[wambotron]

I completely disagree with the acoustic recommendation as well. They're harder to play, which means it's much easier to give up on. You can get a 1w belt-clip amp if you really need to plug in, or you could just get a semi-hollow and play it unplugged.

Learning to sing is unrelated to playing guitar. I'd argue most guitar players do not also sing whilst playing. If someone wants to sing AND play guitar, I'd actually argue that it's easier to learn one before the other, not both simultaneously. When you know how to play guitar (and a song), it becomes almost mechanical and singing on top is much easier.

Instead of just learning the pentatonic scale, try to learn basic music theory and learn the fretboard. If you know where notes are on the board, it's much easier to land somewhere that fits musically with what you're playing. Not to discourage people from experimenting, but if you're just noodling around randomly with no idea of how notes work together, it's going to take you much longer to figure things out than if you just took a few weeks to learn super basic music theory.

[SwellJoe]

Acoustic guitars are only a little harder to play. A decent acoustic guitar (which can be had for ~$250 used, or $500 new) with light strings is a fine learning guitar. If it's got reasonably comfortable action, it's not going to be an impediment to a beginner.

[wambotron]

Acoustic light strings are 12 gauge though, compared to electrics which are 9 or 10 gauge. There is definitely a large difference between those to a beginner.

For what it's worth, I actually use 8s on my electrics, so the jump from electric to acoustic is kind of annoying.

[SwellJoe]

Strings for acoustic guitar can be found smaller than .012. Martin Extra Lights are .010, Earthwood Extra Light are .010, etc.

[wambotron]

There are extra lights on electric that go down to 7s. The fact is that the standard strings for acoustic are 12s and the fact that a usable acoustic starts at $500 new kind of shows how much of a misfit it is for people who are looking to try something out. My first guitar that I spent that much ($500+) on was 22 years after I first started playing.

There are tons of great $100-200 new electrics that are great for playing from almost every single brand now that a beginner isn't going to be forced to restring immediately (and remember that beginners don't know how to tune guitars, let alone string them).