Originally Posted by: samcollinsI hadn't played (and even then, poorly) in about thirty years. Considering myself an absolute beginner, I went to the music store and asked for a beginner acoustic. He showed me the Yamaha FS700s which I believe has laminate top and then the Yamaha FG700s which has a solid top for fifty bucks more (on sale $199). He played both of them and the sound was impressively richeer on the solid top, so that's what I got. BOTH of the Yamahas were very nice beginner acoustics and had a nice sound. I agree that the best way to find the guitar you're going to play and stay with is to get advice from a reliable music center. Those guys know their stuff.

Damn, I would have paid the extra $50.00 for a solid top also. I didn't know any better and wasn't offered the option. Since I don't know any better, like a bird in the cage, I'm happy with my beginners Axe :-)