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Being in the Industrial Arts, you have a leg-up on most people. There isn't any reason that someone like you should be at all discouraged from moving your skills over to guitar repair--unless you desire to make a big pile of money.

In any case, there are so many free/cheap resources available these days, combine those with cheap used guitars on the market that can be purchased cheap--especially if there's something wrong with them, which is what you want.

The books of Dan Erlewine, specifically "Guitar Player's Guide to Guitar Repair", and "How to Make Your Guitar Play Great" are both very good. Erlewine is a consultant with the guitar tools and supply house Steward-Mac, and they produce many good videos on various topics (some which you can find on YouTube).

https://www.stewmac.com/

The book "The Player's Guide to Guitar Maintenance" is not super in-depth, but I do like it because of its well done illustrations and photos:

https://www.amazon.com/Players-Guide-Guitar-Maintenance/dp/0879305495

Any of the books or videos of John Carruthers are recommended (some of his videos are on YouTube). The YouTube channel for Crimson Guitars is a wealth of info:

https://www.youtube.com/user/CrimsonCustomGuitars

My favorite book on guitar electronics is a bit dated--you're not going to find the latest pickups mentioned--but it's a great primer on the subject, and you can read it free in your browswer (Craig Anderton's: "Guitar Electronics for Musicians")

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2154081/Craig-Anderton-Guitar-Electronics-for-Musicians

Also, many of the pickup makers have resources on their sites can be informative. And reading forums that are for specific makes of guitars--like the Rickenbacker forum, or the G&L forum--can often contain input from employees of those companies, so you can read what experts on the guitars have to say.

I'm not good with paint and finishes, so I'll let someone else cover that.

I recommend listening to "The Luthierist" podcast, if for no other reason than it can be encouraging to hear other's struggles in the industry:

https://theluthierist.podbean.com/

I recommend the various YouTube videos of Phillp McKnight for general guitar information:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEzJtFWNg7d7TZW7K9JyXmw

I could go on for quite a while because there are some many resources--in a way, one of your biggest challenges is to find the nuggets of wisdom among the vast ocean of opinions.

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-Repair-Guide-3rd/dp/0879309210

That is a really good source of useful information. It goes as far in-depth as you wish to go. There is information that is useful to every level of guitarist and luthier as well. Clearly explains the basics every guitar owner should know. Using this book, I set up my LTD with FR Special on it in drop C the very first time I did it. Really simple procedure and my guitar stays in tune very very well. Divebombs go back up right in tune every time.

I suggest trying different strings, different tunings, and different setups (varying string height etc) to find what you like and what feels good. Take it to a pro if you don't want to go to that much trouble, although it is pretty easy if you have any DIY skills. Try to let them know what you plan to mostly play on it.. different styles will favor a certain setup. That book tells how guitarists including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King and several more have their guitars setup.

I agree with this. A Fender Squier Strat, (even the affinity) is a GREAT first guitar with the understanding that you are going to spend 9 months to a year learning what it is to play guitar. Then you will have a better idea of what you want and you can trade up.

Squier is like a rite of passage for many guitar players. Plus, if you decide it's not for you, you're not out more than a couple hundred bucks.

You can get very cheap package guitar and amp deals for beginners.

Example:

Squier by Fender Affinity Stratocaster Beginner Electric Guitar Pack with Fender FM 10G Amplifier, Clip-On Tuner, Cable, Strap, Picks, and gig bag - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008F4UQVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9DNtzb0CYQDBF

I wouldn't recommend buying a used guitar as your first, especially if its not a brand thats very common. Its going to be very difficult to determine if that guitar is actually any good, since you don't really have the experience to know what to look out for. I've never heard of that brand of guitar myself.


I definitely think its worth it for a beginner to get a decent guitar. I'd recommend this. Its a well known and trustable brand, and you shouldn't have to upgrade to anything better in a rush until you feel like you want to. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with any picks, tuner or strap though.

Headphones: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRV6-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ These headphones ROCK! I use them with recording, mixing, performance.

Now the amp part is where it gets tricky. I would recommend getting him a Marshall MG15CFX (I had an older version of that, it's what I learned on.) With headphones they sound pretty good! It also has an aux input for mp3/cd players, as well as a foot controller you can buy so he can turn on the distortion/fx without pressing the buttons on the amp.

http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-MG15CFX-Series-15-Watt-Guitar/dp/B005ODB4QW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413217495&sr=8-1&keywords=MG15CFX

Here's the optional footswitch:

http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-PEDL-90008-MG15FX-MG101FX-Footswitch/dp/B0028LDR68/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413217507&sr=8-2&keywords=MG15CFX

I remember seeing these back in the early/mid- 90's, I think. The name was memorable because spelling America with a "K" has long been way to denote American fascism, something I don't think the Korean makers of this guitar knew. (I'm pretty sure it is Korean-made.)

Nothing valuable--just another Korean copy guitar of fair quality. If it plays well, then that's what matters. But if it were mine, I'd cover up that brand name.

EDIT:

I wonder if Tonio K's album title had anything to do with the guitar name:

https://www.amazon.com/Amerika-Tonio-K/dp/B000002015

Good album, but I prefer his "Life in the Food Chain". Harder to fit on a headstock, though.

I bought one of these Vox Amplug AC30 units. It's actually pretty nice, and effective at keeping the noise down.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAUHX1G/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1463535705&sr=1&keywords=vox+amplug

$150 is insanely high for a setup , as much as people love to hate the place take it to either guitarcenter or samash for a setup it shouldnt cost more then $60 with new strings included and it shouldnt take more then 30 minutes for the tech to do the work and if you can watch the tech when he is working if its ok with them and ask questions . Make sure its setup the way you like and so its comfortable for you to play . But any acoustic and even electric guitars will need a setup after sitting for a while acoustics more then electrics .

Or depending how handy you are check out this book http://www.amazon.com/The-Guitar-Player-Repair-Guide/dp/0879309210/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410144697&sr=8-2&keywords=guitar+setup+guide and do it yourself with the steps in the book / dvd

That's not bad, it typically retails new for around 200$. As long as you're satisfied and it feels good, that's what matters.

https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Stratocaster-Beginner-Electric-Amplifier/dp/B071F7WHTM

You can get Behringer pedals for 25 bucks — less money than it’d cost you to source the parts yourself. Mooer, Caline, and Donner pedals are priced similarly.

You can get a generic loaded, prewired Strat pickguard for 17 bucks or a set of generic humbuckers for 14 bucks on Amazon.

There is a shitload of gear to fit any budget. You want handmade in the first world by the original designer? Pony up. You want inexpensive factory stuff that’ll get you in the ballpark? There ya go.

Is this the right guitar to start with (Les Paul Special-II LTD)? or may be this one Squier by Fender Affinity Stratocaster Beginner Electric Guitar.

Can you recommend something online, so at least I have an idea by reading the specs? Thanks.

Yes the Vintage Guitar Price Guide. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1884883370/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527203272&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=vintage+guitar+price+guide&dpPl=1&dpID=51W%2Bow0lNKL&ref=plSrch. I picked one up and it’s quite useful. It’s helped me identify guitars and their production years for people on here.

What’s the guitar? I can look it up.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000EEL6GY/ref=twister_B007MY5BDI

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^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

Orange crush amp isn't bad for $. Has effects and tuner. The cleans sound awesome without any effects and has headphone jack.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DV9HJJC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1427407733&sr=8-1&keywords=orange+crush+amp&dpPl=1&dpID=51%2BRnvtKwsL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

This is the classic book on fingerstyle blues for beginners:

https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Fingerstyle-Blues-Guitar-Books/dp/0825625564/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480794244&sr=8-1&keywords=fingerstyle+blues

It helped me a ton when I was starting. Great technical advice too

I don't know of a big list o' designs, but this book is a good place to start. Most Japanese guitars from the '60s were sold under multiple brands or by multiple distributors.

Just for anyone else interested. Not bad at 4.5 star rating.

https://www.amazon.com/AP2AC-amPlug-Guitar-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00NAUHX1G/

Go to your local library or bookstore and read the section pertaining to this process in Erlewine's The Guitar Player Repair Guide. If you realize you're in over your head, shop around for a better estimate or fork out the $225. You could buy a somewhat playable new or used guitar for that amount though.

When I started out after getting fed up with the shitty amp that came as a combo with my first guitar I got a Fender Mustang 2. Its a great little amp for the price and you can program different sounds and amp profiles into it. It can also hook up to a computer and you can download custom amp profiles that other people have created.

Yeah, headphones are not going to work with that amp. If cost is no worry, you could buy him an amp or amp modeler with a headphone out and some nice headphones such as Sennheisers, Grados, AKGs, etc.

If you want to go cheap, you could buy a Vox amPlug 2 and some portable headphones such as the Koss Porta Pros. https://www.amazon.com/AP2AC-amPlug-Guitar-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B06W5232QZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=amPlug%2B2&qid=1570088242&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-1&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Koss-Porta-Headphones-Black-Silver/dp/B00001P4ZH/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3767NJXNW9Z9Y&keywords=koss+headphones&qid=1570088293&sprefix=koss+he%2Cmi%2C215&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/AP2AC-amPlug-AC30-Guitar-Headphone/dp/B00NAUHX1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480983646&sr=8-1&keywords=ac30+headphone+amp

I have this. It works well. Nothing beats a proper amp though.

I would look at the Fender Mustang 1 or Mustang 2 in that price range.

EVERYDAY IS STRATURDAY

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081KKVBVG

$40ish USD

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DV9HJJC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1427407733&sr=8-1&keywords=orange+crush+amp&dpPl=1&dpID=51%2BRnvtKwsL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D02J4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

This paint from Home Depot

These pickups

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EEL6GY/ref=twister_B007MY5BDI?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

If his practice amp has a headphone jack, maybe this is all you need.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-GPM-103-3-5-inch-Adaptor/dp/B000068O3T/

Here is the mobile version of your link

Its a chinese squier basically. I bought this one : http://www.amazon.com/Squier-Fender-Affinity-Telecaster-Arctic/dp/B0002F76QY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1427065265&sr=8-4&keywords=white+tele