I started clarinet when I was 12 in junior high. I met girls but was painfully shy and ridiculously socially inept.
When I was 14 I got a classical (gut string) guitar. I learned 3 chords. I took 5 lessons in a group. I learned nothing, and no girls seemed interested.
BY THE TIME I turned 15, I had taught myself how to play guitar by listening to and copying songs on albums and by jamming with anyone I could find to play with, and copied what they did.
When I was 16 I was a local guitar hero and dated so many girls that I sometimes made two dates for the same night (and lived to tell about it).
By the time I was out of college I had a lifetimes experience with girls because of a lucky break with fortune (not money, being fortunate) and fame. I also got over my shyness by playing in front of people on a regular basis. Oh, I also discovered that I was really damned attractive, and that helped...but today, well, I can't say what females think of me. You see I was married for over 30 years and over the last two years of that marriage, my X-wife became hopelessly insane. I miss her, but I got over it in 2 years. I still play guitar and I have to admit that I get EVERYONE's attention when I play at parties, because I'm a performer. I'm outgoing and laugh and that helps. BUT I can't find anyone who has much in common with me. I think that's what happens as the byproduct of a long-term marriage.

SO, it is easy to learn guitar before 18, the brain is plastic and it is easy in general to learn anything at that age (pre-18). If I had to learn guitar today from ground zero, I would probably give up.

What is GREAT about the 50's is you know who you are. You know your talents, you know your strengths and weaknesses and you know what you want in a partner. Unfortunately you don't get to meet that many females in your fifties but your brain still thinks you are 35!

Frankly, if another guy was at a party trying to win girls over by attempting to play guitar... (50-something girls or 40-something "girls" - what a chauvinistic anachronism!) I'd feel honor bound to show the fellow using a guitar as a woman-attraction device the extent of my talent, which after playing for 30+ years is formidable.

If a guy can sing, then he should use that talent, IMHO. But don't try to hide behind a guitar unless you are an ENTERTAINER. I don't go for gimmicks and I'll bet that "girls",( women, ladies, chicks, or whatever females want to be called ) feel the same way -- that is unless you happen to be a great singer and are really attractive. In that case it STILL is NOT the guitar that is doing the attracting.