I've been playing for 7yrs now...I learned the basics on a Yahmaha acoustic, then when I was 15 I got a POS electric, I'm playing on a Schecter Omen 6, through a Carvin SX200 amp and a Line6 Uber Metal Pedal Distortion....I taught myself all the way, but I have decided to go into lessons, cause I need to learn musik theory and I wanna learn to solo (I kinda know how already, but I wanna learn how to really SOLO)....Playing guitar has been the greatest thing in my life and I encourage all to learn some form of instrument, it makes you feel so good about yourself...The best advice I can give on learning is, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...Learn Scales, get your fingers strong and learn to read tablature and learn alternate picking (Picking in up/down strokes instead of just down strokes)...[url]www.guitartricks.com[/url] is a good site to learn from, and [url]www.mxtabs.net[/url] is a awesome place to get tablature from....Well, good luck learning the guitar, remember to have a patience, your not going to sound like metallica on day one.... \m/