https://www.guitarcenter.com/Mitchell/MS400-Modern-Single-Cutaway-Electric-Guitar-Black-1500000010447.gc

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45544931)

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Mitchell/MS450-Modern-Single-Cutaway-Electric-Guitar-Flame-Black-1500000281238.gc

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45545153)

Now you have plenty of money for an amp. I'd personally recommend a line 6 pod go. Has helix sounds but just limited in amount of effects you can use

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45545554)

First of all, a 13yo first time guitar player is not going to know the difference between a legit "tube purist" amp and a modern modeler. You could play them side by side and they probably wouldn't be able to tell more than a 5-10% difference if they can hear it at all.

Budget is a consideration, and although you linked to a good deal on reverb, good luck with a parent or 13yo finding that specific deal.

Also, modelers do not sound like the old PODs anymore, they are much better. The Pod Go uses Helix amps. My bro in law got a Pod Go (at my recommendation) and he is having a blast with it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45554514)

And yes POD's are "fun" and really easy to dial in whatever tone you want.

Lots of professional artists use Helix/Axe/Quad Cortex/Kemper, not sure what you mean brother.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45554858)

Quad Cortex, includes Dave Mustaine and other dude from Megadeth (who exclusively uses QC), Tim Henson from Polyphia, etc

https://equipboard.com/items/neural-dsp-quad-cortex

https://neuraldsp.com/artists

Fractal Axe FX – John Mayer, Edge, Steve Vai, James Hetfield, John Petrucci, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, Joe Satriani

https://www.fractalaudio.com/artists/

Kemper – Skolnick, Paul Gilbert, guy from Less Than Jake, etc

https://www.kemper-amps.com/artist-gallery

Line 6 Helix – Billy Sheehan, Butch Walker, Skolnick, Gary Holt, etc

https://line6.com/artists/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45555116)

These guys still think it is good enough to use as their tone to live audiences, doesn't really matter if the original "classic recording" used a QC or a real Marshall - in a busy mix its very difficult to tell the amp/modeler, and only a small fraction of people are able to do this.

Even the biggest current "guitar genres," which are country and worship, tons of those guys use Kempers and Helix, tons. I know a guy who used to be GuitarPlayer1 for a huge country act (think Kenny Chesney, etc), and he straight up only takes a Kemper on the road, and says lots of his Nashville session bros use them as well.

Signed, Guy who plays on a Helix and a real Deluxe Reverb

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45555274)

easy to sell when he inevitably loses interest

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45544936)

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier/Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar-Pack-with-Fender-Frontman-10G-Amp-Black-1500000221873.gc

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45544946)

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Orange-Amplifiers/Crush-20RT-20W-1x8-Guitar-Combo-Amp-Orange-1414265089432.gc

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45544973)

only drawback is the lack of channel switching if youre trying to play through entire songs that do that. you can always run a boost or overdrive in front of it in the future though.

that orange is probably a good option for beginners. the quilter otoh is good for a beginner but also a legit player can take and play a show with it either going direct into the board or through a mic'd cab

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45545033)

he needs an amp with two sounds: clean and distorted. That is, any amp. Whatever will do, I would pick one of these but really almost anything is fine. It's more important that he gets a well set up, comfortable guitar that he thinks looks cool.

https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/champion-20/2330200000.html

https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/champion-40/2330300000.html

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45546228)

I have messed around on some of the squier starter pack guitars and they are ok. When I used to be into playing Ibanez had some decently cheap starter electric guitars. My big advice is to have someone at the local music shop lower the action on the strings. You will compromise sound quality of course but the frustrating thing for a starter is not being able to play anything - if you lower the action, you can more quickly learn to play barre chords which opens up a lot of songs. Will be able to see results more quickly than working through the Mel Bay songbooks or whatever .

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45545800)

If he's a budding metalhead for instance, you wouldn't want to get him an acoustic or even a Squire (which are great options generally and should be your default), but maybe something like an Epiphone V, SG or LP (like this https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Electric-Guitar/EPIJW6920/Ebony, although it is a bit expensive). Again, this is just a cosmetic preference, as his ears will NOT be advanced enough (for years) to be able to tell the difference between a metal song played on a Squier Strat as compared to Epiphone V. But if he's really into Pantera, I can tell you that he's much more likely to continue learning the instrument if you give him an Epiphone V than some acoustic that his favorite bands don't even use in their songs.

If your budget is $750 there are a huge number of options available to you which aren't even "budget" guitars. I would consider "budget" something less than $200 or so and those instruments can be shoddy in the sense of more difficult to play, don't hold tuning, etc. But if you are willing to spend $350-$500 on just the guitar you will get a quality instrument that is suitable for nearly everything, including live performances and recording; he probably wouldn't want or need any "upgrade" from that unless he gets a couple years playing under his belt.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45545820)

I would also add that you're way better off taking a portion of that $$$ and buying him some in person guitar lessons, even if it's just temporary

justin guitar or whatever is great, but it doesn't compare to the actual in person tactile instruction, especially when you are just starting out.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45546222)

it sounds like I'm joking but I'm not

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45546229)

For the electric, consider something like: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPSS00APNH--gibson-slash-les-paul-standard-appetite-amber

For the acoustic, a good starter would be: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/814ceV--taylor-814ce-acoustic-electric-guitar-natural-with-v-class-bracing-and-radiused-armrest

Don't forget a decent amp--this will give him a solid foundation: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/65DeluxeRev--fender-65-deluxe-reverb-22-watt-1x12-inch-tube-combo-amp-black

We can get more into supporting gear (effects pedals, composition boards, production tools, mics) in another poast. It's essential to remember that he isn't going to be respected and he isn't going to be able to learn well if he doesn't have the right gear to get him started--"The Gear is the Music" in the words of Johnny Cash.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45546247)

Your best option is go to used and find a v22 bugera tube amp or one of those digital boss modeling amps. Vox also makes a decent modeler. Any of these shouldn’t be more than $300.

Use the rest to buy a used G&L tribute or a Harley Benton from Reverb. I would recommend epiphone, but my sole experience with them was negative—bridge pickup on my Gibson TV knock off didn’t work—so I’d rather not.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45548875)

I did buy the Harley Benton lap steel

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5242136&forum_id=2#45549038)