Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Diminished Triad said:
Whether you've played or owned the acoustic, what is your absolute favorite and/or dream acoustic guitar and why? Seems like most people talk about Martins these days as the best sound/tone possible. Taylors and others are distant seconds. Breedlove and Yamaha are also out there but nowhere near Martin. Taylor seems like the most comfortable guitar if I were to summarize most of what I read and hear. But Martin remains the king of acoustics in the popular acoustic world.

What's yours?
Thanks for sharing!
Click to expand...
Goodall. Had the same experience every single time I have played one in a shop. First pick up a Goodall play it sit it down play anything else no matter what brand, how old ,what price doesn't matter they all sound dead like they are stuffed full of cotton in comparison. Problem is the Goodall I want is around $7K but if I was primarily an acoustic player would be worth every cent!
I own a sold top Takamine and a Taylor 110 but---.
Here is the best clip of a Goodall can find they are truly special guitars and IMO there is nothing else close. tones are piano like and more expressive than anything else i have played or heard.
 
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Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

On the lower and, and slightly off-topic, did anyone here play a recent Yamaha FGX? I'm curious about the 830C a rosewood laminate sides and back / solid spruce top.

Looking for something that looks good, doesn't play bad, and has a warm sound to it.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Synapsys said:
On the lower and, and slightly off-topic, did anyone here play a recent Yamaha FGX? I'm curious about the 830C a rosewood laminate sides and back / solid spruce top.

Looking for something that looks good, doesn't play bad, and has a warm sound to it.
Click to expand...

Haven't played one
But I have had several Yamaha acoustics over the years and they all played well
Sounded good

The new desert burst color they have is hideous to me
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Synapsys said:
On the lower and, and slightly off-topic, did anyone here play a recent Yamaha FGX? I'm curious about the 830C a rosewood laminate sides and back / solid spruce top.

Looking for something that looks good, doesn't play bad, and has a warm sound to it.
Click to expand...

I haven't played one either, but I have a Yamaha AC1R which has similar solid spruce/rosewood laminate construction. It sounds great, and has an excellent feeling neck. Because of the concert body, it's warm, but not too warm it still has some high end sparkle to it.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

A few years ago, I inherited my grandfather’s ‘48 Martin 000-18. It needed a neck reset and the bridge reglued. I had those done and it’s a great guitar, but I am a little leery of taking it out of the house much. It has a wonderful sound after all of these years.

Next year, I celebrate half a century on this planet and my wife has given me a nice budget to get a nice acoustic guitar. After checking out several, I’ve narrowed it down to a J-45 style, most likely between a Collings or a Santa Cruz. The Vintage Southerner from Santa Cruz has been consistently the best performing one of the ones I’ve tried so far. They play amazingly easy and sound great among the four or five I’ve tried.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

I currently own a pair of Guilds; a '98 DV-6 which is essentially a reissue of the '60s D-40 with vintage-style bracing and a '75 G212 which is a 12-string built on a D-40 body. I've played a bunch of acoustics, but a mahogany Guild with a spruce top & rosewood board just works for me. I have a DTAR Timberline in the DV-6.

If I need a backup guitar I borrow longcat's Yamaha FG700S. It's a bit brighter and not as deep as the DV-6, but it sounds amazing for the price she paid.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

I wanted a D18 and played everything that I could get my hands on. Ended up with a J45. It was the best out of the hundreds that I played
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Two different songs to listen to, both with the same name and similar sentiment..."This Old Guitar", one by John Denver and the other by Neil Young about Hank Williams' old D-28.

These songs really touch me, and describe how I feel about "my old guitars".

Bill
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

DKSEARS said:
A few years ago, I inherited my grandfather’s ‘48 Martin 000-18. It needed a neck reset and the bridge reglued. I had those done and it’s a great guitar, but I am a little leery of taking it out of the house much. It has a wonderful sound after all of these years.

Next year, I celebrate half a century on this planet and my wife has given me a nice budget to get a nice acoustic guitar. After checking out several, I’ve narrowed it down to a J-45 style, most likely between a Collings or a Santa Cruz. The Vintage Southerner from Santa Cruz has been consistently the best performing one of the ones I’ve tried so far. They play amazingly easy and sound great among the four or five I’ve tried.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Awesome! That would be a dream guitar for sure.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Boogie Bill said:
Two different songs to listen to, both with the same name and similar sentiment..."This Old Guitar", one by John Denver and the other by Neil Young about Hank Williams' old D-28.

These songs really touch me, and describe how I feel about "my old guitars".

Bill
Click to expand...

The John Denver one was one of the first songs I ever learned, and is still one that I really enjoy playing.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Mincer said:
I've played some beautiful Taylors, Martins, and Breedloves. I currently own a carbon fiber Adamas, which I love. I am not really after a traditional acoustic guitar sound...I am going after something like a harp, or a piano, or a harpsichord, or something else. While I dig very trditional acoustic sounds when others are playing, for my own thing I go for something a bit different.
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Id never seen one of those til you mentioned and I looked it up.. NICE! You ever played a Rainsong ? If so, can you offer a comparo? I cant think of the model, but I played one with the shark inlays and loved it..
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Synapsys said:
On the lower and, and slightly off-topic, did anyone here play a recent Yamaha FGX? I'm curious about the 830C a rosewood laminate sides and back / solid spruce top.

Looking for something that looks good, doesn't play bad, and has a warm sound to it.
Click to expand...

Havent played that exact model, but most of the Yamaha acoustics Ive played have been very favorable.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

For me, the realistic dream acoustic would be something like a Martin 00-15M. I like the punchy, mid-heavy sound of a smaller body and all that mahogany.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

BloodRose said:
Id never seen one of those til you mentioned and I looked it up.. NICE! You ever played a Rainsong ? If so, can you offer a comparo? I cant think of the model, but I played one with the shark inlays and loved it..
Click to expand...

I have played they high end Rainsongs ($$$$) which were amazing guitars, although if you are expecting them to sound like a Martin, you'd be upset. They sound like more idealized Taylors. Comparing mine to a Rainsong (Rainsong wasn't a company when I bought mine), my Adamas has a little more of a 'wood' sound because of the 5 piece neck.
But I wouldn't hesitate to own a Rainsong if I had the $$.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

To my ear, in the sub-$3K range, nothing touches a Breedlove Concert or Auditorium. Not even close. That said, it doesn't sound like any of the others either and "That" sound may bug you. Less boomy than a Martin and less shrill than a Taylor. To be fair however, I've never heard a Martin that wowed me, nor a Taylor I particularly cared for and all but one of the Taylors I have ever heard sounded god-awful to me. I suppose all that means is that either I am tone deaf or have an inordinately extreme idea of what I like so take all that for what it is worth; which is every penny of what you just paid for it.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Little Pigbacon said:
For me, the realistic dream acoustic would be something like a Martin 00-15M. I like the punchy, mid-heavy sound of a smaller body and all that mahogany.
Click to expand...
The 15M series are awesome guitars. A few years ago you could get them just above $1K, they were the best value on the market then.
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

I've owned and played a lot of acoustics, and the higher end Martin and Taylor's never disappoint, larrivee is consistently good as well. Favorite for me is my Taylor 814ce, easily the most playable and alive acoustic. When you're playing you can feel it in every part of the guitar and it really has a life of its own more than any other acoustic has
 
Re: Martin, Taylor, Other and Why?

Diminished Triad said:
Whether you've played or owned the acoustic, what is your absolute favorite and/or dream acoustic guitar and why? Seems like most people talk about Martins these days as the best sound/tone possible. Taylors and others are distant seconds. Breedlove and Yamaha are also out there but nowhere near Martin. Taylor seems like the most comfortable guitar if I were to summarize most of what I read and hear. But Martin remains the king of acoustics in the popular acoustic world.

What's yours?
Thanks for sharing!
Click to expand...

My favourite acoustic is... Mine!

consider having one made for you... I will tell you my reasoning
coming from an electric world full of branded guitars, when i seriously started acoustic, I went the opposite direction.
I thought all athose years of electric gave me a maturity sound wise, so I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted.
With my luthier we adreed on timing and Price.
We choose woods based not on "classic" feelings but resonance and voice ( so maple in fretboard W mahogany neck , rosewood bottom and sides, and spruce top).
I have zero regrets, and this instrument smokes ( yeah I didnt say "sounds better" I said is top notch more awesome) than factory intsruments.
Evey year i go to a acoustic guitar camp, all the guys there own very expensive acoustic, not even guid and gibsons, I am talking about very expensive acoustics. The voice of my instrument was, I can say with 100%honesty, better,, louder, and fatter.

Last but not least: the price. I discovered is it NOT that expensive to have one built. Absolutely cheaper than a high level, famous branded instrument.

So my answe to you is.... dont do it and seriously consider having a great luthier build you one. Choose the sound not the Brand ;-)

11221361_1064321710262699_8275580399336803620_n.jpg
 
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