OT - Question for guitar players Options

[SpecialK]

My boy's been playing for about a year now and absolutely can't get enough, literally plays for hours every night.

I got him a Fender Stratocaster and a small Marshall amp for Xmas last year, and was hoping some of the "gitfiddle" pros on the board could steer me towards some worthwhile gadgets (phase shifters, wah-wah, etc.) that are out now. It's been 20 years since I picked up my Univox and I have no idea what's "state-of-the-art" anymore. Wanted to keep the price for worthy guitar gizmos to around $200 or so.

Maybe even a descent acoustic would be the ticket! (He's bigtime into Eric Clampton, Pink Floyd, and some of the old school finger pickin' stuff like "Classical Gas")

Any suggestions?

Kevin

[SpecialK]

I just got a set of prototype Elixir's in the mail yesterday. I'll have to put them on something and see what they do. I agree with Carlos on the Elixirs, they don't have the overall brightness of a Phosphour Bronze string but... they last a buttload longer and that's what matters for him right now. The GHS version (of coated strings) are really dead. D'Addario also makes them and I've got a set here but I've yet to put them on anything...

Miles seems to have a line on the Blueridge thing. I can get you a Takamine or pretty much anything else @ cost as well. Solid top is what I would recommend as well. Only problem is humidity or lack thereof. They sound better but can crack if he doesn't take care of it.

Keep us posted on what you're looking at and DO NOT BUY until you check back with us.

You can check with Danny at St. Charles Guitar Exchange and tell him I sent you or just go to GC and see what you might be interested in...

Sounds like Elixirs are the strings to get then (damn, what am I goin' to do with all of this fishing line and weedeater cord (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ).

So Eric, you have connections out here in St. Charles? I've still got until Dec. to do some guitar recon, his Bday's Dec. 14th (bummer being so close to Xmas). Maybe an acoustic for the Bday, and a little sumpin' for the Fender for Xmas. I'll head out to work early one day here, see what kind of selection they have and report on my possible selections for review by the experts here.

I read music (band from third grade through US Navy), but he's learning most of the songs using "Tabs" he gets off of the internet. From what I can tell it shows finger positions and picking sequences, and has just about any song you can think of listed there. The rest he gets from listening to the radio or cds (good ear). Anyone ever heard of the TABs thing?