What are your thoughts on Monoprice DLX Plus guitars versus guitars such as Squier Affinity/Classic Vibe, Epiphone Special, Yamaha Pacifica, Harley Benton, and etc?
If you care about playability but not especially about sound (can always pickup swap later), Ibanez is the best starter guitar. If you care about the whole package, Harley Benton or Yamaha are great deals.