I have an Alvarez 12-string that I've had for almost 20 years. Paid about $400 for it "slightly used" - someone had bought it,couldn't get used to a 12-string, so took it back to the music store after 2 months. I love this guitar - and so does everyone who plays it. Quite a few of the "real musicians" (I just play for fun) here can't beleive the sound out of her; she's been borrowed for quite a few gigs.

On the even less expensive side, I bought a 6-string Vantage "second" last summer, for a "camp" guitar. There's a few blemishes in the finish, but it sounds just fine and only cost about $140 with a back-pack case. I wanted a guitar I woudn't really worry about if it fell overboard, got dropped in a campfire (I really had that happen once, to a different guitar) or got stolen.

dawn