It seems to me that everytime I hear/read discussions about these more affordable guitars, set-up may get a passing mention but may be the single biggest factor in the satisfaction, playability and sound achievable with them.

Rarely does one of these guitars get a set-up job to improve on the way it comes from the factory. Thus it sits, unplayable, in the store, garnering criticisms by comparison to the well set-up expensive guitars.

I think this is ONE of the reasons why the La-Si-Dos stand out--of all the affordables, they come from the factory with the best set-up. Of course the other (larger) factor is the solid wood.

What can be done with new nut, saddle, pins, and set-up (for very little $$$$$ I might add) is amazing.

I confess to having my sense of beauty strongly influenced by the Martin/Gibson juggernaut of the 40's-60's and therefore find the Alvarez the most pleasing in appearance, with the Yamaha close behind.

My experience is that in order to achieve a more expensive sound from an inexpensive guitar, I avoid the "bright" strings like the Phosphor Bronze. Bright strings on a "thin" (sounding, not measuring) guitar translate to all jangle, no wood JMHO.

John Hardly