Some people say that you should always get an acoustic guitar first.  It will help you build your muscles and strength.     Others say you should buy an electric guitar because they are much easier to play.  Sorry to say, but BOTH are right. It really boils down to budget and what the student WANTS to play.   Full size acoustic guitars start at $99 while electric guitar packages with an amplifier tend to be in the $150-$200 range. Smaller acoustic guitars range from $39-$69.

            Acoustic guitars = less stuff and are self-contained.  Electric guitars = more stuff but it DOES more. Use headphones to practice or record on to your computer.  USB guitars are also available that come with software that turn your computer into a cool recording studio.

                                                        What about Brands? Who makes good guitars?

              This begs the question, DOES IT MATTER where the guitar was made?  The answer is NO..... BUT... make sure the guitar is easy to play.   All guitars can be set up ( adjusted) by your local music store to make sure the strings are close to the neck ("low action")  You can also have lighter (thinner) strings installed to reduce the tension of the strings.  

            The most affordable guitars are made in China. In the last 3 years they have become to be very good quality. All of the guitars made in China are made FOR the “Brand Names”.

            If is says “Made in China” it is not made BY the brand on the headstock. Fender does not make guitars in China. They are made FOR Fender. Think of Televisions or CD players. There are so many name brands but the products are all made in the same factories.

                  Budget comes into play when deciding purchase price. The hierarchy of guitars from the most affordable to the most expensive (generally speaking) is as follows:  China, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Japan, and the United States.
                       The cheapest acoustic guitars are all laminate (very thin plywood) they range from $99-$199.  Next is a solid top (the TOP is one thickness of wood, not ply) range $200-$600. The most expensive acoustics are all solid wood (no plywood) they range $600 to????????  Gold plated hard ware; fancy inlay work (abalone or “mother of pearl”) can add a bunch to the cost as well but do not affect the sound or playability.

                  The cheapest electric guitars tend to have bolt on necks and the body top is flat and not carved or contoured. Prices range from $79-$150.  The most expensive electric will have a set (glued joint) neck, nice carved maple top, gold plated hardware and other features that raise the price tag. These cost  $500 and up. Yes, there are guitars in between but I don’t want to write a book here.
                                                                       Here is the deal.
              If it is made in the US, it is made by the name on the guitar. It will cost the most.  If not made in the United States, the guitar was built in an overseas factory that supplies many different guitar companies. It will be a fine guitar to play and more affordable.

                Your best choice is to buy a guitar at a retail music store. If you need repair or have warranty issues, it can be taken care of on the spot. Guitars are adjustable to be “set up” to play easier or you can install lighter gauge (less tension) strings on them. Just a little adjustment can go a long way to make a guitar easier to play and help your guitar player improve quicker and enjoy the guitar sooner. Lastly, your musical instrument shop is one of the only places you can trade in your used instrument towards the purchase of a new or another used one.          Try that online!
John Walsh