A Martin or a Gibson?

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 12:12 PM

Add Kendall Morse to the list of Taylor users. I didn't play it at the Getaway but it does have a wonderful sound when Kendall plays it. Nah, that can't be due to the Taylor - that has got to be his own particular touch. *G*

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Don Firth
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 12:30 PM

George Austin, who lives in the Seattle area, is a financial advisor by trade (I think), but on his off time he's one of the best fingerpickers in the country. He used to play Martins, but now he has a couple of Taylors. Great sounding instruments played by a real fingerpicking virtuoso.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: number 6
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 12:34 PM

Taylors ... great guitars. Happy with mine.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 08:40 PM

Ebbie, believe me, it is the Taylor, not me! Thanks anyway, you just made my day.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 08:48 PM

MG shows once again that he is a wannabe. I would not argue that Martins, taken as a whole, are a wonderful guitar and the standard by which factory builts are measured. Gibson,by virtue of its heritage and quality standard, certainly deserves its reputation. To suggest, however, that only losers play Taylor is about as stupid a statement as can be made. Real players understand that we are in a golden age of guitar lutherie. Collings, Larrivee, and others all deliver a sound and playability standard to rival any of the old names. At the top of that list is Taylor. They are delivering an instrument which has strong bass, balance across the strings, actions to die for, and quality materials.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:43 AM

Kendall, as your SO may have told you, I recorded her singing with you playing backup. Your Taylor sounds wonderful and the playing is masterful.

pssst: I will be sending a copy to her.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:45 AM

Didn't dream up nuthin'... pulled `em off the Taylor site.

And Big Mick is bang on about this being a golden age for guitar building (it's just unfortunate the quality of wood isn't as abundant and available as it was 60-70 years ago). If I had lots of bucks and could only own one guitar, I'd go to an independent luthier for a custom machine.

If I had millions of bucks, I'd own lots of Gibsons, Martins, Taylors, Larrivees, Guilds, Santa Cruzes, Washburns, Nationals, D'Aquistos, Gretschs, Collings's, Breedloves, Lowdens, Benedettos, Seagulls, Yamahas, Froggy Bottoms, Ovations, et al, plus some by indy luthiers like Laskin, Manzer, Cumpiano, Reid, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 02:53 AM

all a bit subjective anyway, isn't it?

willie nelson is obviously happy with that guitar with a hole in it. all kinds of people play all kinds of strange guitars.

its a bit like saying a maserati is the best car.

try guitars til you find one you like. personally I've owned gibsons, rickies, martins etc. I play yamahas and the variax at present, but I wouldn't describe myself as settled.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: mooman
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 03:30 AM

I'm settled at the moment (not a Martin or Gibson nor even a "name" guitar, although I've owned both the former and a number of other leading makes) and would echo entirely what weelittledrummer said.

There is no "best", it's what suits (and pleases) you personally for the style(s) of music you play.

If I ever had the money I'd commission a Manzer ("Au Naturel" archtop model).

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 09:10 AM

When I get the bucks together, I will have Grit Laskin build me the one that I will die with.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: number 6
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 09:15 AM

I'm still happy with my Taylor. Even like my humble China made Blueridge.

Pretty well all guitars are half decent and setup right ... it's the player that commands them to sing.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 09:38 AM

Good God, a thread in which MG is only mildly offensive.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 11:59 AM

he speaks no more than the truth, we're all losers if we don't play Martins.

I bet Prince Charles and Tony Blair play Martins. Its a brilliant investment - the only reason you wouldn't have one is if you're a bit of a loser - something which I freely admit to. In the great race of life - I stumbled in the paddock.

al

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: GUEST,Ray Walston
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 12:36 PM

I played a Martian once.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 01:33 PM

There are so many great jobs for different instuments to do . This is why many of us have more then one guitar . Staying with what I thought the reason for this thread was looking at WHY we buy a Gibson or a Martin is more interesting to me..
             If your in a field listening to a bluegrass band you understand why CF Martin invented what he called the Dreidnaught . A big guitar with a lot of range to hold a band together (or for Gene Autry on a mike on top of a horse in a feid ) . If your playing folksyer fingerpicking I find the dreadnaught gives to many layers of sound to work for the gendre so I use concert shaped guitars that cut through more . I love single O doubleOO and Treble OOO mahagany instruments. They work for me .(Rosewood was better for my old friend Lui Collins) So a smaller concert Martin works for folk finger picking and English stuff.
             THe L OO Gibson has a wonderful bright Charactoristic that dose very very well for slide work and sounds out well at sessions . Very bright and clear with a lot of sound . Its not just louder but adds a demention in a place a Martin can get lost . Less mid rang then the MArtin but more top .
               The concert size Taylor with a cutaway is a wonderful gigging guitar(different wood different jobs ) THere is a good reason why you see so many Taylors ON STAGE . Nothing sounds better going into a pa (without addition of a mike that is ) Its a very easy guitar to sound great on stage .. Hence the list above . I would say in all fairness that those same proffesionals listed in large numbers above playing Taylors very likly used meny different guitars in the studio to add different dementions to their songs and tunes .

                Great guitars fit different jobs .
                            All the bnest , Guy

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 02:32 PM

Good rundown, Guy. That pretty well says it.

As I mention above, I play a classic myself, but then I use it primarily for vocal accompaniment. It works particularly well for the kind of songs I generally do. I also play some classic (Sor, Tárrega, a little Bach) with an occasional lapse into flamenco, so I'm better off with a nylon-string all the way around.

A classic guitar may not be "traditional" in some circles, e.g., bluegrass, but I've sat in with bluegrass groups, and my nylon-string punched it out as well as any steel-string Martin. Good classics have a lot of penetration and come through well. Willie Nelson's old Martin (obviously vintage and really beat up) has one helluva sound!

If Martin Gibson has a 1971 D-18, he's probably got a pretty good instrument. But the only losers are those who are so closed-minded that they refuse to even consider possible alternatives and insist on dumping on everyone who isn't as closed-minded as they are.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 10:33 PM

Okay, as I have said, I love my old Martin... I think it sounds better than anything Iz played anywhere.... Yeah, like old Martins, it'll work ya' but, hey, I like the full sound...

Well, at the Getaway, I had acouple chances to play Kendall's Taylor and will have to admit that as fir playability, it prolly comes out on top but fir tone??? I think that my Martin wins out... Not by a bunch mind you but enuff...

But if you tale palyability and tone and mix 'um together, hey, I'd have to say they come out 'bout equal.... Sniff, never thought I'd say that but that's the way I call it....

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: kendall
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 12:47 PM

Bobert, then why did you not break out that famous Martin so I could play it? You never did let me get my hands on it.

If those who play Taylors are wannabees and losers, then what is a guy who gave away a 1955 Gibson J-45, and sold a damn good Martin HD 28 when he bought a 1983 Taylor 810?

The people who build Martin guitars are not magicians, so the think they are something that no other builder can equal or surpass is silly. They are all made of the same material, and Martin does not have a monopoly on the best materials.

This whole argument is silly.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 01:23 PM

"This whole argument is silly"

Exactly. Why we insist on playing the "my guitar can beat up your guitar" game is beyond me. We should be past that outdated notion by now. Anyone you plays it is a victim of testosterone poisioning. I notice that women are too smart to be involved in this nonsense. Grow up.

Besides - if you had just had a chance to play my Collings OM2HG you would have realised how silly you all are. It RULES DUDE !!! Any other conclusion would just gag a maggot.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: kendall
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 08:59 AM

Dream on Dude. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 08:21 AM

if Gibson and Martin merged they could be

Margibs or Gibmars or Gibtins - - snogirams - BignoseRamtin

just thought I'd share that

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: number 6
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 08:59 AM

Granted the tonal qualities of a Martin (specifically D-28) are best suited for Bluegrass ... but for Jazz riffs, they just don't cut it ... Taylors are perfect for accoustic jazz playing by far.

six

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 09:20 AM

Kendall,

I was waitin' fir you to ask, Capt... Heck, I din't want to insult ya' 'er nuthin' 'er give you a rash 'er nuthin'... Plus, I had it in the BobertBlues tunin' (EBEBBE) with 6 month old strings on it fir that extra earthy tone... If I had let you play it in that tunin' with them strings youi mighta gottan a danged rash, fir sure...

But you heared it the mini-concert so you can't say it belongs on the wood pile, that's fir sure...

Next year, I'll sho nuff let you play it and get a piccure of you playin' it to hang on the wall over the pudder...

Sho nuff will..

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: kendall
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 01:28 PM

I'll thicken my callouses for the torture to come LOL

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 02:20 AM

A Martin or a Gibson?

I don't know. Hmmmmmmmm. A Dean Martin or a Henry Gibson? That's a tough call.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Cluin
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 07:27 PM

Didn't matter. Back when they were on TV, we only had one channel on the box anyway. It's not like there was a choice.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: number 6
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 08:54 PM

True Cluin ... good point.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 09:57 PM

SIX, don't you think a better guitar for jazz would be one of those big old archtops like a Gibson L5? Or a Super400? Archtop accoustics are much more known as jazz guitars, I have always believed?

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: number 6
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 10:49 PM

I most certainly do agree with you on those old Gibson archtops!

But for jazz the tone of a Taylor is more appropriate than a Martin, as a Martin is more appropriate for Bluegrass.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: katydaley
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 11:00 PM

I play country and folk, some blues but mostly Bluegrass. I find my Gibson better suited to country and blues and wish I had a louder, richer tone for Bluegrass. A friend asked me to play his Martin Saturday night at a festival to see if I wanted to buy it. I thought the sound was not quite as rich as my Gibson's. But I find that my Gibson is difficult to keep in tune and the action is not as close as I'd like. Maybe it just needs a tuneup? katy

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Nov 05 - 01:50 PM

Try taking it to a good repairperson and having it set up. It could make a world of difference. What model of Gibson and Martin are we talking about ? They're not all created equal.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: GUEST,Cobell
Date: 09 Nov 05 - 12:57 PM

My Brother bought the Martin 16GTR a few months back, it's darn fine instrument, not see a Gibson acoustic for a long time though, I'm not really that keen on them, however, you can not beat a 2nd hand British Hand Made acoustic like a Fylde, I have one,and I'll take a pepsi challange with it against ANY Martin or Gibson any day of the week no sweat! in fact, I was asked to exchange it for a near new brand new Martin on a straight swap last September, it took me less than a second to refuse the offer, the guy was gutted,,and still is!

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: GUEST,Martin gibson
Date: 09 Nov 05 - 02:36 PM

Yes, Wesley S. is right. Not all martins or gibson are applicable. I have both a J45 which sounds great for country and a D18 which sounds great for just about anything.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: number 6
Date: 09 Nov 05 - 02:51 PM

One of the finest guitars I have played in the last year was a Gibson (workingman's) WM45. An absolutely impressive axe.

Cobell ... I hope some day to try out a Fylde ... I have heard vey good reports on them.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 06 - 11:02 PM

From what I read (and after half way down I got bored) none of you really truly know your ass from a hole in the ground. I have a 1947 HD-28 worth over $10,000, but I don't brag on it becuase it's worth an ass load but becuase it is the boomiest, tennist, bell like, sweetest toned guitar I ever heard it is an everyday player. I also own a 1963 Gibson J-45 that has very simmalar tone just a little more mellow and muddled. Ask any true expert, for bluegrass the bright booming martins are king. For mellow blues,country,singer songwriter stuff it's Gibson all the way.

P.S. I own a 1971 Rosewood Loprinzi Dreadnought which I love for the great tone and personal sentament, a 1973 Yamaha FG 12-string took down to a 6 string slot head, just for kicks and 2 yamaha OOO, but the yamaha's no matter how set up are nothing compartivley. Also Ovation sucks ass, Taylors are for pussies, Takamine sucks, Stella's sucked backed then and still do now, and my personal opinion is that european luthiers would sell better in the united states if they would do more traditional instruments

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 03:42 AM

more traditional? what do you mean? English guitar makers are very diverse.

in fact all guitar makers sre very variable and capable of the odd Friday afternoon job. I've owned most guitars in my time - Gibsons - martins, an English made Rob Armstrong, a Rickenbacker, yamaha LLD's, etc

I played an Ovation baladeer for many years. But for the last six years or so I have been enthralled by the yamaha CPX range. I have two good ones - a cpx8 with a spruce top, and cpx15cm - with a cedar top.

neither of them classic guitars, both have laminate sides.....however they both have that 'wow!' factor whenever other guitarists pick them up. just something about the tone and responsiveness.

I don't think martins are overpriced, but mine didn't stay long on the staff.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 04:26 AM

Easy way to tell one's ass from a hole in the ground:

If it has a hole in it, it's your ass. A hole in the ground, being a hole, cannot possibly have a hole in it. Think about it. A hole in a hole? Makes no sense.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 03:30 PM

An old friend of mine, Bernie Martin, made and played many instruments. One that I never heard him play, but that hung on the wall of his studio was a guitar made from the fender of an old Ford. He called it his Martin fender guitar.

Personally, I prefer Martins for flat picking and Gibsons for finger picking.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: number 6
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 04:08 PM

I'd like to get a hold of a Baldwin GB 66 Deluxe.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 04:10 PM

Me too.

Subject: RE: BS: A Martin or a Gibson?
From: van lingle
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 05:28 PM

Hey Belligerent A**hole Guest with the '47 HD28,
Sorry to inform you that Martin didn't even make that model until the late 70's or early 80's and stopped using herringbone on their instruments in '46 I believe and didn't do so again until they introduced the HD-28.
And just when it seemed that you did know your ass from...vl