I would say I am a beginner to intermediate guitar player, I own a Taylor GS mini and a Yamaha dreadnaught. I had no idea what I was missing in terms of a beautiful, high quality guitar, easy to play guitar. My GS mini cost more than this guitar and the sound, ease of play, and look are way better. My friend says this guitar plays and sounds like a $2000+ guitar. Also super thankful for the hard case as it protected the guitar from the long shipping to Alaska! There was a gouge through the box that gouged the hard case at the body of the guitar, definitely would have damaged the guitar if not for the hard case!