IT'S A CLICHÉ of course, but a good acoustic guitar is the songwriter's best friend. Many a pop classic has been penned on a battered old plank, before being given the full works in the studio. In their recent collaboration, how do you think McCartney and Costello wrote 'My Brave Face'? - two chairs, two acoustics, ...and just a touch of genius. Such romantic instruments, eh? So wouldn't it be nice to get your hands on a top quality acoustic that you just can't put down, and who's cost doesn't mean giving up the roof over your head? Enter stage left, the Sigma DM4. The DM4 is part of Sigma's Marquis range, which offers 14 models in all, including a six string with Venetian cutaway and a 12 string.

Sigma guitars are designed by Martin, and like many other budget models these days, are built in Korea. Martin has always been the name to match in the quality acoustic market, and these Sigma's have earned a similar reputation for the budget minded player. Martin first built "Dreadnought" guitars around the time of the First World War, such large bodied instruments then being unusual. But country players found their fuller tone perfect as a backing for fiddles, banjos and the rest. Now, of course, they are "standard".

Anyway, enough of the history lesson. It's time for some woodwork! In keeping with its origins, the DM4 isn't exactly a design revolution. The back and the rims are made of good quality laminated mahogany — a fine wood for these components, and the one most used on lower range guitars. The back edges of the DM4 feature single black binding, while on the front, multiple black and white binding is the order of the day. The neck is also crafted from a single piece of mahogany, and very comfortable it is too. It's slightly less V-shaped than the (in)famous necks found on its older brother called Martin, and unlike the glossed sides and back, the neck sports a matt finish. The machine heads are fully enclosed and show no evidence of slipping. The intonation was first rate, the DM4 played in tune throughout the length of the fingerboard.

The fingerboard is made of a dark stained rosewood, features small dot inlays (with two teardrop inlays at the twelfth fret), and quite predictably is first class. The fret job is very precise with no rough edges and the sort of quality you'd expect from an instrument costing considerably more. In traditional Dreadnought fashion, the body joins at the 14th fret, there being 20 in total.

The top is made of laminated spruce (another tree culled in the pursuit of musical excellence!) and features scalloped bracing, allowing improved vibration of said top. The tone is excellent — bright, but with a good rounded bass end, which adds to the versatility of the guitar. The DM4 is well suited to either full-chord strumming or fingerstyle, offering good projection. And the action was sufficiently easy to allow comfortable playing at the top end of the fretboard, delightfully buzz free.

There's not really a lot to say about this guitar, apart from me showering it with praise. With a ten year warranty, Sigma obviously have a lot of faith in this instrument. And justifiably so. It's a smart looking guitar, comfortable and versatile and (even ignoring the silly price) of excellent construction. The attention to detail belies its low price, and the guitar is well finished in clear polyester lacquer — no rogue blobs of glue to be found here! If you can afford the outlay it would make an excellent first guitar, but would also be a fine choice for a main working acoustic. It might appear to lack that elusive quality, "character", but for a paltry 130 quid, there can be no complaints. And I fancied a good moan... makes you sick doesn't it?

SIGMA DM4 DREADNOUGHT GUITAR: £139 (DM4 also available with Mahogany Stain, Tobacco Sunburst and Aging Toner finishes. Sunburst Venetian cutaway model also available.)

INFO: Dreadnought Guitar Company, (Contact Details)