Jim Moran wrote:

> Price? Well, let’s say A) under £1000, and B) favorite choice of guitars - regardless of price - that you’ve owned/played

Have to say I sold all my sub-£1000 guitars along the way, nothing there I would particularly go back to... I have found that I am really a jumbo/dread sort of player, in love with that bass rich sound I guess. My main guitar for volume+tone is a 70s Martin (D-35, rosewood, thin top bracing) while previously I had a 60s D-18 (mahogany, a bit more "jangle", a bit less "richness") that was also good for projection. I am guessing these can be had in the UK for around £2-2.5k from that vintage but you have to take care in choosing because the quality was variable particularly in the 70s - but a good one is a good one (with 40+ years of ageing) and to me they seem like excellent value still. I also *love* the extra rich sound of the 12-fret models (D-18S, D-35S) but they do not come up very often - very lush and piano-like, though you may miss access to the 2 highest frets, depending on your style.

Best guitar I have ever heard in the flesh: probably an 000-size Chris Melville (Australian maker) owned/played by Tony McManus, I would say - at least for that ringing, celtic style he plays. About 3-4x the cost of an equivalent Martin, though, so not all that practicable for many persons... Also Dave Burland's original 60s Epiphone Texan (absolutely beautiful tone+volume). I have owned some original Gibsons and Epiphones but while they can have a beautiful tone and playability, in general they do not have the projection of the Martins. Just my experience, in over 40 years of playing, buying, and swapping... I also have a couple of nice hand made guitars, but the Martin dread is still my "go to" in an unamplified situation.