Which acoustic guitar should I start out on?

Question

Before I was thinking of starting out on electric. Then I started reading Yahoo answers on electric guitars as oppossed to acoustic and I thought about getting an acoustic instead as I will develop better fingers and technique. Now I'm going to start working at a local CVS soon and minimum wage is now $7.50 i believe. My parents aren't willing to put in any money either so I'm on my own haha.

Now my question is which acoustic guitar should I get?

Would this be good enough for a beginner like me who hasn't touched a guitar?: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Jasmine-by-T...

I heard cutaways are easier to play on as you can reach the higher notes better. Before I was thinking about getting a Squierer Strat Package for $200 if that helps.

My main influences are John Frusciante, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hoobastank, and Incubus. Oh and I'm 17 going on 18 in November :D

Answer 1

ok, you're gonna get several opinions here, with everyone touting their personal favorite.  Fact of the matter is, when you're starting out, NOTHING is going to sound good.  It's just the way it works.  Until you get comfortable with your finger positions, strumming clean, etc., find a used guitar on craigslist and learn.  Once you can put a few notes together, then look to upgrade to something that fits you comfortably and that YOU like the sound of.

Answer 2

if you buy an electric first you'll be cheating yourself of the learning experience and be another wannabe that never learned how to truly control thier instrument.

an electric, especially with distortion, can cover up alot of mistakes and sloppy fingerwork.....the acoustic doesn't lie.....you HAVE to learn the chords, scales, positions and make the changes seamlessly and cleanly. additionally, you will learn the meaning of dynamics.....sutble (or not lol) changes in volume, intensity and/or attack on the strings that make the difference between competent, expressive players and all the others.

don't limit yourslef to 'acoustic' only songs either....learn the rock songs, the jazz stuff, anything you can try on the acoustic. you'd be surpirsed how many guys learn after the fact they've been playing songs they learned on the electric the wrong way for years....for no other reason than they couldn't hear what they were doing and didn't develop the technique and ear you will by playing the acoustic first.

i played acoustic for 2 years before i ever touched an electric and am convinced that it made the difference between myself and those around me....both at the time and now, 35 years later. all of my students have to start on an acoustic or they don't study with me.

as far as brands....anything will work to start with....see if you have the patience, talent and discipline it takes to learn the instrument and if you've got it, then save and spend the money down the road on a quality instrument

Answer 3

Go to your nearest guitar store and try them out, find out what you like and which one sounds best to your like and style. of course the more expensive ones are always going to sound better, but you will find something affordable and nice, pay close attention to some guitars that have a lot of space in between the strings and the frets on the neck for it would make it harder to play some notes  as a beginner.