Yea whats the beef?

Roast.

Of those, my personal preference leans towards the Strat. Its more versitile and is a generally safer choice if you aren't 100% sure of what you want.

I'm leaning towards the strat. The only reason I question it is because I've always wanted a semi-hollow.

So for the past 6 months I've had my boss' Martin D16 on indefinite loan, and I'm feeling like I should give it back soon. The problem is that after playing such a good guitar for so long, going back to one of my shitty knock-offs will be nearly impossible, so I'm wanting to sell one of them and save up money to buy a good guitar. I'm pretty in love with Martins at this point, but they're super expensive.

So I guess my question is, should I really spend the money on a Martin (I'm looking at D18's and haven't found anything under $1,200), or is there a comparable brand out there that I just haven't heard of? I don't want to settle, but if there's something almost as good out there that will save me money I would really like to know about it.

Go down to a shop, name a price a smidgens under your budget, and ask them to advise you on guitars around that price range.

Do *NOT* buy anything until you've had at least 3 guitars there, right in front of you, on floor stands, to do A/B comparisons with. Acoustic guitars are very finicky on build quality and you want to pick the one with the voice you like, not just some random "good" guitar.

When I bought my Breedlove (A brand I recommend you at least try), I had 5 acoustic guitars around me on stands and STILL walked out of the shop to check the other guitar shop in town, before I came back and bought the breedlove.

Any music shop worth your business should have no problems letting you do this. If they refuse to let you try at least a couple guitars at a time, walk out of the shop and buy somewhere else. A few bucks here or there is well worth the right guitar, and the right help in finding it.

I wouldn't go by internet recommendations. The acoustic guitar is a pretty standardised instrument, not much changes in terms of design, it all comes down to build quality. And like I said, acoustics are more finicky than electrics in this regard.

Yes Martins are wonderful, but I would not recommend buying one from their lower end ones.
------------------------

My favorite howerever is what I have used primarily for the last 4 or so years. its a Seagul Mini Jumbo. This guitar is not only beautiful but sounds better than most of the high end Gibsons and many of the Martins I have played in stores or at friends. I think it cost me 349 bucks or something like that. Its completely handmade in a small city in canada and uses incredible woods.

Amazon.com: Seagull Entourage Rustic Mini Jumbo Guitar: Musical Instruments
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg


For around 300-400 you have some good choices. I have owned an Alverez that is seriously one of the nicest looking and playing guitars I have used. I think it cost like 350 new.
Alvarez AF410 Artist Folk Acoustic Guitar Natural | Musician's Friend


Their are so many choices today in the middle price range, but having played most of them these 2 brands are seeming very consistant and produce fantastic stuff. Seagul for the money though seemed to be the best deal in sound, woods, and being made in North America.

^ Oh yeah, my bandmate has a Seagull, it's a great guitar. I would never buy anything without playing/comparing it first, I just don't fully trust my own judgement. I can see myself going in and thinking something sounds really great but then realizing a month later that it doesn't.

Thank for the responses though, when I decide on something I'll let you know.

Yea listen to Gb, since an accoustic is 100% about the build quality (no pickups involced) the sound will vary greatly from one to another. ALthough I have never played a Seagul I didnt like.

The only thing I will say is, try and find one of breedlove's passport series to try out.

The body on a passport series is 7/8ths size, but the scale length is still 100% 25.5", so its a little bit less woofy and wooly on the bass notes, and a little bit sweeter in the midrange. Mine is fantastic. I'm not sure if those tonal characteristics carry across the whole range, but mine is great.