If you're wanting to buy a guitar, odds are you already have some idea of what kind of guitar you'd like to own. If you want to play classical musc, you can certainly learn on an electric or steel string acoustic, but you really ought to buy a classical guitar. The sound and structure of a classical guitar is very different from an electric or an acoustic with steel strings. The nylon strings of a classical guitar have a unique timbre, and the neck is wider.
Or maybe you want to play jazz. Traditionally, you would buy an archtop jazz guitar. The hollow body adds resonance, richness, and fullness, and it sounds great played clean, without distortion or effects, as is the common jazz style. These days, however, great jazz players often simply play a nice solid body electric. The technology has changed a lot since the old days, and you can get a fantastic jazz tone from a solid body. One advantage of the archtop is that it sounds great even when it's not plugged into an amp. If you want to play rockabilly... well, buy an archtop guitar. You'd just look silly playing rockabilly with anything else.
If you're buying a guitar as a gift for someone else, you really ought to find out what sort of music they'll be playing. If your eleven year old nephew wants to be a rock and roll star, you know he's looking for a solid body electric. In that sort of situation you want to buy an inexpensive guitar, but if you get one that's poorly constructed it will sound awful and be a frustrating experience for the poor kid.
The sound is the important thing. Are the notes in tune all over the neck? Do they go flat on the low strings on the higher frets? Do the notes sound clear? Is there any buzzing noise? The only way to know is to get the guitar in your hands. That means going to a music store. If you're looking at electrics, ask if they'll let you plug it in. If not, walk out and go to another store. You have to hear the guitar. And if you're buying a guitar for yourself, you need to get your hands on different models and see how they feel. Aside from the quality of sound, you (obviously) want to buy a guitar that feels comfortable. If you don't play at all and have never even fretted a note, you may have to get someone to help you check out the sound and give you advice on how comfortable it feels.
But once you've chosen a specific style and model of guitar to buy, a music shop may not be the best place to actually buy the guitar. Brick and mortar music stores have fairly high overhead, and generally speaking, you'll pay more for a guitar there. You're likely to get a better deal buying from an individual. Check around for the best price. There are good deals online. You may find a fantastic deal somewhere like eBay.
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