From: Jonathan Egre' <jonathan@mantis.co.uk>
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: Need Help
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 92 10:45:59 BST
Distribution: world
Organization: Mantis Consultants, Cambridge. UK.

wheeler@Xerox.com (Molly Wheeler) writes:

> Hi-
> I was wondering if someone could help me.
> I want to buy my boyfriend a guitar for his
> birthday. I know absolutely nothing about guitars
> and don't know what the prices range at, etc.
> Could anyone give me some advice on this?
> Thanks!
> 
> Molly

Guitars are a very subjective thing!  And we don't even know whether your
boyfriend wants to play acoustic folk music or heavy metal, whether he's
never played before or whether he already has half a dozen guitars, etc.

My advice: 

(1) Take you boyfriend into a guitar shop and ask him to choose.

(2) If this absolutely must be a surprise present, then the only advice 
    I can give is to try to buy the guitar played by his favourite guitar
    player(s).  If you know which player(s) he likes, but you don't know
    which guitars they play, then we can help you.

(3) If your boyfiend does not own a guitar already, then expect to spend 
    around $200 minimum for a playable guitar.  If the style of music he
    likes dictates an electric guitar then the guitar itself will cost 
    about the same, but he'll also want a small amplifier (perhaps $150 
    minimum).

    If your boyfriend already has one or more guitars then there is very
    little point in buying a low-end guitar which will be noticibly inferior
    to the ones he already has.  In this case you should expect to spend at
    least $500 or so, preferably more, in order to get something at least as
    good as he already has.

    The exception to this is if he has one or more electric guitars and
    he wants you to buy him his first acoustic guitar (or vice versa).  In 
    this case you could get away with a low-end guitar of the type that he
    hasn't got.  But be careful: if he doesn't have any acoustic guitars
    (or electric guitars) this may be because he doesn't want any.

    (The monetary figures are probably a bit out, as I live in England.
    I think my general advice will still apply, however.)

(4) Second hand guitars are cheaper, and if he doesn't like what you buy
    then you will have a better chance of getting your money back, because
    they have *already* depreciated.  On the other hand, there is less 
    choice and as a non-guitarist it may be difficult for you to tell whether
    a particular second-hand guitar is even playable or not.

    Oh, and try not to confuse cheap second hand guitars with "vintage"
    guitars made in the 50's and 60's which cost thousands of dollars!

(5) If all else fails then a "Statocaster" (manufactured by Fender (USA), 
    Fender (Mexico/Japan), Tokai, or Squier - depending on budget) will
    *arguably* have the broadest appeal (NB: it will defintely *not* appeal
    to a classical music lover).

    This is not, however, a guarantee that your boyfriend will like it; 
    try (1) and (2) before trying this option.

--
Jonathan Egre' = jonathan@mantis.co.uk = jonathan_e@cix.compulink.co.uk
ObOb: The river Ob in Siberia
Newsgroups: alt.guitar