IMHOP: I've never seen a $99 guitar worth having. I have seen a five hundred or six hundred dollar guitar worth having. I have bought two of these of two of my sons. They are called Blueridge. Search these threads for 'catspaw's and other opinions.

When shopping for my sons I went to the Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center where I have friends and was able to play several examples of targeted models of the following:

entry level and solid wood Martins, Seagulls, Gibsons, Taylors, Larivees.

The Blueridge D45 copy and D28 copies I bought for my sons are superior in every way. In fact they are both superior to the standard D18s and D28s I played. The necks are the equal of the Taylors and the tone is superior.

Each time Blueridge comes up in these threads someone comes on and says watch out for quality problems from SAGA. Well folks I think that's old news. As 'catspaw has noted, the quality of these Chinese guitars is BETTER than the American or Canadian made large shop guitars. One note on Elderly. The second Blueridge I got from Elderly and it came set up perfectly and the price beat all the shops.

So I don't agree with folks above. If you want something with the Martin name on it, cool, but I don't think it's the better guitar. Up here the working musicians take the Blueridge and leave the Martins at home and bring them out for the show gigs.

You close your eyes and have your friend put comparable solid wood Martins and Blueridges in your hand and play and listen.

As far as $99 guitars? Buy a harmonica. IMHOP
Chance