I started traditional about 20 years ago with a cheap 45# Martin (can't recall the model) but it was new for about $130. It was pleasant to shoot but super slow. I then got a Martin Howatt Hunter 60# and it would chrono a carbon at 203fps which seemed smokin fast. I killed a couple deer with it but 60# was too much for me. Now I have a Rivers Edge Recurves (RER) RD 53# longbow and couldn't be much happier. Plenty of umph to pass through a deer, super smooth and quiet.
Good luck with your quest.
