this:
 
 

http://www.musiciansfrien...;kwid=productads-plaid^83573063067-sku^H84284000003001@ADL4MF-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^53736456387

short scale..
but long enough for folks like cobain, rundgren, adrian belew, john fogarty, pj harvey, pat smear and jimi hendrix to use to make famous albums with...
 
also, my first real guitar (not a squire, but a regular fender.. the squire is still big bang for buck)
 
 

Squire's are definitely a great value. Find one with a great neck, and they are also a great mod'ing platform. I recently found a MIM Squire Strat, black with full size maple neck and full size body at a pawn shop for less than $100. I replaced tuners, pots, pickups and added a steel bridge block. Turned it into a great little player.

I bought two used Strat Squires in the last six months. Neither was a MIM. But they both played unbelievable for what I paid for them used: $225!

Then I bought a '93 G&L Legacy with the intention of selling both Squires to recoup some money. That was four months ago.

I only recently let the Strat Squire with the maple neck go to my stepson. But only after he promised the sell it back to me if he ever went to get rid of it. He said that was unlikely to come back to me. He loves it too!!

The other Squire Strat I am keeping (MIC) has a unfinished maple neck, someone upgraded the pups to Seymor Hot Rails, and the whammy is an upgraded version!! All this for $225!! And it plays and sounds great!!

Yep, guitars have come a long way since I started.

but strats are 25.5" scale length....
 
the mustang is 24".
 
the OP said 'starter guitar'
 
maybe making it easier to play, is better than making it harder to play.......?

...but if he is doing alright with the PRS, then maybe he would be fine with 25.5"  Seams like it is always best to know the options and differences and then go try them out personnally.

I'd go with an epiphone. Those are fantastic beginner guitars. Solid playability, and decent sound. You can get good deals on them too, especially if you go with used.

With Cheap guitars they make a zillion Strat copies and a lot of them are very playable... but.. a kid will want distortion. Cheap Strat copies have terrible PU's.  So just make sure what ever you buy has at least 1 humbucker. At least a cheapo Humbucker will distort. 
Another thing to think about is re sale value, A $200 no-name guitar when you go to sell it will get you $50 back if your lucky. A brand name, even if it's a POS will fetch more, some don't depreciate much at all like Gibsons and PRS.  Gibson LP's are often a little heavy for teens. 
Musicians friend is always selling G&L's for half price on Stupid deal of the day. I own one myself and it is one of the best production guitars I've ever owned (I've owned a lot) 
PS, Last time I tried an Ibanez it was typical Chinese junk. At least the lower end ones are now, same with Yamaha who used to make great cheap guitars. 

I have 2 Squires, Strat and Telecaster, both were under $300. The point I wanted to make here is if you also spend another $100 on a proper setup by a pro these will play like they cost a thousand. Nothing beats a properly setup guitar to make it play great.

I bought a pair of starter guitars from ESP - $198 each, and then paid to have both set up - frets, action, etc, for another $40 each.
 
They both play REALLY nicely, and the sound is good too.  They are not quite as dense as the more expensive ones, meaning less wood used in the body, but still quite nice.
 
Bob Bone