I have have no problem getting an acoustic and adding a pickup.

The truth is I don't really have a NEED to go electirc I just figured if I was spending close to $300(or more) on a new guitar I might as well get more bang for the buck.

Getting back to the used Alvarez RD8 for $120. I played the heck out of it on Saturday night at the store. It would definately be a fun cheap guitar to beat on while I am stilllearning to play. But , as I mentioned it had a small impact dent/crack on the bottom(near the seam where the top and bottom meet). Did this affect the playing? I am not sure. It may or may not cause a problem so I decided to wait on the possibility of another used Alvarez down the road.

You have $300 to spend, why take a chance, you're doing the right thing waiting. As for going electric giving you bang for bucks, I'm not sure that would be the case. For $300 you won't be getting anything like a top line guitar and you be better off spending your money on a better quality acoustic. You will notice the difference in quality and it will show in your playing.

A little known fact: Eric Clapton very nearly gave up the guitar before he'd even started due to his first guitar being a cheap and almost unplayable piece of junk, when he bought a better guitar he found it all became so much easier and he kept it up. Bang for bucks doesn't necessarily equate to electricity!

Jerry

The truth is I don't really have a NEED to go electirc I just figured if I was spending close to $300(or more) on a new guitar I might as well get more bang for the buck.

Getting back to the used Alvarez RD8 for $120. I played the heck out of it on Saturday night at the store. It would definately be a fun cheap guitar to beat on while I am stilllearning to play. But , as I mentioned it had a small impact dent/crack on the bottom(near the seam where the top and bottom meet). Did this affect the playing? I am not sure. It may or may not cause a problem so I decided to wait on the possibility of another used Alvarez down the road.

I had another look at it yesterday and saw a small crack on the bottom. Thinking I should not get this one.

Take a good careful look at the neck to be sure that it's straight - maybe even have them put it on the bench and demonstrate with a level or straight edge that the neck isn't twisted or un-naturally bowed.  Look carefully at the frets to see that they're well seated and level.  Look across the neck at them and then down the neck at them.  Look carefully around the body for damage. 

But mostly those things will show up in the sound or the feel.  If you can tune it and play it and you like the way it feels, that's a pretty good indication that it's not in terrible shape. 

- Zurf

I saw a used Alvarez RD8 for $120 in a guitar store today. I liked the sound and feel of it. Is there anything else I should be looking for?