Guitar pricing- budget??

[Minnie M6]

DS 10 wants to take guitar lessons, and I don't know the first thing about instruments or music lessons. I talked to a local teacher who seemed very nice and I think would be a good fit for DS personality. When I asked about guitars and pricing, he was talking about $150.00 starting prices (he recommended an electric guitar which he said is not what most teachers recommend, but is what most kids want to play). I can't/ don't want to spend that much yet- if this turns out to be DS's passion then sure, but until he tries it out for a while that kind of investment seems high to me. Should I look on ebay or craigslist for used guitars? I don't know where to begin- I'm not familiar with brands (other than Les Paul and Fender )
Any advice?

 

[Mrs D]

DH, a semi-pro musician and long time guitarist said this: He agrees kids prefer to start electric and thats a good strategy. You can buy cheap guitars for under $150. Here's the thing about them, they are really hard to play and can lead to lots of frustration. A basic guitar you can look at is the Fender Squire (either full sized or 3/4); musiciansfriend.com has good pricing. AT this price range expect to get about a year of use out of the guitar (before he needs something better). Another option might be to rent a guitar from a local music store.
In regards to buying a used guitar from craigslist or ebay, DH wouldn't recommend it. You have to know what you're looking at to get a good deal. It would be too easy to pay too much for a piece of junk.

HTH!

DS 10 wants to take guitar lessons, and I don't know the first thing about instruments or music lessons. I talked to a local teacher who seemed very nice and I think would be a good fit for DS personality. When I asked about guitars and pricing, he was talking about $150.00 starting prices (he recommended an electric guitar which he said is not what most teachers recommend, but is what most kids want to play). I can't/ don't want to spend that much yet- if this turns out to be DS's passion then sure, but until he tries it out for a while that kind of investment seems high to me. Should I look on ebay or craigslist for used guitars? I don't know where to begin- I'm not familiar with brands (other than Les Paul and Fender )
Any advice?

 

[TheZenMaster]

Definitely like the suggestion of a Fender Squire. Great beginner guitar for a kid.

 

[3boymthr]

DS started guitar lessons last year. Music lessons of any sort are a experiment in how fast can you spend your money, but I come from a family of professional musicians so I knew what to expect. We started him out with an acoustic because that's what we already owned but he really really wanted to play electric but I told him I wasn't buying him an electric guitar until he'd proven that he could actually play and shown that he actually enjoyed playing and would put the effort into it especially since we already had a guitar he could learn on.

Well, he saved up his pennies and bought himself a used guitar (we were told it was a good one) and it cost $147. What that $147 did not include though was an AMP. That was an additional $50 for a small used Fender amp (about $80 new). In addition, we had to spend some money to get him some good headphones because the practicing was driving us crazy (the same notes over and over and over and sooo loud). So figure that $150 is actually about $250. In addition if you buy a used guitar allow about $17 for new strings and $10 for tuning. That's on top of the $100/month for lessons. Plus $25 for the books. Uh huh, guitar lessons are NOT cheap. I will say the money for the electric guitar was definitely worth it because he is much much more inclined to practice.

 

[Mrs D]

Yep, he'll need a small amp and headphones are a great investment, so are earplug for you!

DS started guitar lessons last year. Music lessons of any sort are a experiment in how fast can you spend your money, but I come from a family of professional musicians so I knew what to expect. We started him out with an acoustic because that's what we already owned but he really really wanted to play electric but I told him I wasn't buying him an electric guitar until he'd proven that he could actually play and shown that he actually enjoyed playing and would put the effort into it especially since we already had a guitar he could learn on.

Well, he saved up his pennies and bought himself a used guitar (we were told it was a good one) and it cost $147. What that $147 did not include though was an AMP. That was an additional $50 for a small used Fender amp (about $80 new). In addition, we had to spend some money to get him some good headphones because the practicing was driving us crazy (the same notes over and over and over and sooo loud). So figure that $150 is actually about $250. In addition if you buy a used guitar allow about $17 for new strings and $10 for tuning. That's on top of the $100/month for lessons. Plus $25 for the books. Uh huh, guitar lessons are NOT cheap. I will say the money for the electric guitar was definitely worth it because he is much much more inclined to practice.

 

[Minnie M6]

Thanks so much- I knew I would get good information here! It sounds like this will be a bit more expensive than I had planned for, so DS will need to decide between guitar and horseback riding lessons. We are taking a break this season from team sports (until baseball in the spring) so we have some time to explore other activities. I really appreciate the input, and am so glad to have the name of a specific guitar that would be appropriate!

 

[Golf4food]

Thanks so much- I knew I would get good information here! It sounds like this will be a bit more expensive than I had planned for, so DS will need to decide between guitar and horseback riding lessons. We are taking a break this season from team sports (until baseball in the spring) so we have some time to explore other activities. I really appreciate the input, and am so glad to have the name of a specific guitar that would be appropriate!

I'm guessing guitar playing will be more useful over the long haul than horseback riding, but that's just me.

With any instrument you generally get what you pay for. Those cheapo's at Wal-mart and Sam's and Costco and such? Crap. All of them. Doesn't matter if they are a flute, guitar, trumpet, clarinet, or snarfblat - they all suck. Cheap guitars have bad action, are impossible to play in tune, don't stay in tune very long if you CAN get them tuned, and generally sound bad - not a good way to start out. It's like trying to learn to ride a bike on a bike with two flat tires, rusty handlebars, and no seat. And lessons from the beginning is definitely the way to go - too many bad habits that are hard to break when you try to teach yourself (applies to all instruments... and to golf, lol).

 

[dawson5]

my DS16 once had a band teacher that would warn the parents & kids at the initial information meeting "beware instrument shaped objects." She was referring to the Wal-Mart instruments when she said that.

I don't know how much they discount them, but Guitar Center in our town will mark down surface damaged guitars. The guy in the store said that sometimes people come in and intentionally do this to get them at the discount. You might have luck that route also.

My DS bought his own guitar & amp. I think he got an Epiphone Les Paul, black, with an amp. I forget what he paid but this was a few years ago. We did ask a friend and two uncles before he bought it (he went to a few different places looking & pricing) if it was a good deal. Most seemed to agree that it was a great deal, I'm sure it was more than $150 though.

Also with Musician's Friend, they also run "deal a day" stuff, but it doesn't seem daily--don't know how to explain that. You might keep an eye on that to see if there is a special that comes up.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

While I agree that it is important to have a good instrument a professor once told us that if you know how to play then you can make anything sound good. He wasn't a believer in excuses.

As for an instrument in general, I personally think it is best to try some out. Every guitar/instrument is different and will have a different feel and sound. Sometimes you luck out and the cheapy one sounds and feels great and the more expensive one is not as good. Go to a music store and look around to familiarize yourself. I recommend an acoustic first. It will give him better strength in his fingers. You can get an electric pickup for an acoustic if he wants but he doesn't need it. If your child really wants to learn how to play the guitar and not just 3 chords so he can play like Metallica (who I enjoy!) then I would definetly insist on an acoustic first.
Good luck!

 

[mjkacmom]

DH has been playing guitar for 30 years, and always says to get the Fender beginner electric - probably the one the teacher says to buy. Other guitars are much harder to play, harder to keep in toon, and might frustrate the student.

 

[pixiewings71]

Yep, he'll need a small amp and headphones are a great investment, so are earplug for you!

Actually, what you should get him is a Rockman Guitar Ace. Search it.

 

[dawson5]

It won't let me edit. I reread what I wrote and later comments. I hope that OP and others know that I mean to look at the scratch and dent items and that I am not encouraging anyone to intentionally damage the guitar to get it at discount.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

We have been quite happy with the Esteban guitars that we bought from HSN last Christmas.

http://media.hsn.com/esteban_c-m_a-1042_xc.aspx?rid=154&prev=hp

We got my DD the childrens pack and DH a aucustic/electric combo.

He should have more closer to the holidays.

 

[Ava]

When I was in college I took bass guitar lessons for a bit - I'd definitely recommend renting a guitar & amp from a music store at first, to see if your DS likes guitar & will continue with it. I ended up quitting after a few months and was glad I could just return the equipment to the store and be done with it. The store I rented from had a "rent to own" program - if you do decide to got the renting route, inquire about this - the payments you've already made can be applied to the cost of purchasing the instrument.

I'm pretty sure the guitar I rented was a Fender Squire as well - I didn't know anything about guitars when I went in, so I just went with what the guy at the store recommended.

 

[kellia]

A couple of years ago, I got a Squire from music123.com for $99. I was having an early mid-life crisis, I guess, and never really played it, but my dd started playing it this summer and loves it. She is lucky enough to have a friend who plays, so she gets free lessons, but her friend says it is a very good beginner guitar and she sounds pretty good playing it! I think the amp cost about as much as the guitar, though, and it was from a pawn shop!

 

[sndfan]

Any recommendations for a beginner acoustic guitar?? That's what my DS10 is interested in playing??

Thanks!