GAS (& many thanks to Hartnolls)

[bertie]

I've never played one though....

excellent reason not to buy then !!

[DannyP]

excellent reason not to buy then !!

Of course, I'd never buy one without playing it.

I'm looking into what options are out there and inviting the opinions of anyone that might have tried them.

Lixarto - sorry that this is unfolding on your thread, feel free to stick these posts in a new thread if that's something you can do.

[Lixarto]

Lixarto - sorry that this is unfolding on your thread, feel free to stick these posts in a new thread if that's something you can do.

I can do that, but it's fine as it is as far as I'm concerned - I'm happy with my guitar and you're looking for one to make you happy.

[badlydrawnbanjo]

Most folk seem to swap the plastics for bone replacements, you're good to go then. You won't find an OEM hard case for it though, I looked high and low.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_l00.htm

Interesting. Similar price to the Loar, shorter scale length. Plastic saddle though, plus the spec seems slightly under that of the Loar...

[jalapeno]

On the subject of 2nd strap buttons - a lot of guitars don't have them, high-end and low-end. I've always been anti-tying-the-bit-o-string-round-the-tuners solution - it make the guitar want to vanish under your strumming arm's armpit !

[Lixarto]

I've always been anti-tying-the-bit-o-string-round-the-tuners solution

One can get used to it, but after an alarming moment when the strap came off the over end of the J-45, I stopped using it.

[noisepolluter]

So - a year on, an evaluation.

I've used it a lot and the sound has opened up to a surprising degree; it's now very touch-responsive. Not that it was stubborn before, but you know ...

I'm still very happy with it, the neck feels like coming home - and this time next week it will be with my wife and myself in the Lake District again

Glad to hear you're still cock-a-hoop with it. I think a year is enough time to know if a 'lifetime investment' acoustic is a true keeper. Wait till you start wearing the nitro lacquer down

A year on, I am no longer sure whether I also want a D-28 or alternatively a D-18.

[badlydrawnbanjo]

Glad to hear you're still cock-a-hoop with it. I think a year is enough time to know if a 'lifetime investment' acoustic is a true keeper. Wait till you start wearing the nitro lacquer down

A year on, I am no longer sure whether I also want a D-28 or alternatively a D-18.

I've had my J45 'Historic' since 2005. Many electric guitars have come and gone in that time but I'm pretty sure that this one will always be with me. It's getting a little beat up now but that only adds to it's character in my opinion.