Actually, I prefer the sweet, mellow sound of a smaller "parlor guitar" to the big, boomy sound of a D-model Martin.

'Course it depends on what kind of music you play. I use the guitar for song accompaniment, but if you play in, say, a bluegrass group, you may want—need—that big sound.

I've got a similar problem with my right shoulder, so lately I've been using one of Sam Radding's travel guitars. It's far from a D-model Martin, but it actually sounds like a real guitar. I've used it for several performances and it sounds out pretty well. I asked audience members after the performances how it sounded and they all agreed that it looked a bit weird, but it came through like a "real guitar."

It looks like the love-child of an unnatural relationship between a guitar and a canoe paddle. HERE.

I have two of them, one nylon-string, one steel-string, both GO-GW models (slightly larger box, walnut rather than mahogany).

Maybe not, but it's a thought.

Don Firth