It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:58 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Help needed from a non-guitar playing dad
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:51 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:46 pm
Posts: 3
All good ideas, and I'm loving them !.

Although I said my budget is $600, I don't mind going above that - somewhat. I'm all for rewarding hard work, and even though he graduated high school with a 4.3 GPA, I've always felt a little bit guilty that we never rewarded him for all the effort he put into his studies. He's continued to show the same dedication at college, and to be honest outside of his studies, his only interest is music (& video games !!). In my mind a healthy work/life balance is important for everyone, and neither my wife or I want him to burn out with his academic studies, so we're hoping a nice new quality guitar will keep him in balance.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Help needed from a non-guitar playing dad
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 3:23 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:19 am
Posts: 26
I think it is awesome that you are rewarding great behavior and obviously an excellent work ethic in school. All to often there are rewards for just showing up... Kudos to your son.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help needed from a non-guitar playing dad
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 10:15 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed May 25, 2011 12:45 pm
Posts: 1169
Can you adopt me?

_________________
In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help needed from a non-guitar playing dad
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 6:36 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:44 am
Posts: 37
I recently bought a MIM (made in Mexico) standard Strat from Ebay. When it arrived it had not one scratch on it. Free shipping and no tax for $295.00 which I thought was pretty good deal. I like the color also. The new ones are about $500.00 + tax. You can window shop on Ebay and get used to the prices and models on there.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help needed from a non-guitar playing dad
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 3:42 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:36 pm
Posts: 638
If you can find him a used Highway One or American Special in like new condition, you should definitely go that route. Otherwise, $600 is going to get you a pretty worn US Strat... but some people really love the "reliced road worn" look.

Brand new $600 will get you a made in Mexico Deluxe Strat or a Roadhouse or Lone Star Strat which are nice guitars as well.

You need to drop for hints from your son... does he like rosewood or maple fingerboard? Would he like the traditional three single coil or would he rather have two singles and a humbucker? What colors does he like?

The gift card is practical but not fun... if anything, take him out just before Christmas and let him have an early present. Then wrap up a tube amp for underneath the tree! :mrgreen:

_________________
Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help needed from a non-guitar playing dad
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:50 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:17 pm
Posts: 27
Nice work, Dad! Your son's success could not have happened without a lifetime of solid parenting, and you should be quite proud. Your generous gift will absolutely mean the world to him.

You've gotten a lot of great suggestions, and I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you decide to do. I'll add my two cents just for yucks. Your son sounds like he probably knows what he's looking for in his dream strat -- right down to the fretboard type and body color. Maybe you could take him on a Black Friday man-date to a local shop to let him try out some different strats. Let him find something that speaks to him (from a playability standpoint), and then order the precise color and fretboard that he wants (if they don't have it in the store). You could even give him the opportunity to supplement your generous gift with his own funds in the event he desires something slightly out of your price range. Yes, you lose the Christmas surprise, but you could make it a very special Thanksgiving surprise (tell him you need his help to move some heavy equipment and then just drive him to the guitar store).

Again, I don't think you've got a bad decision to make. Best wishes for a merry Christmas!

Cheers,
Dave.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help needed from a non-guitar playing dad
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:15 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
G'Day! My favorite response when a question such as yours is put is usually "Aren't you glad you asked!?! :wink: After plowing through the many reasonable and myriad ideas I've distilled down to several key points:

-your son's been playing guitar long enough, and 'modded' his current axe sufficiently to suggest to me that he knows his way around this product and what he might looking for.

-Fender produces a veritable dizzying universe of guitar product, some current, many discontinued, yet still available in the market place. It's not uncommon to find 'unused' product on the wall for sale, yet discontinued, and the sales staff is NOT going to tell you that.

-sales staff, particularly in the big box stores like Guitar Center, and Sam Ash will endeavor to sell you a Ferrari even though you came in for a bicycle, so you really need to know what you want in terms of product, price point, and stick to that. Many of them don't know squat about product. They know what they'd like to sell. The Forums are really 'the source.' So if you want to 'lay away' something pending inquiry here, feel free to do so.

-The idea of auditioning guitars is important. Your son's go to guitar has been an Ibanez. That's a guitar whose design, the neck in particular, has been directed toward the so called 'shredders', with endorsements long enjoyed by players like Satriani and Vai.

Fender Stratocasters are very different. The classic, award winning body style to begin with, and particularly the necks where variety is the norm. Radiuses of 7.25, 9.5, and 12. Now compound radius necks in the new models, Neck carves from their standard 'modern C', standard V-neck, The Clapton V-neck. Head stock designs. The circuitries, pickup designs and combinations are also legion.

You would do well to spend some time in the products section with your son, reviewing the various current models with an eye to what fits his concept as a player, and then go out and audition guitars in your price range in different locations, and take notes before you decide.

Serial numbers are a key to dates of manufacture and we will be happy to help you with those because they've changed their system over the past couple of years but, in general, a guitar build in Mexico has a capital M at the front of the number on the headstock.

Keep us posted.

Doc :wink:

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: omar59 and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: