If you can:

Take your time in buying and selecting.
Try to have all the guitars that interest you together in one store.
Take along a friend who also plays reasonably well.
After inspecting all of them re: quality, etc., play each one.
Now put on a blindfold and play each one a bit.
Finally, leave the blindfold on and have your friend play each one.


The important things are quality.....will it stand the test of time?
Does it fit you and is it comfortable to hold and play?
Does it have the sound you're after?


Forget the size and make and whether or not it is rosewood and Engleman. Most of us can't do that. And if you really want a Martin then you'll never be satisfied with something else, even when the something else is demonstrably better.

The above is also a lot easier if you have already had the "Bad Martin" experience. (;<))

Spaw