Woodsie - izzat you?

Some Martins are lovely. Some ain't. Can you hear the differences? Always compare rather than listening in isolation.

Buy a decent second hand Martin and you won't make a loss. You won't have the Martin lifetime guarantee - but then we in the UK don't get it anyway.

There are some cracking handmade or low volume UK guitars. Fylde, Book, Kinkade - or Atkin (from Canterbury) is picking up followers.

Assuming that IS you, compare a lot of guitars first.

Try Fisheye's X series OM size Martin - it sounds nice, doesn't it? Now play it in direct comparison with my OM1. Hear the difference? Compare them directly with John Barden's Fylde (not that you'll get one of those for £2,000 today) with new strings on - John has acid finger and kills strings very fast. The Fylde walks on both. Rounder, sweeter, stronger. For an oddball, try Paul Hurst's Martin that a previous owner refinished in yacht varnish. Action to make strong men's fingers cry, but a striking, unusual, commanding voice.

I feel you are more of a dreadnought man - you like the big thud (like me). Well -

Try Fisheye's FG360 and mine. Compare the sound of my Mugen - a bit more shimmer on the treble, an extra deepness in the bass, but not as smooth and sweet. Compare Mr Ingham's best Yamaha - or indeed Derek Moore's. What was the name of the chap who lived by Knockholt? - he had a Martin D-45 with a very big sweet singing voice. Compare that to Les Elvin's 12-fret Martin dreadnought (might be a D12H if I have the numbering system right) - that guitar of Les Elvin's is a cracker but on all 12-frets you put up with the disadvantage of the short neck to get the advantage of the positioning of the bridge nearer the middle of the lower bout. If you like that shortneck sound - compare Mike Nicholson's Collings - out of your price bracket, but a standard-setting sound.

You'll probably have to go to Bristol to try a Kinkade. They are another guitar that no-one ever sells. Not far out of your price bracket.

Try some full-sized jumbos. The best sounding J200 I know is Keith - der what's his surname? - founder member of 5-legged Horse. Derek Moore has one too and I think a mate of mine who is leaving rock and roll may be getting one.

All of the above are largely spruce.

Now try some guitars with some more mahogany. A darker sound. Try my two good Hagstrom J45s, compare Jeff Cole's Gibson J45 - and that mahogany cannon that PJ plays (I forget whether it's a Gibson or a Martin). I think you're going to be a spruce man.

Then there are the dreadnought-profile but shallower bodies. Brian Rodgers has a lovely Martin - but I think you'd like Andy Cavan's Armstrong. You might nearly be able to afford an Armstrong but I've never seen one for sale second-hand. That's how much people keep them.

Just to set the levels, try one you will NEVER be able to get the equivalent of - Paul Steele's Zemaitus. To be awkward he keeps it tuned somewhere very odd, I think it's open C. Or if Pint and Dale are about - William Pint's koa Goodall is the best sounding guitar I have ever played but it was a HUGE amount of money.

Finally, consider the oddballs - the ones with holes in funny places or odd constructions. If you can try a Rainsong, do. You might think it sounds "wrong" but people speak very well of them. Suzuki did some deep bodied washing-up bowls that were amazing. Try Trevor Stevenson's Tacoma.

It's all about what you like - unless your policy is investment. I've heard a Northworty or two that I like, but they are rare down south. Personally, I've hated every Blueridge I've ever played - but some people love them and say they are not only wonderful but also bargains.

Also, take a friend so you can listen while friend plays, guitars sound different from out front.

I strongly recommend not rushing, but now you know that you want to get a good guitar start intently listening to all the guitars you see - with the ultimate idea of a purchase LATER.

Go to some expensive guitar shops and be a nuisance. Make it plain that you are not buying that day but you are forming ideas for the future. Try Andy's in Denmark Street, Hank's in Denmark Street, and try the Breedloves in Mairants - I don't like them, but try them. Make a point of trying one of the ones with no strutting in the top but only a Bridge Doctor. Try that expensive guitar shop in Blackheath, and there's another in Brighton.