If you can spring for just a little more, I'd go for a Mex Strat. It's a great all around guitar in my opinion.

Try any number of the Ibanez guitars, in that price range, or a Squire Strat, Epiphones, ESPs, Schecters. Go to a shop and pick one up!!! A lot of places have package deals. This whole set up is $249.99.

i have the same dilema, what style of music you gonna play? i thought i decided on an esp m-100 but then i saw a beautiful dean vendetta. check those out and see what you think.

Deans, hmmmmmmmm. Never liked them much. But their acoustics are usually pretty nice.

I would suggest an ibanez gio or like Fred Kraus said a mex strat. You could also go for a Squire Strat.

One thing. Dont order one off the internet. Play before you buy. You might find a $200 that sounds better than a $1000. Also you might want to get an acoustic with a high action. I learned on my moms old acoustic, and once I bought my first electric it was super easy to play. Also I'd like to see you suffer. *laughing maniacally

Thanks everyone for the replies, I'll definitely check out each of your suggestions. I keep hearing Ibanez and the mex Strats come up. Why are they good guitars? I was thinking about checking out one of those Epiphone beginner packs too with guitar, amp, picks, tuner, etc. all packaged together. However I have heard mixed opinions about Epiphones, and especially about the starter packs. Why or why not should I get one?

I am in the same situation and here is my opinion on the starter packs... Good place to start because you do not know where you want to take your playing and will be replacing parts in the future. I would rather spend $250 on the starter pack than $200 on guitar $150 on amp and be upset because in a year I want a better amp.

Yesterday I want to the local Guitar Center and while I can't play much I can tell if I like the way a guitar feels in my hands. I went there knowing which guitars are in the starter packs and was able to check most of them out.

When shopping:

a. I recommend going first to feel how comfortable each guitar from the packs are in your hands. (I did this at lunch when the story was crazy busy so no sales people were available, which was a good thing in my opinion.) I eliminated one pack from my selection by doing this because the neck wasn't my style.

b. When I go in the store and talk to sales people they tell me what they don't like about the starter pack that is not in stock and tell me the one that is stacked 12 high by the door is 'a pretty decent place to start'. This is why I now go in asking about comparing two of the guitars from the packs.

c. You will hear some pack is bad because the guitar does not stay in tune. This is BS in my opinion. One of the things you have to learn as a newbie is tuning so anything that stays in tune for more than an hour is good for you and then use the opportunity as practice to train your ear.

d. When you decide on the guitar you want... and thus the pack, go in with the plan to pre-order it until it comes in.

e. The only thing I would let a sales person talk me into if my pack is not available is getting the guitar I want, equal price/watt amp, strap and tuner within $30 price. The CDs in the packs are not the greatest and you already discovered the internet for lessons to begin. You can pick out your own picks.

f. Make multiple visits to the store. (1) Feel the guitars... (2)Bring somebody who knows guitars with you for one visit then play the basic scale that you know... (3) ask the sales person to show off on a few or another customer. (remember, anything they say are opinions)

My current front runners in order (All priced $200 - $250)
1. Yamaha Gigmaker
2. Ibanez
3. Squier
4. Epiphone Les Paul (This was #1 until I felt the weight and thickness of the neck.)

just one thing, if you go out and buy a beginners pack, chances are the amp will not sound like what you want, but being a begginner you won't know till you hear it. What kind of sound are you looking to get, favorit bands. these will help us recomend something to better suit your needs.

When I was at GC the other day tthey had a begginers pack with a line 6 combo, that would give you some different sounds to play with till you figure out what you want.

I would ech many others in asking for the sound you are going for - you didn't even mention Accoustic or Electric.

For electrics the Ibanez S series is pretty versitile and reasonobly priced (may be a little higher then your listed range) but then you would need an amp, cable and the amp has as much to do with your sound as the guitar (and could be pricey).

Just my two cents- I recently started taking lessons after my wife got me the laguna/line 6 package deal for christmas. at this pont I'm just a beginner also but I love this guitar......seems to play well and stays in tune for the most part,I think it's got great tone for the price and my teacher mentioned that as well.....lessons are going great too.....I love sitting and playing the stuff I'm being taught on this guitar....back in black sounds great with this set up,and crazy train sounds pretty good too....the amp has some cool effects built in as well....seems like an all around good deal in my humble beginners opinion.....Patrick.

Hey, thanks for the additional opinions. Sorry about not telling you guys what kind of music i wanted to play- My bad! I am of course looking for an electric guitar, and I'm really into blues music or similar. Anything that produces that nice, clean sound and does it well.