Dylan vs. Hendrix

Or, as it were, acoustic versus electric.  Where to start?

This article by JamPlay's Kevin Wimer does a fair job of comparing and contrasting the two:
http://www.jamplay.com/articles/5-guides/3-choosing-a-guitar-acoustic-vs-electric

 I don't have any real complaints about Wimer's perspective, though I feel I must take umbrage with at least one of his points.  Specifically, the 'Ease of Play' section seems to have a bit of a bias towards electric guitars (over acoustic).

Why is this a problem?  I feel that the arguments Wimer makes are in direct opposition to arguments for learning proper chord technique.  Are acoustic guitars more difficult to play, due to their larger necks and heavier-gauged strings?  Generally speaking, yes.  For someone learning to play guitar, though, this is essential to developing proper technique.

Guitar strings that aren't held down with appropriate force will produce a buzzing, unclear tone.  This is a common malady for novice guitarists, for a number of reasons: tenuous finger placement, inadequate force, and the simple fact that many budding guitar players are youths or adolescents with still-growing hands.  Time will provide a remedy for the youth, but the other afflictions are part of the learning process.

Compare this process to learning how to shoot a basketball.  Most people start by throwing the ball at the basket with two hands, being unable to provide enough force with one hand to reach the hoop.  This is largely a product of learning basketball as a child, when a full-size ball dwarfs a small hand.  When most individuals are large enough to manipulate a regular ball, a different shooting mechanism is utilized, one that involves an entirely different motion.

This is not the same as learning to play a guitar, and overcoming the 'buzzing' sound.  Learning on an 'easier' electric guitar, with its thinner, less-spaced strings, will provide faster results at the expense of developing fundamental technique.  Achieving a full, clean sound is a basic qualification for a guitarist and not something to be accomplished as an afterthought.

For this reason, the acoustic guitar is ideal for a beginning guitarist.  I do not believe Wimer appropriately addresses this issue in his admittedly brief article.  I might also make the argument that a developing guitarist will be playing alone at home for the majority of their practice time, which supports the case for an acoustic guitar even further (cost, portability, no need for electricity, less sound encroaching on the neighbors, etc), though I digress.

P.S.  The fact that Dylan 'went electric' at, ultimately, no detriment to his career, is duly noted.