software

I'm picking up a first guitar for my 10 year old nephew. He's been playing piano for a few years now and is pretty musical, so I think he has what it takes.

I've never actually had a Squire strat. I have a MIM, but I dont want to spend that much yet. If I can actually get in there and try out the actual axe, do you think a Squire strat is a good match for a 10 year old's starter?

if it feels good and sounds good unplugged than yes, i think its ok

Yes, I think the Squier would be just fine as a starter guitar. But if he's musically inclined and you feel that he may stick with playing the guitar, a MIM would be a better and worthwhile investment. A MIM isn't that much more than a squier and a MIM would be able to 'grow' more as his playing develops and his playing style may change... You wouldn't have to worry about the problems associated with a 'cheap' guitar if you went with a MIM strat...

If I had started with a squire I probably would have given up. Just something about them I don't like. Teach him something simple on guitar then get him to try a few cheap guitars and pick the one he finds easiest to play. I think ease of play is more important then tone and sound for a beginner.

I bought my kids an Ibanez GAX - two humbuckers, double cutaway, hardtail bridge w. string-through. Overall, a pretty impressive little guitar for $150. Reminds me of the Travers-ized '63 Melody Maker I used to have.

After buying and rebuilding/customizing a used US made Peavey for very little more, I wouldn't dream of buying a Squire. The guitar cost me $60. I could have had it playing perfectly, and sounding pretty good (no worse than a Squire, maybe better - I didn't play with the stock pups much) for a grand total pretty equivalent of a new Squire. It still would have looked hideous, but at ten years old there's a good chance he would put stickers all over it, too.

You may be opposed to getting him something used for a gift - I'd struggle with it, too - but it won't decrease in value like that Squire will. He'll be able to get next to nothing for it if he decides he likes guitar and wants a better one. Same for you, if he decides he hates guitar and gives it back to you. Even with a MIM Fender, you'll be able to get more money out of it down the road.

BUT, a Squire is definitely better than nothing. With a little work, they're playable guitars, too. However, like Pecan said, he may not like the Squire (neck shape, etc.) and might prefer the feel of an OLP or a Jackson in a similar price range. That's the difficulty with surprising a beginner with a guitar.

If he's musically inclined, you could probably teach him a few chords or an easy song pretty quick and then help him find the one that is most comfortable. Maybe you can get him a gift certificate to the guitar store and tell him you'll help him pick it out. He may want red instead of black, too.


Originally Posted by PecanIf I had started with a squire I probably would have given up. Just something about them I don't like. Teach him something simple on guitar then get him to try a few cheap guitars and pick the one he finds easiest to play. I think ease of play is more important then tone and sound for a beginner.

i started on a squier and i havent quit, in fact i still use mine. it is a good started and becuase of its smaller nut width it would probably be a lot easier to play as a 10 year old. it also sounds pretty decent and over all i think its a pretty good beginner guitar.

I started on my mom's old aria classical guitar and martin v18 and then moved on to my uncles gibson les paul cutom (when I started electric) before I got my own fender strat. The first guitar I ever played was an ibanez rg (a cheaper red one with two 'buckers) and I thought it was the nicest thing ever...until I picked up some of the higher end stuff. I think its really just whatever quot;does itquot; for you. You should spend some time asking him about colors (I always used to say that half the guitar is how cool it looks ). When I was ten I was a very visual person

My Squier '51 has been getting more play time than any of my other instruments (all of which are, in every measurable way, better instruments) over the past few months. Part of that is that it's the newest -- bought it on a whim during an MF blowout sale -- but mostly it's just a really fun guitar that sounds great. That said, I think that super cheap guitars might make better projects for established players than beginner instruments. We're able to cope better with shortcomings and we know how to make adjustments to fix small problems than a kid does.

But, if he's like most kids, no matter what you get him, if he sticks with it, he'll be convinces in a year or two that his first guitar sucks simply by virtue of being his first guitar. When I was working in MI sales, I regulalry saw 13 year olds in the store complaining about how they needed to upgrade because their parents had quot;onlyquot; bought them an MIA Strat to start on and they'd be such better players if only they could get a REAL guitar...


Originally Posted by St_Genesius

When I was working in MI sales, I regulalry saw 13 year olds in the store complaining about how they needed to upgrade because their parents had quot;onlyquot; bought them an MIA Strat to start on and they'd be such better players if only they could get a REAL guitar...

I agree completely. Until you actually sell the damned things, I don't know how you could know this, but I found it to be the truth, too.

I would say to start cheap with something that you think that will LOOK good to the kiddo in question. The kiddo has no basis for comparison other than looks, so it seems that they are more likely to spend time with the guitar if they like its appearance.

It seems to me that a kid either has the bug to play guitar or he doesn't, no matter what guitar with which he starts.

The Squire 51 is a nice cheap axe, but it is very ugly. So maybe not

slade

Full-time guitar teacher here I get asked this question all the time. I think the Squires are fine to start on. They can be set up to play pretty damn good, and they look like a strat to a kid (and many adults).

Also many of the inexpensive Epiphones are also very very good for the $$$.

There are other brands like Carlo Robelli, some Yamahas (great starter acoustics), some cheaper Ibanez amp; BC Rich models that are fine as well.

The guitar has to play and look good for the kid to say interested. If the action is a million miles high he's just gonna think he sucks and that it is impossible. You want easy to play and something that he won;t be embarassed of looks wise.

I think a white Squire looks like Hendrix's guitar.

I started on a squier strat when i was 12, I am a fender junkie so it worked out. The thing with squier strats is their quaility varies alot so just play alot of them if you are going for squier.

yeah, Squire, Eppie or Ibbie

Alot of those starterpacks are good only for firewood (and the amps are utterly uninspiring)

I started on a mim strat those are good for beginners. You also might want to consider some of the low end ibanez guitars without a floyd, so he can string it up easier.

We got a Squier Mini Strat for our little girl. She's not too hot on playing.

Starter guitars these days are so much better than the starter guitars when I was quot;starting.quot;

I started learning on a cheapie Epi Les Paul 100 plus. I had a thing for Jimmy Page and Les Pauls, so that was my motivation to play. I didn't want to put it down. Its still a great guitar for being a cheapie. Very solid...


Originally Posted by More-Gear-Than-SkillAlot of those starterpacks are good only for firewood (and the amps are utterly uninspiring)

yeh, i'm definately NOT looking at those...


Originally Posted by gOgIver

any info on these things? these or the Les Paul juniors. i have never actually picked one up to play... they look intriguing though

it would be more interesting if there was a P90 instead of the bucker