Help buying an acoustic

[Devo]

Well my dad let slip the other day that if he could have any guitar it would be a Martin acoustic.... so I'm going to buy him one. I had a look at the website but theres quite an array of choice and I dont really know my arse from my elbow when it comes to Martins. Does anyone know what their price V quality curve looks like. Would rather not spend 5000 if I can get away with spending 500

at a quick glance a D18 seemed like a good choice?

any help would be much appreciated.

Steve

[nato101010]

nuff said. like 600$ CAD. i loove mine to death. go for that for sure. Composite sides and back, incredibly strong laminated neck, huge tone.

[Hikey Mikey]

I have been researching Martins; I'm in the market for another acoustic.

Everything below the D15 will be laminated at some part of the instrument. To get an all-solid-wood Martin, you are looking at spending about $1000-1100 (USD) new. Personally, I think that's the "sweet spot" of the Martin lineup, the place where your money will get you the farthest. I have no idea what they go for in the UK but I bet it's more than we would pay here, sorry to say.

The instrument that "nato" posted above is one of the DX series, I think. He's right, it's very good for the money, but it's not in the league of the D18. And yes, you're right, the D18 is a very very nice acoustic.

Many people believe that the Martin D28 (or the HD28 with its herringbone trim, hence the H designation) is the definitive sound of a steel-string acoustic. I'm one of them. For me, that tone is the sound of an acoustic in folk and rock music. But the D28 is $2300. You can get very close to that tone in a guitar with less fancy trim and save a lot of money if you go the D15 or D16 route.

Hope that helps, good luck!

[jemaholic]

D-18, D-28, D-35 are the standard-bearers. There are many higher-end manufacturers but it seems they are all trying to emulate Martins.
The D-18 comes in Mahogany and Rosewood with a Spruce top. Either choice he will love.