One other thing, here is a link to the one that MF and GC had that was rosewood back and sides for a grand. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guita...coustic-guitar GC still has this one: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Martin-D...33-i1171362.gc Longtime member Tone2theBone got one a couple years ago and loved it. If you like the rosewood sound, and can find a good used one, I bet you would like it. But again, everyone likes a different sound. Mahogany guitars are less "scooped" and bassy in their sound, being a bit more balanced overall. Think D-18 vs. the rosewood D-28. So again, try some out and see what you like.
Here is Tone's thread when he bought his: http://www.thefret.net/showthread.ph...ghlight=Martin
I do support your getting a good acoustic even if you are starting out. The difference between a couple hundred dollar acoustic, and one that is more like 800-1000 can big significant, and of course there is the used market. And for me, I am not ashamed to say that I like that Martin sound. YMMV!.
Steve Thompson
Sun Valley, Idaho
Guitars: Fender 60th Anniversary Std. Strat, Squier CVC Tele Hagstrom Viking Semi-hollow, Joshua beach guitar, Martin SPD-16TR Dreadnought
Amphs: Peavey Classic 30, '61 Fender Concert
Effects and such: Boss: DS-1, CE-5, NS-2 and RC20XL looper, Digitech Bad Monkey, Korg AX1G Multi-effects, Berhinger: TU100 tuner, PB100 Clean Boost, Line 6 Toneport UX2, Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff Pi, DuhVoodooMan's Rabid Rodent Rat Clone, Zonkin Yellow Screamer Mk. II, MXR Carbon Copy Delay
love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. . .
- j. johnson