re: Guitarists of the OT

I used to recommend starting with an acoustic. They are just more versatile, or at least were, until headphone amps came along. Acoustic's can encourage a bad habit that can be difficult to overcome: a tight grip. Otherwise, I still think an acoustic is a good choice. But whether acoustic or electric, you need to get a guitar that you can get professionally set up at your local music store. This is really important.

As to budget and what guitar to buy, don't go to pawn shops or consider a used guitar unless you get it checked out at a music store first. You just won't know what to look out for unless you are prepared to educate yourself on how to find those problems.

I thnk a $500 budget is about what you should start with for an acoustic. Getting a good instrument is worth it if only for the retained resale value. For an underappreciated brand, look at Yamaha. You can get a new, solid top acoustic in a concert or dreadnought body for under $400 leaving some money for a stand, picks, strap and case.

If you want an electric, you will need an amp along with the usual accessories. A strat or tele are good choices as they can be easily upgraded and customized. They aren't the only guitars that fit this criteria, but either is a good start.

Fianlly, go to a music store and talk to the staff, they can really help with everything you need and that usually includes lessons. Sure, you can watch YouTube and teach yourself, but a few lessons to start will speed up your learning process considerably.