That nice man Martin Gibson talks about 'secondary guitars'; I've owned a few Martins, and played a lot more, (and not the cheap ones, either), and I've let all of them go. Why? I have a twenty year old Takamine EN20( a secondary guitar, by Martin's description), and it knocks every Martin I've ever owned or played into a cocked hat. It's not pretty or fancy, it's a working man's guitar. Powerful, clear sound, stays in tune forever, withstands knocks on the road, versatile enough to range from fingerpicking to bluegrass, sounds great either plugged in or acoustic. As for pros sticking to Martins and Gibsons, ask Paul McCartney. He owns many Martins and Gibsons, but his working guitar for the last twenty years or so is...a Takamine.
Tim from Bit on the Side