Martin or Mahogany?

petermac, ya, the mandolin interests me as well.  But I think if I really decide the pull the trigger on learning a new instrument ( which would mean taking actual lessons, I don't have the time to self teach myself anymore.  lol ) then I think it will probably be keyboards.  If I could play them even 1/4 of half decently, then I'd have a whole orchestra at my fingertips with today's keyboards.  This would really rock my world for recording purposes and who knows what else. 

I have yet to play a Martin that I liked sound-wise, always leaned toward the Taylor camp.

I think, just like a Taylor, you dont hit their sound untill after the $2000 mark, I've heard alot of Martins on you tube that sound great, but they are the upper end of the product line, or 50-60 years old, some almost sound like a resonator, bluegrass style.

I prefer the Taylor 214ce to the 814ce. To me that guitar sounds great, and its huge bang for the buck. But on the other hand, I really think the 114ce is not worth the money (And I have played them many times - No offence Tony!). They just sound lacklustre to me. I'd sooner by a Seagull for half the price.

TonyKgull,there is a 314ce Koa Limited going in my neck of the woods. For the same price as I put my Seagull on the market. Very very tempting!!!

I was committed to buy a 114ce until I played one for while, I just could not pay $900 for a laminated guitar, when I found the Alvarez for basically the same price and solid spruce and rosewood I could not pass it up, I know Alvarez is not a popular brand at the moment, but it sounds much better than a 114ce or the 214ce, and the Laminated Martins I played, just my ear and opinion, I know tastes are different, and for something like Bluegrass, the Martins are perfect, I went back and forth and played all the low end name brands until the music store was about to throw me out!!

I would love to have a Taylor 4-5 series, but I would also like to play a Yari and see how those sound, I love the sound a of a seagull, just can't get over the headstock

By the way Tony, great job on the worship songs you wrote and performed, you have a great voice and that Seagull sounds awesome! Keep it up brother!