I bought a mid range Martin C-18GTE last year. It has built in pre-amp, pick up, mike and tuner. I was very lucky to be able to afford a Martin of any level, because the US Dollar was spectacularly low last year (the only good thing that happened in the Bush era, I reckon).   The unamplified sound is good, but no rival for my Fylde. Above all, it is an excellent on stage tool. If I coveted another guitar for its acoustic sound, I would go to a small instrument maker, who was just starting up, and get one of those superb instruments which many of them produce while they are still making their name. In short, I think Martins are excellent instruments and worth the money, but there are other instruments, which I could desire more.