I didn't read all of the replies , but dear moon child , I seem to remember that in the sixties the better your ear got , the better a guitar you wanted and while Martin was tops and someof the old gibson "Hawks and Doves' were easy on the ear as well . I had an old American made Epihone that played like ray price sang , nothing but smooth. I've been through many guitars over the years , and although I am the proud owner of a great FENDER accousti/elec. and a sometimes unbelievable GUILD Starfire 4 (F-hole arch top) my favorite ax is an old VENTURA accoustic. it has a brass bridge ,brass nut , and brass pegs as well. It always tunes well it is very resonant , and the luthier at Mars Music tested it for sound anainst three different TAYLORs , and said he picked the old ventura every time . I guessI'm saying all of that to say this that guitar only sounds as good as he or she who plays it . nuff said.