jim, thanks for your 'unbiased' the vote of confidence in Canadian guitars! And yes, the beautiful higher-end Larrivee's (!!) LH and I found at the Arts in Newmarket yesterday do show "California USA" on the inner label. I didn't see any 'lower-end' models though (less than about $2000 cdn), so I'm not sure about them still being built in Vancouver.
What a treat to play them - you were absolutely right, Jed! Warm deep resonance in the bass end, clear sparkling tones in the treble, a comfortably wide fret-board with easy low action, and so pretty too! The only guitar we felt even came close to the $3500 Larrivee was a Martin in the same price range - I forget the model number but LH was really impressed! Unfortunately, there were no Larrivee models under about $1500, which is about twice the budget I originally wanted to spend ...
Tried the Garrisons too. Big, heavy guitars, and in the lower price range the tone was too "metallic" for my liking, but the $1300 model - now, that was la creme de la creme! The synthetic bracing system would no doubt help to counter the effects of our extreme Canadian climate too ...
Devilmaster thanks so much for Clinton's homepage! I was especially interested in his comments on the 20th anniversary special edition Seagulls - tried one yesterday and was very impressed! It was $529 cdn, right in my price range, and included a light-weight case. Spruce top, bird's-eye maple back and sides, that comfortable wide neck and low action and excellent tone! It did have quite the lacquered shine though, which makes it look great, but according to what I've read here on the Cat that's not so great for sound quality? Yet, if a professional like Mr. Hammond sings their praises it can't be that bad I s'pose. I hope he checks in here today with more of the 'inside skinny'!
I'm really tempted to buy the special edition Seagull! But I'm gonna try to give myself a breather for a day or two now, go over the brochures and links again and think things over. Oooo, that sounds so boringly mature, doesn't it! Ha ha - maybe that beautiful Seagull will be gracing my living room tonight! And you Cats'll be the first to know!
And I really must mention that I had the pleasure of trying Bob Adearn's Beneteau last night after listening to him perform with Jennifer Ives at Newmarket's "Corner Coffeehouse" - what an instrument!!
Now, if I was a professional performer, not an amateur hoping to inspire herself to practice more (and STOP playing her classical with a pick for the rocky-folky type tunes I love, which really does no justice either to the music or to the instrument!) I could easily talk myself into spending a thousand more than i intended. Gotta love credit cards - (NOT!) But as it is, hmmmmmmmmmmmm ...
Thank you all so much again for your valuable hints and advice! I'll be back!