Really cheap guitar?

dubtom

Was in that music shop on capel street today,the one a little down from the bridge. He had a range of cheap Guitars,I mean 80 quid cheap,that I was considering getting for a nephews birthday. he has the choice next year in school of Guitar or violin lessons,I'm trying to push him towards guitar because I think he would have basically a lot more fun in the future with knowledge of guitar and all the different variables of them than a violin.No offence to violin players,I'm sure they have fun too.Would it be folly buying such a cheapie,I know it's probably made from cheap ply,with cheap tuners and probably cheap strings, but the idea is to get him interested.I'm fairly sure with a clip on he could keep it in tune,which is half the battle starting off.Any thoughts?

Alanstrainor

The way i think about it is, if you buy him a very cheap rubbish guitar, it'll just drive him away from guitar in general as everything is made that bit more difficult. The guitars action, intonation, ability to hold tune will undoubtedly be poor at best. Maybe try and get a few people together to buy something better?

b0bsquish

For the extra few quid just buy him a yamaha pacifica (or browse adverts for a bargain) no point in buying something muck and have him lose interest it playing or worse..have him find out its muck and demand you buy him a new one (thus fueling his GAS from an early age)

goldtop57

If you get him something that plays like **** & sounds like **** it will be thrown in the corner . I know this from my own 10 yr old son. Every time i turn my back my old pacifica & microcube go missing & his cheap stuff are in their place. I think he's trying to tell me something. If its too much money chip in with a relative for them, he'll thank you for it later

Patricide

Get the guy a second hand yamaha pacifica....hel thank you for it later...

CianRyan

Well, all to be said has been said tbh.

Pacifica and a nice little practice amp.

Patricide

CianRyan wrote: »

Well, all to be said has been said tbh.

Pacifica and a nice little practice amp.

I.E. micro cube.... CANNOT go wrong with that bundle...

Fingers Mcginty

CianRyan wrote: »

Well, all to be said has been said tbh.

Pacifica and a nice little practice amp.

This is what I use at home...Excellent little setup.

dubtom

Thanks for the replies. I can't see his parents appreciating an electric at the moment,he might though.I was thinking more acoustic.I hear what you are all saying though. The trouble with cheap is that there is so many of them,what's ****e and whats not.I see a HARLEY BENTON HBCG45 for €38 on thomann,yes,I'd say,thats cardboard,but at what price do you get a good quality beginner,there probably all made at the same factory,someone sells them for 38 and someone for 100. I play banjo and tbh couldn't tell the difference between a good guitar and a great guitar. What I'm saying is if I up the price and go say €200,how do I know it's a good one. The salemans will tell me what I want to hear.

goldtop57

A normal acoustic might be a bit on the big side for him depending on his age so you might be looking at 3/4 sizes or something like this http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_squier_telecoustic_ws.htm I dont know what its like but i know my kid would kill for it