manXcat, thank you for your thoughtful and detailed advice. At 64, and having gone through four divorces, my feelings are beyond just being hurt. As a newcomer, I recognize that my placement might not be perfect, but despite my best efforts, I keep experiencing muting on adjacent strings with this guitar. I don’t face this issue with my acoustic or other guitars I’ve tried. While I might improve over time, I’m starting to doubt it. I’m currently doing well with my acoustic and am considering selling my Yamaha to find a guitar that suits me better. I appreciate your guidance and will use it to inform my decision. Thanks again!