My two cents..... Martin, Bourgeois, Santa Cruz, Huss & Dalton, and Collings are cousins, Goodall is a little more modern voiced but very nice too. This is also the order I would list them in from dark/woody to bright/bell-like.
There is no better, all are excellent, it depends on your ears and what you are looking for. I'm a Martin geek, but I wouldn't be upset owning a Bourgeois or Santa Cruz, my personal big 3.
Audition everything you can but my Martin recommendations would be:
OM-18GE (wonderful hog)
OM-28 Marquis (adi top)
000-28 EC (short scale fingerpicker)
OMC-Lawrence Juber (deluxe fingerpicker)
Play everything you can find, your ears will do the rest. Happy shopping.
My personal favorite but very expensive, Martin's Carpathian/Madi 000-42MEC, best new small body I have ever played.
Last edited by rmyAddison; 09-01-2008 at 02:25 PM.
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