I just skimmed through the messages. Lot of good information. Also a lot of equine fecal matter. Here is my advice, you may put it in whatever camp you feel it belongs. The primary tool for selecting any guitar is your ears. Forget the names. We ain't talking cars, we are talking musical instruments. If you are in a music store, play everyone you are interested in, irrespective of the brand. Make sure you have another musician you trust with you. After you settle on a couple you are interested, get them off the showroom floor and into a practice room. Remember that depending on the store there are dozens, or even hundreds, of other stringed instruments. The sympathetic vibration from all those other strings can deceive you. Take them in the practice room, play them and see how they sound in a dead environment. Then have your buddy play it while you move around the room. You will be far less likely to get a surprise when you got home.

As to what brand, there are many good options. Among custom makers it is hard to beat Nick Appollonio for sound and price. But that is still a large investment. Among production makers the standard is still the Guild 12, although Taylor, Martin and Larrivee make great sounding boxes, but you aren't touching them for less than 1200 US. But, once again, the best buy for the money is the Seagull. Those folks know how to make great sounding instruments, and do so at a very fair price point.

Finally, and this might be most important, remember that Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, NY (another great shop) conducted a blindfold test with a number of the great NYC players. They blindfolded them and started handing them instruments, had them play them and then rate the overall sound, balance across strings, action, etc. And at the end they added it all up. Guess what brand won as best all around? Martin? Nope. Taylor? Nope. Collings? Nope. Larriveee? Nope. It was a Yamaha, and not one of their top end ones. What's the takeaway? The sound of each guitar is dependant on a lot of variables such as climate it is in, the particular wood, the right luthier, and many other things. Sure the Rolls brands will have higher quality control, access to consistently better woods, etc. But it still comes down to how it feels in your arms, on your hands, and in your ears. Just start looking, playing and listening. Soon enough you will find the one that calls your name and you can afford to take home.

All the best,

Mick