[guitarwebguy]

+1 to CaptRedBeard, play a lot of guitars in your price range, you’ll know when you find the right guitar, don’t get sucked in by brands, friends, sales people, it has to connect with YOU! I’ll echo the previous comments re: painless bridges, the are great, and my 1998 Breedlove (which has one) is going strong! Perhaps what you’ve heard about are poorly reinforced tops and poorly installed bridges.