Package Deals

[spiritinthesky2]

Ok, So my 12 yo nephew wants a guitar for his birthday. My brother and I have been looking at the different packages that are out there. Squire,Ibanez ect. Problem is neither of us started out with a "package" so what experience do the good people of GT have with them? Which is the better value, Playability, Sound? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Lordathestrings]

The thing to bear in mind here is that you're looking at entry-level gear which by definition is not going to be top-flight stuff. Another consideration is that it will all be from the same company.

Based on those two points, I would recommend Yamaha. No, I've never played one of their beginner packages, but I have played a lot of their guitars, my stereo is a Yamaha, and for that matter, both of my motorcycles are Yamaha. From my experience, they're a company that does everything well.

The best advice for an experienced player looking for a new piece of gear is to try things out with their eyes closed, and their ears and mind open. This ensures that choices are made based on sound, playability, and feel, instead of the brand name. Obviously, a beginner doesn't have the experience needed for that kind of assessment, so you could browse through the user reviews (http://www.harmony-central.com/User_Reviews/) on the Harmony Central website. Unless this is intended to be a surprise present, the novice should be included in the selection process. At this stage of the game visuals and brand name are unavoidably important, and the more enthusiastic he is about the new gear, the more likely it is that he will persevere through the frustrations of the early learning process.

[Dr_simon]

My second or third guitar was a Squire (early Eighties) and I loved it. I wish I still had it as Id love to compare it with some of the high end axes I have now.

Anyway, a couple of ears ago my wife decided shed like to have a go learning the bass and we got a Squire Bass starters pack.

I thought it was great. She decided Bass was not for her so we sold it and got quite a reasonable price for it.

So, Id have a go with the squire however I am also bias as I am not a big fan of Ibanez and think the funny looking Heavy Metal ones look like silly.

[Repeattwice]

Get whatever fits your budget the best and from a teachers stand point I'd stick to cheap, not wal-mart cheap but cheap the chances of your nephew sticking with it is really up in the air, so if he likes it a lot down the road spend a few more bucks on his next insturment. As for brand i'd would agree w/ Lordathestrings, all will be about the same quality but keep in mind that you want to stick w/ companies that make a particular product not 5 billion different products, though I must say i've been pleased w/ what yamaha has done over the years.

[spiritinthesky2]

Thanx everyone, I appreciate the input.

[PonyOne]

Lord,

you think an R6 would make a good starter bike? :D I was supposed to take the MSF course this month but the lack of a job put a damper on that... soon as I get worknig again, though...

The Squier stratpacks are garbage, and the Ibanez starter packs aren't good either. My personal recommendation is to get him a Vox Pathfinder 15R (15 watts, reverb, gain circuit, great overall tone for what it is, $120) and a Kramer Focus ($80).

here are links to the Kramer http://www.musicyo.com/product_specs.asp?pf_id=101

and the Vox
http://www.swee****er.com/store/detail/V9168R/

My first amp was a Pathfinder 15 and I still use it in my living room as a practice/jam time with housemates type amp. I will confidently say it is the best sounding amp in its range. Get the kid started right; those little 10w things they put in those packs sound like nasties. He has to be able to hear what he's playing, and the Vox has a muc nicer and fuller sounding clean channel.

The Kramers are excellent for the cost; I have played the Focus before and it plays and sounds pretty much like a nice Mexican Strat.

It's not a "pack" per say, but it's two pieces of gear that he'll be able to keep for awhile if he wants to stick at it instead of eventually selling it on Craigslist for $50.

[Lordathestrings]

Good gear advice!

An R6 might actually hold you back because it's best to start out on something you can flog the snot out of without worrying about damaging yourself or a valuable machine. That said, I've been riding since 1983. My current rides are a semi-restored 1973 RD200B and a 1986 FJ1200S that I bought new (rebuilt last year). :D

[Dante7978]

Wouldn't it be an important matter to get the gear that would match his musical taste? If he likes punk, give him any crappy amp with any ****ty guitars. If he likes rock, get an amp with the nice crunchy sound. If he likes metal, get a guitar with a descent humbucker pickup. All I'm saying is that you should get the gear for the music that he would like to play. Then again, if a low budget is important, then you can always go with the Kramer Focus at musicyo.com or the Pacer.

[Tele Master]

I work in a motorcycle shop (one of the best in Ottawa) and its funny how many people come in and ask if the ZX-10 is a good beginner bike...This bike does 150km/h in first gear and costs over $11000...these people have more money than brains....I get asked that question all the time and I'm a mechanic...I'd hate to be a sales guy and have questions like that asked to me all the time...

As for R6 being a beginner bike....no....look at the Kawasaki EX500 or even an enduro bike such as the Honda XR/XL series 250/350/600...The Honda's are bulletproof but kickstart..and if your not a big guy starting the 'ol 600 may be a chore...

[PonyOne]

don't worry... I wasn't being serious about the R6 being a good beginner bike ;)

One of the guys that worked at the dealership I was at was a founding member of some big LA area motorcycle club, and he said that there was some kid who was 17 who started frequenting their forums, and really wanted a gixxer (900)... everyone on the forum told him it was a dumb idea, and he also was realy into stunts, crazy stuff, etc.

well he got it anyway, and was absent from the forums for a couple months... then... he posted up from his bed at home, selling the wreck of his bike... somehow managed to survive a nasty accident, he went to accelerate from a light and there was some guy in a truck who was slow getting through the left turn yellow in the oncoming lane... boom... those bikes accelerate quick...

I'm a really safe driver (one ticket for going 10 over in 4 years of driving, no accidents) and after seeing how people treat cyclists here in LA i plan to ride verrrry carefully. because of this, and because I don't want to buy a 250 or something and trade it in after 6 months, I'm looking at a "slower" 600; an older Suzuki Katana or Ninja or something like that.

Sorry, didn't mean to Mohammad Atta this thread...

[Akira]

don't worry... I wasn't being serious about the R6 being a good beginner bike ;)

One of the guys that worked at the dealership I was at was a founding member of some big LA area motorcycle club, and he said that there was some kid who was 17 who started frequenting their forums, and really wanted a gixxer (900)... everyone on the forum told him it was a dumb idea, and he also was realy into stunts, crazy stuff, etc.

well he got it anyway, and was absent from the forums for a couple months... then... he posted up from his bed at home, selling the wreck of his bike... somehow managed to survive a nasty accident, he went to accelerate from a light and there was some guy in a truck who was slow getting through the left turn yellow in the oncoming lane... boom... those bikes accelerate quick...

I'm a really safe driver (one ticket for going 10 over in 4 years of driving, no accidents) and after seeing how people treat cyclists here in LA i plan to ride verrrry carefully. because of this, and because I don't want to buy a 250 or something and trade it in after 6 months, I'm looking at a "slower" 600; an older Suzuki Katana or Ninja or something like that.

Sorry, didn't mean to Mohammad Atta this thread...

Ouch, atleast that guy learnt his lesson.

I hope.

[ake]

Most of the starter packs would be just fine for a 12yr old. Just be sure to have the tech at the store to set the guitar up so it isnt hard to play. Nothing discourages a kid like a guitar with to high action. The starter packs today are sure a lot better than the junk I started on.