We tried the various special models with different veneer woods. Prettier than the basic sapele body (especially the maple and the koa, the rosewood on the one we tried was visually uninspiring - read "plain"). But with laminated wood all of the spruce-top models seem to sound about the same, just costing more for the prettier veneer compared to the regular GS Mini. I suspect there is more variability between individual spruce tops than there is between the different veneers in laminated bodies.
The
mahogany-top model has a whole different warmer and richer character, kinda like a smaller and less expensive version of the 322, and the wife bought it happily.
YMMV, and you will probably hear other opinions here. Like with
all other guitars, if you find one particular example that you really like, I say "grab it". For example, I would not trade my 414ce for any other one I have heard. 414's should be a commodity, but all pieces of wood are individual. I have not personally experienced a Holden Village (HV) model with the Englemann spruce top, but hear very nice things here on the forum.
