Guitarists out there: Electric guitar ideas

sarymclary

Hi,

I want to surprise my 14 year old son with a new electric guitar. He already has 2 acoustics, and 1 basic electric guitar (which he bought himself by selling a games console). I bought him a new amp last year, and a wah wah pedal this year for his birthday.

I know he'd really like a new guitar, but hasn't wanted to put it on his list because they are so expensive. He was eyeing up a 'warlock' or 'flying V' style one, but it was only the same price as his current one (£90), and I personally don't think he'd be getting a better instrument, just a different shaped one.

So, what I need is for any experienced guitarists to make some suggestions please. My buget is about £150. My son has been playing for 6 years, and likes lots of rock bands like Metallica, Foos, 30 Seconds to Mars, System of a Down, Billy Talent, etc, etc. He gets tabs off the 'net all the time to master his favourite songs and riffs, and has recorded his first CD demo already, so takes his music pretty seriously.

Any suggestions appreciated (especially as I'm a non-player).

froggy_girl128

A second hand good guitar is better than a cheap guitar - they will be easy to play as the action will be better.

These are not bad (not as good as a gibson but for the price they are good)
Plus the gothic black might suit the rock look

http://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/shop/view_product.php?product=episggothic £190
or flying v
http://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/shop/view_product.php?product=epiflyingvgoth

but you might be able to get those cheaper

annie123

I agree a good second hand one is the next step up for him. We did this for our son as well at the same age. (omg was it really 13 years ago!!)

If you are lucky you may have a guitar shop near you. We went into ours and they were very helpful, found us a nice one in our price range and said if ds didnt like it he could swap ot for another one after xmas.

He kept that guitar 'till 3 years ago when it went to a friends daughter for her bday.

dont forget a good pair of headphones to save your sainity:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

td

My dh says vintage is a good cheaper end brand that is emerging, they get good write ups in all guitar mags. Not sure if they do a "metal" enough looking guitar for your son's needs tho. the epiphone options suggested by others are pretty good too.

A cheaper flying probably isn't a good idea as it won't play well

Schecter blackhawk bc1 is apparently good - £149 www.turnkey.co.uk
epiphone les paul special £109 www.biggars.co.uk

However my dh reckons that if he's serious about a guitar then he would probably want to play it and get a feel of it before buying it.

Other good buys

ibanez
court (might a bit over budget)

hth

td

ManAtHome

Can second the Vintage brand (great SG - "metal" enough for me", but no V or X) as well as Schecter (although my Strat isn't in budget territory). Biggest problem with Vintage is you get several zillion fleabay pages if you google (vintage as in old).

Good advice from TD - have a look round your local music shop and get him to try a few (spoils the surprise, but you end up with one you like).

ohreally

We have several guitars in the house, PRS, Epihone LP and a Yamaha. The epiphone appears to be the guitar everyone picks up for a jam - it seems to suit all the players styles (4 of us) just that bit better than the others, though it's horses for courses.
If you can strech to an Epiphone LP try it out with the lad to see how he takes to it. Buying a guitar untried as a surprise is open to going pear shaped i'm afraid.

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/epiphone-les-paul-standard/870

ohreally

Jamieh wrote: »

I hope it is not too wrong of me to post a link to my own website here, but www.hartnollguitars.co.uk is my shop and we sell a whole range of guitars, from £69 electrics to £thousands!

A question if you don't mind. I need a toggle top for the pickup selector switch on the Epiphone LP standard, is this something you carry in stock and if so how much would one cost (is the thread the same as the Gibson?). If you prefer, pm me.Thanks.

sarymclary

Thanks so much for all your replies. I think I realise that the sensible thing to do will be to get him to choose his own, although this would be the first time I wouldn't surprise him with a give on the day, which as a mummy who loves to give surprises and make their dreams come true, is hard (last year he got a motorcrosser - try hiding that)!
I think I'll put the money in a 'pass the parcel' style gift, and perhaps get a guitar shaped clock or some such thing, with a note explaining that he can go out and choose his own guitar with the money. That way he still gets a lovely surprise on the day, rather than knowing what he's getting and ruining his 'big' pressie.

td

Hi,

If you still want to surprise him why don't you buy him a pedal (I'd have to ask dh if you wanted advice about this).

td

floyd

Personally I would say if your son is into that sort of music then I would go with a BC Rich Warlock with widow headstock or a decent Gibson SG as they produce the sort of tone he will be after for that style of music. I have seen a few second hand warlocks recently for about £175 and some SG's for about the same.
Pedals are a great idea, Zoom GFX 707 or the latest equivalent is a great buy for metal, punk and hardcore sounds and can be easily connected up to a PC so he can record his own stuff direct to disc.