Guitar Aficionados Needed! (Vanity)

Nita Nupress

[Nita Nupress]

FReeper help needed!

My son has taught himself to play the guitar and he's no longer content with just playing the acoustical guitar that he learned on.  He's now wanting an electric guitar and amp for Christmas, and to achieve this goal, he's telling all the family to forego any Christmas presents this year and is asking for the equivalent cash instead.   For those of you who remember what it was like to be young and wanting that first electric guitar, you'll understand that he's so desperate that he'll spend his Christmas money on trash if I don't take some action here and help him out.

I have several choices on how to help him find a good quality, yet affordable (i.e. "cheap") guitar, but I have no technical background or expertise on which to rely.  Thus the vanity to ask the Freeper experts.  ;-)   I need your opinions and any information that I can collect before making a decision.

My main problem:  Do I fix one of the guitars that I already have?  Or do I go help him pick out something retail?

Here are the facts I'm working with: 

I have two 'hand-me-down' electric guitars in storage that I used to play in the mid-'80's (When I started having kids, that was essentially the end of my guitar-playing days.)  Neither of the guitars are in working order -- one of them (a GRETSCH) was taken apart and needs to be put back together (more on that later).  The other (an Ibanez) just plain doesn't work; it may be something as simple as a loose wire. 

I'm thinking that it would be much cheaper and safer from a consumer standpoint to choose one of these guitars to get repaired than to go retail and be at the mercy of some salesman who takes advantage of the dumb blonde.   My main fear with going retail is that my son will get stuck with a guitar that's so low-quality that he'll get discouraged.  I have no idea how much money he'll be getting for Christmas, which is another problem.  My other fear is that I'll give him my vintage GRETSCH and find out later that it's worth thousands and he won't be nice to it. ;-)

Before I can make an informed decision on the repair job, I need information on the value and quality of the two guitars.  I'm in the middle of doing an internet search but it's getting discouraging because I'm not finding much.  Here's what I have:

• GRETSCH - Model 7628 Committee - solid-body guitar with a natural wood, two-tone finish. It has two pickups and 5 switches/knobs, but the problem is that all the electrical components are in a cigar box!  It was given to me in this condition, but I played it before it was taken apart and it played fine.  This was in the late '70's and early '80's, so it's at least that old.  I'm not sure how much money I'm looking at to get it reassembled.  Any guesses out there?  I don't want to get ripped off.

This is the closest I can find to what it looks like: http://abacus.sj.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_6f5b41d7ead029265e1ab7c604/i-1.JPG

 

• Ibanez Silver Series - D77**** (Made in Japan) -   If I'm reading this page correctly, the "D77" means it was manufactured in April, 1977, which means it's one of the Lawsuit Tele clones.  I used to play this guitar on a Marshall amp and absolutely loved it.  In fact, I used to own an American-made Fender Telecaster at the same time, and I always preferred playing the Ibanez.   It stopped working one day for no apparent reason; hopefully it's just a loose wire or something minor.  

This is what it looks like:   http://www.tonezonenc.com/guitar_gallery/Mvc-593f.jpg

Here is a review:  http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Ibanez/Silver-Series-01.html

I suspect the Gretsch is more than a 15-year-old beginner needs and may be too valuable to give him. (If he sticks with it, maybe later.)   But part with my Ibanez?  Yikes!

Now that I've typed all this, I'm thinking maybe I should just take him to a music store and let him pick out a cheap guitar to learn on and give him one of my older guitars later if I see that he sticks with it.  LOL!

Thoughts, anyone? 

[kampeska]

I have a business and a music degree. I have managed a retail music store and sold wholesale. I have played in bands since I was 10 years old.(38 years) I own my own investment firm. Here is what you should do. Fix both guitars. Give the Ibenez to your son. You keep the Gretch. Play music with him. If he wants to buy another guitar, thats ok, then he will have two. He will have three when you leave him the Gretch. Have fun.

[Nita Nupress]

Oh, my gawsh! I'm done with my phone calls and signed back on to catch up before walking out the door, but this is gonna take awhile! I think I'll just have to print this out and digest it all later tonight. My son needs to read this too so he can see all the good advice he's getting.

I just love this place. So many talented and intelligent people! Thanks, everyone. I'll come back later and try to respond to some of these wonderful replies.

[droberts]

You need to know what kind of guitar playing is going to be done. If it's screaming lead solos, then your Fender (also Jackson, Charvel, etc.) type if the way to go (due to single coil pickups). If its the fatter sounding rythm playing that's of interest, then you may want to look into Gibsons and anything else with twin Humbucker pickups. Don't buy cheap copies as you'll only end up getting another one in a few years time. A good guitar will last more or less forever. Wait until Guitar Center has one of its 'Green Tag Days', 'xxxth Anniversary Deal Buster Days', 'Because The Day Of The Week Has A 'T' In It Deal Breaker Days', etc. (ad nauseam). Also look into second hand ones as it is much better to get a good quality second hand guitar than a brand new imitation.

[droberts]

This is called a 'trussrod' and allows for the fact that the guitar neck will warp, etc. in different temparature, humidity conditions. The trussrod allows you to adjust it back again.

[stlrocket]

Check with Monica Lewinsky - You did mean Cigar Aficionado didn't you?

CIGAR AFICIONADO

[droberts]

Alternatively you could buy a a really cheap guitar (so long as the action is good and it stays in tune) and Roland VG-8 / VG-88 guitar processor but this will probably cost more than a really good guitar (but it's a whole lot of fun).

[Looking4Truth]

Also, consider gettinq him an inexpensive pedal effects board, like those made by DigiTech or Korg. Being able to use phase, flange, chorus and reverb effects (and sound like his heroes) really makes a difference in a young player's perception of his own progress.

Mr. Jeeves you definitely have it right!

Nita (sorry for the informality) take his advice. No matter what he gets, DEFINITELY go for some type of effects pedal. ESPECIALLY if he wants to do anything besides classical guitar.

When I was about 7 years old, I heard this wonderful stuff on the radio and wanted to learn how to play guitar. Well Mom & Dad came thru for me and I next thing you know I had a little Fender Musicmaster II and a tiny (tube driven) Fender practice amp. That was all well and good, but I didn't have any thing else like effects, etc.

Here's the kicker. They were ignorant of music stores and equipment, etc and being 7 years old so was I. I had no older friends, brothers, cousins to mentor me. The music store where my parents bought the gear was the same one I took lessons from. I didn't KNOW what effects were, and no one told me. I spent 3 or 4 years struggling thru the cursed "Mel Bay" books with a 90 year old woman who wouldn't teach me anything except what was in those stupid books.

I was young, timid and had NO idea what to ask for and neither did my parents. Needless to say I got discouraged and quit. I'm a contented bass player now after not playing anything for about a decade and taking up the bass about 14 years ago.

Moral of the story: Watch out for those places that give lessons but don't teach you how play music. If me or my parents were still paying that place for lessons, I'd probably be on Mel Bay book 26,932 by now and still not know a lick of rock and roll.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas.

[Landru]

"Have really simplified these last years. OK, for some time now. Have an '81 Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty'"...

Excellent...I just got my first Les Paul Custom *W* in black w/ white trim, gold hardware & twin humbuckers last xmas.
I learned on a Martin SPD-16R.
The Les Paul is something else; as beautiful to look at as it is to play.
Made learning (still learning, too) electric especially easy; very fast with outrageously good tone kept enthusiasm & excitement percolating for me.

...*both* were gifts from my wife, on consecutive xmases.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I see we're on the same wavelength...

An $800 Carvin has the same quality and workmanship as a $2,400 Gibson or PRS. They don't make any $199 "entry-level" guitars, but that is probably just as well.

[monkeyshine]

Yeah Gibson is great. My latest addition is a Burgundy Les Paul Studio with gold pickups, gold bridge, gold tuners. Pretty gaudy, but I was really attracted to it. I played it for about an hour at Sam Ash and then took it home with a mid sized Marshall Amp.

[JimVT]

I suggest you check your local classified section under Musical Instruments or maybe Guitars.

Here in my small area there are ten or more today ranging from $2500 to $100.

Boy..do I wish I'd kept my 1962 Gibson Acoustic!

[HarryDunne]

Gibson Epiphone is a good starter guitar. They're inexpensive (under $200) and easy to fret. They sound good "clean" as well as distorted.

Though it's not as important, I recommend a maple neck, if you have to choose. I've regretted every rosewood neck I've bought. The maple necks tend to be moister and easier to slide on, etc.

He's going to need a good amp w/ some effects. He'll need reverb no matter what style of music he's playing. For rock/pop, he'll definitely need distortion. (Later, he'll need delay/echo, but not right away.)

Crate makes a good stereo chorus amp. It has 2 10" speakers and costs, last time I checked, about $200-$250. It's a good practice amp.

[Rudder]

Fix the Ibanez. You'll have a quality quitar at a tenth of the price you would pay for a cheapie newbie. And you'll have some left over for the amp.

[sistergoldenhair]

get him a Squire Strat

Agree. Our household has several. One was purchased for the then 13 year old. He learned to play, stuck with it and now owns several "better" instruments.

[DrLiberty]

I just went and helped my nephew pick out a guitar. For a first electric, it doesn't have to be a world-stopper quality guitar. He needs to get used to the feel (vs an acoustic) and learn to play an avergage one first.

After a year or two, he'll be ready for a nice Gibson/Fender, etc.

I suggest getting him a new one rather than your old ones. Repairs can be expensive (they'll try to upgrade you to death.) Also, you obviuosly are attached to your guitars, and if you get them fixed, you'll be able to play together sometimes. Besides, this way it'll feel like its truly HIS and not a hand-me-down

My nephew picked out a Squire-brand, with my help, which is made by Fender. It had a wah-wah bar with a locking tremolo and sprng system, which is key (or it will go out of tune easily). It seems to be a very good value (under $200).

[marsis]

Buy used, twice the guitar for the same money. There is a lot of good advice here, pick a good guitar and look for a used one. I've owned 30-40 guitars, when he gets good enough, he can buy his own high priced guitar, until then, go with a used instrument, and very important, shop around used stores, ebay, classified ads. Perhaps take him to a music store to get an idea of what feels comfortable, then buy used.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I say, you both go down to the guitar center together. Have a few of these FReeper recommendations written down. Look at several guitars. Keep a price range in mind. Let him pick it out. He'll strum a few guitars, and will finally decide on one whose color & style & feel appeals to him. He'll love it!

[Dog Gone]

The important thing to look for in a guitar is the shape.

Ideally, it should be shaped like Homer Simpson or Anna Kournakova. That's what the experts all say.

[My Favorite Headache]

I am a Fender,Gibson,PRS fan myself....Ask this man: