Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!

Subject: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 07:53 PM

I happened to pass through Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada yesterday. For you who aren't local, it's a smallish place about 100 miles north of Toronto. Went into Precision Music and tried out a couple of the best guitars they had. Precision is a very crowded store...it's hard to get at the guitars, which are up on hangers, and hard to find a place to sit down and play one, but I got some help from the owner on that.

Well, I played one Martin which I was not very impressed with. Then I played a very expensive Eric Clapton Signature Martin...and it was VERY, VERY GOOD. It was marked down from Cd $5,900 to I think $3,800 if I remember right. Had one little mark on the edge of the headstock, due to a clumsy customer (not me!).

It's a very good looking instrument in every way, with a 000 type body, I believe, not a dreadnought. This makes it more comfortable for playing when seated. The neck is the old V shape Martin neck, like on older Martins. Usually I don't like the V neck, but it seemed to work fine on this one.

The tone of this instrument was REALLY good from base to treble, all the way. Marvelous sound.

The action was a lot higher than what I would usually want. The owner told me this model is set up that way deliberately, to mimic Clapton's setup, so you can really bend the strings, play hard, and still get a good note. Maybe so. All I can say is, even with that very high action it was still a lot of fun to play anyway.

All I can say is "Wow!" Damn good guitar. I thought some of you other Ontario guys might want to know in case you pass through Bracebridge, and you could take a look at it.

I've got no reason to buy another expensive guitar right now, but I love seeing a good one like that and getting a chance to check it out.

Anybody else played one of these?

- LH

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 08:19 PM

I have played a 000-28 EC several times. It is a fine sounding guitar. It sounds as good as my Santa Cruz OM-PW. However, I don't think it sounds any better, and the OM-PW is only $2000.00, not $4000.00. I would have to be really enamoured of owning a guitar with Mr. Clapton's signature before I would pay the extra bucks for one.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 08:35 PM

Yeah, for sure. The only reason I would've considered buying this guitar was on its actual merits...sound, looks, and playability. I couldn't care less about Clapton's name being attached to the Model #. (his signature is not on the guitar body, but is part of the model #...the paper label, that is)

It sounded like a $4,000 guitar to me. That's Canadian money, which translates to $2,680 US dollars.

- LH

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: rangeroger
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 08:36 PM

Bruce, at a 35% exchange rate, that works out to $1330 US.

rr

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 08:46 PM

No, actually the guitar is selling for the equivalent of about US $2,927 if you add on the sales tax and the GST (15% on top of the price).

- LH

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:04 PM

I'm sorry, the $4000.00 I referred to in my previous post is just the ballpark figure in USD for what most U.S. music stores are asking for the 000-28 EC. I just checked the Universal Currency Converter and $3800.00 Canadian is currently $2,427.80 USD, which does make the particular guitar LH looked at very reasonably priced.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Justa Picker
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:12 PM

Average "street" price on a good used, OOO-28EC is between $1850 and $2000 (U.S.) Standard rate (40% off list) on a brand new one in and around the Toronto area is around $3,650 - $3,750.00 (CDN).

The OOO-28H (discontinued but still available) is a much better value (subtract a 1000 dollars from the EC) and has a more open sound, due to a slight variation in the scalloping. (Who needs the signature anyway?)

And L.H., that stuff the dealer in Bracebridge told you about the action being high to do with the way Clapton liked his set up, is pure, unadulterated, uninformed horse pocky. Most Martins leaving the factory as set up fairly high to begin with and most require a setup and action adjustment.

You wanna learn more about Martins just visit this place.

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:27 PM

Firgit the danged thing. Nuthin' better than an old D-18. I wouldn't trade my '64 fir no Eric Clapton small body or nuthin'. Set up fir crusin'. Nice low action and them strings bend just fine. Crank her down into D modeland it gets that eerie mountain sound or further down into an open G, reach in your pocket for a slide and it becomes a Delta blues screamer....

And if you're willin' to do a little lookin', $1500 US, will bring it home where, once there, you'll quit lookin' fir another guitar... Fir real...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:27 PM

Hey, thanks, Justa! I strongly suspected that the guy was making up that stuff about the high action (which was WAY high), and that it was as you say "pure, unadulterated, uninformed horse pocky". LOL!

The only store I know north of Toronto where they don't make up phony stuff like that is the Arts Music in Newmarket, where they seem to be very honest and well-informed (and helpful!). At least, that's been my experience so far.

At Precision Music you've almost got to sign a customs declaration to play one of their guitars, unless they figure you're a real veteran (they obviously figured I was...they were quite helpful...but I see how they treat many of their other customers...COLD shoulder). I don't like that attitude in a guitar store. You've gotta play a lot of guitars if you're gonna think about buying one. When I go to the Arts I play a whole bunch of guitars, without any problem about it whatsoever...they are a friendly store.

Now, the 00028H...that's interesting. Same basic thing, but with herringbone purfling, is it? And $1,000 less??? Hmmmmm. I may take a trip to Toronto and see. Where would I find one, do you think? 12th Fret? Or?

I'm off to check out that site!

- LH

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:40 PM

Hmmm...actually, Bobert, I'm not all that crazy about D-18's for some reason. Used to like D-28's 20 years ago, but now I can hardly find one I honestly like. Either I have changed or they have...

Or both.

- LH

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Justa Picker
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:53 PM

L.H.,
The Fret hasn't got any in...but Elderly has one, and they have an excellent reputation and approval process. You don't like, ship it back. No problemmo. Take a look.

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 10:02 PM

Difference strokes fir different folks, LH. BUT we just got this Martin guru, Martin authorized luthier in town by the name of Joe Lathum and he's big on the older D-18s. Might of fact, had to leave mine with him fir a little tweakin and gluein'...

Man, I wouldn't take a 28 to a goat f**kin', compared to the 18's, but if you like 'em, hey, knocj yourself out....

Bobert

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 10:03 PM

Yeah, I had a look. Very elegant guitar. Where is Elderly Instruments located?

You mean to say they will ship it to you on an approval basis? Hard to believe...

At this point I'm just curious. I do not need another guitar.

- LH

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Justa Picker
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 10:17 PM

They're in Michigan. (Mick knows them well.)
No...they won't just ship the guitar to you on approval. (That'd be wishful thinking. *g*) You buy the guitar and pay for it, and THEN they ship it to you, with an approval period. If, you don't like it for any reason, you ship it back to them (in the same condition) and they refund your money, less the shipping charges.

Subject: RE: Eric Clapton Signature Martin - GREAT!
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 10:37 PM

The specific thing I like about the Eric Clapton 000 is that it has the 1 3/4" neck width of an OM instead of the usual 1 11/16". Maybe it's just me or the size of my fingers, but, for fingerpicking, I seem to get fewer fingernail-related buzzes on guitars with 1 3/4" necks.

Bruce