Oh indeed Johnny, variety is the spice of GAS, but it seemed Eleanor was in love with the sound of her Lowden but keen to replace it because of handling problems. If so a Gibson would have been a surprising swap, because the sound is so different in kind.

However, I would differ with you a bit on "You get what you pay for". Mostly, you don't get what you don't pay for, but paying a lot does not guarantee. I know of at least one player with a very expensive Taylor (not either of the ones I'm selling for a disabled friend at the moment) on which my ears tell me the intonation is off. His other Taylors don't sound like that, so it's not his tuning.

Conversely I know one player with a Washburn that sounds WONDERFUL although it cost him nothing like Martin money, and I am a firm believer in Daions (or Mugens, same guitar different name) which seem to sell way below fair price, because no-one is sure of them. Morris are undervalued too, but less consistent. I have even come across one good Yamaha (they are hardly ever outright bad, but often very characterless) and the second best guitar I ever heard in my life was a Fender, that the owner picked up for a song because it was unfashionable.

It's more like frogs. Kiss a thousand and you may find a prince.