I have been playing for about 15 years, and for the last 9 years I've played the same Art & Luthurie solid cedar top guitar.  Its been a great one, and I'll never sell it as it will be demoted to be my beater guitar.  I think its time for me to step up to an upper end guitar.  

I want a solid spruce top and solid rosewood sides and back.  I play rhythm, no finger picking, so I want a booming rich sound a little on the bass side.  I don't want a cutaway either.  I don't need the fancy inlays and all the mother of pearl stuff, but a nice gloss finish would be nice.

I keep looking and I keep going back to the Martin D-28.  http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?p=z&g=h&m=D-28  I've always loved that guitar but I never been able to sit down with one for over 5 minutes.  I recently played a Taylor 410 quite a bit, and like that guitar, but I just felt it was missing something.  I have never layed eyes on a Larrivee, breedlove or many other top end guitars.  Am I missing something?  Whats your favorite?  btw, my target price is under 2000, so the d-45 is out of my price range .

Guild or Taylor.

I play a Guild D25 (still going for like $1000).  It is loud and dynamic.  Beautiful sound.  My friends with Taylors sound better than me.  Get a Guild  or a Taylor.  Last guitar you'll ever buy.  

(Do you need acoustic/electric - I believe you play out?)

Edit: I checked the Guild website.  The D25 is gone.  Now called a GAD-25, but with a different top.

http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=742&sid=69

this is my current guitar.  it's a cutaway and i don't think you're looking for a 12-string, but it's just gorgeous for about $700.  i'm willing to assume the rest of their line is similar quality.

the built in tuner seemed a bit silly at first, but now i think it's one of the most useful gadgets i've ever seen.

i love this guitar.  if something happened to it i'd immediately buy another.  can't compare it to much though.  pretty much the only thing i know about guitars is how to play them.

Haven't looked at a guild, but I will.  A pick-up might be useful to me a couple of times a year, but for what I do I could get by without one so it hasn't been a deciding factor.

Takamine makes a fine guitar, have seen some nice finishes, but I think they have laminate sides and back.  Guy I work with plays one thats a good looking guitar.  That built-in tuner is neat, thats the main reason I don't have a 12 string, I can't tune it!  I imagine that helps a bunch.

I'm curious about Casi's opinion, I know he owns a Martin.

I've heard Martins are pretty damn good...

But...

The best acoustic guitar available is...  The one you can afford.

One more thing about Guild (as their unofficial campaign manager), they have arch backs and no internal bracing, which really cool.  And did I meantion they are loud!

http://www.guildguitars.com/gear/gear.php?node_id=2228

I don't play guitar (I can plunk a bit of Stairway, though ) but my dad does, and for what it's worth, he loves his Guild, and it sounds great.  He's had it for probably more than 20 years, and still plays it more than any of his other (dozen?) guitars.  He even spent way too much money to have it glued back together when the neck snapped (while in the case, for no appearant reason).

wow, that Guild GAD-50 looks nice...  and solid wood sides and back for under 700 bucks... thats one I'm gonna look at, thanks

Taylor's are real good.

Alvarez Yairi Bob Weir model...go Ani!! Love the bike, guitars (can't play worth a crap tho'), and this forum.

C........

seagull's supposedly really good bang for buck.

i have a washburn.  love the neck the most.  sounds great...in the right hands (not mine :mrgreen:)

have you thought about a wide body?  Super rich bassy sound for a 6 string.  Or just get a good standard guitar and put some heavy strings on it.  I got an alvarez RD awsome sound  

I have this SImon &Patrick  made in quebec ,canada and sounds awesome
$700cdn  worth every penny!
spruce top rosewood back and sides,nice warm tone,got heavier strings on it and it  just sings!

Strings: DR or Elixir?  I'm torn.

I am currently playing a Art & Luthurie, its made by the same company in Canada that builds the Simon & Patrick and the Seagull, and all three are similar guitars.  So I'm looking for something a little different.

I recently moved from Martin medium bluegrass strings to the elixirs, I'm still getting used to them, that is quite a change!

That Bob Weir model Alvarez is cool, C...  I never knew thats one he played.  Got to see the dead live 4 times... I think.

I have a Martin DCX-1E. It's a nice Synth material Martin that delivers soft warm martin tone, and it was only about $700.
My dad has a classic Gibson acoustic with the f cutouts. It's got a really cool sound- almost toy-ish sometimes.

I think that for the budget, Fender and Martin definitely make the best acoustics from what I've seen.

See: http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19671
for a pic of my collection.

I used to have a soft spot for Martin because Dave Matthews plays Martin guitars, but now that doesn't mean crap to me.

If he has $2000 to spend, he should get a Taylor.

Quote from: Jake DI used to have a soft spot for Martin because Dave Matthews plays Martin guitars, but now that doesn't mean crap to me.

If he has $2000 to spend, he should get a Taylor.

If he has that kind of budget he should go down and play every guitar on the wall in his price range.  Acoustics are known to vary in tone noticeably enough from guitar to guitar.  Just make sure you buy the one you try because it's hard to guarantee you'll get one that sounds exactly the same

I like the bright Martin tone but Taylors I've heard have that nice full tone.  I also like my cousin's Takamine

Elixer strings are for sissies with no calluses jk , but i do hate the sound that coating makes when added to a string.  D'Addario phosphor bronze all the way, (heavy's of course), just make sure your guitars construct can handle it.

Quote from: 70 Cam GuyIf he has that kind of budget he should go down and play every guitar on the wall in his price range.  Acoustics are known to vary in tone noticeably enough from guitar to guitar.  

Yeah I am touring the stores and playing as many as possible.  But its hard in my area to find much selection on upper end guitars, many shops here just don't keep the good ones in stock, hence the reason I am seeking recommendations, to further narrow the search.  

I have played a friends Taylor 412ce extensively (thats it in the thread linked above) but it just didn't speak to me.  Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll have fun shopping