PS -- I just found this information in a Simon and Patrick brochure ... even more encouragement to practice! I'd never heard this before --

"Simon and Patrick guitars feature solid Cedar and Spruce tops. The tight straight grain in these woods make it stiff enough in the direction of the grain to take the string tension, while at the same time the flexibility across the grain allows it to vibrate. The more the top vibrates, the better the sound. And, more importantly, the increased vibration causes the sound to get better and better. This phenomena of improving sound is called aging. In order to encourage aging, the guitar must be played! The more you practice - the better you play. And your guitar improves along with you!"

Well, my new Seagull has a solid spruce top and a lot of hours logged in already, between my son and I. By Christmas, it just might sound like the whole orchestra!

daylia