thanks for all the advice - Taylor and Martin seem to be the ones. I have a pretty low end Ovation right now and it just isn't cutting it. I'm thinking either a used Martin or a new Taylor in the $1k range.

Eric Clapton is well known for playing a Stratocaster and Martin 000-18.

'Have not played a real one, but the 000 model on the Variax Acoustic is delicious.

I have a Martin DCXE, and I absolutely love this guitar. It was the first guitar that I bought after like 4 teenage years of saving, I was able to spend the $700 and $$$ for extras. I loved this guitar so much, and the sound was amazing plugged or un-plugged. If you can afford to waste about $1200, go for an Aura series. They are awesome, and when plugged it is amazing.

I also have a Martin D18V and its the nicest tone and player I have ever used. It is my only guitar now. I have hand this one for about 17 years. It is the Vintage model of the D18. It is all anyone would ever need. No need to look further if you get a D18 or a D28 Martin. I like the slightly narrower neck and tone of the D18 a tiny bit better than the D28 but the D28 comes around into its own with age. Either of these is the right guitar to fill your Acoustic needs. I have a McIntyre pick up in mine. Had him put it in himself.

I haven't much experience with Electrics but am going to set myself up with a player strat here and see if I like it. This will be the first time with an electric for this 53 old hippie with no talent.

breedloves sound really nice but i think taylor feels better.

I strongly disagree with the first part of your statement. I have a Sonoran with the Strat style neck and it is a very good guitar, particularly for the money!
But I agree on the necessity of a solid top...

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Ignorance IS bliss - and I am the happiest person here!

Acoustic Guitar Cautionary Tale Part 1:

When I went shopping for an acoustic time before last, I scoured my part of the world, hitting dozens of stores in several cities, playing everything, and looking for something with the kind of balance, playability and power I had in my 1972 RI-built Guild F50R (don't even ask me why I sold it, I was an idiot). Money was not a consideration: I was ready to buy whatever I found.

I played Guilds, Martins, Gibsons, Taylors, almost bought a nice Yamaha but didn't in the end....

And then, after six-months of looking, I stopped by a mom-n-pop that was only a a 2-minute walk from my house, and played a MIA Washburn Cumberland that ripped my head off. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and I went back the next day and bought it for a lousy $800 with a hardshell case.

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Cautionary Tale Part 2:

Just a couple of years ago I was listening to a lot of recordings by Snuffy Walden, who does a lot of TV work and gets a wonderful acoustic tone. Snuffy is a Taylor endorser, so I figured I need a Taylor guitar. Besides, all the famous people play them, right?

So I go back out and start looking for a Taylor, and played a few dozen in various locations... and not one of them sounded better than my Washburn. The only ones that sounded almost as good cost more than three thousand dollars.

So I went home and listened to Snuffy some more. Turned out I could get that tone by changing the way I pick... bare-fingered, pulling the string slightly inward toward the sound hole before releasing it.

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Cautionary Take Part 3:

A well-known local luthier who builds amazing parlor guitars, mandolins and banjos that sell for upwards of 5K was here one one day. I told him my Taylor story, and he asked to see the Washburn. He strummed it and said, getting more excited as he went... "Jeez, nice sound... so balanced... so easy to play... the high end is so chimey.... dang, that's nice binding work.... I love the color of this top, it's a beautiful finish.... whoah, some tight low end... damn, how much did this thing cost?" When I told him, I thought I might have to call an ambulance.

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Moral to the Story:

I'm not telling you to go find a 15-year-old MIA Washburn Cumberland. I'm saying don't go looking for an acoustic guitar based on who played what on some record. Even more than with an electric, you should play as many as you can, and buy the one that you can't stop thinking about.

I have a mid-price Taylor and wouldn't trade it for the world. About the best sounding acoustics I've ever heard. Well, except for that Martin D-28 that I always try out when I go to Guitar Center.

Go all solid body construction if possible (although it's more expensive), but no matter what make sure to go with at least a solid top.

I like Martin.

The -15 line is their affordable solid wood line (Sapele or Mahogany) and can be had for $700-$800 w/o 'electric' options. Different look, but I like it. The -16 are next up and are nice. The 'renewable wood' versions are real pretty.

I seem to prefer the smaller 000 sizes, and ended up with a OMC-15e I am very happy with.

My Breedlove Atlas AD25/SR Plus is the best all around acoustic I've played under $2,000 and it was only $800. Unplugged it holds it's own very well, plugged in sounds much better than my friends Koa Taylor. Nice neck and great craftsmanship even though they're made overseas.

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2004 American Deluxe V-Neck Strat w/Kinman Blues
2007 American Deluxe Tele w/Kinman Broadcasters
Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic 2X12
Fender Cyber-Twin SE

im a big Martin fan but i also like gibson acoustics, taylors sound good but they always feel cheaply made to me, i dont think they are worth the money. ive also heard stories about how the fall apart after a few years.

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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!

I've got 5 acoustics, all of them Alvarez or Yairi. Best bang for the buck, IMO. But I agree with the poster who suggested do some roadwork and go play them at a local shop. Each acoustic (reguardless of price) is different so you have to play them to find the one that's best for you.