Do I lend my brand new tele to my son for school project song?

[BrettC]

My 13 year old son wants to borrow my two week old three colour sunburst tele for a school music assessment. Do I lend it to him? They are doing Folosom prison blues and I said you really should use a tele for that song. Big mouth hey. Now I have planted the seed! He is using a squire strat at the moment.
He has learned the Luther Perkins solo parts note for note and the kids sound great and I would love it to be as authentic as possible but am slightly apprehensive to let it go out the door then on a bus to a highschool music room. What do you guy’s recon I should do??

[Five-O]

Surely it'll be in a gig bag or case ? So much for the bus and music room. Short of setting it on fire, I'd trust him with it. And if he happens to set it on fire then so what... I think it's worth the risk, I mean it's your son right....Give him a shot with it.

[BrettC]

yes its in a hard case, thanks for the advise, your right. I will do it. It just soooo new

[Five-O]

I forgot to mention, it's a Tele, how could he hurt it, thing should survive a riot.

[TwangBilly]

I would let him take it, after a father/son chat about proper handling and care! Haha. But man, that is one awesome kid! Learning Luther riffs and all, your son's gift is priceless, your support would mean allot to him. And you may be surprised how well he handles the responsibility. I am not a father, but my father supporting me and letting me handle and play his Martin guitars and Gibson mandolin at that age did unspeakable good for me as a musician, a person, and for our relationship. Good call letting him take it!

[trev333]

nah.. let him use his own guitar for a test..... there'll be a next year to use Dad's worn in guitar...

I don't think the assessor will be looking at guitars... just technique... taking an unfamiliar guitar to a school test might backfire....

[trev333]

I roady for the local primary school rock band sometimes ..

and have given an 11 yr old a choice of my guitars to borrow for a while.

while I fixed some issues on his guitar... on the day I had an 83 tele an '02 deluxe strat and a 2xP90 squire tele in the room..

take your pick I told him... he played them all and took the p90's.... sweet,, my cheapest one.. no sweat there kid.... go hard!...

you have a brand new (US) Tele, I assume... take it to school?..not a chance!....

[Piotr]

I say - of course lend it to him, show him that you trust him. Much more important than the tone he gets during a school assessment or a ding on a tele.

[Jupiter]

If he dings it, you'll have an excuse to get another one.

[sonny wolf]

It's a Telecaster....they are tough guitars and were made to take a beating!Of course I am not wishing any damage to your guitar.I would let my son use my guitar...nothing would make me prouder than to see my child carrying on my musical tradition and would always support that as long as he plays the music from his heart and takes it seriously.

[BrettC]

Thanks for your thoughts. It is a new US American Standard 2011 model, thats what came when I ordered it. I am happy that I got that model as the new shape bothers me slightly. Its a beautiful guitar to play and the sound it perfect.
I think I will let him have it for the school assessment. God, I would have loved to have "rock studies" in my school. He may as well have the best tool for the job and Im very pleased about the choice of song. Getting the youngsters interested in old country music is a blessing I suppose.

[Mr Joad]

Take a picture of him playing your guitar art school and put it in your case. The guitar will be alot more worth to you then every time you take the guitar out...One day maybe he will get the guitar and it would be cool if the photo was there then..

[dan79]

Yep - definately let your boy use the Tele!

I understand any reluctance with it being new and all but at the end of the day that's what Tele's are for. An everyman guitar, built like tanks, for 8 year olds to 80 year olds!

[BootRoots]

Nah keep your tele at home. Buy him a 52ri for the show !

[trev333]

a point of reference here...

how many in favour ....have brand new, 2 week old, US teles?.... and would have really let their 13 yr old take it to school?....

be honest...

[soulman969]

I would. This would be a great chance to bond even closer with him and show him that he means more to you than that guitar. There's is not one guitar I own that can't be replaced with another just like it but none of them could replace the love I get from my kids. You lose that and you may never get it back.

I've got pics of my youngest with my CS Nocaster strapped around her knees. When she was in Middle School she wanted to borrow it for a school sketch because it looked like the one Avril Lavigne played. She had a Yamaha Pacifica I bought her but, "That one doesn't look like Avril Lavigne's Dad"! So I brought it to her at school the day they did they sketch so she could use it as a prop, LOL. A $3000 prop!

Then I sat around with her for awhile and showed her friends how to play it and for one simple day in her life she got to be BMOC around her friends. You just can't replace those memories with any steel strings and an amp no matter how costly.

I vote to let him play Luther on an axe like Luther's.

[spook69]

Originally Posted by trev333

a point of reference here...

how many in favour ....have brand new, 2 week old, US teles?.... and would have really let their 13 yr old take it to school?....

be honest...

From what you have posted on this forum, if I lived near you, I would not have a problem for your son to borrow either my Muddy Waters tele or MIM Esquire for his school gig.

He sounds a responsible lad & having learnt the lead part to Fulsom Prison Blues ( I only did this in my 50's) he clearly is a musician of merit & I am sure he will look after the instrument as a pro would.

[adjason]

My only reservation would be what if someone stole it? If it seems like it would be safe then of course let him take it- make sure he practices first and wants to

[kraigeyroxx]

I would lend my son any one of my guitars, he is only 18 months old but when he is old enough to play he could use any one he likes. Only a bit of wood at the end of the day.

[musicalmartin]

I wouldnt .Its not your son thats the problem its others ,maybe jealous ,kids are kids .It all depends on the school though,what its local wealth is like .For some a US tele is a fortune, for others a decent bottle of wine .Some schools are fine but others are a no no ,you will know best .If the guitar has to be out of his sight for even a few minutes then no .The fact you are asking indicates strong reservations .If something does happen to it then you will forgive him but he may not forgive himself .He should be able to knock out those few licks on a Squier and sound great.