re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get?

Taylor's lower end guitars are much better than martins but if I'm going the high end route then I'm going with Martin

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Taylor's lower end guitars are much better than martins but if I'm going the high end route then I'm going with Martin

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For me it depends on the shape, sound and tone woods you're going for. A full-bodied Martin HD-28 is going to bring something entirely different to the table than a Taylor 512ce. Are you fingerpicking? Do you prefer a short scale neck? Depending on what you actually want would determine which offerings from various brands you're looking for.

I've owned Martins, Guilds, Taylors, and various classicals. Probably the best instrument I ever owned was a Guild DV-52. I would take that one over the Martin HD-28 and the Taylor 512ce I owned any day of the week. The sound, for what I was playing at the time, was superb.

As for now I'm saving up for a Jose Ramirez classical.

I went to a music store and played just about every acoustic they had and I left with the best sounding one to me.

It was a Martin D'18

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They [Taylor] make entire lines of cheap, laminate guitars.

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Their lower end models—the 100s and 200s—have laminate backs and sides, but when you say "cheap" are you referring to price or quality? If by cheap you mean poor quality ... well, that I suppose is subjective, especially if the highly personal "I like/hate the guitar" evaluation is factored in. I have a Taylor 110 and I've read many comments from other 100- and 200-series owners, and never have I read any complaints about poor construction, performance or personal dissatisfaction with the instruments. I'm sure there are people out there who, like you, find these instruments to be of poor quality, but they seem to be a small minority, at least among those who voice an opinion.

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They even have laminates approaching $1000.

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As do many other reputable manufacturers—such as Martin. I should clarify: when I say "laminate" I mean a guitar with a laminated back and side and a SOLID WOOD top, such as my Taylor 110 (Sitka spruce). I am not, for purposes of this discussion, referring to guitars that are completely 100% laminate-made.

I just received my copy of the Taylor 2013 product guide and they discuss the use of laminates in their lower-end guitars. They're straightforward about laminate vs. 100% solid wood construction, basically stating the obvious:
• Building guitars with laminate backs and sides allows them to offer nice guitars at a lower price point (this, in so many words, is their production and marketing philosophy regarding laminates—whether you agree with it or not).
• All things being equal, solid wood construction is preferable (well, duh) particularly as the guitar ages.

I'm sure any player would agree that if you have the money, a solid wood guitar is the way to go. Not much argument there. But to say that all—or specifically, Taylor— "back/side laminate" guitars are cheap or of poor quality ... well, I'd dispute this as would many other Taylor 100- and 200-series players.

In the end, the proof is in the playing—if you play a 110 and like it, it's a great guitar. If not ... you put it back on the rack and play something else.

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My point is that you can find quality solid wood guitars for the price of their laminates.

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I'm not aware of many solid wood guitars in the $600–$700 price range of a Taylor 110 for example—but I'm no authority on this stuff and for all I know, there may be many such acoustics on the market. I believe a Seagull S-6 is solid wood, but I can't recall for sure. Maybe some Epiphone models—or even a Gibson in the under-$1000 price range? Anyway, I'd be the first to tell the OP to compare any solid wood guitar with comparably-priced Taylors, Martins, etc. Absolutely. Or maybe a used solid wood—last summer I picked up a used Larrivee L-03 for $650, and I love the thing.

Trying to save up for a Collings...most beautiful sound I've ever heard...even with me playing it. lol

Taylors and Martins are both awesome. I prefer Martin myself since they usually have a much darker tone.

I have two categories of acoustic. You want a good acoustic to plug in and sound great Taylor. Pure unplugged, Martin. Put my Martin hd28 in a room full of guitars and its by far the best tone and loudest pure acoustic.