Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Scott_F

Flushologist
Staff member
New arrival in Monday. Haven't had GAS like this in a very long time. Seems like I've really been on my acoustic cycle lately. Some months it's all electric. Some months all acoustic. Never seem to mix my manic phases.


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Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Can't wait to see it! I have a bunch of dreads right now, but I am seriously thinking about getting another one...a new Martin HD-28E Retro to replace my Taylor 710CE. The Taylor is a really nice, well made guitar, but it doesn't have the rich tone of a Martin. These Retros sound great acoustically, and have the terrific Fishman D-18 Aura +. I go back and forth between acoustic and electric all the time. Can't live without a great acoustic.

Expecting a pic of your new toy soon!

Bill
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Martin HD-28V


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Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Remember (in the northern hemisphere) it's heating season. Hydrate @ about 46% and 72F.
PC
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Martin HD-28V

Heck yes! I played a ridiculous quantity of guitars over 6 months to find my (only) acoustic. I finally decided that the HD-28V is the peak of the acoustic cost benefit curve. Above the Vintage line the cost becomes astronomical, but the tone and quality of build and woods is outstanding on the Vintage line. Enjoy Scott!
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

New arrival in Monday. Haven't had GAS like this in a very long time. Seems like I've really been on my acoustic cycle lately. Some months it's all electric. Some months all acoustic. Never seem to mix my manic phases.


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I play both acoustic & electric nearly every day. I have 11 acoustics; one I keep at work, but hardly ever play it. At home I have a process that I go through to get them all exercised properly. Stored in their respective cases I just rotate them to make sure they get fresh strings when needed, humidification as needed. Etc. but most importantly a guitar is meant to be played..... I play them...
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Remember (in the northern hemisphere) it's heating season. Hydrate @ about 46% and 72F.
PC

In TX, it's just cold this week for the first time. Humidity in my shop dropped from low 70's to about 45% today. My guitars get plenty of humidity all year. It just won't get below 40-45% humidity here thank Goodness!

My one bad experience years ago with humidity and guitars was a black PRS Soapie I bought from a guy in NJ. It arrived with fret ends sticking out both sides. Ridiculous the neglect. It was so bad, I got a sponge and moistened it and just put the sponge in the case pocket and closed up the entire guitar in there for a few days. Voila! Wood swelled back up and the fret ends were no longer an issue. That's my one and only problem and it was used from the NE in Winter.

I was also looking at Maury's music store up in PA. But given similar price, I chose the FL dealer over the Penn dealer just for that reason (likely not even an issue at all with a good well-respected dealer)

I also had a guitar shipped from Dave's in WI one time in the dead of winter. It sat in frozen fed ex warehouses for over a week while we had ice storms to deal with around Dallas. I was expecting the worst, but it came through no problem.
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Martin HD-28V

You're going to love it! I bought mine in 2010. Now, I love all of my guitars, but the HD-28V is special. With the forward-shifted scalloped bracing, it is so lively and resonant. I think Darkside makes a good point about the price point on this guitar. The D-28 Authentics are spectacular guitars--the hide-glue really seems to make a difference, but they cost almost twice as much as the HD-28V. I'd love to have one, of course, but it's really not practical.

I'd never really thought about the HD-28V until the guys at GC showed me a pristine Collings D-2HA they had taken in, Adi top. Great sounding guitar, and then I pulled an HD-28V off the wall to compare--big mistake. The Martin just blew it away, and I wasn't the only one who thought so. Once I had the tone of the HD-28V in my mind, I knew I'd have to get one, and a few months later I scored a GC return for a great price.

So congrats on the new guitar!

Bill
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

So, typical GC experience. Once I got the guy to put some new strings on the Martin, he hands it to me and I get it all tuned up. The tech then pulls a Taylor 814ce off the wall that I had also been playing and proceeds to become stereotypical guitar salesman. He just starts playing the Taylor to the point of showing off. I just stopped playing and listened to him. Gave him his space. When he paused, I started playing again.

Seriously, I"m looking to play and listen to a high end guitar. Why the heck would you grab another guitar and stomp all over my ears like that? I just don't get it. Compensating for something I guess.
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

Yeah, I've had that happen to me. I chalk it up to the gun/guitar-slinger attitude rather than a GC thing, per se. I've had this happen at small stores too. And I've noticed that quite often in these situations, a Taylor guitar is involved, lol!

The Taylors have a big following, mostly among younger players; I think it's because they play so well and you can really shred on them. I have a 2002 Taylor 710-CE myself. It is a transitional model: Englemann spruce top, NT neck, re-voiced top bracing, and a Fishman preamp--they only did this combo for about three months. I've used it quite a bit when playing out, and it does the job. It is a well-made guitar, though the cosmetics of the rosewood to my eye are sub-standard. It is a little bit stiff sounding, very clean and clear, and it mics up well with a SM-57 and the various condensers I've used. But it does NOT have the mid-range warmth of a Martin, or the bass response, or the volume. I've mitigated some of that by using a bone nut and saddle, Tusq bridge pins and D'Addario EXP Phoshor Bronze strings; all of which help--but a Taylor is not a Martin. They have a distinct tonality. Beautifully done, and they always play so perfectly, but I miss that warmth and power. And I've noticed that Taylors don't seem to hold their value as well as a comparable Martin. I've come to view my 710 as a tool, rather than a fine musical instrument.

I'd have to say that most of the guys at my local GC's (I have four within 40 miles of my house) are pretty cool, and they treat me well. It actually was the manager of the GC that called me about the Collings; he knows I have expensive tastes, LOL! He knew that I was looking for something special, and I was actually thankful he called--these guitars are rare in my area. It was kinda funny too, because the Collings has a such a great rep. It was beautifully made and it did sound good. A little stiff, like many new Adi-topped guitars, but you could tell that somewhere down the road, the Collings was going to a formidable instrument. And it did pretty much blow away every other guitar they had in the store...Martin, Taylor, Breedlove, Gibson, Tak, Yamaha...everything but the HD-28V. And that guitar just blew away the Collings, not even close. The whole experience was an eye-opener, not just for me, but for the guys in the store, too.

One of my favorite acoustic guitar shop horror stories, and there are many, lol...(not a GC, BTW)...

I was in my mid-twenties, clean cut and presentable, already making a decent living as a musician, cash money in my pocket, looking to buy a D-28. I already had a D-18, and was looking for a second guitar. Go into this small shop, meet the owner, he has a D-28. Great! I ask to see it.

"No. You have to buy it before I let you touch it."

I get out my wallet. I count out the money. Then I take the money, put it back into my wallet and walked out the door.

Never went back. Got my brand new 1975 D-28 a couple months later for the same price as his.

The really bad part of the story though, is that the guitar he had was a NOS Brazilian RW model, probably hanging in his shop 6-8 years. If I knew then what I know now--I probably would have bought it anyway. SHOULD have...the BRW D-28s are worth about three times what my '75 is worth. Ah well...

But, I paid the rent with that D-28 (and the D-18) for many years. I still have the D-28. It's battle-scarred--been to a lot of bars and festivals; married off several couples, and helped me sing sweet love songs to fair young maidens who showed great appreciation for my attention. But...those stories are for another time...

I really hope you get a lot of pleasure from this new guitar. Be sure to post some pics when it comes in.

Bill
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

I drove over to UPS yesterday morning. They were closed. I walked around the back and talk to a couple guys in the back. Apparently all the stuff that had come up Friday from Houston was locked in tractor trailers. Freezing. Have to just suck it up and wait for my guitar tomorrow. Boy does that suck


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Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

As you well know, let it all slowly come up to temperature... :) It's a grueling wait!
 
Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

I drove over to UPS yesterday morning. They were closed. I walked around the back and talk to a couple guys in the back. Apparently all the stuff that had come up Friday from Houston was locked in tractor trailers. Freezing. Have to just suck it up and wait for my guitar tomorrow. Boy does that suck


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I hope it was sent with plenty of insurance.
 
Something Acoustic This Way Comes

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Like a piano. Very full. Makes my two Taylor's hide in shame. My koa 324ce sounds shrill and tinny in comparison.


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Re: Something Acoustic This Way Comes

The rosewood is actually a lot lighter than a lot of guitars I've seen lately.
 
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