Larry, told you they'd know.... lol My only concern with just going into a store and "trying out" what they have is that most guitar stores don't give ah..ah...ah..dang (whew, Pastor LMark - I made it without foul language - one of my many NY resolutions!) about setting up their guitars for "finger style" use. You will get a wide range of preferences here on the "bored" but I think most of us tend to (be older) and like lower action for our more "delicate" play. In that the stores sell a lot more to blue grass, country, and rock bangers - they set their stock up with fairly high action. (We've got a highly touted luthier here in Columbus who used to set up all Martins (and, Taylors, I believe) before they went to the local stores - and, he refused to set them lower than "factory specs" (even by PAID request) - which are about an INCH high at the 12th. Pompous IDIOT!!!) (Somewhat interesting story of an interaction I had with him, below - for those that have nutin' better to do.)
When are you coming back to CAAS, Larry? You would be assured of finding an acoustic that you would fall in love with. AND, they would set it up to whatever height you wanted...
Good luck with your quest,
Palmer
PS - Da "Lo Action" Story - one of my favorite "in yer face" stories
I had already had a couple "go arounds" with this luthier here in Columbus, OH about his not wanting to set up my guitars with low action for my finger style strugglings - BUT, he was the most popular luthier in the area. So, when I ended up buying one of Roger's beautiful Stonebridge acoustics at CAAS one year - (in the "heat of the moment") - when I got home and had lost the "heat," I found it to be a little too high action for my aging mostly electric (ES-335 for 40 years or so) hands. So, I took it down and tried to get him to "lower the action." Now, unless you are Segovia or Eric Clapton, you don't actually get to talk to "the man" - you get to talk to a somewhat less pompous "front man" that sits out front - and, he then goes in the back (which one can easily see through a WINDOWED WALL) and discusses your quandry with him. "Can't/(won't) do it!" "Well, I want it lower!" Back and forth for several attempts - all the time watching each conversation through the glass wall. (Why he hell...oops..heck he didn't just get off his...er, butt and come out and talk directly to me is beyond all understanding.) But, anyway he finally agreed to "give it a try" - probably just to get rid of me. (Kinda what most of you would like me to do. (lol) I went back to get it and - it was a little lower, but not much - and, definitely not "practicable" for hours at a time like us half-fast Chet wanna-bes need to.
Well, a few years went by and the amazing Adam Rafferty was in town staying with me for a week to see if Columbus could be a popular stop off for him and his new "hip-hop" finger style career. (An amazing player/entertainer!) He plays Maton guitars and like Tommy (from my understanding - at least at the time) after buying one he would not even take it out of the box - he'd just send it to this incredible luthier Joe Glazer in Nashville to put jumbo frets on it and set it up "as low as possible." He had two of them and they played like butter. You could almost blow the strings down on the frets. Soooo, my ADHD brain said, "Why not give it another try?"
I took Adam, my Stonebridge AND one of Adam's Matons down "High Street" (hint hint) and presented the "gate keeper" with, first, my Stonebridge, "THIS is your "lowest" action." Then, I offered up the Maton, "And, THIS is what Tommy and Adam play." He disappeared into the back (the WINDOWS had been FILLED IN (LOL.) Several minutes later he came back out and mumbled something like, "He would like you to leave your Stonebridge!" ----- Yes, he did manage to get it a bit lower, but still not anything close to butter.... However, in his defense - maybe those Stonebridges just can't be set up that low.
Ref: Joe Glazer -
http://ofgc.net/close_strings.htm Adam Rafferty -
https://www.adamrafferty.com/