I am the guy who made the grevious mistake of saying i personally liked my Seagull more than I liked my Martin (Martin, of course is among the top 3 production guitars in the history of guitars, period - let's get that out there right away). Martin's are awesome, everyone should own at least one in a lifetime.
HOWEVER, lol. I live in Grand Rapids, MN, and there is a local Luthier by the name of Lloyd LaPlant who makes mostly mandolins and fiddles for Nashville stars, and i mean stars, I wish I was allowed to say whom. He makes a $3,500-$6000 instrument regardless of which it is - mandolin, fidle, guitar.
I had 3 or 4 guitars, my 'Gull (that i will always think of as my first love), my Framus (which i will also always care deeply for, lol I talk like they're people). and I traded up (along with some money, and got my very first LaPlant, which, in MN is very, uh, well between a LaPlant and a James olson (makes for Jams taylor, look for hte big "O" on James taylor;s stockpiece - he may still play a yamaha once in a blue moon).
Well, yesterday, out of friendship, buying asnd trading up all those guitrs, and a whole lot of money, he presemted me with my very own Llyod LaPlant guitar. And there'll be cynics here who say "big deal" - there always are, but if you know Lloyd, know his work, and have played a LaPlant guitar, you'd understand. I have pics but don't know how to post them...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_EOLuc8u5U
http://www.spiritwoodmusic.com/about...ritwoodartists