I know nothing about guitars but there was a recent deal posted to slickdeals.

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2011772

Seems like decent prices for that guitar
http://www.worldmusicsupply.com/sear...x?si=&sp=d10sr

Dammit, you beat me to it. I was gonna recommend this one:

http://blog.nola.com/checkitout/2009/01/gh.jpg

I'd go with the Epi. I have one, and I still play it, even though I have a Les Paul.

that one is pretty awesome. I jammed so hard on it i broke the whammy bar though and their warranties suck.

Interesting. I had a friend whose girlfriend bought him one, and it was a piece of junk. Numerous dead frets. I wonder if he just got unlucky, or rather if you got lucky.

I would recommend going with the electric. Kids are interested in that kind of stuff, and they will get bored with an acoustic very fast. Not to mention, acoustics are A LOT harder to play, and his young virgin fingers will be hurting for a week after playing that acoustic for a good 2 hrs or so.

I'd go electric and I'd probably go used. Used guitars are generally a lot cheaper (unless they are vintage). You can't go wrong with a Fender strat or telecaster...but you might want to touch base with what the kids are playing. Epiphones are plenty nice too.

My wife's cousin is about 14 and all he could talk about was a "guitar with 24 frets, blah blah blah." I had an old Ibanez RG550 that was once neon yellow that I had stripped all the paint off when I thought Nuno Betancourt was cool. I'm letting him borrow it for as long as he wants. I wouldn't be caught near a stage with it, but he seems cool with it.

I've had good luck with eBay, but your mileage may vary.

First guitar I ever owned was called The Terminator and it had a built in speaker. Picked it up at Toys R US for about $70 or $80 if memory serves. Had some fun with that thing.

As for the many suggestions of an Epiphone, I agree. Cheap version of a Les Paul. Decent guitar for a beginner.

You could also go with a Strat Squier.

In any case, just about anything that will play to get them started. I wouldn't spend too much dough as kids change their interests and you never know if it will be something he or she sticks with.

Nice, I had one as well. I had wanted a Jem, but couldn't afford it (in retrospect I can say thank god for that).

How old is your nephew?

Keep in mind an acoustic doesn't have the "annoying the parents" factor, as much.

do the parents a huge favor and get him an earphone output on the amp. Make sure the amp has one anyway, some don't.

All things considered, they are really nice playing guitars and put together well. Image-wise, it would never fit what I do now (alt-country and singer-songwriter stuff), but it was a really nice guitar. Super easy to play and you could really shred with that thin neck.

I was in a major Dave Navarro phase when I bought it - and he was playing Ibanez guitars back in the original Jane's days. For what I spent on it, I probably could have gotten a nice 70s Tele Deluxe that would be worth some coin now.

I know nothing about electric guitars, but when I bought my son a bass guitar this summer, I found a 3/4 bass guitar which of course is smaller in size and fit him better. Depending on the age, this might be a thought to consider.

This is a good suggestion in my opinion, Mr. AustinChief. Inexpensive, but sounds good enough to foster an interest in playing. Cool looking, too, and that's critically important for a young guy who's just getting started and would prefer that the girls in his class beg him for sex.

FAX

very true. Good Advice. At 17 i wasted $$ on an axe and amp, etc. Never practiced enough or got lessons and i lost interest and sold them. Ten yrs later i bought an accoustic and i have a bigger interest but still just messing around, nothing serious. If i have the time though i can easily waste away a night trying to learn different songs off of youtube instructional vids.