hi

It seems as if this thread has got a little side-tracked from the original question.

In trying to get back to advice on what type of guitar to buy for a beginner - :

many ideas have been expressed above and most of them have some merit.

However I believe that it is all-important to learn music in the way that it is most enjoyed by the beginner.

I would advise that the novice finds out what other young bands are around and what they play and try to get involved in some way with them.

This will point the boy at where he wants to go. It will become natural for him to decided what type of guitar he wants to play.

At this stage IMHO it doesn't matter whether it is accoustic or electric, if he gets good enough it will be easy to move between instruments.

He will learn the rudiments as he goes alaong and as he does so he will indicate his keeness to continue. At this stage it would be in the parents' interests to consider finding and funding a good teacher - there are many around.

Any good musician will tell you that at this stage there is no substitute for PRACTICE.

My guitar tutor told me many moons ago when I asked him if he could teach me to play. He replied no...but that he could teach me how to practice how to play...the rest was up to me.

Happy Learning

John