Acoustic guitar advice (buying online today vs decision paralysis)

Have a look at the http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000KDZG2Y/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/.

Nthing that it's generally better to try an instrument in person than to buy it sight unseen online; if you buy online and wind up with an instrument that's not technically broken but needs adjustments, you're stuck paying more money to a local shop/luthier to get it into playable shape anyway... and that's not even taking into account how you like the tone or the shape of the neck. RE: Electro-acoustics, my impression is that (at the lower end, anyway) you get a functional, built-in pickup that might have a couple of bells and whistles (tone knob/tuner) but they always sound kind of thin and flat to me (as compared to an acoustic that's amplified via an external microphone.) That would be another thing to evaluate in person, and would depend on the context you'd usually be playing in; sitting in front of a mic vs moving around on a stage, etc. For smaller bodies you could also look into 'parlor guitars' which are so much more comfortable to play than dreadnoughts! You wouldn't necessarily be sacrificing overall 'resonance' per se, although a parlor guitar probably won't be able to compete in volume or bass response in a 1:1 comparison with a dreadnought. Again... depends on context. A parlor guitar probably wouldn't be ideal in a bluegrass ensemble, but for solo picking or recording, volume isn't necessarily top priority.

I would definitely recommend buying one in-person from a shop you trust. I'd go in a few times and test the various guitars, see what the employees recommend, etc. A good place will want to help you make the right decision, and won't pressure you to buy an $800 guitar when a $300 is what you really want and need right now. Furthermore, they'd likely give you a warranty of sorts or at least some deal where you get free or discounted service. And should you want to trade up, they could buy your first guitar or give you credit towards another one. It's really win-win, even if you have to pay an extra $100 up front. Plus, they may have a great selection of used guitars that are tried and true.

I've never been impressed with Fender acoustics. You want a solid top, not a laminate, but it appears the Dean is already sold out. I would recommend that you forgo these sales and check out guitars in a store, just to see what size you like and to get a sense of the characteristic sound and feel of each manufacturer. Note that two guitars of the same make and model may be quite different in tone and feel. Regarding size, http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/_Acoustic_Size_Matters has a good overview. It will be overwhelming at first, but take your time and don't feel pressured to buy. You won't regret taking the time to familiarize yourself with what's available.

Even the same make and model of brand new acoustic guitar can vary quite a bit in sound from instrument to instrument. I'd rather choose one in person.

If you feel you'd prefer a smaller body guitar, do not buy a dreadnought. The odds are you won't play it because it feels wrong (speaking from personal experience). Look for a small body or travel guitar. Not all of them will sound small. When I was in the market for a new guitar I went into an independently owned guitar store and told them my budget and size preference. They picked a few guitars from different manufacturers and let me try them. They did not offer anything that was not in my price range and I didn't look around myself because I knew I would gravitate to the more expensive guitars. Once I had two good choices that I enjoyed playing, I stopped looking and focused on comparing them tone-wise. I knew there were other choices, but I wasn't looking for the one true guitar. I just needed one that was fun to play and sounded good to my ear.

I'd look on Craigslist, eBay, or at the local Goodwill. Or post on Facebook and ask if anyone has one you can borrow for a few weeks to try it out. You don't need anything fancy to get started.