A real *new* Lowden is a little over £2k, more if you want fancy woods and stuff. A real older Lowden (pre-breakaway when George Lowden and Avalon split) is £1-1.5k, again more if you want fancy woods. The same price will get you a new top-line Avalon, which is almost identical to a pre-breakaway Lowden. For my money it's the O32 (spruce and rosewood) for best clarity of sound, but YMMV.

When I got my Lowden, I spent a while A-B'ing with the equivalent Avalon. The Lowden sounded that bit nicer, but there wasn't much in it. That was a few years back now though - don't know what current Avalon quality is like.

They're not at all like your target guitars though.

Graham.