I know the last thing you wanna do is shell out money ... but i'll tell you what I got fed up with my $200 Glossy/pretty big wide necked acoustic guitar that I bought to learn on.
I saw this 3/4 size Gretsch Americana series acoustic on Guitar center's web site, and all the reviews said how easy it was to play and great for beginners and experienced guitarists. It has some funky picture of a cowboy on it and a sort of rought finish but it was only $100.
I also am a police officer who works grave shift in Atlantic City and even in AC sometimes the winter nights can drag. So I figured.. "what the hell?" It's small, and not too delicate or expensive, I could throw it in the trunk of the police car and not have to cringe every time I hit a bump on the way to a call.
So I ordered one... It was the best thing I did for my wanting to learn. It made playing sooo much easier, it had a narrow/thinner neck because it's scaled down annnd the strings werent heavy duty like the ones on my $200 mitchell where sometimes you think its gonna cut your finger open. So it's easier to hold a barre chord or any chord, mind you the fret is a little smaller but not noticeably but it really makes playing fun.
The only other difference you might experience with a 3/4 size acoustic like the one Im talkin about is that it has a rough/worn sound which makes my shiny full sized acoustic sound like its always hooked up to an amp, but its great for practicing or playing for your friends it just makes it fun, Im no expert, ive only been playing for like 3 months but time after time if theres something I cant pull off on the full sized guitar... the 3/4 Grestch always makes it feel effortless.
I found a video on you tube of a guy playing one just like mine if you wanna check it out.. If you wanna buy one look around guitar center's website they should still have some.
youtube.com/watch?v=JZOaqCxAuOk