You begin your journey in guitars not really knowing what instrument you will mesh with. The big questions hang over your head. Am I a stratocaster bubby or a les paul bubby? Do I play a solid, semi-hollow, or hollow body?
Now some folks simply look at the style of music they like and their favorite player. Then they pick up whatever guitar that dude had.
Of course the problem with this is... you ain't that dude. And furthermore, just because you like a certain style of music doesn't mean you will be that great at it.
You could really really like Alice and Chains but your brain is wired to play jazz. Just a point to consider.
As for me I lean toward electronica and shoe-gazey stuff. That isn't exactly what I listen to. I listen to all kinds of music but my heart wants to spill shoe-gaze all over the place so I let it.
I saved up a small wad of money and purchased a lovely looking Ibanez Artcore guitar. A semi-hollow that promised all the trimmings. And when it got to me it was terrible.
I will not go into all the ways that it was terrible. I will not go into the heartbreak of a child that hatches sea monkeys for the first time only to realize that they are over-sized salt sperm that do not in fact play tennis.
But here is the thing. Sweetwater is a great company to work with and I was able to spend a bit of money and trade up to a Gretsch Streamliner.
If you have ever picked up a guitar that just meshed with you then you will know what I'm talking about.
On a strat I'm always finding myself strumming up on the neck. With the Gretsch I'm always strumming in the correct place. Just like my body knew what guitar it expected and it was patiently waiting.
Imagine your fingers finding 'THAT' string every time. No more contortion to get the sound right.
You start to put the guitar away and it smiles up at you and you start playing again.
I would encourage anyone to own and experiment with a variety of guitars. Be open minded and dabble in lots of musical genres. You may be surprised when you find the guitar that chooses you.