Any opinions on Farida guitars?

[mikef]

I'm going to get my son a guitar for his 11th Birthday. Looking round the local stores, the entry level guitars are either Squiers or Farida (FE3 or FST 6).

Does anyone have any experience of Farida? They seem to be priced around £150 or so, I'm not sure if thats a bit too much to be paying on a first guitar (or if I'm just being mean... :-) )

Thanks for any thoughts!

mikef

[vonbash]

Best advice is to go into a proper guitar shop (not a keyboard shop that has a few token guitars) and ask their advice. There are so many 'budget' brands around now so are which are more than passable. It might also be the case they have something second hand in your price range which means you will be getting a much superior guitar for the same money. It's been a looooong time since I was eleven so I don't know if your son would like this idea or of he would want something shiny ! I would also take him with you as the weight/shape of the guitar will have an impact as he is only 11 and the overall feel of the neck and guitar is important. Loads of kids have been put off playing guitar as they have been given a cheap guitar with an awful action etc.

[mikef]

Thanks Vonbash. I am going to take him into a music store (local one called Dawsons) to have a play with the various guitars. I'm looking around second hand also, but I have left it a bit late to be comprehensive on that...

Yes, when I learnt a little guitar (back in 79...) I suffered badly from the fact that getting the strings anywhere near the neck took a lot of effort, and after the 7th fret it was near impossible.... :-)

cheers

[wysiwyg]

Farida seems to be Dawsons "own brand" range. I have seen good reviews of some of the guitars they produce but haven't played any. I think guitarist magazine had reviewed a few recently so may still be online somewhere. also worth checking harmony central, music radar and even youtube to see reviews/demos.

The quality of entry level guitars now is soooo much better than it was even 10 years ago.

I've got one of the squier teles, custom p90 pickups and it cost i think 180£ and the neck on it is as good as any i have played (to be fair i've never played "top end" guitars but i've played a few guitars in my time.)

Agree with the advice that he needs to hold a few and see how they feel to him. And at the end of the day he doesn't stick with it, you will have inherited a guitar to mess about on yourself.

[fbatgirl]

Les Paul special 2 or (II) as they put it. I have one for a starter after doing tons of research. Well worth getting.