I host jam sessions at my home every friday night! We're digging into jazz as it's really the end all to stylistic playing. All the players the come over really like it.

One of the guitarists just bought a $1200.00 gibson acoustic. I was surprized at how full it sounded, it is a really cool instrument. I have a custom Keller $2500.00 guitar, and the gibson held up to my sound. arghhhh! Those production models are just getting better and better for less and less.

Have you looked into Godin's? One of our session player's has two of them. They are really cool.

I love archtop guitars and Gibson makes some nice ones, but Joe Pass in his videos always played a Epiphone Sheraton type guitar. Not too expensive and if Joe played it, well its gotta be ok. P.S. buy any Joe Pass video you can, they are great!!!!!

One other Guitar I just discovered was the Gibson L5-CES.
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Gibson/L5-CES-01.html
Have you ever seen these guitars?
http://www.excellentleads.com/gibsonpics/160201gibpic11.html
I saw one last summer for the first time, I have a dream!

later!