Advice needed

[JimLucas]

At the price range we're talking this would be an old Lachenal or a 50s Wheatstone. Both still reasonably replaceable and the 50s Wheatstones are often equal in performance and better sounding than the hybrids. I've had a few instruments pass through my hands and some of these 50s Wheatstones are good value.

well, i would argue that 50's wheatstones are indeed irreplaceable, but might add they are not worth replacing!

Cute, but false.

That stereotypical opinion is not borne out by the instruments of that vintage that I have played. There have been a few clunkers, but also some very nice ones, and mostly at least as good -- in my opinion -- as the modern $2000-or-less hybrids. In fact, there's one that I currently have my eye on, and I'm hoping that I'll have enough money to buy it when the current owner is ready to upgrade. (He will. I know what he wants to upgrade to.)