Tough order Mrs. Stubborn. Buying for someone else, especially buying "blind" so to speak, is a difficult task. Imagine the chaos of sending a man to buy lingere? "What's a cup size?" (Aside from everything he buys being red...)

It's much the same for you and a guitar.

Lessons are best taught by a real live person. Sure there's lots of books out there, but it takes a lot of self-determination to teach yourself, and since he doesn't have the need to "lure chicks" with his sultry, eye batting, style of guitar playing, he'll need a reason to continue. Lessons put you on the spot as well as prod you along. So... Buy him a set of 4 lessons to get him started. It costs a little more than a book, but it's also well worth the cost.

As for the guitar... Like I said earlier, it's like buying underwear. It better fit. It better be comfortable. AND... It's a personal choice. There are so many different guitar styles, brands, types, that it's nearly impossible for you to find a perfect fit for him. (Once again imagine HIM in Vickie's Secret looking for a bra. You won't get one that fits the way you want, unless you've already instructed the sales people, or told him the exact size and style.) So he has you at a disadvantage here, because you simply don't know exactly what he wants!

My guess, since it doesn't sound like he's in a band, is an acoustic. Better guitar for less money because you're not also having to buy an amplifier as you would with an electric. But, you might want to ask him. (Then again it could just be a surprise! It is Christmas, after all!)

If he's not intending to play out, you can save a few bucks and not buy a case. A soft bag will be much cheaper and still do the job.

Many local music stores will work with you. Explain that you're buying it for your husband and you don't have a clue what he wants. (Thong or tap pants?) Zero in on a price range and get whatever fits within YOUR price ceiling. (Don't let the sales guy push you around.) Make sure there won't be a problem returning the guitar after Christmas. He could then exchange it for the one he feels fits him the best. Everybody is happy and it should all work out fine.

Hope that helps!

I Imagine you know what your husband listens to. If he's a country type of guy, a beginners acoustic should fit the ticket. But if he listens to rock, buy an electric. DONT buy a WalMart special!!!!!! Go to a music store and ask for help. Right now, the music stores are stocking up with Christmas packages. You can get a good beginner's electric guitar and amp for less than $250. If he's a rocker, definately go electric. That's my $.02.

Ya thats sound advice, might i add however, if you find someone that knows something about gear to go with ya to the shop. It can be intimidating to walk into a shop and not know something about all the gear. What kind of music does he listen to? rock, metal, blues, country, jazz, classic rock? Theres alot of guitar makers out there that have starter kits ranging between 200 and 400 for both accoustic and electric. Remember you get what you pay for, you go lowend and you can sometimes find a jem, but that is a rare thing. you mentioned you want something he'll play on for a long time plan on spending just a bit more. Also if you decide electric and don't wanna drop a ton on an amp you could consider a unit to use with headphones, (pocket pod, Behringer V-amp, Digitech rp) then later when he gets an amp he'll l have an effects unit he can use with it.

theres a lot to guitar, so i guess the best piece of advice i can give is, find out what he wants to play and find someone to go with you to the shop, so you don't get boned.

as far as lessons go i agree get him a four pack from a local shop, will help him get on his way.

Everyone here has given good advice, I would go with an acoustic guitar, nothing else is really needed although a tuner is always helpful and for a beginner it is a necessity because if it isn't in tune and his ear hasn't developed it will be needed and they are cheap, twenty bucks or less.

to be honest.. While good advice has been given I wouldn't do any of that.

Guitars tend to be very personal things. I have ones I love that other people just hate and vice versa.

What I would do however is something along the lines of a nice card with a "gift certificate" enclosed (NOT from a specific store but from you) and then both of you can go shopping together. Go to different stores, try out different guitars, etc. He gets to find one he likes (which, after all is the point), you get to see the process and you're both happy. You may like the "fancy one" that does everything and he may like the "plain jane" thing. There is NO accounting for personal taste and guitars just make that so much harder. :-)

I do agree on the one on one lessons however. But again, he has to find a teacher he is comfortable with and has some confidence in. I don't know the age group of the Mr but it really doesn't matter. Interview a teacher just as you would any other person you would want to hire.

My .02 take it for what it is worth.

Which is why I said to get one you can return. She's buying for a man, dude. The last thing a man wants is a gift certificate in an envelope. At least I'd be far more pleased if there were something under the tree other than a freakin' card!

If she shows the effort of actually getting something, even with the intent of returning it, it just means more. It would to me anyway.

I just hate "gift cards." To me it says, "Hey, I couldn't bother shopping for you, it would have been too much effort, so here's this instead."

Still, there's plenty of good ideas here for her to choose from. Besides, she knows her man and none of us do!

. "She's buying for a man, dude. The last thing a man wants is a gift certificate in an envelope. At least I'd be far more pleased if there were something under the tree other than a freakin' card!

If she shows the effort of actually getting something, even with the intent of returning it, it just means more. It would to me anyway.

I just hate "gift cards." To me it says, "Hey, I couldn't bother shopping for you, it would have been too much effort, so here's this instead.""


I completely understand what you are saying. I didn't say don't get him anything. In my mind the thing about
returning a guitar is it's all well and good if you can go in and walk out with money and NOT a "store credit".

As you rightly pointed out, she knows him and we don't so it would have to be her call. In my own case I would NEVER presume to buy my wife of several years a bra or even Pajamas because I'm positive that I'm wrong on what she would really like. :-)

LOL! If you buy your wife bras or pajamas, she'll want to return them. If you buy your wife gift certificates, she'll get offended.

....there's a lesson in there somewhere. Hmmmmm.

Wasn't slamming you, just pointing out that gift cards are the easy way out, and most people view it that way, unless they specifically asked for one.

I buy my wife intimates all the time. But then I know exactly what she likes and her sizes as well. Don't think she's ever returned anything I've bought her. But then, she usually points out what she likes, and that makes it a LOT easier.

As far as "store credit?" He'll still need strings, a tuner, maybe picks, possibly a strap, or a hard case, or.... You know as well as I do that a store credit in any guitar store, isn't going to last very long. Especially when you need so much stuff!

as stated before ,i would highly recommend getting him a pack deal. most,if not all, music stores in your area will offer you a starter pack in the aformentioned price ranges. and any of them will do the trick for ya. they include the amp,guitar,picks,strap,and extra strings....make sure you get it all....i would avoid the acoustic idea only because acoustics are a bit more difficlut to play on than electrics. they have thicker strings and tend to have higher action(distance between fretboard and string) meaning having to press down on the string harder than on an electric. this can make the player NOT want to continue if he feels he is gonna have to struggle harder to play. electrics have lower action and are easier to play and will encourage him to continue with it....there are several online sites that also provide these packages...you can go to " musiciansfriend.com " and type in "pack" on the search and it will direct you to pages of guitar packages to choose from. from here you can get a pretty good idea of what is out there choice wise and the price range you are gonna deal with. other sites include guitar center....sam ash...zzounds...amercian musical supplies....sweetwater.....and remember to type in the word "pack" or guitar pack" to find what you are looking for.

For the guitar I would start him off with an acoustic. maybe go to amazon or your local music store and see/ ask what they have or recommend. But then again guitars are personal things. you might want to go shopping with him, it might be fun that way to. Good luck!

Acoustic guitars are great in their own right. I own three of them, but I'll go out on a limb and suggest as beginners instruments, acoustics are overrated. Why? Because their bodies are less comfortable than electrics, their action is usually not as comfortable as electrics and string tension on beginners hands is also a factor. Electrics have more comfortable necks, the action is more comfortable and unless you are specifically after the organic tone only an acoustic provides, nothing gets the juices flowing like an electric with some distortion added! I am of the opinion that electrics are better instruments to learn on.

Would help to know what style of music is his favorite and what type of instrument his favorite musician plays.

From my perspective on electric guitars... Classic rock fans tend to favor Stratocasters and Les Paul style guitars, Country music fans tend to favor Telecasters and Les Paul styles, heavy metal and hard rock fans tend to favor Ibanez and Les Paul style guitars.

Yes electrics are easier to play but they are more of a pain to set up, with the amp, the cords, the electric outlet. An acoustic you can pick up and play indoors, out doors, upstairs, down stairs, or all of them at once just walk around. Again electrics are easier on the fingers at the beginning but if you are going to play sooner or later something is going to present difficulties.
So as you can see there are a lot of different opinions on this, so while surprising him would be nice