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Hey @Bill_Brown and @Salty ;
This is exactly the opposite of what I understand. You will always pay extra money for the Martin name. Every brand out there except Gibson, will give you higher quality materials for the same price as a Martin.
And there is no inferiority to “layered” wood, in fact, just the opposite. Plywood, in this case, it is high tech plywood called high pressure laminate, is superior to solid wood as it does not warp under stressful conditions caused by temperature and humidity. And good luck hearing a difference when the top is solid wood and the HPL is the back and sides. The reason pretty much all the under $500 guitar manufacturers have gone to solid tops is because the HPL doesn’t resonate as well. But the back and sides don’t resonate. They simply provide a sound box to amplify the sound.
These are, of course, my opinions. And none of these things ultimately make any difference when buying a guitar, though it will limit your choices if you are prejudiced against HPLs or less well known companies.
Tony has laid out the steps to picking out a guitar. What it looks like matters, as does how it sounds and how it plays. And the biggest factor, which is simply the all important practical reason, is price. That’s it. Not the other things being discussed here.
I’ve seen it over and over again where someone bought a guitar based on the reputation of the company and was sorely disappointed because it wasn’t a good fit for them. There are guitars that cost tens of thousands of dollars that I wouldn’t own if you gave it to me (other than to sell it). Just sayin’.
MG 😀
P.S. I only want to be helpful. If what I’ve said isn’t helpful, just ignore me. 🙄