That’s the wisest course. Just keep an eye on the guitars for sale on Craigslist, and find one with a solid wood top. If you can increase your budget just a smidgen, wait until you can find a used Seagull, preferably with a cedar top. Used Seagulls and Simon & Patricks are the best bang for the buck when it comes to nabbing a good-sounding guitar for very little money, and the cedar-topped ones have the sweetest, richest tone, in my opinion.
Seagulls and Simon & Patricks are made by the same parent company, Godin. Aside from some minor differences like headstock shape and, on some models, neck profiles, they’re structurally identical.
So keep an eye out for one of those. Sometimes they sell as low as $250, but it’s easy to find them for $300-$350. It’s worth it to spend that much for one because they really can be lifetime guitars when strung with fresh strings and dialed in so they play their best.
Hope this helps.
Wade Hampton Miller
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