Interesting discussion guys, keep it up.

Only two instruments have absolutely amazed me in the last 10 years. Both with their sheer unexpected volume. One was a Nick Appolonio 12 string and the other was an Alan Beardsell 6 string. The sound just seemed to "jump" out of both of them. These two instruments were SO much louder than anything I'd heard before or since, I'd be curious if the builders' share any construction techniques.

Now it ain't all gravy...'cause both these guitars sounded very ordinary when people with no sublety or dynamics played them. Actually they both sounded a bit "mushy" when strummed hard with crappy chord positions. One of the best things about Taylors, Martins, Larivees, etc. is they can make a rudimentary player sound 'better' than they might, and a good player sound really good.

I played an original Macaferri once, that ONLY sounded good in a "Django" style. For fingerpicking and Bluegrassy stuff it was awful....echoey, funny overtones etc.

Studio guitarists like Glen Campbell, Howard Roberts, Tommy Tedesco and George Barnes, through the sixties and seventies who played 12 strings almost always used small Gibson B-25s which were so thin and tinny when played live you'd wonder why anyone bought them at all. When miked in the studio, they were clear as a bell, with every note standing out.

I know this, if I had the money I'd buy the Apollo in a heartbeat. The Beardsell as well (I'd have to get used to it's weird shape though.)

Rick