I have to agree. Jim, do your grandson a favor. Try to make sure he does not become a musician. Very difficult "career" choice if your outlook is to keep food on the table, and a roof overhead.
The most important thing to have when starting out in guitar (or any instrument, really) is a solid, professional teacher who makes sure the student doesn't get into bad habits. Repetitive strain injury is a real risk for stringed instrument players who aren't taught proper picking and grip technique.
Also a teacher who knows how to keep the student motivated by presenting skill-level appropriate exercises to work on can mean the difference between something that's just a fad and something they stick with
I recommend a low-end Fender called a Squire. Similar to a Stratocaster but much less cost. Even no name copies of differnent guitars are out there. I woulkd never buy any guitar on-line. Better to go into a music store and find one that feels easy to finger. Small practice amps are available, too.
Something I tell to anyone who wants to learn any sort of instrument is to first learn a little piano. It's easier to visualize chord and scale structure if you learn it first.
Some valid points in this thread about an acoustic guitar, however, I never really got into guitar until I got my first electric about 30 years ago. Nowadays, camping and around the house even I play my acoustics a lot more. ..but for starting out, I can see the appeal of going straight to the elect ric. The electrics are a bit easier on untrained fingers, and might have a bit more 'cool' factor.
A Squire Strat and the Epiphone SG that bitrex recommended are both solid c hoices for a beginner. My opinion is that the Squire will be slightly chea per and the Epiphone will be a bit nicer overall. I have both here...well, the SG is a genuine Gibson, but I do have an Epiphone Les Paul. It can al ways be hit and miss, but the setup quality coming out of the Epiphone shop has been impressive lately (genuine Gibson...not so much). Amazing what y ou can get for $200.
For practice amps...I don't know. Last time I used one was probably mid 19
90s, generic little Peavy. I bet any of the modern name brand ones would b e just fine.
That's easy these days, just bluetooth this to the virtual piano software running on your tablet PC. You can pick from a wide variety of real pianos with every note sampled with 128 velocity layers in 24 bit 96kHz stereo; baby grands, uprights, wurlitzers, Rhodes, Hammond organ, whatever you like.
+1 It's the best start to learn the basics for anyone. Then they can go onto any instrument that they want with a good solid music background. Also +1 on a good teacher, it's so hard to unlearn bad habits or poor technique.
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