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Check out the Digitech RP500 before you buy your next pedal.  I bought one and I'm done with individual pedals.  This processor works for anything from acoustic James Taylor to the most extreme death metal.  The tone you're looking for is in there. Plug it in to your computer and create your own tones and set lists.  This really is a liberating signal processor.  For the price, I'm amazed.

Just to re-emphasize what GSE said,   the dean markley pro mag is probably the easiest and cheapest way to amplify your acoustic.  This pickup is great, especially if you don't wish to alter your guitar in any way.  My only complaint is what to do with the chord that hangs out of it.  I have taped mine to the lower bout but I'm not fond of this option. On the other hand, it produces a very authentic acoustic tone.  If you're on a limited budget or hate the thought of drilling holes in your prized acoustic,  try the Dean pickup first.  Other companies produce more expensive options that are similar in design, but I can't hear the difference.  Give it go and see what you think.

Don't know how many times I have to say this on the forums here but, Hype is hype.  If you have to coat a string with something, you are dampening that string. If that's the sound you want, pay the money and be happy.  I prefer 80/20 strings for acoustics and only Ernie Ball slinky's for electrics (no I don't work for Ernie).  You'll save a ton of money and I can't tell the difference in string life (slinky's on a strat last way longer than slinky's on a Les Paul by the way, the spring tension has a lot to do with that).  Here's another thing to think about:  Great strings won't make a fair guitar sound good.  Fair Strings won't make a great guitar sound good.  Buy them all.  Try them all.  You'll find the one's that work for you. But don't fixate on the current fad.

This'll make me sound like a nut but I love B7  x21202.  I play B as x2444x,  two fingers.  The root is still there.  Enough of everything else is still there too. If its a Bm I'll play the whole deal x24432 with 4 fingers but like bensonp already said, "it's just an A (or in this case Am) two frets up.  You make your own nut with your forefinger.  Don't try to hold all of the strings with your forefinger on the 2nd fret.  Just concentrate on the two strings that matter for that chord.  For you beginners out there, if you slide the B or Bm up a fret its a C or Cm,  two more frets its a D or Dm.  The same thing works with the E and Em chords.   If you can barre all of these up to the 12th fret,  then you know all the chords.  Except for Jazz... that's different!

Nothing is more expressive than a good acoustic guitar. Nothing.  Playing an electric guitar is easy.  Adding effects to an electric guitar to make you sound better is really easy if you've got the funds.   I play electric guitars on stage because they are easy to play and easy to amplify in any number of ways.  For practice, I always play acoustics.   The string gages are thicker and harder to play.  The sound is better.  I have to work harder.  Accuracy becomes critical when there isn't any distortion/wah/chorus/delay/compression to get in the way.  When it comes time to plug in for money... The electric guitar is easy and also the best option.  You're still going to need an amplified acoustic guitar though.  So if you want to play .008 strings on a shred machine.  Consider learning those all important chord changes on an acoustic strung with .012's before you load up the tour bus.

Wow!  What guitar is considered to be the best... Wow! I really think that your decisions will be based entirely on your age and your experience level.  I recently traded my prized 78 cherry burst Les Paul Deluxe for a 1992 J-200.  I consider it quite possibly the best deal I've ever made.   Some friends have told me that I was crazy to do this.  I tell them, "play the J-200 then come back and talk to me."  So many things about guitars are so subjective.  The best Fender that I've ever played was made in Japan.  One of the worst Fenders I've ever played was made in USA. This is not to say that I don't love American Fenders. I do. I also love K. Yairi Electric guitars but the the son-of-a-***** doesn't make but one every ten years or so.. Right now I'm at this point where I'm really impressed with the Godin 5th Ave Kingpin.  I'm having a great time with mine.  Will anything ever beat the sound and playability of an early 80's Ovation model 1112? Doubtful. Will metal heads ever trade their Jacksons for an L-7? Will a Martin freak ever strum a Rainsong and switch sides?   This question that you ask is too hard to answer.  At some point, I imagine that someone will build a 16" White Falcon with an L. R. Baggs acoustic bridge with a Bigsby and a switchable choice between Dime Bag pick-ups, Filter-trons, Alumitones, Texas Specials and Joe Barden's with an Ibanez neck profile that is reminiscent of a Gibson melody maker.  Until then, like me, you're going to have to try a bunch of 'em.  Keep the ones you like. There's a lot to choose from and thats part of the fun.

I play 4 + 20 in Drop D tuning (Drop the low E to D). For Suite Judy, I play it in open D - DADF#AD.  These are  my variations. I'm not sure how they were originally recorded.

Hey Bill,

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the acoustasonic 30 come with built in effects? 

When I'm playing, I usually don't add anything more that a little reverb and a touch of compression to the acoustic sound.  It depends on the room.  There are many effects that work with acoustic instruments.  There are many more that don't.  If you're going to go with "stomp boxes" be sure and try them out at your local store before taking the plunge.

Sorry Zurf,  I stepped away from the computer for a coupla days.

Frailing is a technique more at home on the banjo, but certainly can be done on the guitar. It entails picking notes with your thumb and using a downward strumming pattern using the back of the nails of your other fingers.  There are several examples on you tube.

www.girlbrand.com

I agree with etc_04.  Open E is where you want to be with "She Talks to Angels".   You might want to tune to open D and capo the second fret.  That way you open up the door to a ton of songs in D and E.  Everything from Curtis Loew to Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Four Walls of Raiford and Long Haired Country Boy.  The list for Open D or E is as long as the list for Open A or G. Personally, I'm better at open G, but Slim Fatz once told me that "There was no song that couldn't be played in D, and its easier".  That may be true.  Drop D and Double drop D will send you in many directions related to Stephen Stills, and early Bob Dylan.  Play them all.  The guitar is incredibly versatile. Thats the beauty of it.