We're in a golden age of cheapo entry level BS, where the worst Chinese knock-off is as good as a mid-range guitar of twenty years ago. It's really hard to make a mistake these days as long as you can put hands on the instrument before buying it.Over to the hive mind. What’s the best way to shop for a decent first instrument? I’m wanting her to stay away from the cheapo entry level BS and purchase a by-God instrument.
For $1000, if it were me, I'd buy whatever guitar she liked for $500 and get the nicest practice amp I could find with the rest (although your post implies you already have one).