I made the mistake of buying a cheap guitar to start and immediately changed it. I bought a $100 Squier strat on Sale at Guitar Center on Labor Day weekend then started the beginners course. I then tried out a friends G&L Legacy and immediately noticed the difference. Took the Squier back and bought a new G&L 30th Anniversary Legacy and am loving every moment I get to practice with it. Having good gear makes all the difference in the world.