I have a Lowden O35 Cedar/Koa which I paid £1625 ($2275) for last year in the UK. If you are buying from outside the ECC I think you should be able to get 17.5% VAT tax off. I tried Martins (which I was convinced I was going to buy before I went into the shop) and Taylors, but when I listened to the assistant play them all in a "blind" test the Lowdens won every time. I went for the sound and I still don't regret my choice nearly a year later.