Conference napalm::guitar

    
    For that price Richard, Yamaha makes a decent acoustic guitar. You
    really can't touch an Ovation or a Guild for that price. 
    
    I have a Yamaha acoustic that I bought used about 3 years ago for
    $ 250.00. It still plays and sounds very nice. I use it as a second
    guitar for playing at parties and whatnot. It's a six string, the
    model number for which I can't recall. 
    
    I recommend you go to a music store and try out a few of the Yamahas
    and see what you think. 
    
    Happy shopping,
    
    Rob 

    Richard,
    
    At that price you are really looking at the various japanese
    manufacturers, the Ovations that are discounted under $250 just
    don't have the sound.
    
    I second the Yamaha suggestion, I would also look at Alvarez(Yairi),
    Takamine, and Sigma -- they all have instruments in that price range.
    
    The critical thing to remember is that no two instruments are
    identical, when you see one that looks right, play it.  If the strings
    are dead, have them restring it and then play it again.  If you
    aren't sure of the sound you want try a variety.  Bring a friend
    so that you can hear it played as well.

    A good point of comparison is too ask to play a much more expensive
    model of approximately the same configuration (D, OOO, whatever)
    and use that as a benchmark for the ones you can afford.
    
    Have fun shopping,
    
    - Evan

    I suggest that you play lots of guitars & see what they sound like.
    Since no two pieces of wood are exactly the same, and hence no two
    acoustic guitars are identical, you might find an exceptionally
    good sounding instrument thats reasonably cheap (I got one for free
    once, that originally cost the owner $50.00 - brand new).
    
    Avoid a plywood top at all costs (this is not always easy to do,
    since the plywood might have spruce laminated onto it - as many
    cheap guitars only have a tiny bit of rosewood laminated to ???
    as the fret-board). The cheaper guitars are made as cheaply as 
    possible.
    
    From my work with acoustics, I've found that what the wood looks
    like, as well as it's acoustic properties is what determines a
    master grade top versus other grades. Sometimes wood that has too
    many 'bear claws - a type of figuring of the wood' will be down
    graded, because it's not as appealing to the general masses. Other
    things will cause an otherwise exceptional guitar top to be downgraded
    in it's classification. These end up on the cheaper instruments,
    and might sound quite good, even as good as the average Martin (it
    happens, but, not that often). So, the moral of the story is to
    try lots of instruments & compare them with each other, and never
    buy an acoutic guitar mail order!!!
    
    							Jens

    I've been looking around and the following seem to crop up. Any
    views?
    			Bottom of range Takamines
    			Washburn
    			Yamaha
    			Fender
			
    
    Richard
    @ Basingstoke, UK.