Verified answer

There are really way too many makes to list without knowing your price range or even whether you want an acoustic or an electric! The best make for you is not going to be the best for someone with a different amount of money to spend - no single manufacturer covers the whole range of prices and types, at least not adequately.

However, if you are like about 90% of the people who ask this question, you're looking for a steel-string acoustic suitable for a beginner. Here's the info:

Only buy from a music store after personally inspecting and trying the guitar.

Expect to spend $150-300. Avoid guitars costing less than $100, especially online or from non-music stores.

Choose a reputable make (Yamaha is good in this price range, also check Epiphone and Takamine (Jasmine). Store brands are often to be avoided.

Select a full size guitar (which means a scale length of 24.5 - 25.5") if you are older than 8 or 10.

Select a body size and style that is comfortable for you to hold.

Select a guitar that has good action, which means that the strings are not too hard to press down. They should not buzz when played with a normal amount of force anywhere on the neck.

All other things being equal, a solid spruce top is better than a plywood top. If it doesn't say SOLID spruce, it isn't. The Yamaha FG-700S has a solid top and is a very good deal at about $200.

Before you go out and buy a new guitar check your old guitar for the following things:

1) How many windings are around the tuning posts of your current guitar. The low E string should have about 2 1/2 windings around the tuning post. The high E string should have about 4-5 windings. I have seen people with supposedly experienced guitar players change their strings and end up with 1 winding on the tuning posts. Your guitar will most likely not stay in tune if this is the case. Look up how to restring your guitar on a website such as Guitar Noise.

2) Have a look the headstock of your guitar. Are half the tuners on one side and half on the other side? With such a headstock the strings need to be wound with the string coming off the tuning post on the inner side of the tuning post. If the tuning posts are all on one side then if and it looks like a strat then the when looking at the headstock from the front the strings should be coming off the tuning post on the right side or the 3 o'clock position. Other strat-like guitars or guitars such as the Gibson Firebird have all the tuning posts on the other side. Such guitars should have the strings coming off the tuning posts at the 9 o'clock position.

I have seen both acoustic guitars and electric guitars strung with some or all strings put on the wrong way and those strings will not stay in tune. If pays to closely examing a picture from the manufacturer's website or the website of a guitar in the same style as the one you have.

3) With the headstock near your chin and the bottom of the guitar near your feet, look down the neck of the guitar. Is the fretboard fairly straight or is their a large warp? Hopefully the neck/fretboard is farily straight otherwise the guitar might not be playable.

4) How high are the strings from the freatboard? If you have been playing for a while and have calluses on your fingers, it should not hurt to push the strings down to the frets. If not, the action (string height) might be too high and the guitar might need to be setup.

There are a lot of things that can make a guitar sound bad so use this as a learning experience.

Most of the other answers have good points about picking out a reasonable beginner guitar.

My advice is to ask to play a beginner's guitar such as a Yamaha F310. This is Yamaha's entry level guitar and has a laminate (plywood) top. It plays well enough and is a decent beginner's guitar. Expect to pay $100 to $150 for one. Then ask to play something in the $200 to $300 range with a solid top. You should notice the difference in sound quality. The solid top guitar should sound better and the notes will ring more clearly than a guitar with a laminate top.

Play a few guitars with laminate tops and solid tops in that price range. Make sure you take note of how they feel in your hands when you play. Then make your decision. Yes, a good salesperson or friend with knowledge can help a lot.

Had to thumb down Gene, only because several on the list are too costly and unnecessary for any beginner to have to start with.

JCR was more on the point in suggestions and what to do.

Here's a list of affordable and reputable makes who carry all the models and styles anyone who plays guitar can appreciate: Art & Lutherie; Alvarez; Dean; Epiphone; Ibanez; Jasmine; Johnson; Lag ($$); Seagull; Simon & Patric ($$);Tanglewood ($$); Takamine($$); Walden; Washburn and Yamaha.

I am familiar with all of them through visiting the several guitar stores in my area over the decades and have played them all to pass on such reviews. But no two guitars, are really the same, no matter what brand. You have to try them all out for yourself.

Expect to pay from $150 to $500 (really) for a good enough starter that will last for years and provide good performance in tone, comfort of play and material quality. Intermediates, usually are around $600- $1000.00. Really. Learn to tell the difference, and you will understand why guitars of 'high end' can go into the thousands.

As well, recommend that you take someone with you (your aunt?) who is a player, to help you make a decision on what you can afford and expect good performance from the guitars you choose.

And, at a music store or GC that carries the brands mentioned above.

Good acoustic guitars that don't cost a fortune:

Martin

Gibson

Yamaha

Guild

Ibanez

Good electrics for the money:

Fender

Gibson

Yamaha

I cannot stress enough the importance of taking an expert, experienced guitarist with you when you go shopping. Get an expert who is only interested in helping you get the best deal. He will spot any flaws in the guitar and help you to understand the differences in each make, the various different sounds, ease of play, etc.... The people in the store just want a commission and may sell you anything that will give them all your money.

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