Thanks for all the advice. Not sure if I'm more confused now than ever! Richard - there is no guitar shop in, or near Blackheath! it must have been in the distant past. I am glad to have found out that "plywood" is used in the cheaper Martins, I'll steer clear of those. I saw a Martin once in the window of Ivor Maraints a couple of years ago for £22,000.00 it wasn't an antique or anything - must of had diamonds embedded in the headstock or something. I have heard some fantastic Martins in particular that played by Peter Jagger, but I do believe that I would be paying well over the odds for just a fancy name. As so many people have said I will shop around over the next few weeks. The shame is that I have just retired from a job in Rathbone Place - a stone's throw from some of the best music shops in the UK! Now I'm gonna have to travel! Thanks again to y'all I will use the info on this thread as a reference point.