I used to buy Martin years ago but they broke ALL THE TIME

Medium works for me, Phosphor Bronze … not too light and tinny sounding, but not too rough on the fingertips
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I kind of liken it to the Rosewood vs. Mahogany thing, in that there are very different interpretations or definitions of what sounds "bright". If you follow my description below, I liken PB’s to rosewood and 80/20’s to mahogany.

I have some rosewood dreads, and they are generally a bit bassier than their mahogany brother, and generally have more overtones, ring out longer, and to me are brighter through the trebles. The mahogany guitar is clearer throughout the register, with a more fundamental tone, which I think a lot of people describe as "bright". If you really listed to someone else play the different guitars, the rosewood guitars are brighter and sparkle more, but have more of a "wash" of sound. They are also interestingly enough, warmer through the mids and bass. I think the same is true of PB’s vs. 80/20’s.

The PB’s have more warmth, brightness and overtones. The 80/20’s have more clarity, a more fundamental tone, more bite and cut to the sound. But they aren’t brighter, at least not when they settle down after an hour or two of playing a new set. The difference between clarity, fundamental tone, and cut of both Mahogany and 80/20 strings and the overtones, warmth, brightness and sustain of Rosewood and the PB’s is something I hear described in a lot of ways and often the terms are swapped around. And different people hear different things and certainly describe what they hear differently.

I put PB’s on my Rosewood guitars and 80/20’s on my Mahogany to accentuate the qualities and differences of the different woods.
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http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-79859.html

Note: Computer-generated response courtesy Kabum
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Fenders are well known in the blues world. There’s no law that says if you’re playing blues, you have to have a Gibson, or if you’re playing heavy metal you have to have a Marshall amp. Marshall makes a great amp, but to me, they’re a little too dirty sounding. You can always buy a pedal if you want to dirty up the sound.

Buy an amp known for its clean tones. Fender, Peavey, Mesa, Roland, Line 6, Vox..etc. The small Roland cube series are great sounding little amps.

Buy the best guitar you possibly can… a better amp can come later. often times your first guitar will be your friend for life, and you’ll never part with it. You can buy a headphone amp for probably $10? Worry about getting a better amp later. Spend all your money on the guitar…every last cent.

In a recent issue of Guitar Player magazine, they loved the Fender 50’s Vibe Telecaster. Around $350.

Best of luck and keep pickin’ till your fingers bleed.
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47 years of guitar

but single coils like a stratocaster or Telecaster gives you a clear tone and is great for Jazz Rock,Alternative punk……….

for the Amp i recommend the MARSHALL amps they give you a clear bassy tone…..

and for the strings i’d say the GHS Boomers are great (gives you more louder sound from my experience with GHS strings……
strings like Ernie ball slinky and dean markley are good to but i would say GHS Boomers are strong,Reliable and would last longer that other’s………..

for a beginner like you i’d say the FENDER TELECASTER or STRATOCASTER is better since it’s cheap, gives you a great sound and chicks love it……
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