I recommend this: https://www.guitarcenter.com/M...ral-1500000000580.gc

It's a 3/4 body size, but full fret board size. It'll be good to learn on, and travel with, but it's a solid instrument, not a 100 piece of crap whose action will give a new player lots of trouble.

It's a Martin, and at only $320, it's the best value for a new guitar, IMO.

Other option is to rent something at a local store, so that if he ends up not liking it, you are not out the cash on a new instrument.

I do recommend buying something in the town where you live. If you have a guitar shipped, there will be changes in humidity and temp that could affect the instrument.

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:
I recommend this: https://www.guitarcenter.com/M...ral-1500000000580.gc

It's a 3/4 body size, but full fret board size.

That guitar has a 23" scale length (length between the nut and the bridge). That isn't tiny, but it's definitely smaller than is typical (usually both acoustic and electric guitars have scale lengths in the range of 24.75"-25.5", a few are 24").

It, and the similar "Baby Taylor" travel guitar from Taylor, do sound pretty good, but I'm not sure I'd pick one as a first guitar.

I have an acoustic that I was given for free which retails for less than $200.

It works just fine, plays well, sounds good, and stays in tune.

I have other, much more expensive, guitars as well. They sound even nicer.

But the sub $200 freebie gets the job done.

An experienced player or luthier needs to look it over and set it up, no matter which one you get. A guitar that hasn't been professionally setup is like a gun without a trigger job.

Saw this this morning. The reviews are good.

As one of its daily deals, Guitar Center offers the Washburn Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar in Vintage Tobacco Sunburst for $119.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest price we could find by $10, although most stores charge $50 more. Deal ends today.

Start with the FS or FG800 and higher from here. Talk to the Rep and tell him you want to make sure the setup/inspection is for a new player - should be free. They generally do a good job. Skip the 3/4 guitars unless he is small.

https://www.sweetwater.com/c60...ZCI6WyJZYW1haGEiXX19

I really like them for higher end guitars too.

I've been playing for 35 years, though mostly electric. After many false starts with acoustics, I finally stumbled upon a keeper a few months ago. It's the Taylor GS Mini. I got it for $300 used, which is a steal. It's not a full scale guitar, but not a toy version either. It has fantastic tone and plays almost as easily as an electric. It's my couch and tv guitar and I log hours and hours per week on it because it just plays and sounds so good, I'm getting too lazy to fire up the Marshalls and electrics in my music room.

With songsterr.com and youtube.com, it's never been easier to learn how to play. Anytime I'm watching tv and hear a song I've always wanted to learn, I immediately look it up online, grab my acoustic and play along with the TAB notation. Really keeps the chops up too.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Start with the FS or FG800 and higher from here. Talk to the Rep and tell him you want to make sure the setup/inspection is for a new player - should be free. They generally do a good job. Skip the 3/4 guitars unless he is small.

https://www.sweetwater.com/c60...ZCI6WyJZYW1haGEiXX19

I really like them for higher end guitars too.

I bought the FG800 from Sweetwater, and also my ovation. They are a good company to deal with.

Be glad. They aren't as noisy as amplified electric ones....

flashguy

For what it's worth Yamaha and takamini are good cheap guitars. Does your son have a preference? If he has a brand in mind and you miss the mark he probably won't play it for long. Martin's would be my suggestion how ever we bought my oldest daughter a takamini about 10 yrs ago and she plays it all the time. Good luck

I snagged a professionally fixed Washburn D10S. The soundboard had cracked and was repaired by a luthier. I do not have a ton of experience but it sounds and plays amazing. A musician friend really liked it and it's character.

So don't shy away from something that was fixed properly. Some amazing deals to be had.

The disparity of responses seem to fall into two camps: What's best for you or what's best for your son?

The Taylor / Washburn suggestions are good - for you, if your son loses interest.

What I've seen and would probably recommend, as a player for over 50 years and owner of 19 guitars, both acoustic and electric, is to get your son a good, playable guitar for not a lot of money. And think beyond the guitar: strings, picks, tuners, stands, cases/gig bags, straps, etc.

I'd probably go with a starter kit, such as the Fender (yes, THAT Fender) FA-115 Bundle (on Amazon here for $159.99. Free shipping if you're Prime.

I know of no one who stuck with his original guitar. If your son sticks with it and really likes it, THEN I would suggest some serious guitar shopping.

There are only two things that matter, beyond personal preference...

* will the given guitar stay in tune?

* is the neck and action good and playable?

If you can answer Yes to both of those questions, then it only matters if you like the resulting sound and you can afford it.

Any guitar that will hold it's tuning and is literally playable in a pleasant way will work fine, whether it is a thrice repaired cheapo knockoff or a vintage gem owned by Elvis.

Looks, brands, colors, shapes, price, none of that matters in a technical sense. Either the thing "works" or it doesn't, and "works" is defined as (1) stays in tune and (2) good action.

Lots of musicians throughout the ages made iconic music on trash gear. Hell, even the "needs to stay in tune" part has been ignored by some who embrace the quirks/dissonance.

So, buy whatever you like but don't think it *has* to be fancy or expensive to be "real". As others stated, Yamaha is a good brand in those lower price ranges, and dozens of other brands as well.

Unless I missed it, first ask him if he wants an acoustic or electric, and go from there.
Nothing worse than wanting to shred like Van Halen and be given a James Taylor setup.
Visit a guitar store to get the overall feel of the guitars. The neck shape, string gauge, size, and weight all play a role.
Figure $500 for a decent acoustic setup like a Taylor, add another $2-300 for an electric setup with the amp and a multi function pedalboard. And $25 for a cheap set of headphones to plug into the amp.

Check out SweetWater after you find something you like. Free shipping, no tax, payments divided monthly, and a decent return policy, unless it changed.

My 15 year old son wanted a guitar. We started prowling the pawn shops with absolutely no idea what was good and what was junk. We started asking questions after explaining our circumstances.

We bought a Fender guitar and he started taking lessons. Over the years he's had many guitars and plays really well.

As a way to get a guitar into the hands of a son who wants to play this worked out really well. I think the guitar and amp together were about $80.00.

For the money, go with a solid top Yamaha. They're well made, have good tone for an entry level guitar. Once he has the basics down, and if he continues to show interest, you might want to invest in a better quality instrument. You can learn to play nearly any song you want from free you tube videos.

quote:

Originally posted by JSB3:
Nothing worse than wanting to shred like Van Halen and be given a James Taylor setup.

This is exactly why I started playing and why I gave up after a few months of lessons. I got the first VH album in second grade when it came out. My first guitar was a beater Stella acoustic my mom had had laying around the house when she was a kid. Imagine how much I hated having to learn Proud Mary and Love Me Tender when VH was my reason for wanting to play. I got back into it when I was 13, got a cheapo electric for Xmas and I stuck with it. These days you get a LOT more guitar for the money than back then.

Get him whatever he wants/ Motivation is the key. He needs to like the instrument.

You have already gotten a lot of great advice.

One thing I would ensure is that he wants an acoustic. I have been playing since I was 16 - I am 61 - and I find acoustic notably harder to play. In my opinion and electric is easier to learn on as it is easier to fret.

Set up is key. Make sure the guitar is as easy to play as possible acoustic or electric.

Just my $.02

Yamaha makes decent inexpensive guitars, if the $250 limit is firm.

As noted, at $500, there are some notably better choices over $200 guitars. Seagull (a Canadian company), makes some very nice acoustics in the $400 range. These are very well thought of.

Here is my advice on this one.

There are a lot of great starter guitars on the market in the $140-200+ range. Any one of them from a major brand will be fine.

However guitars are very personal. What I think is an awesome guitar and a perfect fit Oz_Shadow may find ok, and Gustofer might hate.

I recommend that you take him to Guitar Center or several smaller music stores and let him try several in the price range that you select, and let him pick. That way everyone is happy.


As an example we went through the same thing with my dad last Christmas. I have a nice Ibanez tonewood that I think sounds and plays amazing. He ended up buying a Fender that I didn't like at all. Then in March he found a cheap Chinese knock off of a Gibson at a garage sale for $30 and that is all he plays. I think it sounds like tinny crap but he loves it.