Hi Bee Dubya Ell, yes I meant those people I see at regular sessions who get to hear me play tunes, that is certainly a dubious pleasure I'm sure! As for my judgement, I don't mind people casting aspersions, ( thanks for defending me though, very gallant!) nearly every musician I meet has more experience than me, although in my defence I didn't buy the box for its snob value; just cos it sounded so good.

Strollin' Johnny, I'm in the qual production line market I guess, can't afford to commission G.L. himself at this stage. I'm a budding fingerpicker who writes and covers instrumentals & plays in several tunings, pretty committed, been playing hard about 15 months, doin' my best to improve.

Guys many thanks for all these model suggestions - I intend to try out all you suggest !

John Hardly - I Tried an old L G2 Gibson today, very nice experience, in the UK where I live they don't seem to come in as cheap as you say alas, I've not found one here for under the equivalent of $2000 US and today's was £1250, about $2400.Maybe I could get one sent over! Gibson acoustics seem to cost a lot new here as well..The Working Man's J-45 , eh? He must be a very white collar worker. My guitar hero Jorma Kaukonen played/s one.
Also tried a small body Guild from the 60s. The neck on that felt really too deep , very uncomfortable.

And re the Audience test, I get the shop assistants to serenade me on the axe in question so I can hear it. They seem to like being asked....