Vanity what kind of guitar and amp for 17 yr old son?

Well?

I'm not an expert, but some of the Fender Squire Strats are decent quality. I'd advise you take someone with you to check it out. My understanding is that the plant it's manufactured in (overseas) makes a big difference. You can get one brand new for something like $150 if you shop around.

L Paul Standard?

Previous thread What type of guitar to get?

Everyone's touting the Squire, and that's certainly a decent choice for a first electric. ESP makes some OK lower-end electrics (stratocaster clones). As for the amp, Crate makes some good low end amps.

You might want to think about some effects boxes, though. An electric guitar played straight through an amp sounds just like mom's old acoustic, especially guitars rigged w/ single coil pickups (like Squires and Stratocaster clones). Find an amp that has some effects built in like chorus and possibly distortion and you might save a few bucks. Otherwise you can pick him up a few 'stomp boxes' to color his sound and keep him interested in what can become a very expensive hobby. ;>)

Everyone's touting the Squire, and that's certainly a decent choice for a first electric. ESP makes some OK lower-end electrics (stratocaster clones). As for the amp, Crate makes some good low end amps.

You might want to think about some effects boxes, though. An electric guitar played straight through an amp sounds just like mom's old acoustic, especially guitars rigged w/ single coil pickups (like Squires and Stratocaster clones). Find an amp that has some effects built in like chorus and possibly distortion and you might save a few bucks. Otherwise you can pick him up a few 'stomp boxes' to color his sound and keep him interested in what can become a very expensive hobby. ;>)

Les Paul Standard ...HA!

Actually, the Epiphone (by Gibson) Les Paul is a great little guitar to learn on, as is the Guild De Armond (by Fender). Actually, they're both made by CE in Korea

Dean and Marshall both make great little practice amps.
They can all be picked up new or used cheap on eBay.

I don't agree about buying a Squire, as those are Korean or worse made JUNK! You would do better to go to www.harmonycentral.com and check out their classifieds. You could pick up a US Strat for $300 or so, or a Mexican one (those aren't too bad)for not much more than $175. Another decent idea would be an 80's US made Kramer. Those often go for the same price. Carvin guitars are also worth looking at (used that is) they are a US maker of good quality instruments. You can often find them in the $300 range on the secondary market. Depending upon the type of music he likes, a Les Paul style guitar might be better (if he likes heavier music). As for amps, stay away from Marshall Valvestate models, Crate solid state, and definitely stay away from new Fender amps, as those are pale imitations of their former offerings. 1980's Marshalls JCM 800 series are great for heavier playing and are reasonably priced in combo form. The Carvin amps are also worth considering, as they are fairly cheap on the used market. Good luck.

preferably one with a remote mute button. lol

For an amp...even Pros have small, practice amps...and these days, mostly Fender solid-state ones. They are TINY...and even the smallest, cheapest ones sound incredible. They really figured it out, and they have that true blues sound that is so hard to get from other amps. A lot of pros I know just mic the little guy, and go through the P.A. You will not go wrong with one...and probably keep it, no matter what else you subsequently buy, later on. We once plugged one...(around 11 watts!) into a 4x12" Marshall speaker cabinet, and it cranked ! I don't know how...but it did.

For a guitar...you could get a pickup for the acoustic...pretty cheap these days too, and it's a fine idea...but there is a completely different feel to a solidbody electric. I have to concur with the Squire suggestion, especially for a beginner. Musicians Friend sells them mail-order...with the amp and other things too. Whatever you get...and everybody dreams of wearing a Strat...set the action nice and low...lower than stock...and it's a lot easier to play. Many, many people stop playing the guitar because they got what was called a "beginners" guitar....which even professionals don't like to, or can't really play. Better guitars are easier to play...and low-action solidbodies are the easiest. Some electric players can't get anything out of a folk. The strings are twice as thick, too.

BTW, the Fender scale length (distance between the frets...the "stretch") is LONGER on a Fender than a Gibson...so even though Gibson-style bodies are generally bigger and/or heavier...the notes are closer together...better for shorter fingers. Look into the Epiphone and Ibanez Gibson copies. Anyway, everybody wants a Strat, and at the price of a Squier, which have essentially the same neck as regular Strats, it's worth it. If you have the money...the next step up...always a good idea...is the regular Strat, which is solid wood, probably (well) made in Mexico, and not plywood, which I think the Squire Strat is. Sounds better, more alive, is a full-fledged Fender Strat, not a Squier, and is more re-sellable, should you ever want to (unlikely). Aftermarket upgrades you would not believe are available for Strats...and with good wood...you can end up with a truly Professional guitar in every way, quite inexpensively. Check the WD Music Products site for ideas...like better pickups, tone and volume controls which let through more signal, etc.

Whatever you do...the advice you were given about an electronic tuner ($20) is the real key to it all. Also, get a stick of FAST FRET, a silocone string lubricant, and ease and speed of playing will amaze you all!

Feel free to let me know if you would like any more guidance or help in any way. I love this stuff, do it professionally, and am always eager to help Freepers, and their families ! Even the best players started sometime, somehow...and it is wise to start small and smart, and improve components until you have enough practical experience to found solid opinions and preferences on.

Check out what's available at your local pawn shop. There's never a shortage of bands that didn't make it.

Hell no! Strats rule!

Some amps have Headphone Jacks. The Parents and Neighbors plug ! The ROCKMAN gets a big, powerful amp and effects sound...and through headphones. Even tiny, walkman ones. One hardly needs an amp at all ! I have loaned my old Tele Custom and Rockman, with a couple of tiny, battery-operated walkman speaker wedges to small boys, sons of friends...and they all became guitarists. Nothing like a successful experience to inspire one to go on. A monkey could get a Rockman setup to sound like a major concert....once. It was designed by the guitarist of Boston...around his own sounds. It's great.

An amp whose volume knob only goes to "1", not "11". (Spinaltap Rulz!)

Got a bass guitar & amp in 5th grade(1965?). Played in bands in + around New Orleans till 1988(electrical engineering degree+family=sell stuff!). Ditto for my still-guitar-playing brother(now in Texas + semo-pro). Get the CHEAPEST amp you can find that has: headphone jack :-) and some digital voices/effects. Carvin is decent at "bang-for-buck". Brother uses a Line-6 amp...you could get a low buck guitar and the Line 6 POD(amps/sounds/etc digitally modeled in a small box WITH headphone jack + line out to stereo if wanted). These are about $300 via UPS from marsmusic.com...then your son can sound like EVERYONE(clean Dire Straits sound to Metallica sound) without buying more stuff! They do work...brother replaced ALL of his stuff(effects toys) with 1 Line 6 amp

your best advice is to go take a look at this thread by Nita Newpress about what kind of guitar and amp to get for her son.

My advice, as a guy who started playing guitar at age 16 and kept playing untill today? Go for a Mexican made Fender Stratocaster. Cheap, solid guitars for learners, and you can match it up with a 25 watt Fender or comprable amp that's perfect for beginners.

I'm not too big of a Fender fan, but I have a nice 25 watt Fender practice amp, and guys I've been in bands with have had Mexican Strats and they hold up nicely and keep a good tune for beginners.

good luck!