I need some advice from you guitar players out there. 
I’m wanting to get an acoustic guitar (first-time player), and I’m somewhat at a loss as to making a decision between a few choices:
A used 6-string Jasmine for $99, no case
A used 12-string Alvarez for $120, but it’s missing the pick guard and will also need 7 strings replaced, no case
A new 6-string Dean, with hard case, for $199
Any thoughts on those, or recommendations on something else?
Here’s a recent thread that may be of help:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=15607&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Best wishes,
Jerry
Hmmm. Well, the Alvarez may be nice but I wouldn’t recommend starting with the 12 string. It won’t be as versatile as a six string guitar. By the way, the strings on all of the guitars will need to be replaced fairly regulary. I recommend using Elixer strings since they keep that new sound longer. You’ll probably want light or extra light strings to start. I use mediums for some stuff, but I have huge callouses too!
If those are the choices, I’m tempted to say to go with the Dean. These are all fairly cheap beginner instruments but should do a good job for learning. If you stick with it, you’ll want to upgrade.
If you are buying from a local store, have a guitar player friend go with you and listen to them play the guitars. Chose which one sounds good to you. My buddy who is very new to guitar can’t tell any difference between his $200 Yamaha and my $3000 Lowden!
Warning though, GAS can be much more costly than WHOA!
p3
This is a good place to start . . .
http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi
Click on “Beginners”, browse around, do a search. The first guitar question is always going up on that board. You might be able to see how the guitars you’ve listed rate with other players by doing a search in “Gear”.
The advise you will always get is 1. Spend as much as you can afford and 2. Try for a solid top. But there are playable laminate guitars.
Hi mamakash! The Dean is a solid top… as was the Alvarez, I believe. The Jasmine was laminate. I appreciate the link to the forum!
Thanks for the tips, Picardy-- I knew the strings would need to be replaced regularly, I was just talking about the surface stuff-- it was missing seven strings so I couldn’t really get a feel for what it was like. I had heard that it was best to learn on a six-string, so I should probably throw that option out. I am more tempted to go with the Dean, which is normally more expensive but they were having a sale. It just seemed like a much better guitar than the others. I wish I could have a guitar friend go with me, but the only one I know lives up by Marguerite and I think it’s a bit far for her to travel.
Hey aderyn_du,
The problem with asking for advice is that you’ll get conflicting opinions.
So here’s a conflicting opinion. At this stage, you shouldn’t worry about types of wood, types of strings or picking the best sounding instrument. The main thing you should consider is comfort. A beginner instrument should be easy to play. If your guitar hurts your fingers after 10 minutes, you’ll never be able to practice enough to get better. Don’t even CONSIDER a 12 string (yet). Don’t worry about the sound (unless it’s really terrible), you won’t be playing in public for quite a while. As you get better, play as many different guitars as you can and you’ll start forming your own opinions on how they play, how they feel and how they sound.
Enjoy,
MC
Thanks, MC… just put this indecisive Libra into further indecision, why don’t you? 
Seriously though, I appreciate you offering your tuppence.
The really nice guy (who wasn’t working on commission) at the small music store that had the Dean was concerned that if I bought a totally cheap instrument, I’d be sorely disappointed. I’ve been in music for 24 years now (gak! I don’t feel that old!!) and he thought I’d be able to tell the difference fairly soon… I have monetary constraints on how much I can spend, so he thought the Dean would be a decent compromise for me. I don’t know. I guess I should just go ahead and spend the extra $100…
::head spinning::
I’ve been playing guitar for almost 45 years, and have taught quite a few beginners. I agree with MikeClem that one of the most important things is that it should be easy to play. Get someone at the store to show you a few chords, and see how they feel.
The other important thing–especially for an otherwise experienced musician, is that the intonation should be fairly accurate. Get someone to play a C scale and a G scale across all the strings, and see if they sound right to you.
As picardy third mentioned, you really can’t beat taking an experienced player along with you to check it out.
And, I also agree that a 12-string for a beginner probably isn’t a good idea. And, when you get new strings go for light gauge (but not super light).
You might want to pick up a few good tutorial books as well. I recommend the “Progressive” Series, carried by most instrument dealers and even a few record stores. These will help you with form, technique, chord shapes, etc. Other than that, try to get into practicing real tunes as soon as possible. You will end up playing the same way you practice, so if you want to play tunes, practice tunes.
Another bit of advice is to go to sessions and not only watch the guitarist, but also listen to what the low whistler or that fiddler with the high elbow and horizontal bow is playing. You can often determine the proper chords to play from those notes.
That is going to happen with a beginner no matter what guitar (well, maybe not with air guitar). Number one reason people quit the guitar after one month: “my fingers hurt”. Don’t become a statistic!
But it is a good point. If it is painful to play the instrument, it can be very discouraging. There are guitars made specially for women, too, but the maker I’m thinking of sell for around $2000.
$2000 is definitely out of this woman’s price range! My fingers have already been building up some callouses–I’ve been learning to play the mandolin-- but I’ve a ways to go, it still hurts. I’m worried about buying a used guitar without having someone more knowledgeable with me, so I think I’m going to go with the Dean.
Thanks for all the great advice, peeps-- since I don’t have anyone to go with me, I’ll just have the guy at the music store play for me so that I can hear it, and I’ll do what Darwin suggested and have him show me a few chords so I can feel for myself. I appreciate all the help everyone!!
My first mandolin was very easy to play and it still hurt my fingers at first.
Darwin, are you all moved now?
Aderyn_du, interesting avatar. I finally saw that movie yesterday.
The movie was so-so… I wish they had developed things a bit more, but I liked the character of Anna Valerious. I’m needing a little motivation, so I thought I’d make an avatar to inspire me. 
I hope the FC tshirts and bracelets have not been discontinued in favor of action figures. Can I have one of each??
~ad
The Dean might be okay if you take a knowledgeable guitarist with you to take the “pick of the litter” - the quality in this price range is variable across all of the brands.
I wouldn’t look at a used guitar unless you have a knowledgeable friend to take along. A guitar can look beautiful and still be very difficult to play with a horrible action, twisted neck, etc. The same thing applies to very inexpensive new guitars.
When talking new (steel string) guitars you can usually expect to find a mix of great deals and lemons across almost any brand in the $200 to $350 range. I.e. take along someone who knows what to look for. From $350 to about $600 you can at least expect to get a playable guitar “off the rack.” Above $600 I’ve never seen a really unsatisfactory guitar though even here the variation from guitar to guitar of the same model will be noticeable. Actually, I guess the latter could be said to be true in any price range. Guitars are just like that - no two are quite the same, even though they might both be of very high quality.
In classical (nylon string) guitars you can often get a good one for about $150 - but again you should have a knowledgeable friend along. Nylon string guitars are also marginally easier to learn on (less hard on fingers and more space between strings).
Good lines to consider for inexpensive steel string guitars include Alvarez, Seagul (made in Canada), and Sigma (Martin’s “cheap” brand). Quality and setup will vary in any of these lines, with Sigma probably having the best consistent quality but being a bit pricier for what you get. The Sigma laminated tops sell for about what a Seagul solid-top sells for - the latter is a much better deal when you get one that’s really sweet, but if you don’t have a friend along that knows “sweet” you’ve a better chance of getting a good one from Sigma.
Contrary to what a lot of people tell you a properly set up 12 string isn’t really more difficult to play than a six string unless you have very small fingertips - it is however more difficult to maintain and tune. However, an improperly set up 12 string is a nightmare.
Do they have any Hohners at the shop or in your area? Check them out if you have a chance. Nice sound, playability, overall good bang for the buck. Also, as John just mentioned above, Seagull, and some of their other house brands, are very nice. -mike
You might want to have a looksee as to what’s available on
http://www.musiciansfriend.com
Click on “Clearance” and behold…
Washburns for $99 (reg over $300) and Ibanez for right around $200. I’ve been dealing with these people for years, and they are high-integrity. At least have a walk around their site. It’s amazing!
(I also have the good fortune to live about 30 miles from their real, live Clearance Center, where I could easily spend every cent I make!)
Happy Holidays,
Bill Whedon
Serpent Music
Is it just my imagination, or is there an abundance of guitar players named Mike?? There have already been several in this thread. 
I’ll ask Mr. Nice Guy about Hohners and Seagulls… I can also shop around a bit, though I’m really trying to patronize a small local store as I want to support that type of business. Thanks for the additional advice, everyone!
My gut feeling is that if you trust Mr Nice Guy, then go with his recommendation. For the beginner, it’s always better to deal with a live honest person with experience, instead of exploring all the myriad options you’ll get from Internet discussion boards.
If you continue to play guitar, you’ll probably buy other guitars later, when you have learned enough to be able to make your own choices.
My only other piece of advice: go for a used instrument in good condition, rather than a new one. You’ll probably get a much better instrument for the money, and if you take good care of it, you should be able to resell it for about the same price later, if you want.
/gasp! 
But I had to ask the Chiffy Board… it would have been most un-chiffy of me not to have done so!
Besides, I didn’t ask him about the two used guitars as I hadn’t seen them yet-- they were at different places. I really needed to sort out my head and all of you helped. My thanks again!!
Canadian makers are making great guitars these days. Larrivee (who I think actually moved his company to California), Weber, Seagul, and my favorite-Ted Thompson who built me a T-1 sitka/rosewood.
They are making guitars that compete with several thousand dollar guitars for a good bit less!