There are some wonderful new and second-hand European guitars to be bought, if you know what to look for.

I picked up a s/h Otwin (East German maker Othmar Windisch) made in 1961 on eBay a few months ago. It's a sunburst, f-hole, archtop. I put a Kent Armstrong floating neck pickup on it, and a floating pickguard from a supplier in New Jersey. Total cost: around £200. Result: lovely jazz guitar.

And, if you want to support your local craftsmen and bypass the rich collectors, save your cash and commission a guitar from a luthier. Odds are you'll get a great instrument to your specifications and help the local economy.