Mick, I'm sorry to hear about your losing your "baby". I know what that's like! I had to sell the first and only piano I've ever bought when I moved a couple years ago - a beautiful little Wurlitzer upright with a sparkling tone in the treble and such comfortable action. And though I've had the pleasure of teaching on my parent's Yamaha baby grand this year (!!), I sure miss my life-long "friend"!
Thanks so much for your sharing thoughts/experiences re Seagull and Larrivee. Good point about the differences within a brand too!
Willie-O, I've tried the Normans and Godins too, and never really been too impressed either, but it's been quite a while. Thanks for confirming that they ARE Canadian makes. And that's a great link - I'm just Drrooollliing now ... oh maybe I could *cough* up a bit more ... smoke a lot less .... eat a little less ... hmmmmmmm
Little Hawk - I'd LOVE to try out guitars in your wonderful company with your expert advice! And I'm planning to visit the stores in Orillia this week. I just got back from Gilbert Guitars on Bayfield St. and I was wrong - no Canadian makes. (Some really nice Fenders and Gibsons and Takamines and Yamahas and Ibeniz and Martins though ... oh all these guitar images in my head, and all these songs!) I refuse to deal with "that other store" in Barrie though, where I must have seen them ... don't like their mark-ups and I find the salespeople very pushy. I'll call you okay? And thanks so much!