Originally Posted by: Dave.KurtHi, I'm been a playing a small crappy 30$ guitar for a couple of years now. I know all of the Major and minor chords. And I can play them with ease. I want to get a solid body electric guitar. Recently I was in a store and I tryed out a Fender Stratocaster Squier Affinity Series Red. I really liked it and I was wondering if there were similar Guitars. I am trying to get an inexpensive guitar that doesn't go out of tune every couple of days. Thanks,
Dave

My first guitar was a '69 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe that had been heavily changed before me (gold top finish wa removed and the mini-buckers were replaced with full size Duncan Distortions)...as much as a travesty as it was that the previous owner jacked it up...I'd probably never had a Les Paul as my first guitar. It played beautifully.

My point...I had a great guitar to play when I started. It made playing and learning so much easier. I had a full on professional playing quality instrument and it served me well. The real point is that, while understanding that money doesn't grow on trees, don't select your guitar by a budget. Go to stores and just noodle on guitars until you find the one that fits in your hand like it was born there. Sure, it would be easier with the really nice ones often hung behind the counter but the stuff on the 'floor' has lots of good choices. You might find a good used guitar that you can't be without and it might be a few extra bucks than budget. It's worth it if it's the guitar that makes you stick with and continues to make you want to play.