I think that, to a certain extent, to brand individual instruments as "good" or "bad", just on a brand name and price, is too sweeping. I have a Martin XC1T limited edition cutaway electro-acoustic - spruce top and HPL back and sides. It has the Fishman Ellipse piezo/mic blended system built in and sounds superb both acoustically and when plugged in. Before buying it, I tried many, many guitars in the shop and - for me - this suited my ear and hands the best. Cost, at that time: £700. I tried a Martin "Martin Carthy" signature at the same time, complete with zero fret and 3 brass bridge pins. Cost, at that time: £2,400 - and not a patch on my much cheaper Martin.

My only conclusion is that everyone has their own taste and response to a guitar - and that each guitar, to a certain extent, has its own merits, regardless of price. For example, I've never yet tried a Taylor that I liked - but that's just me. There ar currently 3 Lowdens in my local shop - but only one of them (the cheapest, s/h/ at £1,550) is exactly to my taste.