I've only played a couple ever. I was asked the question a few years ago every guitar player is dreaded to be asked. "Can you help me find a guitar for my kid?" The obvious easy answer is buy some cheap starter off the rack. Every company now seems to have one. Though, I agreed to go to a second hand music shop and browse the inventory. I played a dozen probably and my favorite was a Seapple body Seagull. I think they wanted like $250 for it. Im biased though and like Mahogany type acoustic bodies for that deep folky blues sound. I gotta pretty low voice and it compliments in sound.
Which brings up why being asked to guitar shop for someone else is so dreadful. It's a very personal thing. I have tried hundreds of guitars and some sound great, but play like crap. Some fit my hands like a glove but sound like they are made out of a Coleman Cooler. You have no idea if their kid is going to like it and stick with it. So, wouldn't a cheap guitar be suitable until they find out themselves what they like? At the same time, I had bad guitars at first, and dont want that for anybody. Though a spending 3-4X on something that might end up sitting in closet is tough too.
Anyways, I was really tempted to buy that Seagull for myself. Maybe leave it at my cabin since I already have my Martin Road show Seapple body. Kinda regret not buying it now.