Amazon $200
Ovation AB24A-4 Acoustic Guitar
basic but okay
Lots of people get discouraged right from the start by trying to learn on an inexpensive guitar. But as long as one is set up properly and will hold a tune, it should work. It’s frustrating to try to learn on a hard to play guitar.
Can’t comment on those particular models, but it is, in my opinion, vital that you pick a guitar that is ‘playable’ (e.g. action is good / strings not far from frets, intonations are correct so is accurately tunable, etc.). This is particularly important as a beginner.
Look for a new Ibanez or a used Taylor - I've had the best luck with both brands.
Based on the $200 budget, my suggestion would be to find a used Taylor “Big Baby”. It is a great guitar that will stay in tune very well. They are on Craigslist around here for between $200-$260. Can’t go wrong with a Taylor.
A comment already removed from a thread like this?
I guess the trolls are really bored today.
I agree with the others. $200 is kinda low. Talkamine makes good guitars:
I wonder why you want an acoustic. If you are concerned with cost, decent electrics can be had cheaper than decent acoustic flat tops. Of course if you get an electric, you’ll need amplification. I’ve had acoustics and now have a few electrics and a handful of amps. All of my stuff is used. The guitars I play daily are the cheapies all bought used at a local pawn shop owned by a guitar nut. A Mexican Strat for $150. A Korean Fender Squire Tele for $150. An Epiphone Les Paul Special with two P-90’s for $100. Amps are off the wall cheapies, too. A Fender Deluxe 90 made in USA (solid state) for $80. An old Yamaha G-100 for $50 that sounds every bit as good and loud as a Twin Reverb. A Roland Micro Cube that runs on both AC and Double A batteries for $55. Ironically, an electric with a small amp is much easier to play at home at low volume than an acoustic. Plus electrics are much easier on the fingers to play due to the larger string diameters needed on acoustics to resonate the guitar top.
My mother bought me a new $50 South Korean made guitar in around 1978 and I still play it every single day. It’s a traditional nylon string classical guitar and after nearly 40 years of daily playing it sustains like a Stradivarius.
All that really matters is that you like it and play it.
My only negative warning about guitars is to stay away from round back guitars unless your intent is to play standing up. They’re OK if you’re standing and playing with a strap, but for sitting and meditating with your guitar they are not as stable in your lap.
if you feel you want to eventually go to an electric guitar, may as well start there now., not much to be gained from starting on accoustic, if you feel like you want to eventualy play electric., accoustics are usually harder to get clear chords and notes., you can play an electric without an amp, and still practice and not upset the wife, or room mates. you can get a fender squire stratocaster for
couple hundred bucks or less, either new or at any pawn shop. have the vibrato “whammy bar” , locked down to help it stay in tune.
You can’t go wrong with a Yamaha or Washburn- both offer great sound for the money spent. I have owned both. You might also consider getting an acoustic/electric if you thought you might one day consider plugging into and amplifier. It doesn’t alter the sound if you only use it as an acoustic but it gives you the option to “plug in” at a later date if you decide too. You may spend a little more than $200 although not much more. You should also probably go with a spruce top (slightly brighter sounding) rather than a cedar top (delivers more mid range and bass.) That’s just my 2 cents worth. Check this model out: Yamaha-FGX730SC You can get it for around $279.
I bought my daughter a new Ibenez acoutic for about $150. I actually think it fingers better than my Fender acoustic.
Go to your local pawn shop and buy an acoustic with case - $100
Take to a reputable music shop and have restrung (steel strings) and reconditioned -$50
Buy a good book of chords - $20
Buy a tuner - $25
Buy some bandaids for your finger tips - $5
practice, practice, practice - free
/sarc
Buy a Baby Taylor from the get go. Used or new. It would be worth the purchase for learning.
Buy a used guitar that will play the music you enjoy. If electric, buy an electric.
Other stuff
The Fine art of Rock and Roll (book)
Instruction manuals by Troy Stetina (sp?)
used 10-20 watt amplifier (most of them have rock voices you can use) maybe 50 bucks.
A book on guitar maintenance and some cheap tools to modify the guitar to your likes. I found this really important.
later:
Guitar processor. Infinite voices. Euro is a good cheap brand.
Book on Double tap playing. Unbelievable what you can with that technique.
Play with the music you enjoy. Radio or platter. A real challenge.
I prefer Ibanez to Yamaha.
I own about a dozen guitars, acoustic and electric, ranging from low to high end. Believe me, you would do well to buy the Yamaha. They have a bright tone and are fun to play.