I agree Bert. Sam, try to bring someone who can guide you in the selection so you don't end up with something that will make your first experinences with playing more difficult than they have to be. Silk and steel strings are easy on your fingers, as a beginer they helped me. I'm not sure they're available any longer. No one made mention of used guitars and there are a lot of them out there. Why I'd venture to say that most guitars players have them collecting dust in the corners of their dens as I do. The second hand market place can be a good spot to check for good deals on guitars. I myself am an avid garage saler, swap meeter, pawn shop snooper and junk store creeper and I've seen countless instruments bought and sold of every value, description and condition. A good used playable beginer to intermediate guitar could be as close as the garage sale down the street and could be had for a bargain price too. Because a guitar is used does not necessarily make it less valuable than one that is new. There are many fine used guitars that are resold every day. It is however important, as was stated above, to have someone along with you to help make a good selection, an experinenced player's assistance in this matter would be ideal. Local guitar repair people may be worth giving a call. Those who repair and build instruments can have some good suggestions about what to look for and where to find it. Of course you'll find an excellent source of help, for every step of your journey into this musical realm, with the fine folks right here at the Mudcat Cafe. Good luck with your travels Sam.

Reggie Miles