I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome and helpful advice. 
Here's the bad news:
It took all of 5 minutes to reject the replacement DV-4 from Ensenada. MY original Tacoma DV-4 was a thing of beauty, it was perfect to look at, and to touch.Just a shame they installed a faulty truss rod! The Ensenada, on the other hand, had a very poor finish in comparison. Probably the most obvious lack of quality was the finish at the top of the headstock, rough as a badger arse! But there were signs of poor workmanship, and lack of attention to detail, all over the guitar.
What really matters is the sound, and how it plays. The Tacoma was bright and loud with plenty of sustain, and a good balance. The Ensenada sounded brash in comparison, and felt tight with little sustain.
The very first thing I noticed was that the Ensenada felt a lot heavier than the Tacoma
---------------------
Now for the good news:
I spent three and a half hours trying out various guitars, thats after only playing nylon strings for 19 days, so my fingers took a battering. The best sounding guitar was a second hand seagull, don't remember the model. It had a small headstock that tapered off to the end, and the fretboard inlays were installed off centre towards the top. It was a really nice guitar, and easy to play. But I didn't like the shape of the headstock, and the off centre inlays would displease me forever.
Eventually I got it down to two. In second place was a Tacoma, again I don't remember the model. It had real character, and was fantastic for anything bluesy, but I decided it was more of a one trick pony ( but I would love to own it).
The guitar I took home with me was a Larrivee D-O3R
http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-LARRIVEE_D03R_ROSEWOOD_STANDARD/content_87975300740 (take a look)
It's an excellent build and finish, although not quite as good as my original Tacoma DV-4. I felt it sounded the closest to the DV-4, it's not quite as bright, but has a more mellow flavour to it. The sound is precise, but has plenty of sustain, although not nearly as much as the DV-4. And it's relatively easy to play, even though it has the same nut width as the DV-4. The setup is perfect right from the factory.
I think I'm going to be very happy with it.
(even though I realise I will now be thrown out of the forum )
Here's the bad news:
It took all of 5 minutes to reject the replacement DV-4 from Ensenada. MY original Tacoma DV-4 was a thing of beauty, it was perfect to look at, and to touch.Just a shame they installed a faulty truss rod! The Ensenada, on the other hand, had a very poor finish in comparison. Probably the most obvious lack of quality was the finish at the top of the headstock, rough as a badger arse! But there were signs of poor workmanship, and lack of attention to detail, all over the guitar.
What really matters is the sound, and how it plays. The Tacoma was bright and loud with plenty of sustain, and a good balance. The Ensenada sounded brash in comparison, and felt tight with little sustain.
The very first thing I noticed was that the Ensenada felt a lot heavier than the Tacoma
---------------------
Now for the good news:
I spent three and a half hours trying out various guitars, thats after only playing nylon strings for 19 days, so my fingers took a battering. The best sounding guitar was a second hand seagull, don't remember the model. It had a small headstock that tapered off to the end, and the fretboard inlays were installed off centre towards the top. It was a really nice guitar, and easy to play. But I didn't like the shape of the headstock, and the off centre inlays would displease me forever.
Eventually I got it down to two. In second place was a Tacoma, again I don't remember the model. It had real character, and was fantastic for anything bluesy, but I decided it was more of a one trick pony ( but I would love to own it).
The guitar I took home with me was a Larrivee D-O3R
http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-LARRIVEE_D03R_ROSEWOOD_STANDARD/content_87975300740 (take a look)
It's an excellent build and finish, although not quite as good as my original Tacoma DV-4. I felt it sounded the closest to the DV-4, it's not quite as bright, but has a more mellow flavour to it. The sound is precise, but has plenty of sustain, although not nearly as much as the DV-4. And it's relatively easy to play, even though it has the same nut width as the DV-4. The setup is perfect right from the factory.
I think I'm going to be very happy with it.
(even though I realise I will now be thrown out of the forum
)
