I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned but if you wanta spend $200 and you buy a solid body electric, which is dumb anyway for a beginner, you still have to go out and spend anothere $200 for a cheapie amp!

Get a cheapie acoustic. He's gonna quit anyways... Hohner has a real nice playin' and soundin' gitfiddle (Model HW-640) for $200 that is used in a lot of schools but there are lots of other cheapies that play okay as well.

Good luck...

Bobert