I played a 180 that was owned by a friend and liked it but not as much as my Lowden. Two different animals.
Paul Brady did his recording of Arthur McBride on the Irvine/Brady record using an FG 180 and we all know how that came out.
You know Rick Fielding informed us on these pages a few years ago about a blind fold test he and some other professional players did for a music store in New York, I think it was, where a Yamaha was chosen over some other high end instruments, including old Martins.Maybe someone can pull that thread up. vl