Help me choose an electric guitar starter pack!

[Ramma2]

I'm looking at getting an electric guitar pack for my nephew's confirmation present. I've found these 3 choices that I can purchase at the local Guitar Center. I know nothing-zilch-nada about guitars. Help me out!

Ibanez
Fender
Epiphone

All 3 kits are 199$ and all have favorable reviews. Any knowledge you can bestow upon me is appreciated!

 

[jandrews]

as a guitarist i must say the ibanez is the best starter pack and less common than the squier where everyone and their cousin has it.

and if it makes you feel better I use an epiphone les paul custom for my day to day playing so I am not some guy who is in love with ibanez, just know they are good guitars!

 

[imported_Imp]

I hear good things about Ibanez. Epiphones and Squires have pretty bad reputations (ya, there are exceptions).

Then again, it is just a starter guitar. If your nephew really liked it, you'd probably get him a "real" guitar. When I started, I just got a Mexican Strat; at least the quality is good and it won't depreciate as fast (might even appreciate?).

 

[Journer]

fender makes a good guitar and the squier is a great starter...my first bass was a squier

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: jandrews
as a guitarist i must say the ibanez is the best starter pack and less common than the squier where everyone and their cousin has it.

and if it makes you feel better I use an epiphone les paul custom for my day to day playing so I am not some guy who is in love with ibanez, just know they are good guitars!

I'll agree with that. Ibenez uses lower quality wood in their bodies/necks, but they add higher end hardware. Epiphone uses really poor pickups and tuning machines, while Squires tend to have fret/neck problems.

Any starter pack will work, but after playing with a few of them over Christmas I'll recommend the Ibenez as well (and I'm a Gibson player )

 

[Ramma2]

Thanks guys, with so many consecutive recomendations for the Ibenez thats the one I'll go with.