Squier's SD-6 steel-string acoustic guitar is an ideal first acoustic. The SD-6 is a full-size dreadnought with agathis top, back and sides; plus a natural satin finished, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and chrome-plated tuning machines. Its tone, playability and durability are exceptional for a guitar in this price range.

Gauges 11, 15, 22, 30, 40, 50.Rare Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings from DR Strings are a departure from the standard, good quality bronze string currently available - not necessarily better, but possessing a new, different, and stronger voice. Hand-carved archtops, dreadnoughts, and good steel string acoustic guitars of rosewood, maple, and mahogany benefit from a distinct improvement in tone, depth, and sustain with a fatter, louder sound and a deeper bottom.

Gauges 11-14-22-30-36-46.Different guitars respond differently to different alloys. Some sound better with bronze, some sound better with Dean Markley PhosBronze. If you want a lot of power and punch, with lots of midrange and highs, or your guitar's top needs extra punch to project, try a couple of different gauges to find just the right gauge for your guitar. Dean Markley PhosBronze acoustic guitar strings are powerful and very bright while still having a smooth low end. PhosBronze comes factory equipped on many acoustic guitars.