Want new grab & play anywhere, anytime acoustic semi-beater recommendation

[chadd]

Re: Want new grab & play anywhere, anytime acoustic semi-beater recommendation

alvarez or takamine would be my take.

I've had my Alvarez for something like 15 years and wouldn't trade it for any new acoustic that retails for less than $1500. They made/make some really nice budget guitars.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Want new grab & play anywhere, anytime acoustic semi-beater recommendation

I'd like I hear more about why you people dislike the HPL martins?

Everything I can find sounds good!?!

Its practically MDF from the technological process described...

MDF with "fotoflame" type fake grain, minus the flame. And the japanese goodies under the hood that made Fender Fotoflames quite nice, despite the way they cheated with not even a veneer but printer film... Also, the japanese had the decency to use SOLID woods, just with uglier grains, under fotoflame. Not so for Martin

 

[blakejcan]

Re: Want new grab & play anywhere, anytime acoustic semi-beater recommendation

Everything I've read makes it sound like they take the scrap wood from their regular run guitars and turn it into HPL. The quality of the phoney wood grain pic or whatever doesn't bug me a bit. Just the sound and that it looks reasonable.

I think they do that. Played a few yesterday and they are pretty great.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Want new grab & play anywhere, anytime acoustic semi-beater recommendation

Its practically MDF from the technological process described...

Why do you post here?

HPL is "high pressure laminate". Its about the same as the thin, hard shell on most standard counter tops. It is NOTHING like MDF. It's very durable, but not indestructible. It's hard to repair with traditional techniques. I'm also not convinced that the wood-to-laminate bonds are as good as the wood/wood bonds in traditional guitar construction. But hey, who am I to argue with the Martin guitar company?

 

[blakejcan]

Re: Want new grab & play anywhere, anytime acoustic semi-beater recommendation

Reviving this

Either going with Martin 000X1 or DX. Think I might go 000 to have something different. The small size feels good and somehow sounds fuller than the DX even tho it's not as big. Should have it by next weekend. Weeeeeeeeee!!!