Thank you, manXcat, for your insightful discussion. At 64, and after four divorces, I've developed quite the resilience to hurt feelings. While I recognize I might be still finding my footing as a newbie, I can't seem to avoid muting adjacent strings on this guitar, despite my careful fretting. It's a frustration I haven't encountered with my acoustic or other guitars I've tried. While I might eventually overcome this hurdle with practice, I'm starting to doubt it. My acoustic is treating me well, and I'm considering selling my Yamaha to invest in a guitar that suits me better. While I do like the Yamaha, I'm not emotionally attached to it. Your advice will certainly inform my decision-making process. Thanks again!