On Electric guitar you got stuff like wah thingies, distortion/drive, tremolos, and well... very electrical sound. With acoustics its just a plain guitar. Nothing special about it. Its up to you to make it something special. If you don`t like steel strings there is always classical guitars or nylon stringed guitars. Those however are more for pluckers (like me) but can be used for rhythmn as well. When I go out of the house with a guitar I usually carry a small Fender 3/4 classical. Its a guitar for butterfingers. The sound may not be desireble to everyone (especially those who prefer that bright sound) but it will get you started.

Here are a few things I look for in acoustical guitars:

Tension rod adjustability: If you look in the soundhole of the guitar towards the neck. At the end of the neck theres usually a screw looking thingy that you can fit an allan wrench into. This is for adjusting the tension, so if the neck gets warped you can tigten the tension rod to adjust it back. Cheap guitars usually dont have this. That 3/4 fender I was taling about doesnt have this, but this guitar was perchased in 1974 and the action* is exellent (i said its a guitar for butter fingers, and dispite a terrible on and off rattle it sounds good, it rattles like 1/3 the time). The neck is probably not warped on this guitar because the length of strings is short and the strings are nylon. Larger nylon string guitars and steelstringed guitars should have adjustable tension rods in the necks.

*Action: Action is how far the strings are from the neck. Low action provides ease of playing. Action cannot be too low because strings will buzz. Action can be adjusted by sanding under the bridge. Tension rod adjustment also correspnds to action.

Sound: Get a guitar that sounds ugly...

Wood: hardwood is better! Especially for the sound board or top (the part where the soundhole is; the front). Spruce and Cedar are the most common materials. You can tel if its real wood by looking for growth rings or the wood at the rim of the soundhole or getting a mirror and looking at the inside-side of the top. This is important because sound quality that gets better with age (for real wood), and projection. Real wood is also alot nicer.

Looks: Get a guitar the looks terrible.

Brand Name: Really not important. But it seems funner playing brand name instruments. And manufacturers don`t get their reputaions for nothing. But you`d be suprised at how many "unkown brands" make fine instruments.

Construction: Look at close details: ugly mess ups on the finish, splinters in the guitar, etc.. As for strength: I don`t know of any way strength can be tested without hurting the guitar.

$$: Look for value (of course). Used instruments are great also.

Most of all: Get an instrument that fits You.

Das my opinions. Well Hope this helps.

i am i begginer at guitar.i have been playing trombone for two yaers as well. i got a peavey millenium 4 bass and it is raelly easy. i recommend that you get what ever you want to.after all it is your choice but i think you should get a guitar writen in the same cleff.
t bone,tuba,baratone,bass sax,bass clarenet,:bass guitar
flute,clarenet,sax yada,yada,yada normal or electric

I`m quite sure guitars are all on the same clef. Middle C is on the second thinnest string on the first fret. And there is no particular key guitar music is written in. Since the frets and strings are arranged chromatically. Most guitars are tuned to the standard tuning. But there is such a thing as "drop D" tuning- for this I`ve seen people flat the lowest string to D, which i think makes no sense. You can always flat you`r tuning in case you want the strings to be of lower tension or of a lower pitch. There is what we call "slack key" tuning where you can tune your guitar freely or to a certain pre-made tuning. And you can always put a capo on to make the pitch higher (I usually always carry a capo with my guitar).

Anyways, i think you should start off with an acoustical guitar. If you look good you should be able to get an ok guitar (considering playability and sound) for under $150. Even if you are going into the "electrical style". Learn the guitar before you learn a certain type of music played with the guitar.

Most people have waaaaay more fun with an electric guitar, if having a good time is motivation for you. Sure, there`s more equipment involved, like an amp & cord. But I`ve seen people quit guitar more often when they try acoustic, even though it is the common beginner`s guitar. Decent electrics are offered by Epiphone made for Gibson, with nice looser strings, easy on the fingers. Strat Man Dwight - strategic materials for musicans