Beginner's amp?

[DonMoose]

Hey there, Fellas -

I know this kid - mid-teens, careful, responsible, respectful - who wants to learn _Let It Be_, for some reason on electric guitar.

I have an Epi reissue LPjr I'm happy to lend the boy (single P90) 'cause I got it cheap at Goodwill. The question is the amp - the only spare I have is the smallest First Act model that my stepson hasn't even plugged in for two years.

When/if the kid decides that, yes, electric guitar is now his thing, where do I steer him for a decent amp? I was thinking Champ/ValveJr/BlackHeart class, but he lives less than a mile from a major radio station transmitter (WFBQ if anyone cares). His Aunt has a Hammond B2 + Leslie 147 setup that regularly picks up that station, so I'm worried that a single-ended amp - especially with a single-coil guitar - will have more radio than him coming out of the speaker.

Do I push him toward a solid-state thing, or set a push-pull-output tube amp as the minimum? I know he's gonna need a Deluxe/AC30/Classic30/VC30 or a 60W SS to keep up with a drummer (at a minimum) if he goes for the band experience, but I want to keep the buy-in low to start with.

Suggestions?

[selloutrr]

the radio station shouldn't be an issue as long as it's properly grounded.

I wouldn't be surprised if the hammond has a 2 prong cord.

If he plays in his bedroom a champ/valve jr./blackheart / line6 modeling amp... all great. if he playing with a drummer he'll need something bigger. old fender bandmaster head and cabs are cheap. Ampeg V4's can be found for little money.

the benefit of solid state is that most amps now have built in effects and modeling to help cover his mistakes as he learns finess.

[M Fowler]

Go cheap the new Fender Mustang series loaded with effects and cost is low.