Son learning guitar...electric at what stage

[Don Gately]

My son is learning guitar the past year on a Spanish guitar. All going  well so far. Some in his class play electric but I'm reluctant to go there just yet as I'm told it is easier to play electric and he might develop some bad habits. How long should he wait would you musicians guess or am I daft?

[Eoin McLove]

I started playing the acoustic at maybe seven or eight (probably whenever l heard Appetite for Destruction) and my oul lad showed me the chords.  I bought my first electric at ten and kept butchering my way towards figuring it out from there. I never had any formal lessons so my ability is limited enough- I can't read music,  shit at soloing- but I can write a riff.  I'm not sure how useful formal lessons are anymore with all the YouTube tutorials available but it's probably no harm steering him toward some form of instruction. I suppose it depends on what stuff he's into.  If he wants to be a flamenco guitarist a Gibson V won't be much use to him but if he intends to carry the flame of steel forward he'll need a good strong axe to fend off wimps,  posers and falses by the dozen.

[Don Gately]

It's Ac/Dc and Metallica atm.  Instruction is very loose but I'm happy he's learning something in class.

[Eoin McLove]

My first guitar was an Encore. Cheap and strong. Got a ten watt Roland amp that still sounds deadly 27 years later and neither broke the bank.  If he's into metal and rock then there is no reason he shouldn't get an electric.  The playing is a bit different to acoustic, but at the same time,  once he has the basics and the feel from using an acoustic it'll transfer over nicely.

[Tee]

If he's learning the likes of metallica and acdc I wouldn't hesitate in getting him an electric. As long as he learns good technique it shouldn't make any difference. Bad habits can be picked up on any type of guitar. It's probably much more rewarding to grab an electric and learn a few metallica songs, and he'll be more likely to stick at it.
I played electric for a few years before getting a classical guitar and diving head on into Bach and Tarrega etc. I think a good grounding in metal type playing enabled me to start playing classical at a much higher level than if i tried as a beginner. Traditional teaching methods can be tedious and off putting, especially where classical/spanish music is concerned.
Nylon strings are actually much more forgiving for the fretting hand than a steel string acoustic or electric, the greater difficulty with a spanish guitar comes in with the wider string separation and thus neck width. They're really suited for finger style/classical playing, which is great if he wants to try the acoustic parts of fade to black or something.

Once he's playing at a decent standard it would be good to have him play both, depending on the song or piece he's learning. I suppose it depends whether he's totally into the rock/metal end of things or wants to be a Randy Rhodes type all rounder.

Hope he sticks at it anyhows 

[cunning stunt1987]

Fair play to him! Playing guitar is one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done (even though I'm shite).

If he's into metal and he's been playing a while no harm getting him an electric.

Just one piece of friendly advice, get him something with a fixed bridge to start off (like an Epiphone). The Tansen Strat I started with had a whammy bar and I had awful problems keeping it in tune even though I never used one.

[Don Gately]

Thanks for those replies lads.

[Don Gately]

ok lads I'm going to go ahead and buy him an electric with a practice amp probably something like this
https://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_st_20lh_sb_bundle.htm

what would ye think of this as a starter kit?

or would there me a massive quality difference on this beauty?

https://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_hb_35lh_bk_vintage_seri_bundle_set.htm

[Eoin McLove]

Is he a leftie? I'd say go with the first one.  You don't need amazing gear to learn how to play so as long as he can fire up the gain to 11 he'll be laughing.  I remember the first time I played an electric and the amp had distortion, my mind was blown. Just hitting the strings and hearing that nasty crackle.  I actually remember going home and excitedly telling my parents about this new discovery and how amazing it sounded even if you didn't play a chord  I've stuck rigidly to that philosophy ever since.

[Trev]

Is he a leftie? I'd say go with the first one.  You don't need amazing gear to learn how to play so as long as he can fire up the gain to 11 he'll be laughing.  I remember the first time I played an electric and the amp had distortion, my mind was blown. Just hitting the strings and hearing that nasty crackle.  I actually remember going home and excitedly telling my parents about this new discovery and how amazing it sounded even if you didn't play a chord  I've stuck rigidly to that philosophy ever since.

Sounds like the story from Rush's 2112

[Don Gately]

Thanks Eoin. Yes a leftie like me and my daughter so we can all play it! 

[StoutAndAle]

If he's into playing metal then you might want to get him something with humbuckers. Whilst that 335-style semi-hollow is nice - something like this might be better suited;

https://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_sc_400lh_sbk_classic_se_bundle_set.htm

It's a Les Paul copy in black satin.

Speaking as a fellow lefty - I can appreciate how hard it is to get a nice guitar when you're starting out. I've never played a Harley Benton - Squiers and Epiphone were pretty decent when I was a beginner, not sure how they stand up now.

[Pentagrimes]

I'd still happily gig with a Squier or Epiphone anyway...( oh,and you can definitely play heavy stuff with a semi hollow  ) but the Harley Bentons are grand for a beginner.

[StoutAndAle]

I'd happily gig with a Squier or Epiphone anyway.

Even the current ones?

I still have an early 90s Squier Strat and a mid-90s Epiphone Les Paul Standard (lefties) which get restrung and picked-up from time-to-time. I've seen some of the newer versions which don't have the same build quality.

To be fair - I'd pit my Epi Les Paul against some of the stuff coming out now with the Gibson logo on it.

[Pentagrimes]

Haven't used a current one but I used an Epiphone SG in Drainland for about 5 years and it was grand as gigging guitar . Going to pick up a Squier tele  at some stage for messing around at home.