glennstanton
bought a MIM HSS - humbucker in bridge position - ebay - $300. sounds good, plays really nice. could probably update pickups and bridge but overall very happy with it. because it is a "sea foam" (greenish) body it probably wasn't as popular so hence the good price.

I was thinking about this too, especially if he wants to get heavily into mods, good point! I assume just buy from a reputable guy.
 
Yea, pink and sickly green are probably a good buy :)

robbyk

spacey
 
I think I'd keep my mouth shut and let him get what he wanted UNLESS you knew he was getting piece of junk, a bad deal or being ripped off.

The fun is doing it together and talking about it, but the point is taken, he works at UCLA and is a director of photography in the film industry as well, I'm sure he'll do what he wants. But I've been playing since the 60s and he only recently, so it's nice of him to ask around the old crew :)

Why did you quote only part of what I said?
 
Of course it is fun taking part. As I mentioned; talking about the important aspects of the guitar NOT brands or where they were made. If he can't recognize the quality why spend for it? Let him determine that is my point.
How are people you're asking for advice suppose to know if he knows the difference and purpose of the components and designs? 
 
I don't appreciate you quoting part of what I had to offer you.
I too have been playing since the 60's but what does that have to do with the people here knowing how much you or your son know about guitars?
I figured you must not know much since you asked. Not an insult...I've known many guitarist that could play the hell out of them and knew nothing of a truss-rod.
 
Sorry I said anything...have fun.
 
 
 

spacey
 
I think I'd keep my mouth shut and let him get what he wanted UNLESS you knew he was getting piece of junk, a bad deal or being ripped off.
 
Why? Because he'll get what he feels is right. If he doesn't recognize the quality of a high-end guitar he doesn't need it anyway.
If he isn't happy with it down the road you won't be part of the reason but then could be part of making it better-maybe a guitar he does like.
 
If he doesn't know the basic differences between electric guitars; short-scale vs. long, HB vs Singles, hard-tail vs trem, solid body vs semi-solid, tilt/angle neck vs straight, fret size (sm vs lrg) -neck contours - maybe wood choices, etc......point them out to him.
 
Of course...I'd ask him about all those specifics along with aesthetics and build it.
 
 
 

+1.
 
 
 
 

robbyk
My son is looking for a nice electric guitar for Christmas now that he has fulltime work. He has been looking around and gravitating towards a strat, HSS.
 
I suggested perhaps the new Fender American Professional Stratocaster HSS e.g. 
He is also looking at Mexican strats at ~ 1/3 the price.
 
If he goes the latter, any drawbacks or naysayers or critical mods? Any suggestions? Anything better (within the same price range) than the Fender from custom luthiers, etc?
 
Thanks!

as is the case with most things musical,
they all sound/feel different.
 
if he KNOWS that he likes the fender style,
then go on a 'quest' first....
 
to every music store you can get to,
and play on every type of strat you can find.
 
 
could be, the one that speaks to him,
is the cheapest one available.
 
could be, all the cheap ones don't feel right,
and what he really wants is a quality instrument, 
that surely will fall into the $1500-2500 range....
 
i like building mine,
and the few i bought 'stock' are not the typical choices....
 
but the 'tone quest' is complicated,
and sometimes people just don't want complicated,
they just want a decent guitar,
in which case most of the previous suggestions all apply.
 

 
i had both of these guitars custom built...
the strat on the left, is a USACG build, $1500 in all, but feels like a much higher quality Suhr or Charvel.....
 
the sunburst on the right, is another story.......! LOL
 
point is, if you have a max dollar limit, that will more or less fine tune what you can do....
but once you get to a point where you know what you really like,
for me,
it's always a custom build.

spacey
 
I think I'd keep my mouth shut and let him get what he wanted UNLESS you knew he was getting piece of junk, a bad deal or being ripped off.
 
Why? Because he'll get what he feels is right. If he doesn't recognize the quality of a high-end guitar he doesn't need it anyway.
If he isn't happy with it down the road you won't be part of the reason but then could be part of making it better-maybe a guitar he does like.
 
If he doesn't know the basic differences between electric guitars; short-scale vs. long, HB vs Singles, hard-tail vs trem, solid body vs semi-solid, tilt/angle neck vs straight, fret size (sm vs lrg) -neck contours - maybe wood choices, etc......point them out to him.
 
Of course...I'd ask him about all those specifics along with aesthetics and build it.

Perhaps I should have quoted your whole post, I think I rarely do that. Perhaps my brevity has to do with the 10" of snow and 1/3 mile of roadway I have to hand shovel yesterday and today. Whoo hoo! Anyway, let's have another go at this :)
 
The fun (the fun I am having with this) is (only) doing it together (with my son) and talking about it (beforehand), but the (your good point, Spacey) point is (well) taken.
 
...as opposed to me dictating my lack of great ideas upon him. I only get to see him once or twice a year and I've often been in the hospital on a number of those recent visits.
 
But adding on to your point which is a good one, I agree and really do not intend to coach him much because I know very little about guitars, and equipment, and hardware and intonation and pickups and strings and tuners and online retailers and luthiers. I only know I love to sit down with my acoustic and play and sing for myself and the Lord. That's why I am delighted to have received help from you and so many others on this topic.
 
As a side point, I've had two guitars in my life, my beloved Gibson acoustic and a US Masters electric hand build by my good friend Dave Regenberg. I don't have a fender or a Gibson or any of the mainstays and know nothing about them.
 
But to add on to all that, I'd again like to thank everybody as my son and I have already shared half a dozen emails and phone calls discussing some of the above responses, it's been a hoot!
 
It's too bad he'll only be home a few days and then back to CA. We won't have time to look at much as I suspect GC will be packed like sardines!
 
Anyhow anticipation is 9/10ths the fun, and because of all the wonderful responses here, we are really have fun on this. Know that whatever he decides, your help was a big part of what will be one of his lifelong purchases :)
 
Thanks everybody once again! Time to put the snow boots on and get back to it...

Robby,
I envy you. I would love nothing more in the world than to spend time with my son talking and even shopping for guitars.
 
I'm glad my opinion may be of some value. It's nice for one to know about such things as neck contours so they can feel/experience/know of the differences...but I couldn't suggest to anyone to purchase a particular guitar. Not even my son, if I could.
 
I do believe that the most valuable advise I could offer my son is...whichever guitar you choose for your first...keep it. Never get rid of it. Out of all the guitars I own and I own too many I have my '63 Harmony. It's seen many changes I major ones recently but that's not what matters. It's the one that really started it all.
 
All the specifics that one may like today in a guitar may change in time, probably will, so feeling right and wanting to spend time with it is more valuable than anything else. I know you know. My best for a great trip with your son.
 
Michael
 
 

The fun is doing it together and talking about it, but the point is taken, he works at UCLA and is a director of photography in the film industry as well, I'm sure he'll do what he wants. But I've been playing since the 60s and he only recently, so it's nice of him to ask around the old crew :)


That's cool he is asking/sharing with ya ....nothing better than family music moments  ;o)
Surely he will find that magic wood with your wisdom and guidance...

spacey
 
I don't appreciate you quoting part of what I had to offer you.

Is this your first week on the internet? It is extremely common to quote only part of a reply on internet forums. It doesn't mean the person doing the quoting is ignoring or disagreeing with parts of the post not quoted. 

JohanSebatianGremlin

spacey
 
I don't appreciate you quoting part of what I had to offer you.

Is this your first week on the internet? It is extremely common to quote only part of a reply on internet forums. It doesn't mean the person doing the quoting is ignoring or disagreeing with parts of the post not quoted. 

No it's not my first post. You'd know that if you were interested in that rather than jumping my ass.
 
It is common for people to quote a portion of a post and remark about it out of context which is exactly what happened. I don't have a problem calling them on it either. If you don't like that...your problem and while you're dealing with my ass....give it a big kiss.

I was just making an observation and pointing it out. If you're ok with sounding like a whiny child and people considering you as much, then who am I to deny you that honor? Forget I mentioned anything.

I was just making an observation and pointing it out. If you're ok with sounding like a whiny child and people considering you as much, then who am I to deny you that honor? Forget I mentioned anything.


FU
 
Been around here long enough to know you're another one of those that misread posts and then resort to name calling and talk about childish behavior.