morphine wrote:<offtopic>
Sorry to continue this tangent, just would like to point out - don't play the brands game with guitars.
Seriously, you've mentioned brands I like (Gibson, Ibanez, PRS), but I'll be the first to tell you that above ~$700, any manufacturer has good guitars. What you need to do is eventually know what kind of sound and guitar feel you're looking for - you'll find this out in a couple years - and then go looking in all the manufacturers for what you need.
Looking back at the younger me that started to play the guitar, he would grab a Gibson Les Paul if he had the money. Nowadays, I'm thinking of an LTD (cheaper line of ESP) or perhaps a BC Rich, and dreaming of having the cash for a Mayones - all of this because over the years I realized what I want in the axe - meaty body, active EMG pickups (only two, I loathe guitars with three), a volume knob that stays out of the way, and a fixed bridge.
Oh, and quality control and overall tuning stability >>>> anything else.
</offtopic>
YEah, that's why I compared it to a teen getting his first car. An old beater is good enough to teach them how to drive. It's not like Mommy and Daddy are gonna buy them a high-end Lamborghini, Ferrari, or McLelan, since there's no way they could handle it.
BTW, the Epiphone was $180, and that was the top of the mark of what I was willing to pay, especially since RS2104 was $80, and I also had to get a stand, case, strap, Korg Tuner, insurance, and that string club membership.
IF you can get decent with an inexpensive guitar, you can really make an expensive Ibanez/Gibson/Vintage Stratocaster shine once you get good enough.
All told, I'm very happy with my purchase, especially since I'm a noob.