We talked it over and the boy is going to continue to use his and if he wants to further his playing we are going to look at the Ibanze and Gibson. Thanks for your help and info Sean. Good plan. Not worth putting anything into what he has now Don't shy away from those Jacksons either. There is a reason that Randy Rhoads went from a Les Paul to them Another old favorite of mine would be if you could find an old BC Rich from when they were still handmade here. (pre-1981 or so maybe significantly later, but their "new" stuff is complete crap). Personally I'd run from Fenders but that is because they have the slowest, sloppiest necks on a guitar IMO. For what he wants to play it isn't what he wants. One other note. A wood grain neck >>>> painted neck if you have ANY propensity to sweat. I get SLOPPY on stage, lol. I agree with all of this. In my 18 years of tattooing NOTHING has improved my skill more than the RIGHT machine. NOTHING. I could ramble all night how tatt machines are like speakers OR anything else, but you get the point.