Judging from the response it would appear that Martin guitars at least have some keen supporters. I must have been unlucky in my choice of Martins because despite having played around twenty of 'em I have yet to find a good one. Similarly the Gibsons I have played have been disappointing, the one exception being an early 60s Epiphone Texan (badge engineered Gibson)which still sounds superb. I own two Taylors (a 314 and a Big Baby) and a Takamine EN20c all of which I prefer to Martin and Gibson. My ambition is to also own a Louden, another superb sounding guitar. I use Elixir strings by the way.