The guitar was a huge success!  After he got his jaw up off of the floor, he positively gushed about it, and was all grins.  Right now, he took it onto his bedroom and is playing with it.  I told him that I understand that a guitar is a very personal thing and that I would in no way be offended if he wanted to exchange it for a different one and that we would go down to the guitar store in the next few days and let him look around and ask questions.  I think I did all right...

Yeah, he said later it was the best Christmas present he had ever received. I think he was very impressed...

Now I need to look for an instructor.  Any tips there?