Hello-
My son who is 8 is expressing an interest in learning how to play a guitar. My question is which Fender would be best suited for him to learn on? I plan on getting him lessons as soon as we pick out the guitar (electric). I just have no idea what to start him on. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

Thanks and ROCK ON!!

Squire Junior..

its not 2 Big.. and..

its cheap.. =D

and if he is a good boy.. and gets really good..

=D OH YEAH! STRAT! lol..

_________________
2008 American Standard Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Bassman 250 Head
Fender Bassman 410
Fender Bassman 115
Fender Rumble 60

visit me at:
http://www.youtube.com/soohungry

I agree. A squire with a smaller scale for his hands seems ideal. That and they're pretty good for the relatively small investment.

It's great that you are willing and able to let your son do this. I hope that he catches the fever to continue playing. I would start him off on something like this:

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/s ... 0310101506

If he does well and still wants to go forward, graduate him to this:

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0144602380

or this:

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0144702309

The difference between these 2 guitars is based on th style of music he really wants to play. He should know which one would be better by the time he is ready for the up-grade.

I hope this helps a little. There are a lot of good people here on this forum that will help you as well. As this is a Fender forum I will stick to showing you Fender products.

RK

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Thanks for the links and advice so far. I really didn't think to much about him wanting a guitar until we went to the local guitar store here in Houston. He just wouldn't leave we spent about two hours in there! The sales guy was pushing a full size strat so I thought I would do a little research before pulling the trigger.

Yes, rkeisher's recommendations look just about right. Good luck, I hope your son becomes a future guitar legend.

_________________

Get him a bass.

Perhaps a Mustang; smaller body shorter scale
http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0273706504

_________________
Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
Marshall: 1971 SuperLead 100>1997 1960-TV, bunch of pedals
and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica

Which is easier for a begineer to learn a bass, acoustic or electric? I made the mistake taking him to see a BLS show and when Zakk was playing his mouth was open the whole time freaking GREAT!

I would get a squire bullet strat, because you don't want to spend too much money on a first guitar. They come in somecool colors too.

_________________
09 deluxe stratocaster
96 squier
08 ESP EX-260
09 Mitchell 12-string
digitech screamin' blues
Ibanez Flanger
Fab Metal
Crate gx-15
Crate custom flexwave 120

I would get a Squire Standard Strat. its the same size as a Fender Strat. so he will get used to its body size. Electric are much easier to play then acoustic because of the actions although you can get a nice playing acoustic setup but not cheap.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

there is a shorter scale length Fender Standard Strat built for juniors and people with smaller hands
some other shorter scale length Fender would be Duo Sonic, Mustang, Jaguar Jagstang & etc

I'd suggest you listen to everyone who posted before ZOD, (but Bud, that did make me chuckle).

However, I'd also suggest you locate a good instructor first, and get his opinion as well. (But keep in mind, he/she may very well work in a shop that also sells guitars, so be wary of one who'll try to steer you into something much more expensive, although I like to think most will not.

Then if he agrees (Off the top of my head, I don't know of any guitars that would be a better match for that young man than that lil Strat), and after you've purchased it, talk with the instructor, let him go over the guitar and give you his thoughts on whether to spend some more money to let a tech set it up for you.

When I was a kid, my Father was talked into buying an accoustic for my first guitar. The reasoning, he explained to me, was that it was harder to play an accoustic due to the pressure your fingers must exsert in order to properly fret a string. 2 main reasons; strings are a heavier gage, thicker in diameter, so that they'll produce more and hense louder vibrations as they're typically not amplified and resulting in their tension being greater, tougher to push them down and, since they will vibrate more they'll actually travel farther from their initial position, they must be higher off the fretboard. Now you have to push them farther. So, the reasoning was since it was more difficult, I'd then easily be able to fret the strings on an electric guitar later on...

But I don't agree with that decision, especially if the Boy's interested in an electric...most are...the box guitar he bought me didn't inspire me as great as a Strat would have.

I didn't do to my Son what my Dad did to me, and think your choice in an electric is right on.

And in fact, you may be able to get a bit of a discount if you're able to find a good instructor and buy the guit, have a tech go over it, and take the lessons in the same place.

And like another said, attaboy Dad!!

Thanks to all tha have replied to my question some GREAT advice and I appreciate everyones comments. Going this week to pick up either the bullet or the standard squire heck I may get a standard strat for myself and learn with him!!!

Good for you, I think that would be a great bonding experience for the both of you. Please post pics if you can so we can see the/those guitar(s). Most of us here on the Forum love a good pic of a nice guitar.

RK

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head