Electric guitar help!

Monofletch

Monofletch

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Jan 14, 2010
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My daughter wants an electric guitar for Christmas. I have her for our family gift exchange. I would like to stay under $150. I have been looking at the beginner “kits”. I know absolutely nothing about them— PLEASE HELP!!

I’ve been looking at the Pyle kit and Donner kits. Any advice?
 
You get what you pay for. Beginner kits in the $100-200 range are bad enough that the companies selling them can make money.
 
I got my first guitar when I was 13. It was an Ibanez. I think my dad bought it used for around $100. It was an excellent starter guitar. A quick Google search shows they went up in the past 40 or so years since I've gotten mine. They are all over $200 & up. That's all I can offer. Good luck on your search.
 
The Ibanez mikro series are pretty inexpensive and pretty awesome, they’re small though like the name implies, but not necessarily just for kids. You could get a Kramer pacer classic for around $200 new and they are decent.
For an amp I might recommend a boss katana mini.
 
does she play any at all? curious as ive always found it best to go in person and feel the width of neck and height of the strings off the fret board, etc. based on hand size and finger lengths, etc. nothing will ruin encouragement to learn to play more than wrong guitar for you, that makes it harder to hold chords and bar chords etc.

I started back long ago with a pawn shop buy, an aria pro II. had a super heavy neck and was about impossible to play well, standing up. still love that pile of junk....but horrible guitar to start with. good part was the pickups were great and it had a super heavy crunch to it.

I switched to a Mexican made fender strat in maybe 93 and it had horrible pickups but the neck and weight distribution were great and made learning to play better much easier and enjoyable.

I can't recommend new stuff as I stopped buying in 2000. I would recommend letting her try some out at a music store to see the weight size and feel of them. ruins the fun of a surprise Xmas gift but better than it sits on a stand and is ignored cause it isn't good for her.
 
Thank you. I watched a ton of reviews. I think I’m getting the Donner DST100 set. If she needs more later that’s on her.
 
You could always take her shopping or give her the cash equivalent. jbmonkey jbmonkey is correct, and instrument is an extension of your body and it needs to fit. Someone gifted me an instrument (in the 5 figures). So far I have sent it out twice for customization, and now I’m doing the work myself. As great as it is, it’s uncomfortable to play for an extended period of time.

There is also the weight to consider, as mentioned—really a deal breaker. A guy might be okay with heavier gear.

Using the wrong gear is a good reason to not practice/play and to get an injury—hand, neck, arm, etc.

Lastly, if she takes lessons, a good teacher may have good advice.

Maybe she knows what she wants already? I would not give a blind gift of a musical instrument.

ETA often the used market is where good value lies. Most of the stuff in music stores is made in China now.
 
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