Lots of good advice as usual.
Wrecker, don’t worry about going to a shop not knowing anything, a decent place will give you great advice, and there are loads of really great shops. Remember we all have to start somewhere. Go without saying, careful if you buy of the net, my dad recently tried to buy a particular ibanez 12 string from GAK ( normally very very good) but had to send both the guitars they sent him back, as they were both wrong, now dad knows guitars, but if you don’t know anything…
Guitars are funny things really, I was looking for a leccy I liked for ages and was certain I didn’t want a strat, then in a corner of a shop was this second hand Squire, and well, it’s by far the nicest Ive played, and I tried loads trust me!!!
Have fun!!