players, drum machines, etc.

Simple interface for selecting amp models and effects

http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Roland-Amps--3341

By the way I don't know if this site has the best price, I just referenced it so you could see the amp.

SunKing · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2004, 10:55:25 PM »

Musicians friend is GuitarCenter online. Avoid these egomaniacs. Bunch of brats that learned to play a metallica riff and think they know all about music and gear. I buy from American Music Supply. They allow you to pay in payments without interest, the Musicans Friends will charge interest.

Cougar68 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2004, 11:37:46 PM »

Best thing to do is to find a privately owned guitar shop near you. Not one of the big chains, somebody that does it because they love it. Walk in with the cash in hand and tell them what you're looking for. Ignore the prices listed on the gear and ask what the cash price is then knock off another 10%.

As far as equipment, just about any guitar will suit a beginner. It takes a little while to develop the ear and feel to be able to tell the difference between the higher end stuff. Kustom makes a great 8" practice amp that usually goes for about $40. It has a built in overdrive channel and a headphone jack.

I don't personally recommend learning on an acoustic. Acoustics are much harder on the fingers and some people tend to quit before they get the callouses developed because it just hurts after you play. Plus there's a HUGE difference between cheap acoustics and good ones. It's best to stay away from the bargain flat tops and wait until you're sure he's serious enough to put $600 or so towards a decent one.

Cougar

XtrmeJ · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2004, 11:54:59 PM »

Just bought me a Gibson Les Paul. Looks like the SG with a hollow body. Limited edition. Sweet freakin guitar!

LAWCobra · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2004, 11:56:15 PM »

Just bought a brand new mexican strat for $350.00
Still wanting a 59 bluesman amp got my dealer talked down to 900.00 from 1.490.00

Yeah a little squire would be a good place to start with a small marshall amp.

try here

http://www.guitartrader.com/index.icl?orderidentifier=ID1076620992610432275189170

hyena426 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2004, 12:43:11 AM »

Quote

I'm a bit surpised that no one has mentioned getting him an acoustic to learn on. When I learned to play, I was told I couldn't have an electric until I'd become a capable player.

)

Quote

I don't personally recommend learning on an acoustic. Acoustics are much harder on the fingers and some people tend to quit before they get the callouses developed because it just hurts after you play. Plus there's a HUGE difference between cheap acoustics and good ones. It's best to stay away from the bargain flat tops and wait until you're sure he's serious enough to put $600 or so towards a decent one.

yup right on the money

i teach guitar and work at a music store,, electrics are easier to play and hold down the strings for beginers,,i like acoustics and own many of them,,but i know with a kid,,its best to teach them some easy powerfull stuff to get them interested in playing at all,hehe,,plus now days you can get a amp and guitar for about the same price as a nice playing ovation acoustic or any martin knock off

i would get him somthing nice and cheap to start out with,,dont invest big bucks into a guitar till he can show he wants to stick with it,,,for 300bucks im sure you could get a sweet little amp and guitar from allmost any shop that will play just fine for beginer or pro

i recomend for beginers a crate amp,,cheap,,good effects and good bed room distortion,,fender good amps,,keep a eye out on ebay for old fender jam amps from the 1990's,,very good for beginers and i bet you could get one for 50bucks on ebay,,i use a seymour duncan convertible rack mounted head with 15inch cab and horn right now,,sucker really pumps out the juice if you want it too..more tubes than a tv,,lol,,but for a kid just starting out,,pick up a 20 to 30watt amp,,he dont need no big monster to play<~~very imperssed with fenders new cyber twin delux amps,,lots of options,,the marshals are good amps too,,any name brand is descent,,good luck:)