Maybe if you try each of these, you’ll know. Hold them. See how they feel. Clear your mind. One of ‘em’s likely to speak to you.

Sometimes you just know. Our son is a guitar player. Been there.

string player i sing w has tiny hands, like mine. mostly plays mandolin or tenor guitar.
has one she's gonna lend me. trying to pick up a little guitar, but there small hands...

Enjoy!

Or a decent bow either — I'm mostly a fiddler.

play them all, you'll know which one is yours

Calimary have given the best responses!

But I’m sure any of those will be fabulous guitars.

Smaller and sweeter than a jumbo or dreadnought, no laminates and made entirely in the US. I think they still list out quite a bit less than your $2500 budget too. If you can live with a mahogany rather than spruce top, that would be my choice, hands down.

I've a 75 year old 00-18 that will go to our son when I'm gone. Its not as loud as a dreadnought but it plays true and sweet all the way up the neck. I've looked at your choice #5 as a backup.

Play as many as you can for just a couple minutes each, make a short list of the ones that sound and feel good to YOU, then go back and play those few as long as you can. Good luck.

I have a D16-93H, mahogany body, hand scalloped bracing, bought at Umanov's on Bleecker Street, it is the dearest inanimate object I own. Just check into the aforementioned bracing. Human luthiers yes, computers not so much... and say no to plywood. The 000-15M sounds right and the right choice imho...

I have been assembling a collection of guitars over the last few years. What I have found, for me, is that I want a guitar that I enjoy playing. I utilize a flesh finger picking style with some bit of strumming. Every guitar has its own character. The wood is important, the spacing at the nut is important, the scale length is important as well as so many attributes of the guitar. To me the 00-18 Martin in a previous post (75 years old - I would love it) is a great recommendation - for me, I have a Martin 00-18 in my collection that I really enjoy playing; often times, just sitting on the couch for hours. I am currently thinking of a Martin OM-21. Of course, it would always be nice to be able to afford a high end Bourgeois guitar; quite pricey for my budget. The best thing to do is watch a whole bunch of videos of the different guitars that you think you would want to own. Go to a shop and try them out. Take some time. The strings on the shop models may have some use which may affect the sound. If you are going to spend up to $2,500, take your time. Everybody has different budgets, different playing styles, etc. The main thing is that you want a guitar that you really enjoy playing for your enjoyment !!!

i've never been tempted to shell out for a brand new instrument. good used are so easy to find, and you get so much more for your money.

Get an idea for they way each of the necks feel and the action on the guitars and how they sound. I can tell you with certainty if you buy any guitar without playing it first you'll come to regret that decision.

Also, what type of music will you be playing. The Gibson J-45 is going to have a very different sound than the other guitars you have listed. It tends to have a fuller base sound than even a more similar Martin D-18 or D-28. Mahogany tops like the other four options tend to have a brighter sound. Of the ones you have listed, I personally love the J-45, but that's just me. That being said, I own a Martin D18 and it's my favorite acoustic, largely because you can see the care that went in to making it and it just sounds so good.

and in a perfect dream world I would have also had a 1932 Martin OM-28, but I didn’t have a way to quickly get my hands on $900 in 1973. One of my major regrets.

That being said, you really have to go play them to decide. All of those makers are doing nice instruments in that price range these days.

I’m personally liking that Guild M-20 quite a lot from looking at it online. I love my F-30, it has served me well for many years.

I have a Baby Taylor and it is everything one would want in a small scale travel guitar. It will even fit in the overhead if everyone plays nice. Maybe if you get a good deal on the guitar you decide upon, you can add one of the BTs for travel fun.

$2500 seems to be the sweet spot for me in terms of guitar budget. That'll buy you a guitar made of the right stuff without paying for a lot of 'bling'. All the options you mentioned are keepers. I have three Martins, two Taylors, and a LoPrinzi, and love them all (although I'll be giving my Martin 00DB to my son this Christmas. He always grabs that one when he stops over to play.

You may want to consider a used one to get more guitar for the buck - but you might have to sacrifice the warranty. Play 'em all and get the one that speaks to you in sound and looks.