Ref the pickup question, I've got a Fishman Matrix (the one with the little pre-amp mounted on the Jack-Endpin) in both my Lowden O25 and my Martin J40. Both sound excellent but have no on-board EQ, so I use a Fishman Pro-EQ 2 to get a bit of extra control over the sound. The pickup's about 120 quid in the UK and the Pro-EQ2's about the same.

I've heard that Headways are good in Lowdens, but I haven't any first-hand experience of them. Allan Taylor uses Highlanders in his Martins and his Ralph Bown and they sound amazingly good.

Johnny