Recommend a cutaway acoustic up to ~£1300

IntoTheRough

Currently have a Takamine cutaway that I got for about £330 new in 2010. It definitely punches above its weight but I want something a bit nicer. It sounds good but the inbuilt electronics are pretty crap to my ears (through a Helix and PowerCab 112+).

I play a wide variety of stuff in my solo gigs:

• Fingerstyle renditions of pop songs e.g. Beatles, U2, Radiohead
• Classical pieces that will be familiar to people e.g. Cavatina, Spanish Romance
• Looping jams where I noodle about over layered progressions
• Flamenco or Spanish-type stuff (ok I noodle in E aeolian or E phrygian up the neck)

So it needs to be a cutaway for upper fret access and it needs to have decent electronics (though I can EQ it through the Helix if it's a barebones kit). Micing it up isn't something I'd consider at this stage.

Looked at the Martin GPCPA4 and Taylor 214ce which are around the price point new. Would consider fishing for secondhand but would have to play it first.

I know the stock response is "Go to a guitar shop and buy the one that sounds best to your ears" but I'm after a bit of a shortlist from those in the know.

TIA

Epsilon

Check out some of the used Taylor acoustics at Coda. Lovely looking 414ce Fall Ltd for £1299 that I've been eyeing up.

Snags

I'd definitely widen the brand search away from just Taylor and Martin at that budget. Faith, Eastman, Furch, and a host of others all make some really nice instruments where more of the ticket price relates to the instrument than the brand.

DiscoStu

Definitey try Furch/Stonebridge at that money. 

drofluf

Faith will fit your budget and leave some change

IntoTheRough

Think a trip to coda is in order, that Taylor looks great.

The Furch suggestion looks a good one too, looks like Richard's Guitars in Stratford stock them so a visit there in order first.