I learned on a really crappy guitar, a Silvertone. So, on my birthday, I got a really nice guitar. A '69 Fender Villager. It sounded a bit thin, compared to whatever anyone else was playing, but over-all, an easy 12 to play. One thing did worry me, tho, and that was the hideous red metal bar running from one end to the other inside the body. I thought it was there to keep the body from warping, but it didn't help. Within the first year, the body literally exploded. Having insurance helped and I got a new body to go with the previous neck. This time, the thing lasted about 30 yrs. so, I got my money's worth. $275.00 with a case. At the time, I bet I could have gotten a Martin. haha. After all that time, the neck was still good! But, that was all...the body exploded again. Too much tension, I guess. Regards, everardo.