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Electric guitar and amp for 11 year old?

7 replies

Guiiitar · 06/10/2024 21:25

DS can play the acoustic guitar fairly well, and he gets lessons. Loves it. And is OBSESSED with his friend’s electric guitar.

It’s his birthday (11) in a few week so I’m going to get him an electric guitar and amp.

No idea where to start!!

What’s a good one for about £250? (And will also check second hand!)

OP posts:
Guiiitar · 07/10/2024 07:46

Bump!

OP posts:
Hurricaneharriet · 20/10/2024 10:49

Sorry can't help - I'm looking for something similar for 9-yo DS though- so hoping you get some replies! I think we are after a 3/4 size /mini electric guitar and someone recommended Squiers brand on an old thread but I don't know anything about guitars so any advice would be great.

Paisleydad · 27/10/2024 18:27

Squier are generally well made budget guitars (under the wing of Fender). Telecaster are a good, solid, no frills model.

Amps? There are plenty of cheap amps out there and they are often nasty. Go for a bigger speaker rather than a higher wattage. 10" 5 watt is likely to be a better bet than an 8" 20 watt job. It is likely to sound fuller (not necessarily louder).

You might be well advised to seek out an amp with a headphone socket for your own sanity.

Hurricaneharriet · 28/10/2024 13:25

Thanks Paisleydad! I went for a Squier Stratocaster 3/4 size in the end as got a secondhand bargain on fb marketplace. Glad it's a good brand.

Paisleydad · 28/10/2024 14:03

I hope your lad gets hours of pleasure out of it.

I hope you retain your sanity.

Irridescantshimmmer · 28/10/2024 14:59

Have a look on different electric guitar brands on You Tube, especially the reviews and find out what electric guitar enthusiasts look for in a potential new instrument. I am sure, this way, you would find an electric guitar that you DS will be very happy with.

SuzieNine · 15/11/2024 16:39

Late to the thread but in case you are still looking, Squier (Fender's budget brand) or East Coast are a good start. The main thing is to avoid any guitar with a vibrato bridge (a sprung bridge with a lever that allows you to rapidly change the pitch of the strings) - on cheap guitars and with beginner players they don't stay in tune.

For an amp I would avoid a cheap digital modelling amp with a bunch of distracting effects which will just sound tinny and instead go for a 5W valve amp with a decent sized speaker. This will sound better and be loud enough to play in a band as long as the drummer is not too heavy handed. The Harley Benton Tube5 is well regarded as a beginner amp and the Tube15 is even better. Both come with a 1W mode for bedroom practice.

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