I just stumbled upon this site and had fun reading much of this thread. It almost felt like guys arguing over whether blondes, brunettes or redheads were hotter. They can all be hot.

I used to have an old D28 (Brazilian rosewood) which I had to trade for a good Gibson ES 340 and Fender Pro Reverb...damn I wish I still had either of them. When I got a D 18 in 1972, everyone said...it's nice, but they don't make 'em like they used to. After a few years, it sounded like they used to make 'em. Last summer, I drove to Nazareth and they reglued all the struts, reset the neck, reglued the bridge and refretted it. They only charged me for the frets. It came out sounding new...but after a week or so, it sounded old again. It's a great guitar, but it's still recovering from the new glue. I plan to keep it. It's very sweet and well balanced.

However, to keep it from further wear and abuse, I just bought a DCX1E. It has a very very nice sound...full bass like rosewood, clear treble and sweet tone. My friend just got a 7 year old DCX1E and wow...sounds like an old Martin. I wasn't sure how they would age...but apparently, the top is what matters most.

Every piece of wood is unique. Every guitar top is unique. I've played some beautiful Taylors, Gibsons, Guilds and some luthier made guitars. They were all beautiful. Personally, I really like the feel and sound of my Martins, but I did have to take the action down...I play a lot of blues...not bluegrass. All the Martins I've seen improve greatly with playing and age, but some of the newer ones sound outstanding right out of the box. I just played a Tawny Satinwood my dealer just got in. I want to get a solid rosewood model, but the ones he has aren't as nice sounding to my ear as the X and plywood Martins. Over the years, I've played a bunch of Martins and they all sounded nice and consistent, but the older ones were best. I would just as soon have a Dillon or a Schulte but they are both retired and the ones they made are coveted and costly. (I do have a great Schulte Les Paul Custom and some of my friends have Dillons.)

Martin has turned out so many great guitars that they have a well deserved reputation. And their higher end ones have snob appeal. I don't care about pearl inlay and cosmetics as much as the feel and sound I like. Taylors seem a little more fragile here in this climate...I live a little over an hour from the Martin factory. I'd love to have a nice Taylor for my collection, but for my taste, Martins suit me a little more. But...my sister has an old mahogany top Guild that sounds far far better than it should...it's as nice as a Martin or a Taylor and some far better guitarists than I agree on that point.

Badmouthing a Taylor won't make your Martin better and vice versa.
Enjoy what you like.