Yup, I agree with Darren (Les Paul). Funnily enough it's easier to make an reasonable electric guitar than it is to make a reasonable acoustic, so while you can buy an electric like a Fender Telecaster (electric) copy for around £150 notes that, although it's never going to be a great guitar, will be quite playable, you'll need to spend a couple of hundred quid more to get the same playability out of an acoustic.

Don't skimp though. If you fall into the trap of buying a cruddy old plywood acoustic with a crap tone and strings that are four inches above the fingerboard on the basis that 'a cheap one will do to learn on', then your kidding yourself. A guitar like that will fight you all the way as you try and learn on it, even an experienced player would have a hard time making it sound good so you'll just find it very demotivating. It would be a bit like learning to ride smoothly on a bike that had a jerky throttle, knackered shock absorbers and false neutrals everywhere.

If you're going acoustic, far better to spend £300-400 on a half decent guitar 'cos then if you don't get on with it you can always eBay it and get a reasonable amount back

Showing someone Steve Vai who,s intrested in starting to play the guitar is like showing a video of Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island in 2003 to someone doing there CBT:lol:

I agree with everything thats been said regarding equipment.I started playing at around 14 with no help or music in the family.Not brilliant tone wise either but practiced,read alot and met other players and with huge enthusiasm i came on fast.Did the lot up to about 22.Studio work live work chasing record deals,etc.Got into Steve Vai around 1985 through his work in Guitar player magazine and Frank Zappa.Anyway burnt out on it a bit and haven,t really bothered for 18 years until my 12 year old recording and asked me to teach him.Really getting back into it again now but only for pleasure

What a different world to learn in now.Dvd,internet sites [try finding a video of Steve Vai in 1985] tablature programs make it alot easier.My lad has been playing fairly leasurely for 6 months and his progress is very rewarding.He is into Green Day etc and is capable of playing When september ends to a competent standard in that time if that gives you some idea.Obviously i can show him exactly what to do but that should give you some idea

Enthusiasm is worth alot to

All the best

Now your talking my language,

Smoke on the water will take you 2 mins to learn,Status Quo about 3 mins,its the classical stuff thats the clever stuff as for your first guitar and amp,i would agree with Les Paul (now i know why your called that)Yamaha but have a look at Squire (Fender)stratocaster for a good allrounder £100-£150 and maybe a Marshall MG series or AVT series.
Unfortunatly one of the first things that you will have to learn is also one of the most difficult things to master ie the bar cord.

Anyone interested in forming a DSC band???????????The Desmo's?????????

Taught my lad the 6 string and 5 string bar chords as his 1st lesson.None of this open string nancy boy stuff.He moaned like hell for the first week untill he heard Smoke on the water and realised he would be able to make that much noise if he could hold them down and change the shape quick enough:lol:
7 basic chords and you have the basis of most simple rock albums.

If you're anywhere near Manchester, count me in! I'm looking to join/start a band at the moment. Anyone need a rock guitarist?

Might have to start a new topic on this one,but i'm too far away but i'm sure that there are nearer guys.

2 Strats'62 repro and '94 with EMG's
Les paul deluxe
Tele
Tom Anderson
Marshall TSL122 and AVT100
Rivera R55

And next to b*gger all talent

What about gettin one of those AIR guitars they seem like a piece of **** to play....:eureka:

Now that I could manage :D

Almost as much gear as me... ;)

Electrics:

Squier JV 62 Strat in Fiesta Red with David White Old Glories pickups
Fender USA Standard Strat in Midnight Wine
Gibson Les Paul Standard in Heritage Cherry Sunburst
Gibson Les Paul Junior Special in Cherry Red
Jim Reed Ash Tele
Parker P-38 in translucent green
Gordon Smith SG1 in translucent cherry
Gordon Smith GS1 with Bareknuckle Warpig pickup
Re-bodied Patrick Eggle Berlin with P-90s
Jackson DKMG in black

Amps/effects:

Marshall JTM60 2x12 with match 2x12 extension cab
Maxon OD-9 overdrive
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man
MXR EVH Phase 90 Phaser

Acoustics:

Yamaha LW5
Martin J-15
Martin J12-15
Aria AW-75T in black

Yes, it is too much(!!!) so I'll be sticking a couple of the electrics on eBay in the near future!

Anyone want to buy a really nice Les Paul? Its a 1980 Standard heritage Elite. Gibsons first reissue of the 1959 standard. Comes with Gibson case etc. Previous owner for some reason changed the original aged nickel plated bridge for a shiny chrome one. Which makes the guitar worth less than the nice one that went for £2400 on ebay before xmas. No sensible offer refused. Dont gig it anymore as I darent leave it lying around in some of the holes we gig at!

Reviews below

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guita...0_Elite-1.html

By the way the prices they quote are what they paid 20 odd years ago!

[Edited on 26-1-2006 by MARTIN H]