Guitar recommendation for a teen?

[Huskie]

My son has the itch now to play a real guitar. He got this itch by playing one his favorite games, Guitar Hero (I and II).
If I hadn't converted a guitar into a game controller, I would have given him that one but I had already made that dumb mistake before he announced his desire to learn guitar.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a guitar that is not incredibly expensive and good for a teen to start learning on? The wife and I do not want to buy those cheap ones which Toys-R-Us sells unless it is recommended. I've read mixed reviews on these and would not want another headache to deal with.

He first liked the form of a flying V, then switched to an Les Paul Sunburst (I think that's what it's called). If we can find a cheap LP style, we can always ask my brother-in-law to paint it to his liking.

ETA:
His birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and we'd like to give it to him then.