Entry level Martin. No contest, for new. Even the chipboard and melamine ones sound good.

Ayers are not bad and well within your budget (but vary from guitar to guitar).


Unless you can get a nice S/h Mugen (maybe a THE78)
There are some Wonderful and underpriced S/h Suzukis out there. "Taste, try, before you buy"
Or a Yamaha FG360 (obviously S/h) Nippon Gakki

All Dreadnoughts you will notice. Real Jumbos command a price premuim that is not worth it (IMHO) unless you particularly value the extra articulation in the treble.

If you don't want "Big Thud" try any Hagstrom J-45s you find (alas they are all individuals). Seriously undervalued. The one in Hanks is crap.

A good Morris is likely to be a bargain.

If you can go £750 (S/h) consider a Gibson J-50. The thinner finish lets them breathe a bit more freely, and because they are not J-45s they are cheaper. Avoid the adjustable bridges or have a good guitar fettler retrofit a proper saddle.

But keep looking. A friend of mine has an unbranded 12-string (we think it might be a Garth, it resonates close to Eb) that knocks spots of many many big names.

Go to clubs that do not have amplification (so you can really hear the guitars properly) and listen, listen, listen.