Background:
My daughter has gotten pretty deeply into music and has an amazing voice. We stopped the equestrian lessons and she’s been taking voice lessons for about two years. She’s been wanting to learn to play music as well so we bought her a keyboard. She taught herself how to play piano and decided she’s a rocker. I have a Hohner acoustic and a 74 Japanese Squire Strat. I’ve been working with her for about a year now and she’s at the end of what I can teach her as I’m a drummer that self-taught enough guitar to decently play rythm and simple riffs. She’s added guitar lessons from School of Rock to the vocal lessons and has been performing at their concerts, about two quarterly. So down to the question.
She has decided that she wants to purchase her first electric guitar. I flippantly told her to start saving her money and forgot about it. She’s a huuuge money saver and when she mentioned it again I told her guitars were expensive. Guys, she’s saved over $1000! That’s discipline, folks. I offered to have my Strat gone through and made nice again, but she just wants a special purchase for herself. Also, she thinks she wants to try another model/sound, and quite frankly, sees it as a way of starting a collection as she plans on reappropriating my Strat anyway.
I took her to a Guitar Center and she connected most with a Epiphone SG.
Over to the hive mind. What’s the best way to shop for a decent first instrument? I’m wanting her to stay away from the cheapo entry level BS and purchase a by-God instrument. Any value in checking out local pawn shops? I’m feeling she’ll get the best values buying used and we both love the idea of used guitars having stories and character. I don’t really know anyone around that plays, though. What brands are offering a good value? Any to stay away from?
Price is definitely a factor as, while she has saved a chunk of cash, she’ll be turning 16 soon looking for a car and all that that entails. And quite frankly, I like the idea of her covering a large purchase. It should hurt a little bit; that helps kids learn and appreciate the value of money.
Ancillary equipment will come later. Right now, she’s still learning how to play and she’ll have a while before she grows out of the modeler and practice amp. She does most of her playing in her room. For the concerts, she uses the school’s stacks.
@Bucky, @Totem Polar, @Duelist, and anyone else I forgot. Thanks guys, long post, I know.