Electric guitar advice please

Posted by: hungryhalibut on 04 October 2009

Our 12 year old son has decided he wants to start the electric guitar. He's got a little classical guitar, but it's not cool enough. He's saved up £100, and we've said we'll add £50. Can we get anything decent for that? Someone at work was selling a Fender Mexican Telecaster for £150, and if it's still available, I wonder if that would be a good buy? As you can see, I really have no idea!!

Many thanks

Nigel
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by winkyincanada
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
quote:
I doubt Telecasters have much street cred


Er, not with anyone who ever liked listening to or playing guitar:

Syd Barrett
Jeff Beck
Frank Black
Albert Collins
Hugh Cornwall
Graham Coxon
Bob Dylan
Steve Cropper
Bill Frisell
David Gilmour
Jonny Greenwood
George Harrison
PJ Harvey
Robyn Hitchcock
Chrissie Hynde
Wilko Johnson
Albert Lee
Jimmy Page
Keith Richards
Robbie Robertson
Bruce Springsteen
Joe Strummer
Pete Townshend
Muddy waters

I continue to wince at how dumb my comment was. Especially when I saw (of course) Johnny Greenwood listed as a cool tele player with street cred. I love Johnny's work. That I can live with myself at all is only due to the fact that I've not (yet) known Tom Morello to play a Tele. But I'll bet you point out that he has.

Note to self: Think before typing!

Oh, and another nice option for a 12 year old might be an Epiphone SG (Epiphone is Gibson's Squier). Epiphone SG
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by hungryhalibut
quote:
Oh, and another nice option for a 12 year old might be an Epiphone SG (Epiphone is Gibson's Squier).


I really hope he'll be happy with the Yamaha, but I doubt it will have much street cred. As long as it's nice to play he'll be fine. Regarding the telecaster, anything played by Joe Strummer and Polly Harvey is OK by me, but the fact that the apalling Hi Ho Silver Lining may have been played on one is a point against.

12 year olds can be musically quite sophisticated; as well as Pendulum and Muse he also has the Stranglers, Beethoven and the Beatles on his iPod, and lots of other stuff too.

Nigel
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by winkyincanada
quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
quote:
Oh, and another nice option for a 12 year old might be an Epiphone SG (Epiphone is Gibson's Squier).


I really hope he'll be happy with the Yamaha, but I doubt it will have much street cred. As long as it's nice to play he'll be fine. Regarding the telecaster, anything played by Joe Strummer and Polly Harvey is OK by me, but the fact that the apalling Hi Ho Silver Lining may have been played on one is a point against.

12 year olds can be musically quite sophisticated; as well as Pendulum and Muse he also has the Stranglers, Beethoven and the Beatles on his iPod, and lots of other stuff too.

Nigel


My eight year-old has started to learn the guitar. He too, wanted to learn on electric. He saved his pennies, we matched them and he bought a 3/4 size Squier strat-copy. It's not bad for just over $100, but I am looking forward to him getting big enough for him to move to a full-size.

His teacher is quite interesting. This is her here...


Billy the Kid

and also here...

Billy and the Lost Boys

(Watch both)
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by Simply Grim
Great Stuff.... the bottom line is he wants to play!!!!

HH good on you ....many are put off.

Now all the rest of use need to do is club together and buy some drums for him as well Winker
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by fatcat
quote:
Originally posted by winkyincanada:
Johnny Greenwood listed as a cool tele player with street cred.


Greatest tele player and absolutely no street cred.

Sweet Dreams

Roy's Bluz
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by hungryhalibut
quote:
Now all the rest of use need to do is club together and buy some drums for him as well


Er thanks, but I can do without drums! He started piano at six, and got to grade 4, then decided to play guitar. As he's done the theory and can read music, the whole thing is much easier. My older son loves music as well, but has no desire to play. He wants guitar hero 5!!

The world of guitars is very complicated with all the bits and pieces, whereas piano is much simpler

Nigel
Posted on: 08 October 2009 by Simon Drake
tele is def cooler amongst 12 year olds than a strat let alone anything pointy (no doubt that'll change again!)

pointy guitars are most certainly OUT [he says regretfully picturing the BC Rich Iron Bird he has in his musicroom]
Posted on: 08 October 2009 by Rockingdoc
quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:

only played in a church band.

Nigel


I must remember to quote that when I next want to shift a guitar. Truly the guitar world equivalent of "one elderly lady driver". Although, someone recently gave me a CD of some Christian outfit called Third Way which sounded quite lively.
Posted on: 08 October 2009 by hungryhalibut
quote:
I must remember to quote that when I next want to shift a guitar. Truly the guitar world equivalent of "one elderly lady driver".


Actually true in this case, as I know the mother of the boy who was selling it, but it certainly sounds fishy!!

Nigel
Posted on: 08 October 2009 by winkyincanada
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Drake:
tele is def cooler amongst 12 year olds than a strat let alone anything pointy (no doubt that'll change again!)

pointy guitars are most certainly OUT [he says regretfully picturing the BC Rich Iron Bird he has in his musicroom]

Who knew? I'm getting old.
Posted on: 08 October 2009 by Mat Cork
I'd love to see that ad. BC Rich Mockingbird only played in a church band.

Tele's never go out of style - not always the easiest things to play mind. An Epi SG could be a good second choice. Both relatively light and cool guitars.
Posted on: 09 October 2009 by Simon Matthews
winkyincanada.

I should mention status quo use tele's (in the interests of balance)!!
Posted on: 09 October 2009 by BigH47
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
winkyincanada.

I should mention status quo use tele's (in the interests of balance)!!


Rock gods!
Posted on: 09 October 2009 by winkyincanada
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
winkyincanada.

I should mention status quo use tele's (in the interests of balance)!!


Rock gods!

"On The Level" was one of the first records I ever bought. I remember seeing them in concert in Newcastle Autralia (Civic Theatre) in about 1977. Those were the days....
Posted on: 09 October 2009 by Stephen Tate
I quite often stick a Quo album on - Great knees up! Smile
Posted on: 11 October 2009 by hungryhalibut
Just to finish things off; Henry is now the proud owner of a Yamaha Pacifica 112v with a little Roland amp. It seems like a really nice guitar, and the sounds you can get out of it are amazing.

Thanks to all

Nigel
Posted on: 11 October 2009 by JWM
Is that 'amazing' as in 'amazing', or 'amazing' as in 'mind boggling'? Big Grin
Posted on: 11 October 2009 by Stephen Tate
Yamaha make really good guitars and are excellent value. Congrats to Henry.

steve
Posted on: 11 October 2009 by winkyincanada
I think it an excellent choice. It's a great interest for a young man to have. Investing in music in all its forms is always worthwhile.