Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
After buying my son a low-cost electric guitar several years ago for Christmas and watching him get serious about his mysterious musical talent (must have been the mailman?), which I greatly admire, I noticed his interest was waning lately.
Talking with his friends in his "band", I soon confirmed what I suspected: he had long ago outgrown the quality of that guitar. I tried to find a better amp a couple years ago, but screwed up with a used amp that cuts out when he plays performances (more volume).
When he raced motocross for 10 years, I always told him that once he could outride the bike's abilities, we would move him up to a better one (aside from physically outgrowing the bikes, of course). That was 13 motorcycles ago and countless thrilling Championships on used bikes we built-up together. Great memories and experiences and time together.
He never asked for a new or different bike. Never complained. It was something I could see for myself when it became necessary. Now it was time to address his other talents and interests. But I'm a musical zero, making this much more difficult for me.
This time, with help in choosing from his musical friends, I gave him something for Christmas which will provide a lifetime of enjoyment every day: A genuine Gibson Les Paul. It is absolutely, 100%, American-made beauty and plays even better. He may never get another birthday or Christmas present from me, at least until I finish paying for this one, but quality came first this time.
My reward is the sound of great rock 'n roll guitar licks coming from his room once again. His passion for playing is back! And I LOVE it! I can't imagine stifling musical talent if you or someone you care about has it. It is a gift God did not see fit to waste on me and I hold those who have it in the same awe as someone who can rebuild an automatic transmission, or something like that. But that doesn't diminish my love for listening to live music.
The Big Bonus: He likes and plays the same '70's rock I love so much. No modern funk punk junk! And he takes requests!!
This is just musing-to-myself type of post as I sat here posting on TDR and listening to him play... couldn't help but congratulate myself for choosing well this time. There is sooo much techno-junk out there these days, mostly soon-to-be-obsolete gizmos, that gift giving has become quite a crap shoot and I'm not very good at it since I don't like techno gizmos.
This is something that finds it's way into his hands every day as he works on homework or just relaxes or challenges himself to learn something new and more difficult.
Talking with his friends in his "band", I soon confirmed what I suspected: he had long ago outgrown the quality of that guitar. I tried to find a better amp a couple years ago, but screwed up with a used amp that cuts out when he plays performances (more volume).
When he raced motocross for 10 years, I always told him that once he could outride the bike's abilities, we would move him up to a better one (aside from physically outgrowing the bikes, of course). That was 13 motorcycles ago and countless thrilling Championships on used bikes we built-up together. Great memories and experiences and time together.
He never asked for a new or different bike. Never complained. It was something I could see for myself when it became necessary. Now it was time to address his other talents and interests. But I'm a musical zero, making this much more difficult for me.
This time, with help in choosing from his musical friends, I gave him something for Christmas which will provide a lifetime of enjoyment every day: A genuine Gibson Les Paul. It is absolutely, 100%, American-made beauty and plays even better. He may never get another birthday or Christmas present from me, at least until I finish paying for this one, but quality came first this time.
My reward is the sound of great rock 'n roll guitar licks coming from his room once again. His passion for playing is back! And I LOVE it! I can't imagine stifling musical talent if you or someone you care about has it. It is a gift God did not see fit to waste on me and I hold those who have it in the same awe as someone who can rebuild an automatic transmission, or something like that. But that doesn't diminish my love for listening to live music.
The Big Bonus: He likes and plays the same '70's rock I love so much. No modern funk punk junk! And he takes requests!!
This is just musing-to-myself type of post as I sat here posting on TDR and listening to him play... couldn't help but congratulate myself for choosing well this time. There is sooo much techno-junk out there these days, mostly soon-to-be-obsolete gizmos, that gift giving has become quite a crap shoot and I'm not very good at it since I don't like techno gizmos.
This is something that finds it's way into his hands every day as he works on homework or just relaxes or challenges himself to learn something new and more difficult.
Take him to Best Buy or Walmart, and he quickly disappears. I invariably find him at the Guitar Hero display, usually with a fair-sized crowd gathered 'round, racking up some incredible score on the "expert" setting. Everyone, including his guitar-playing older brother (never big on praise for little brother) says he is absolutely unbeatable on that video game guitar. Go figure... 
Then he saw an SG. He said, that's the one I want but I want to start with an Epiphone SG cause it's cheaper then move up to a Gibson SG then maybe a Les Paul when I'm alot older. I couldn't believe my ears, someone in my family actually has logic and he's only 8. 
