[quote name='kosh_kesh24']Yes, I second the electric recommendation. Get yourself a Schecter (any one will do), and an Epiphone Valve Jr, and maybe a distortion pedal. Cheapest Schecter is like $250, Valve is like $100, and a distortion pedal should run you about $40. Buy all three at once and I'm sure they'll give you a discount since there is a ridiculous markup on these things. May be able to get the guitar a little cheaper since the new 2008 models came out and the 2007 and before are on clearance.
Acoustic is doable, but you'll learn much quicker on electric. Electrics are a lot more versatile when it comes to playing different styles of music. Cheap acoustics are exactly that, cheap. You'll play it for maybe 2 weeks, get frustrated because it's so hard to play, and you'll lose interest. When you learn the cowboy chords, which is what 90% of songs are composed of, you can pick up an acoustic as well. Cowboy chords are the basic chord fingerings that you should strive to learn in the first 3-6 months.
If you insist on an acoustic, the Seagull is a good choice, but make sure you get it setup by a professional. It's usually about $35, but it's a night and day difference in playability. That goes for the electric too. Ask for a free setup when you purchase the guitar, as it is an absolute must unless you buy a high end guitar. Ask for free strings, bags, cases, cleaning cloths, everything. Those music store guys work on commission so you can get away with a lot of free stuff since the employees are only concerned with getting the sale no matter what. Better yet, go on a Tuesday during the day. No retail store gets much business at that time, so they'll be more willing to compromise in order to get a sale. Sorry for the long post.[/quote]
I have to say, I disagree with this whole-heartedly. While I love both of my electric guitars, learning G, D, Em, and C chords on an acoustic guitar is the foundation of all guitar playing. Sure, you can learn and play these on an electric, but they're a lot less useful. Much of electric guitar playing is based around power chords, but if that's all you know...you are NOT a guitar player.
The ONLY possible thing that makes an electric "easier" to learn on than an acoustic is the fact that the neck is thinner and so are the strings (generally). But just in the above post, you've highlighted what makes them more complicated. The requirement of an amplifier and your reccommendation of a distortion pedal.
Aside from the added cost, these items have settings of their own, in addition to the settings on the electric guitar. Are you going to hold his hand while he attempts to figure out what all those knobs are for? With an acoustic guitar, you just tune and play. It gives you what you give it. To me, there's no better way to learn.
Also, your taste in music should come into play. Electric guitar may seem "cooler". And you may have dreams of destroying Zepplin riffs or Metallica crunch, but realistically, when you're learning, you should aim for Green Day or The Clash, because their songs are simple, and won't frustrate you and make you give up. Plus, that's all you'll be capable of with the aforementioned power chords.
Don't get discouraged by any of this. I just think it's unfair for the posters above to label electric guitar "easier". Both styles require effort and dedication, but will reward you for what you put into them. I guess it just depends what you want out of it. If you despise every acoustic song ever written or arranged, then I wouldn't advise getting one. But I do believe it's the right place to start when learning how to play guitar.
EDIT - Here, I'll even show you where to start.
Print the chart below. The horizontal lines are the frets. The vertical lines are the strings. A dot indicates you press that string at that fret, and the number at the bottom indicates which finger to use (ie. 1 = index, 5 = pinky). Start with Em and D as they're the shortest stretch for your fingers. Once you're comfortable with that learn C, and then G. Practice changing from one to the other in different orders, as quickly as possible. There are over 8,000,000 songs that use these chords and only these chords. It's a good place to start.