I have answered this question pretty thouroughly at my site describing my journey as a beginning guitarist - you'll have to google "beginning guitar squidoo" for it - I can't post links yet. Look at the bottom of the page.
I'm a recent GFB&B member, so I haven't had time to add it to my list of guitar sites.
What it boils down to for me is this: Go play some guitars. Nothing is as important as how the guitar feels - if you have the best sounding guitar in the world and you hate playing it because it feels bad, what good is that tone doing you?
I spent months "shopping" for guitars online and in catalogs, and one trip to a decent guitar shop was all it took to point me to the guitar I ended up buying (and
loving).
Guitars vary in more than pickup configuration and body shape. Even with all the computer controlled routing and mass production techniques, a person still has to assemble and finish the guitar. And how much that individual person cares about the guitar can change everything. I have seen expensive guitars with Sharpie marks still visible on the fretboard and fret edges that feel like they'll slice your hand open. And yet the one right next to it - same make, same model, feels and plays great.
Now, I have some personal opinions and observations to make that I'll happily share with you:
- As a beginner, stay away from tremelo bars. If you're like me, you'll have plenty to keep your hands busy without one and you don't need the tuning hassles.
- Check out Ibanez guitars. I thought I wanted an SG or a Strat. My Ibanez SZ gives me a lot more for a lot less. (Personal opinion!) You can get a GAX series double-humbucker for under $200.
- You'll need an amp or an amp modeler. Since you have the monitor already, you might find that an amp modeler gives you a lot of options. You could get a Floor Pod (Line6) for under $200, and have a bunch of amps and effects at your disposal, plus some direct recording capability. If you want a standalone amp, look at the Vox Valvetronix 15, also under $200. I have the 30 version of that amp and love it.
But what you've got to do is
go play some. Hey, I know the guitar store is intimidating, and you think you don't know what to look / listen for. But you
do. You're looking for a guitar that makes you keep coming back to it, one that says, "Take me home, I'm yours!" And you're looking for an amp / modeler that makes you want to play it "just one more time...to be sure."
Remember that the amp is half of the instrument in an electric rig - don't shortchange yourself on it.
Welcome to beginning guitar! I have to say, that of all the things I've done in life, the two that are all they're cracked up to be and more are guitars and motorcycling. Too bad my guitar won't fit on my bike....