Guitar and amp for 12yo

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Dunder XIII

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My nephew is 12 years old and he's dying to get an electric guitar with an amp. Unfortunatly his budget is very low, about 300$CAN, (that's about 200$US). I lent him my classical guitar in the mean time (didn't want to lend him a Fender, yet <grin>) but what he really wants is an electric.

Is there any "combo" type that are any good? A saw "rock kits" from Marshall (and Squier?), are those any good or are they bundled crap? Would it be possible to have an amp and a guitar under 200$US??!

Thanks
 
The Squire is a good idea. You may want to get a small practice amp, like a Pignose or something else under $50 and spend the rest on the Squire. If you go shopping for the guitar with him, you'll most likely to point out the gem of all the Squires they have. Every once in awhile, a Squire is a great guitar for a beginner that can be set up and stay in tune. I had one, and I think monty had one also.

Good Luck
 
Also the Squire can be upgraded later with better pick ups to along with a beter amp. They are great guitars for the money, You may even cosider a Mex Strat. A few more dollars, but a little better construction that the Korean Squires, and the headstock decal says "Fender".
 
The Squier stays the best budget guitar I know.

There are tons of little practice amps out there. Just try a few. Don't expect miracles from them, but for a beginner and off course the low money they are very useable
 
I have a pawn shop special that I buoght for $80. Its a Hrmony Strat copy that is full sized, built very well and plays well. I haven't done anything to it except clean it up and set up the bridge and intonation. I was amazed at the way it plays and sounds. I have even used it in the studio through a old $60 Kay tube amp I fuond at a guitar show. I see these guitar all the time for around $100-$150. And old off name beginer tube amps for under $100 can be found too. As long as the kid doesn't want brand new, your $200 dollar budget should get him a good guitar that plays well and an amp. MAKE SURE the guitar is easy to play---low action and light strings!!!!!!!Find something that plays well so he want to play it more.
 
I gave my 10 year old son a my Squire Strat. His hands arn't quite big enough to play chords but I found a book about teaching guitar to kids and it's got some easy to finger chords.

I've yet to give him an amp. But, he doesn't seem to mind. When I do, it'll be something like a Pig Nose.
 
Do you know what the book is? I'm not a teacher myself so I'd rather give him a book to start him up too. I don't think "Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar" would do <lol> ;)

Is there a reason why you don't give him an amp aside from money? Too loud? Any teaching reason? :P I started on a classical guitar so I don't really know how to startup a futur electric guitar god.

Thanks
 
The book is called Mel Bay's Childerns Guitar Method 1 and it cost about $7.00.

No, there isn't any reason that I didn't give him an amp. If he wants, I'll let him plug into mine.
 
Used

Consider buying used stuff. If you have (i) used shops in your area, (ii) time to visit them and (iii) enough knowledge to identify something that has problem, you can do quite well with used equipment. You can still do will without one or all of the the three things mentioned above, though you're taking the risk of unknowingly getting a dog.

Cheap, cheap, cheap ... consider:

Fender Musicmaster guitar. There were a few iterations of these. Some are standard-scale, some short. None of them demand "vintage" prices, though they're solid, US-made guitars.

Fender Champ amp. Silverfaces from the '70s go for very little. So far as I've been given to understand, they're the same as the blackfaces, but go for less (CBS didn't bother to fool with the cheap end of the product line).
 
I believe there are some Squire and Rogue Amp combos. They were selling them at Sam's for around $150 I think. They are of dubious quality but I'm sure they would make a good first guitar setup for a kid. If he's wants something better tell him to mow some yards and buy his own damn guitar ;)
 
I bought a Danolectro U2-56 on Ebay for $100.00. With a $20 setup at the local guitar shop, it sounds very nice. The lipstick pickups make for a smooth tone.

As for an amp, I like the idea of checking out pawn shops/garage sales. You can find a beater for well under $50 that will make him happy (and it will most likely have more character than a brand new cheap amp).
 
Gosh, that is so funny!...

As a matter of fact, a friend I work with had the EXACT same question, just today, so we headed over to GUITAR CENTER, in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Here's the bottom line, after test driving the low-priced gear:

-> Squier Bullet, $99
-> Crate GX-15, $80
-> Soft Gig Bag, $20

This is what we bought for his 12yr old nephew, and I was tempted to grab a Squier Bullet for my own collection!

I compared the Squier Bullet to the Squier Strat, and I actually preferred the Bullet, and for $99, you just can't beat it.

The Squier Bullet sounded fuller than the Squier Strat. The Squier Bullet was lighter and felt better to play than the Squier Strat, but the Strat had the tremolo bridge, and was priced at $149.

-We bought the Squier Bullet, Crate GX-15, etc, and I think it was pretty good gear for the price.

If you don't have Guitar Center up there, www.musiciansfriend.com is owned by Guitar Center, and has basically the same deals. Also, Mars Music and Sam Ash usually have gear and prices that's fairly comparable to Guitar Center.

[Priced in US dollars.]

I'll probably go back tomorrow or next week, to buy myself a Squier Bullet, for only $99. Heck, at that price, I might buy two!
 
I bought the Squire Telecaster starters kit in 2000. I only recently really picked up the guitar seriously though (bass guitar is my true love). It has mainly been used as a backup for the guitar player in my band during gigs. It's a nice guitar, I like it. It's not the best but it's worth the money.

It definately sounds better than many other guitars in the same price range.

The amp looks and sounds like a toy. I've put it on my book shelve because it looks cute but I don't use it. But then again. For someone who doesn't have anything else to plug the guitar in, I guess it's better than nothing.
 
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