Sorry, but I just got to plug Lowdens again, having read your posts. Brendy - my Lowden has a strings-through-the-bridge-plate (pinless) bridge. In 4 years of strumming (I'm no fingerpicker) I've never broken a string on it. I think it's in the design. And I'm just next week taking it in for a fret leveling. What in the world do you do to your guitar to have to RE-FRET it twice a year?!?

Pict - if you've ever seen Richard Tompson in solo performance, you'll know that he retunes his one Lowden guitar for just about every song. A stable guitar will take it, and be much more convenient than five. Of course it helps to have Richard's kind of witty stage banter! (and an electronic tuner in your pedalboard, permanently connected)

Cheers,
Michael