electric or acoustic guitar?

Why choose?
If pressed, I'd choose acoustic for practicality and portability purposes.

Both. Both have a lot of potential for varied sounds

I actually prefer acoustic, but the electric is more private if you aren't trying to expose others to your music

Depends on what style of music you want to play, plus a bunch of other considerations. Start with acoustic then move up...

electric, although I've heard some acoustic performers that put electric performers to shame

Both if David Gilmour is playing

Both, and a amplified 12 string

Both.

Both

I want to learn to play bass before I die.

It depends. Sometimes, you need both.