Martin HD28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar (with Case)

Quality:
The quality of the guitars being made today are much better than those of the 80's like mine. Action is better (lower), the bridge saddle is thick allowing better intonation adjustment, and also higher, which brings out more sound. I've had no work done to mine in 23 years, and it still plays as well as it did when brand new -- with the exception of being due for some fret work thanks to being played.

Value:
The only guitars I like as much as mine are either priceless vintage guitars or else very expensive guitars, like Koa Taylors and custom guitars. There are excellent guitars at less than half the price, but none I like nearly as much.

Desirability:
If I found a better guitar I could afford, I'd buy it in a flash.

Sound:
I've played mine regularly, in the home and on stage, since I got it new in 1982. Great sound to begin with, and it's mellowed a bit with age (or perhaps I have) and sounds even better now. The scalloped bracing gives this guitar much more life than a D18, D28, or D35, as it allows the top to vibrate much more freely. It's a much louder guitar than any other dreadnaught in its price rage or below. This is a great guitar for people who want a single guitar to use for both fingerpicking and flatpicking, lead and rhythm. Deep, resonant tone really holds a tune together for rhythm playing, especially helpful when there's no bass player. The best part is how lively it sounds when fingerpicked with bare fingers -- you don't need plastic fingerpicks with this baby. Yet the sound still holds together excellently for deep, hard strumming. Alternate tunings come to life. There's gold inside these guitars, all you have to do is let it out. Sounds great recorded with SM57 and mixer preamps (you can hear my recordings at learjeff.com for a clue). For recordings, a low mid EQ scoop is necessary even more than most dreadnaughts, due to the full bottom end. Best with 80/20 strings -- sounds too brassy with phosphor bronze. However, phosphor bronze strings can help on stage. It mikes easily for acoustic gigs. It's probably not the best guitar (not bright & tinny enough) for classic rock band use alongside electrics.

Overall:
My son will inherit this guitar.

Feature:
Not really applicable, but I love rosewood back & sides, spruce top, and ebony fingerboard (which will last longer than any other common wood). I've played the heck out of mine for two decades.

Quality:
I've tried a number lately in stores, and they're all remarkably similar. This is one of the few guitars (like Taylors) that you can buy sight unseen.

Value:
Other than a couple much more expensive Taylor models, I haven't ever played a guitar I like better.

Desirability:
Every musician I play with covets my guitar, except for a few who like a much brighter ("tinglier") sound like the Martin O series, or people who have "super premium" guitars like top of the line Taylors.

Sound:
Deep and clear sound, crisp and responsive. Records well, with proper mike placement (typical for dreadnoughts -- otherwise boomy at 150 Hz). Had it since I bought it new in 1981, and the ones they're building today are improved in several ways, especially the bridge saddle. The sound is especially responsive to finger-picking, thanks to the scalloped X bracing. Yet it's solid enough to handle VERY hard plectrum picking or strumming. If you want one guitar for both purposes, this is your baby. If you can afford two premium guitars, you might want a D28 or HD28 for plectrum, and a Taylor or Bourgeoise for fingerpicking.

Overall:
If I had it to do over again, 10 times out of 10 I'd buy this same guitar. If it was stolen or destroyed, I'd go right out and get one just like it, only the wood wouldn't have that nice aged color and finish "checking" that people love -- on the other hand, the newer ones have better action, intonation, and slightly bigger sound thanks to improvements in bridge and saddle.