I have to echo the gift certicate suggestions. Let him choose the guitar that sings to him. I still play the first steel string guitar I ever bought, a 1967 Epiphone Cortez. I paid $50 for it in 1972 and turned down a $200 offer in 1975. It has a classical-sized body with a very sweet tone. I actually prefer it to the D-sized Guild that I bought new in 1978 or so. Let him try a bunch. The right one will make itself known to him.