I am well aware that it's not what you've got, it's how you use it but ...

I have a second-hand Yamaha F340, which I have praised before in this forum. This is Dreadnought-sized (equivalent to the more widely available FG-310, I believe). For some unknown reason, the tone from it is very loud, clear, and mellow. Whenever I attend open mic or singaround sessions, it is the one which is in most demand to be borrowed, even when there are smaller alternatives available.

All strings save the 1st and 6th are Elixirs, [the other two are miscellaneous; someone broke the bottom string tuning it to dropped "D", and I played the top string rather vigorously with a Fender thin pick with a slightly ragged edge], but this doesn't quite explain why it should be such a nice-sounding instrument. I shall just be forever thankful that I have it, and it cost me only £60 (US = ~ $90).

I also have a Gremlin GR2919B, bought as slightly damaged stock from Johnny Roadhouse, again for only £70. The blue veneer is chipped, and black bodge tape does look unsightly, but the sound is fine. (Again, I have replaced the original strings with Elixirs). I normally play this through a 30W Hohner practice amp, to annoy the neighbours. (I was advised to get a dedicated acoustic amplifier, otherwise I would get tons of distortion. "Great!", I replied. "That saves me a pedal").

This isn't in so much demand at open-mic sessions etc, as most people who might like to plug in an Electro-Acoustic have plenty of others to choose from in nicer colours with 4-band equalisers and all the trimmings; but here again, it's not what you've got ...

Incidentally, I seem to be keeping the Guitar Acquisition Syndrome under control; those two, plus an absolutely knackered classical which had once been restrung with steel, and which I bought for a tenner, will do me nicely, thanks.