Re: looking for a "first" electric guitar
 

There is quite a range of weights among various Les Pauls, chambered ones and doublecuts will tend to weigh less obviously. But as a rule if weight is an issue a Strat will tend to weigh less than an LP.

5 pounds is definitely at the very lightest one would probably ever find an LP.

Re: looking for a "first" electric guitar
 

haha yeha i know its the very lightest haha when i first played it at the store i went to pick it up and just about threw it through the ceiling cuz i thought it would be heavy :jumpgrin:

Re: looking for a "first" electric guitar
 

Look at the Squier CV's , Agiles, and Xaviere line of guitars.....all under $300, all excellent!

Re: looking for a "first" electric guitar
 

I would look for one that has a humbucker pickup with a coal taps that would be about the most versatile one you can get the fatness of a hummbucker and the sparkle clean of a single I saw some squires that have this setup kind of humbucker in the bridge and then 2 singles one in center and one in neck this would be a good start but might have to swap out the bridge to a 4 wire humbucker and tap it your self but thats not hard and they can be found at a fair price. Hope this 2 cents helps a little.

Re: looking for a "first" electric guitar
 

The guitar you reference is a H-S-S Squier Strat, I'd bet. Sfaik the HB at the bridge does not have a coil split stock, he'd have to wire it up himslef.

Coil splits are cool, and certainly versatile, but I wouldn't think they're necessary on a beginner's guitar. Such a person is still learning the basics, including what single coils versus humbuckers even sound like.

However, if the person wanted something with both types of pickups, there are certainly tons of H-S-S Strats around with HB's at the bridge and singles elsewhere. Or superstrats with an H-S-H configuration. Another choice would be a "Fat" Telecaster of some sort, with a single in the bridge and a humbucker in the neck.