Daktari

Hi there,

After playing for about 40 years, here's my advice.
First. How much can you afford to spend? Most folks learn to play on a fairly cheap guitar which in most cases don't feel too good and maybe don't sound too good either. Lay out as much as you can afford and you will notice a huge difference in your playing on a better guitar. It's a bit like learning to drive in an old broken down car then when you get your first decent car, WOW, so that's how it's meant to be.

Next. Forget about how you sound now but think about how you want to sound in maybe 2 or three years time, have a target style to aim at roughly. This will then narrow down the type of instrument you will be test driving. When you walk into a music store, you wanna be able to ignore most of the stuff and home in on the narrow area that you need to sound the way or play the style of music you are aiming for. You wouldn't be knocking a nail in with a screw driver and it's real hard to screw with a hammer, (I guess, ha,ha,). You know what I mean.

Narrow the type of guitar down as much as possible, spend as much as you can afford without going over and really, forget about the name on the guitar. Buy the one that plays nice and sounds good, whatever label is stuck on it.

Good luck and all the best with your search, Gordon.