The “kid” is 46 and has never played an instrument. A few years ago he paid several thousand dollars for a saxophone. More recently he bought an electric piano. He spent about an hour on both those things. Lucky for him, the store let him return the sax.
He asked for Rocksmith for Christmas and he’s getting it. What the hell, it’s only 50 bucks.
Should he get one of those Epiphone guitars that Amazon recommends? Or is there a better choice?
How much do you want to pay? From what I’ve read, the Epiphone Les Paul Jr or Les Paul II’s are fine in the $130 - 150 range but if you’re willing to pay more, you could do better. A used MIM (Made in Mexico) Fender off of eBay is almost certainly a better guitar but you’ll pay at least $100 more for it.
You might also look into Fender’s Squier line of guitars, they’re a step down from the MIMs. What does he think he’d look the coolest playing?
Auntie Pam Be advised that the game takes a special cord to work. It is an interface from the standard 1/4 inch guitar plug to USB port. Be sure to pay the extra 20 bucks for the cord. Also any electric guitar will work, even an electric acoustic so guitar needs are opened up even further. The game seems to be sponsored by epiphone and they have a package that includes a guitar and special cord, the whole scheemer. It was priced at 179.00 at best buy. I would think that if he has a history of giving up you might want to look into that.
I have the game and have been playing guitar for quite some time, I like it a lot!
Thanks!
The version he’s getting comes with the special cord.
He’s willing to spend a lot, but it’s good to know that he can get one that’ll work for less than $200, given his track record. 
Since any guitar will work, maybe he should go to a music store, where he can get a feel for one. Find one that doesn’t clash with his hair. He’s a redhead.
That’s cool. The cheapest I have seen the game is 79.00 with the cord.
A pawn shop is a good place to start looking for a guitar. I got a really nice Yamaha electric for 80 bucks a few months ago. I would imagine he could buy there. Just a hint, Wait until after Christmas. Plus never pay the tagged price. Pawn shops notoriously leave room for dickering on the prices.
I hope he likes it and sticks with it!
GuitarFetish has inexpensive guitars that have gotten very good reviews and have a bit of a following. I own one of their (apparently discontinued) Les Paul Special clones (I bought it on clearance for $135!) and am quite happy with it, even among my other much more expensive electric guitars. I think that’s worth a shot. I’m also a big fan of GuitarFetish’s pickups.
Rondo has an astonishing variety of often very inexpensive guitars. I don’t vouch for them as I’ve never handled one of their guitars, but I know someone here who got one and is pretty happy with it.
The very, very low end Fender/Squier or Epiphone guitars I’ve played are very hit or miss. For example, for an acquaintance who wanted a beginner guitar, I tested out Squier Bullet guitars, and found 3 of them in a Guitar Center - two made in Indonesia, another in China. The two from Indonesia were disappointing, and the one from China showed promise and would have been an okay starter instrument. Bottom line is that at the very bottom level of the price chain, you can’t rely much on mass market brands to get good quality. If you buy an instrument at a retail location, and know anybody at all plays guitar, do drag them along, kicking and screaming if you must, to judge some instruments for you.
Good advice. I wouldn’t know a good guitar from a not-good one, and I doubt he would either. I don’t think he knows anyone in Seattle who plays, but I’ll ask him.
Can a novice tell anything by how it sounds in the store, or should he look for certain brands?
Rereading: what is the “Epiphone guitar that Amazon recommends” ? Linky? I own one Epi, I might have a read on it. I might even go try one if I have time coming home from Target tomorrow.
It’s not about how it sounds. Well, it’s also about that. It’s about basic mechanical things - is it (reasonably) comfortable to fret notes on the neck, does the guitar play in tune across all the frets, does the guitar stay in tune in general, does playing it make it go out of tune, is it frustrating/impossible to tune it correctly in the first place, do the frets hurt your hand as you play, and other things. These are bedrock questions about the usability of a guitar, any configuration, any price. Does it sound nice comes after.
I should have added: “So, no: a novice at guitar cannot judge those things. You can only roll the dice and hope if you buy retail sans guidance.” You can make your best guess after asking around, which is what you’re doing, which is a good thing to try.
If you’re sure you want guidance, I’ll go to Guitar Center tomorrow and try a few cheap guitars and write some impressions. I assume you have a Guitar Center or similar in Seattle. Please get me the model of the Epi that Amazon recommended. I assume “any electric <$200” is your parameters unless you tell me otherwise.
Or just buy one of these from GuitarFetish. The rock-bottom simplest guitar design ever: a Fender Telecaster (clone) with single coil pickups, the most enduring design in electric guitars. I haven’t played this model, but I own an actual Fender Telecaster, so I vouch for that design, and I vouch for the company because I own a different model of theirs and love it. $159-$169. Just do it.
If you still want my impressions from going to Guitar Center tomorrow, I’m willing. Let me know.
squeegee, thanks! Here’s the Amazon Epiphone link
I’ll send him your link, and thanks again.
I spent some time looking on-line at guitar stores in the Seattle area. I’m afraid if the kid went to a store, he’d walk out with something expensive – something more than what he needs. Seriously, anybody can sell that kid anything. 
The OP didn’t mention whether or not they were going to get Rocksmith or Rocksmith 2014, but you definitely want the newer version. I have both versions, and as a complete beginner on the guitar I was a bit frustrated with a few issues in the original software, but happily all those issues have been solved in Rocksmith 2014.
I have been following this - squeegee’s steering you correctly in terms of guitar choices. My son (15, not 46 ;)) has an Xaviere guitar he got through the benevolence of SDMB’er E-Sabbath that was a $135, end of year inventory clearance - I think on Guitar Fetish. It needed a set up, but is a perfectly solid guitar he still plays a lot.
He’s getting the newer one. And I think he’s getting the guitar squeegee recommended.
I’m interested to see how it goes. Is playing an instrument like learning a language – something that’s easier for the younger folks?
Everything’s easier for the younger folks, those little bastards!
;););):D:D:D
Edited to Add: sorry if the language offends; just going for the funny. I will say this: when I started playing guitar at 15, I was excited to play a few one-string riffs and work on chords. My son really started playing when he was about 14 - by the time he was 15, he was pulling off riffs and chords I couldn’t imagine. Sure, he has me around, but he can soak stuff up like a sponge and has the free time to burn it into his hands and his brain…
FYI, Pam, here’s a link to the guitar model that Wordman’s son has if you’re interested.
Not sure I’ll get to Guitar Center today; I have late afternoon meeting, I may have a chance to go after that.
That’s the one! Except it is orange with a white pickguard - so nicknamed the Creamsicle!
I’m a Seattleite and play guitar and also Rocksmith, so allow me to put on my expert hat (made of flannel of course).
Rocksmith is very forgiving, every guitar I’ve plugged in has worked fine with it. If you would like to hook the “kid”, an indie guitar store will give options for less expensive guitars, as well as plenty of dream guitars to drool over.
I’ve shopped at Guitarville a bunch, they’re great at letting you try out anything, without any sales pressure, and can recommend a lot of cool stuff. Just let them know you’re a beginner.