:>) So the Seagulls smell good too, Marion? Well that just adds to my curiousity - so much to consider, while making such pleasant choices! Just gonna HAFTA try one now ...

Thanks Spaw for the old threads re Garrisons - most informative about craftsmanship/materials and how that affects sound quality too! - and for the hints re using the search functions. What a great source of people's experiences and opinions - and now I even know which names to search for!

Rick, that's very helpful to know about Larrivee, and the inside scoop on the Seagulls is much appreciated.

Simon and Patrick guitars are available at a store only about 10 minutes from my home, smokeyjoe. I'll be sure to check them out too.
And to continue your thoughts re poorly-made instruments, here's what is says at the Seagull site Marion linked to -

"What's the difference? ... If we were to describe many of these instruments based on how they stack up in real guitar terms we might say, "made from genuine pressboard with rosewood wallpaper, with a club neck, painfully high action, and topped off with a sound smothering plastic finish". Of course none of these disadvantages are obvious to the new guitar player and it doesn't help that from a few feet away many of these guitars look just like the hand made instruments that they are copying."

That's the kind of thing I was hoping to avoid/save time with by coming to the Cat first! And it's encouraging to hear you think the quality of instruments is improving these days.

Thank you all so much again for your help

daylia