How to convince my parents to let me get this guitar?

Russell and jcr are a couple vets I trust on acoustic guitars. I'm an electric guy.

Hate to tell you this, but your parents are right in one respect. That is too much to spend on your FIRST guitar. You haven't even started playing yet, so how can you know you will stick with it long enough to make an $800 guitar worth buying?

You can get a decent guitar for less than half that. Take Russell and jcr's advice and look into a Yamaha to start with. Then, if you become a dedicated player you can look into getting a nicer guitar down the road.

You don't know enough about guitars yet to pick out a midrange or high end instrument. If you did, you probably wouldn't be wanting to spend that much on a partly laminated acoustic-electric with an expensive logo on the headstock. Yes, the picture looks pretty, and Martin is a famous brand, but that doesn't mean that guitar will suit you once you learn to play, and it's certainly not the kind of instrument Martin built their reputation on. If you like the Martin sound and feel once you are an advanced player (several years from now), look at their all-solid-wood models and be prepared to spend a few thousand.

Go for the Yamaha FG-700S or FS-700S for now. It'll last you several years and by then you'll have some idea of what kind of guitar is right for you.

Look for a second hand guitar in the region of 200-350 Martin guitar for a first guitar is ridiculous!

That guitar is for touring guitarist it is certainly not a beginners guitar, a beginners guitar is 200 and down hence why I said 200 and up.

Guitar is different to most stringed instruments, it will hurt your fingers and feel like you are contorting them out of shape but you will get use to it.

How old are you by the way? If you are younger or of a small build a smaller scale guitar will help, playing a full size guitar at the age of 13 say will be torture on your hands.

Everyone recommends a classical guitar and I'd agree they are the best to learn on.

When you are going to buy a guitar go check it out with someone who knows a thing or two about guitars , don't go alone or you could end up buying crap!

Best of luck in your musical journey, don't buy a Martin as a first guitar

The guitar that you as a beginner are convinced is your ultimate guitar is unlikely to be all that ultimate when you've gotten some experience under your belt. As someone has already pointed out, that's a low end Martin with plywood back and rim. There are far better Martins out there, not to mention lots of other excellent brands.

Start with a beginners' guitar like the Yamaha FS-720S, learn to play, and spend lots of time at music stores getting to know the good stuff.

Maybe show them the price of other good quality instruments like saxophones, oboes, bassoons, grand pianos and see if it helps to see how much of a bargain guitars are.

Other than that I think the most you can do is earn and save money yourself to be able to buy it. You may want to watch the used market, as well. Speaking of used you can also show them how a very inexpensive guitar is usually worth a pittance on the used market, but a better quality guitar, particularly from a sought after brand, will hold most of its value.

But if that doesn't work I think it's better to go ahead and get a guitar you can start playing rather than wait for that one. There are quite a few good acoustics available for less, such as Seagulls, Alvarez and Yamahas to name a few. If possible I'd also try to find a shop that inspects its inventory and offers a set up with purchase.

That is too much guitar for a beginner. A Yamaha FG700S is just fine for a beginner at $200.

You don't need an acoustic electric yet and a Martin is for later when YOU can afford to buy it, not Mommy and Daddy.

Hell, I bought ALL my own guitars growing up...and bought what I could afford.