This is going to irk some of you, actually, it sort of irks me. For the past 7 or 8 years I've been keeping an eye on Chinese guitars--I figured that eventually they were going to do the Japanese thing--start producing guitars that were really nice. My first Chinese guitar was a Chet Atkins want-a-be. It was truely terrible and unplayable--it was exactly what I paid for. And then I bought a Sojing, a silent nylon string guitar, one of the worst guitars I've even fondled. And then a Morelli, which turned out to be a Sojing with a new name--it was better, but not much. And then I hit Bingo--a Sunlite GC100NCE--nylon string, 14 frets to the body, truss rod, cut-a-way, solid spruce top, with electronics and built in tuner, very clean and beatiful, with case, for $400.00. This guitar is not on Sunlite"s website and I suspect that it is a reverse-engineed instrument from some top of the line maker, like Breedlove, Taylor, or Martin. In any event, the guitar is remarkble. The intonation is perfect (rare in a nylon string guitar), the action is nice and low, and the projection and tonal qualities are superb. Every once in a while I get a hankering for a 12 string, but I am on a particularly tight budget right now, so I started cruising Ebay. And there it was. A 12 string, 14 frets to the body, cut-a-way, solid spruce top, electronics, truss rod--for a minimum bid of $104, $16 shipping. The guitar has no name, and is only identified by serial number and a "made in China" lable. On ebay it is billed as a "Professional Player."I ordered it and I am suprised and a bit depressed. The guitar is good looking, tuned right up, plays like dream. I've discovered, again, that I really don't like 12 string guitars, but once in a while I have to get them out of my system. As I've played this 12 string, I've had to wonder how anyone could compete with its quality and price. The Sunlite guitar did not stop me from buying other American guitars, like my Breedlove, but it makes me realize that we need to develop a level playing field if we are going to compete with Chinese goods. Maybe what we should do is not import any item that does not pay a fair wage and benifits to its labor base? Or maybe we should be taxing imported goods at a higher rate? I'm rambling here, thinking out loud. Hope I haven't bored anyone. But, If you are looking for a cheap but playable 12 string, get yourself to Ebay. And think about how we are to survive in the face of such steep competition. Evan