I'll agree that 12 is a lot closer to reasonable Larry, but look around lately! The Japaneese and the Europeans are gobbling up the Brazillians as fast as UPS can carry them over! The 70's models are about the only thing left and they ain't fast hitting the market that are old enough to even resemble orange :) I know some of them had a problem with the bridge saddle but that is fixed easy enough. I saw a 71 sell last summer here for $2100 and a 72 D-35 go for 1900. Both boxes had exceptional tone and they brought the bucks!

What's your choices? A finger joint Taylor that looks and sounds like a cheap door facing from 84 Lumber or a new Martin that is tinty and brbutty and even if you wait 30 years it may never have any tone? Heck, there is a 72 in the paper here that some idiot tried to inlay block into the fingerboard and quit after 3 pieces and screwed up about 5 frets! He is asking $1400 for it! Told me on the phone he had turned down 12 twice. It's crazy :) Mandolins are even worse.

C YA

Mitch