After a long conversation with Roger Bucknall, he is a great lover of Yamahas, and so am I. In my experience for open tunings you can't beat a Fylde, but for regular tuning and a decent price, it's Yamaha every time. The Yamaha rosewood laminates are as good as some makers solid wood efforts for the sides. Look upon a Yam as raw material. Change the saddle for bone, the tuners for Grovers, and the end pegs for brass, and listen to it sing. With Martins, Gibsons and Taylors all you are paying for is the name on the headstock IMHO. Sorry!