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#2
05-17-2021, 11:26 AM
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Yamaha FG700S or FG800. The 800 has scalloped bracing and a little more pronounced bass response. Used FG700S can be had for around $100. New FG800 are around $199. The world's best selling starter guitar for a reason: lots of bang for the buck -- great tone, solid top, quality tuners, well-made, I've never played one that sounded like a dud. The action may be a tad high and a new one would benefit from a setup, as is true with most other guitars.
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As my username suggests, huge fan of Yamaha products. Own many acoustic-electric models from 2009-present and a couple electric. Lots of PA too. 
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#4
05-17-2021, 11:51 AM
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If your friend is just starting out (as in, never played regularly) - then I'd suggest any guitar that inspires them - as long as the setup is done right.
If you troll Craigslist or OfferUp you can normally find an abundance of sub-$100 used stuff...some good values for the price can be had there. Just today I've seen a few Yamahas around that range - I think folks who were inspired to "take up learning" the guitar during the COVID stay at home period are beginning to lose interest especially with some of the stay-at-home restrictions starting to lift. So you can definitely save some $$$ by looking at used. My best advice is to get something that you can adjust the action on easily - invest a few bucks in a set of new light gauge strings, and have at it. Most beginners dislike high string height and gauge - the "discomfort" can really discourage them from practicing and noodling around. I recently sold a mid-90s Hohner HW300 to an absolute beginner. He remarked that he liked the one I was selling because I had already lowered the action which made it more comfortable to play. He also told me that the "Dark" color of the wood attracted him to it. Different strokes for different folks I suppose! Last edited by Jodythebaker; 05-17-2021 at 11:57 AM.
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#5
05-17-2021, 11:52 AM
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It's going to be hard to the Yamaha. You might even find a deal at Guitar Center over Memorial Day
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Martin D18 Gibson J45 Martin 00015sm Gibson J200 Furch MC Yellow Gc-CR SPA Guild G212 Eastman E2OM-CD
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#6
05-17-2021, 12:03 PM
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Look at the bundles at Kraft Music. The Yamaha FG800 or FS800 (smaller body) are really hard to beat for the money. Ibanez Artwood guitars are pretty nice too.
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EMTSteve a couple guitars too many
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#7
05-17-2021, 12:06 PM
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The FG700S was my first guitar. Got it for 140 off of Craigslist and the action had been lowered. It plays like a dream and sounds pretty good. It’s a great first guitar, cheap enough to not be a big deal but nice enough that your not fighting the instrument as you’re trying to learn. And it can sound great when someone who actually knows what they’re doing plays it lol.
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#8
05-17-2021, 12:10 PM
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Quote:
All, Appreciate the very helpful suggestions thus far!
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#9
05-17-2021, 12:17 PM
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+1 for Yamaha. Very hard to beat in that price range.
Rb
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#11
05-17-2021, 02:27 PM
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Hard to go wrong with a Yamaha as suggested. So widely available that most retailers would have one in stock to preview. At that price point though, I'd look at the offerings from Recording King if only to have something different from the crowd.
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'98 Classic 60's Strat – Burgundy Mist/RW '00 Gibson SG Standard – Heritage Cherry '00 Standard Strat – 3TSB/RW, 60s mods and SD Antiquity Texas Hots '02 American Series Strat – Sky Blue/RW '05 Epiphone Les Paul – Amber Birdseye Maple w/ SD 59 neck & JB bridge '04 Yamaha FG403S Dread '14 Recording King ROS-06 12-fret Slothead '17 Recording King 000 RO-T16 Torrefied top
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#15
05-17-2021, 07:55 PM
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I second Yamaha FS series, or Yamaha c-40 for nylon.
A dreadnought can cause shoulder pains and posture problems for beginners as they often have to bend over to look at their playing hand. Smaller-than-dreadnought shape is more forgiving.
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