https://stunthanger.com/smf/open-forum/off-topic-guitar-article/msg630218/?topicseen#msg630218I don't need a custom guitar. I don't need a custom guitar. I don't need a custom guitar. I really don't need one! But more significantly, I don't think I can afford a custom acoustic right now ..... You don't really need exotic woods to make a great guitar. Thing is: the people who buy guitars listen with their eyes, and they want to see exotic woods.
Natural pine looks really good on that guitar. I got a half dozen ukuleles (have taught a class of children at the local Salvation Army), and several guitars to include acoustic, electric and bass.
Regarding listening with eyes, it is the same with saxophones. About 6 years ago, I bought an Antigua Winds alto (made in Taiwan - decent brand) alto sax to replace my Yamaha YAS-61 pro model that was stolen in 1999. It plays as well as my old Yamaha, but I bought it used (1980's model) in very decent shape for several hundred dollars. Yet, instructors push them toward legacy brand name instruments, which prices are very inflated. A new Antigua Winds pro model goes for about the same price as a beginner Selmer or Yamaha.
Attached are photos of an early 1950's LeBlanc Beaugnier Vito bari sax that I bought for several hundred dollars off an Internet auction 10 years ago. It was an excessed old high school instrument, very well battered, was stored stored for some time in a dank warehouse or room, case smelled very moldy. Saving grace was it had good pads.
I made sure my wife saw me cart the case off to the dumpster.
I bumped out the dents, straightened the key rack, resoldered broken loose posts, improvised a missing guard, installed missing plastic jewels, adjusted pad heights. Now it plays very well in tune, does falsetto notes well (special notes pitched above the stand fingerings), has a darker sound of pre-WW2 jazz.
Learned a little of the history, was hand made by the Beaugnier factory in a suburb of Paris. The factory closed around 1970 because they could not compete with modern machine made instruments. The only difference between the student model and pro was additional tuning, better engraving and semi-precious versus plastic jewels. I've played Selmer, King and Martin, this horn is easy blowing.