Some Martins - mostly the limited-edition "Signature models," with an elevated price because they have some music celebrity's name on it - ARE overpriced crap.

Many other Martins are excellent guitars. And OLD Martins are probably the best now available. There's no way to make a new guitar sound like a 50-plus year old one. Of course, they're priced accordingly.

On the other hand, ALL Collings, and all Huss and Dalton, as far as I know, are excellent guitars. (Granted, I've only played a few. But I've never heard anyone claim that he played one that was not excellent.)

Unfortunately, all of the instruments that are the best quality on a dollar for dollar basis now come from China. Like everything else.

Peter