spacey
Karyn I left so I could think about it and give you the best answer I could come up with.
 
I had to put a price limit so I thought between 2500- $3,000.00.
It had to be special for a very special person.
 
I thought;
Imagine if I could get one that was made by a luthier that was raised under the wings of the luthiers that designed and built the first electric guitars that will be known for all time. Had spent his life building and then overseeing the best luthiers for custom shop builds and now builds with his name attached. A true living legend in electric guitar luthiery.
Well that is very possible and I can not think of a more fabulous gift for someone special.
 
Here.
 
There isn't a question about guitars that can't be answered a phone call away.
He also takes time to answer emails as if he'd known you for years.
I admire him. He is a credit to the guitar world.
 
Whatever you do...all the best.
Michael 

Michael, those are indeed beautiful looking instruments.  However he does state that he intends to limit his builds to 12 a year...
 
I'll have to do more thinking.

It's hard to go wrong with a Tele. The classics are always in fashion. When you grow tired of it you can simply paint it. Best of all the price range is $200 - $50,000 so you have lots to choose from.

Karyn,
 
I'm not a guitar player (REALLY??!!??) and so I'm not really fussy about guitars; I likes my Line 6 JTV. The acoustics in it alone are worth the price (to me). I don't have to own a lot of acoustics to get what I want, which saves on floor space.
 
It plays pretty good, IMO.
 

If your a LP fan, some of the new Studios or the 50s and 60s Tributes are nice.

Or, again on the less expensive side, if you want an LP-type guitar, Agile's and Tokai's are awesome there too.

I have a black version of this one :

http://www.dv247.com/guit...ar-silver-maple--78549

There was also a Strat American HH a few years ago which is my go to Strat

Or a LP Studio is "reasonably" priced.

My 2 Eurocents, but whatever she tries and likes may also be an option ?

Good luck,
Jerry

bapu
Karyn,
 
I'm not a guitar player (REALLY??!!??) and so I'm not really fussy about guitars; I likes my Line 6 JTV. The acoustics in it alone are worth the price (to me). I don't have to own a lot of acoustics to get what I want, which saves on floor space.
 
It plays pretty good, IMO.
 

I'm with the Ba Pu on this one. (or am I?)
Since she has the basics covered (with those guitars) the JTV would bring a huge "something else" factor to her guitar collection. 
 
My though of the JTV:
The acoustics are good (the banjo and dobro's does it for me ) and I'm also absolutely loving the jazzbox guitars (ES-175). 
I already have a custom built Tele, but I actually prefer the Tele sound of the JTV when I play that ol'school Jimmi Nolan (James Brown) funky stuff. 
 
I have the butt-ugly shredder style JTV-89. (because of the price, which was about 600$, and also I only use it in my studio) 
But the JTV also exist in Strat styles (JTV-69) and a Les Paul style (JTV-59). 
And the butt-ugly (IMHO) JTV-89 and 89F with floyd rose.

Karyn

Moshkiae
Hi,
 
Show her the posts on this thread first!

I want to encourage her, not put her off playing for life!!! 

I don't think there is anything in here that is offensive. Specially for a youngster, who might ask ... what's that?
 
There is such a thing, as we all know very much and then some, that sometimes a better instrument, or at least better built instrument, is likely to provide more of a chance to stay with it, than otherwise.
 
As a psychic friend, used to say, that the more you pay the more you respect it!
 
I'm thinking in my head that she's not happy with the sound coming out of the instruments she has, and that could be a playing issue, or simply bad stuff. I, however, do not think that a Squire, or another inexpensive piece is a good answer, but that is the way I think.
 
Maybe graduating to a REAL, and PROFESSIONAL instrument is not in her capacity as yet. Hopefully she can get past the marks well enough, so her ability merits a very good instrument, not just an excuse for an instrument. I seriously regret having swapped the original EB-0 Bass I had (Cherry Red too!) for a Fender Jazz, and 20 years later, getting rid of the Fender Jazz. And me kinda trying to find the feel and sound of that Gibby with the EB-3 Epiphone is not even close and even more frustrating. That's what happens when you don't know, the difference between a good instrument and a crappy one, and like a kid, think that any instrument can make you a good player, and that's simply not true, and in fact, rare.
 
I would have a good, detailed talk with her, and find out the issues. Maybe a little more homework is needed before you can make your call.
 
Sorry, I'm not helping.

No Pedro,  you are helping.   You're exactly right, an expert player should get a good noise out of the worst of instruments, but a beginner/improving player will gain more from a good one than a bad one. 
 
She says she wants a custom guitar. LP shape...  But I know Michael only makes flat tops (and I still want one) so I'm leaning towards a JTV-59.  It might not be a custom, but the range of sounds should keep her happy for a few weeks

I saw the US version of the JTV was about 50% someplace now, so that would make it about 1900$. That is custom (priced) 

 
Sweetwater (I think) has some "dent&scratch" sales with very good prices. And everyone at the Line6 forum buying those havent found any flaws to the instruments either. 
Could be worth to check out?