I've worked with Aaron Shearer for years (he's still around and lives nearby) and helped with his "Learning the classic Guitar" books put out by Mel Bay, who is also my publisher. I'm listed as a contributing editor and I personally know and have organized concerts for some of the top classic guitarist including Mauel Barreuco; Christopher Parkening, Pepe Romero and literaly hundreds others.

If you want to play classic guitar- get a classic guitar. I love classic guitar. I've played classic guitar with Chet Atkins, Charlie Byrd and the list goes on...

If you want to play acoustic (steel string) guitar music- get an acoustic guitar. That's what I usually play.

If you want to play electric guitar- get an electric guitar. To learn an acoustic guitar to play electric guitar doesn't make sense. Acoustic guitars are harder to play! To learn classic guitar to play electric guitar also makes no sense.

So if someome want to play mandolin- get a mandolin...not an acoustic guitar.

The number of years you teach really has nothing to do with anything. There's so much garbage in print by people with music degrees and players that are gifted that don't know what they are doing that it makes me ill.