what kind of Martin guitar to get

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 05:23 PM

Martin has built some outstanding guitars, no question , but not all Martins are outstanding. Some are average at best.

Get the best sounding guitar.

Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn't HAVE to have the name Martin on the headstock.

Both correct, in my opinion as a person with an interest in such matters, but not a real expert.

Martins (those being made now) range from "fair-to-middlin'" to superb.

The instruments from smaller companies such as Collings or Santa Cruz range from excellent to Oh My God.

Instruments from even smaller companies like Huss and Dalton are often even better.

Instruments from individual luthiers like Mr. Apollonio or Mario Proulx (so far up in North Ontario that they have to buy enormous fly swatters because the black flies have crossbred with the Wendigoes) are often the absolute top.

Martin is thought of as being the best because they WERE the best, fifty years and more ago, when there were a lot fewer choices in good guitars. And the Martins made back then, at least those that have been played regularly, and NOT put away wet, but maintained properly and repaired as necessary, are hard to beat with any relatively new guitar. There's no way to fake the aging of the wood. My daughter still has my '61 00-18, and it will beat most new dreads for sheer power, in spite of being relatively tiny. But if you track down an old Martin to buy, you'd better have your house paid off so you can remortgage it.

And now, of course, the best Pacific rim instruments (say "Eastman") are fully competitive in quality at much lower prices. But that won't last. The Chinese workers are beginning to look for a living wage.

The people I hate are the people who will get to play the better US and Canadian guitars being made now, fifty years from now, when the instruments have aged properly. On the other hand, who knows what advances in medicine will come along in the next couple of decades? Maybe I'll still be playing at age 121. But more likely not.

Peter

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 01:51 PM

Get the best sounding guitar.

Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn't HAVE to have the name Martin on the headstock.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 08:09 AM

Martin has built some outstanding guitars, no question , but not all Martins are outstanding. Some are average at best.

At a festival I let a guitar expert and collector play my Taylor, and he remarked, "This sounds as good as the D 45 for which I just paid $10,000".

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 03:02 AM

If you have to ask this question of others perhaps you're not ready for a Martin

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 02:56 AM

I sold my J-40 in 2008. My biggest regret. It's the best bang-for-buck guitar CFM make, IMHO.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 10:08 PM

I doubt I'll ever buy another Martin guitar, but if a J-40 were to fall off the UPS truck, I'd keep it.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 07:12 PM

That guitar has a lovely sound, warm and friendly. Many guitars tend to die when you use a capo. This one doesn't.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 07:10 PM

Don't fuss 'bout brand man, just play 'em til you get the sound you wan' then you'll know all right, don' waste time an money chasin' dreams. what ya hear is what matters ... good luck ...

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 04:45 PM

Yessir! That is the single most important thing to remember. The reasons we like one guitar better than another can be subtle and mysterious, but when you find the right one in your hands, you know it within a pretty short period of time. It's like falling in love.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 04:34 PM

"The best advice I could give is—if you can—try the guitar before buying it."

Best advice anyone could give, imo.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 04:25 PM

My first really good guitar was a Martin 00-18. Spruce soundboard, mahogany back and sides. I liked it very much.

But it was about a year later that I began studying classical guitar, and the steel-string 00-18 is not suitable for that, so I traded it in on a Martin 00-28-G, a wide-necked (2") nylon-strung instrument with a spruce soundboard and Brazilian rosewood back and sides.

A very nice instrument. But I was subsequently introduced to Spanish-made classics, and I have had several since then. My present guitar is actually a Japanese-made look-alike of a José Ramirez (the guitar Segovia played). I played it at the Seattle Classic Guitar Society, where several people own José Ramirez classics, and it sounded so good that they assumed that it was a Ramirez. Not bad for a guitar I bought for one-tenth of what I would have to pay for a Ramirez.

But I assume, Skarpi, that you are looking for a steel-string guitar. Lots of people prefer the large-bodied guitars like the Martin Dreadnaught, but I've always found them "boomy" and bass-heavy. My preference—for vocal accompaniment—is a smaller instrument with a more balanced tone and volume.

The sweetest sounding guitar I've ever heard was a small parlor guitar that was given to my girl friend at the time by her grandmother, who no longer played. It was a 50 year old George Washburn "Ladies' Model" parlor guitar. Beautiful, warm-sounding instrument.

Parlor gutars are not as loud as the bigger bodied instruments, but they are certainly loud enough, and I like the tone and balance much better.

The best advice I could give is—if you can—try the guitar before buying it.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 03:35 PM

QUOTE " I also know that there is a good man in Maine building a great peace of guitars :) ..."

QUOTE "That man is Nick Apollonio. Some of the best instruments I have ever seen. We have two of them."

It is also possible, indeed probable , that skarpi is actually referring to John Slobod ...

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 01:41 PM

Buy a Martin D-100.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 01:10 PM

Excellent summary of the Martin model numbers, PHJim...

I started out playing mostly dreadnoughts, which are probably the favored guitar of a majority of male musicians these days...but in time I have come to much prefer somewhat smaller body guitars. They're more comfortable to hold and play than a dreadnought, and not so "boomy" (too much bass reverberation sometimes). I think Taylor is on the right track with the body styles they are marketing. The Taylor I have is a Grand Concert style, which is a fairly small body guitar. The Avalon I have is also about that size (14 1/2" across the lower bout), and it's the very guitar that Lynn Miles is playing in this video, cos I bought it from her about a year ago:

Lynn Miles - Fearless Heart

You can hear just what it sounds like in the video, as it is miked. One hell of a great guitar, and I am very happy to own it now. As for Lynn, she is a national treasure.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: PHJim
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 12:47 PM

Martin model numbers have two parts.
The letter, O, OO, OOO, OM, D, tell the size and shape of the guitar. O is a small parlour guitar, while OOO is a large guitar, the one often seen in pictures of Big Bill Broonzy. A D (dreadnought) is the shape with not much waist, often played by bluegrass or country players. The OM is the same size as the OOO, but with a different scale length. Sometimes you will see an "S" at the end of the model number. This indicates "Special" and may mean a twelve fret neck or variation in body shape. There are newer models with different letters, I belive a very large guitar called the OOOO. All models that start with O (or OO, OOO, OM, or D) will be the same size and shape, unless they have an S at the end.
There are also numbers, the most common being 18, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 45. These indicate materials and trim and, except for special models, all 18s (or 21, 28, 35, 42 or 45s) will be made of the same materials.
A D-21 and a D-28 are the same shape, but the D-21 has a rosewood fingerboard and bridge and dark binding and no volute, while the D-28 has an ebony fingerboard and bridge, white binding and a volute.
An OO-21 and a D-21 have the exact same materials, but are different shapes and sizes.
Folks who play finger-style often prefer the smaller guitars, while folks who use flat picks ofyen like the dreadnoughts. There are becoming more exceptions to this guideline.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 12:09 PM

That man is Nick Apollonio. Some of the best instruments I have ever seen. We have two of them.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: skarpi
Date: 12 Jul 13 - 11:49 AM

haha Kendall ..I like Taylors my G3A is amazing ....

Rainsong and VoyageAir not for sale in Iceland ..

Terry I have that in mind ...:) thanks ..

All the best Skarpi p.s this is just a scan for my future guitar , I also know that there is a good man in Maine building a great peace of guitars :) ...

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 07:08 PM

Come to the Getaway, play my Taylor 810. You will throw rocks at Martins.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 06:57 PM

Skarpi - IF you can swing a trip to London you can sleep at my place and check the shops in London - try them all and see what you like the sound and feel of .

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST,Musket sans capo
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 03:37 PM

I used to have a D41. Loved it.

If you are insistent on brand then Littlehawk has given good advice. Don't forget other brands though. Peversley, it may be economically sound to fly down to The UK to buy at a good price. You can start to add some excellent local guitars then, Fylde springs to mind but many many small luthiers to visit.

Despite all that, I bought a Rainsong the other year and it tends to be the only one I take out now. ...

Still recall the Martin with affection.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 11:45 AM

I sold off several guitars recently, having concluded that I had way too many. ;-D   Still might sell the Martin or the Taylor at some point...and I have an old Guild I'm selling.

Have been curious about both Rainsong and VoyageAir for some time. I'd like to get a chance to play either of those, but no one around here carries them in stock.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Midchuck
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 11:36 AM

I have, at present:

1 Collings
1 Huss & Dalton
1 Manuel & Patterson
1 Apollonio (12-string)
2 Guilds (one living in Bozeman, Mt., to make flying less of a hassle)
1 Trinity College
1 "The Loar" (left with Bigchuck for repair long ago, never came back, I assume he still has it.)
1 VoyageAir
1 Eastman
1 Rainsong

The Rainsong gets probably as much play as all the others combined, because the sound is as good as any of the wooden guitars except the first four listed above, and it makes so much more sense to take anywhere out of the house, especially in Vermont winters or summers.

No Martin at this time (although I've had several in the past, my daughter still has my first - a '61 00-18, and my wife has one now.

No Gibson.

I'm happy. Though I got to start selling off some of them if the market ever comes back.

Skarpi, since you live in Iceland, I'd say take a GOOD look at Rainsongs and CAs.

Peter.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 11:11 AM

I've got a Taylor that's a wonderful guitar, an Avalon I like even better than the Taylor, and a Martin dreadnought that's very good too. My favorite of the 3 is the Avalon. It feels just right to me. It's a guitar that got about 7 years of intensive stage and studio work, because it used to belong to Lynn Miles (a Canadian singer-songwriter). I bought it from her a little over a year ago, and I absolutely love it.

Lynn, by the way, is my favorite singer-songwriter. If you get a chance to see her do a show, don't hesitate. She's as good as it gets.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST,Jesus
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 11:10 AM

I'd get the 2012 version of the D-18 or the new 2013 gibson J-35, both class and good bargains

http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/guitars/series/item/202-d-18.html

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Round-Shoulder/Gibson-Acoustic/J-35.aspx

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 11:03 AM

I'd get a Gibson. There are a couple of Martin players at Lossiemouth folk club but I prefer my Gibson Dove Artist Cutaway. It's boomier than the Martins which are lovely guitars. It's always up to you to feel the guitar. I'd always buy from somewhere I can hold the guitar for a while first. While I was in Florida last year I tired the 2012"Fall" version (Macassar and ebony) by Taylor. Expensive but what a guitar !! If I had loads of money and could do it justice I would buy one of them.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: GUEST,lop
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 10:33 AM

Northwood worth a look

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Cool Beans
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 10:12 AM

I agree with everything Little Hawk said. I have two Martins, a D-28 and a 000-28VS, bought many years apart. I tried out lots of guitars before selecting these two. Sometimes two seemingly identical models of the same guitar can sound very different. I tried out two Martin 000-28VS guitars in a store and one sounded vastly superior to the other. Good luck!
CB in Detroit USA.

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 10:03 AM

It's well worth looking at some of the small volume UK luthiers. Some Fyldes sound gorgeous, and also some Brooks. Atkin (from near Canterbury) is seeing prices rise FAST. I have played good Northworthy guitars, Armstrongs are usually VERY good, and no-one ever seems to sell a second-hand Kinkade (they are from Bristol).

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: skarpi
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 09:50 AM

thanks , I also like Taylor and Seagull , ..but I would not have send to me to Iceland ..I think I would rather get it to US or UK ...

there is a store in Iceland but only have it small numbers ..

I know of one Taylor and the sound is amazing ..but I would like to look around .

all the best Skarpi

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 09:15 AM

Will....but shipping from, say, Ditchling ( :-) ) to Iceland might not be straightforward!

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 09:09 AM

Skarpi, my advice would follow Little Hawk's exactly. Every guitar is different and what suits one person may not suit another.

To me, the most important things are (1) sound production and (2) ease of playing, followed perhaps by looks. The name means very little - Martin or otherwise. I like Lowden guitars, but I've tried three or four in a store and every one was different. One really appealed and I was tempted to buy - the others weren't of value to me at the price being asked.

Have you considered having one made for you? For the asking price of some factory, production-line Martins, you could commission your own custom guitar from a decent luthier. Just a thought...

Subject: RE: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 09:02 AM

It is best to simply play a large number of them in the best stocked stores you can find until you find one you really like. Try all the different types they have, whether it be large body dreadnoughts or smaller body guitars like the 000 size, 000 size, etc. Many people find a smaller body guitar is more comfortable to hold and play...but many also like the large body guitars such as the dreadnought.

I like the sound of rosewood (back & sides) guitars the best generally. In Martins that might be a D-28, HD-28, D-35, 000-28, 00-28, 000-28 Eric Clapton signature model, D-41, etc. Most of these guitars have a spruce top. Cedar top guitars can also sound very good, but those are rare with Martins.

Don't think it will automatically be a great guitar just because it's a Martin! Not necessarily. I've tried out Martins that were mediocre, frankly, although they were still well-built instruments....but they just didn't have a really good sound to them. Like with any top end brand of guitar, some are definitely better than others, and you need to play a lot of them to make comparisons.

When you find one that you just like one a lot for some reason, better than you like the other guitars...that's the one for you.

I go by sound, feel, and general appearance of the instrument. (as well as price level, of course) If all that pleases me, then I'm interested in buying it...whether or not it's a Martin.

Subject: what kind of Martin guitar to get
From: skarpi
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 08:29 AM

Hallo , I am thinking about get a Martin ( Maybe ) if I get a good one
in my hands ...
so what kind a model is good to get ..0018 ..or Om28V ..or some thing else ..

at the moment I have Seagull since 1995 ...and for few months Taylor
G3A 6 strings a very good one , but If I want to change I want to even or better guitar ...

so any thoughts ? for my future guitar ..

all the best Skarpi Iceland .