Trying to choose between some acoustics...help me out!

[smit1846]

I have done a lot of research on the following guitars:

 

Martin 000-15

 

Taylor GC3 Grand Acoustic

 

Martin D16GT

 

Martin DM Dreadnought

 

Personally, I am leaning toward the Martin D16GT. All the personal reviews I have read on it have been very high. There are things about all of them that I do like. Right now I am really stuck between the Taylor GC3 and the Martin D16GT. I need some more advice. If anyone has had experience with any of these I would love to hear your opinions.

 

A friend of mine has been pushing Guild on me. I know nothing about this brand, nor have done any research. If you have any thoughts on Guilds please leave them as well.

 

Thanks. I played electric for years and years. Then became obsessed with acoustic. I have been playing on a pretty basic Fender acoustic. The sound isn't anything special so I am excited to pick up something more high end.

[Scott Fonseca]

Guild are very solid guitars and spoken very highly of here. Between the Taylor and the Martin, I would go for the Martin, but that is because I drool over that "Martin" sound However, the action on the Martin will not be as low as the Taylor (Martin's are not known for their playability and the Taylor has a thinner neck) Also, you have to sit down with the guitars and whichever guitar "speaks" to you, that's the one for you. Good luck and all of those guitars are great ones!!

[moctzal]

With two guitars as different and as good as a Taylor GC3 and a Martin D-16GT I think you should play them both and I think you'll know just from that.

I'd also add Larrivees to your list. Amazing guitars, and tons of people on this forum own and love them. Their L/D/OM 03 guitars are amazing values.

If you're going to try a Guild, Guild's GAD-50 and GAD-30 are two to check out.

My best advice is to go out and try some and let your hands and ears decide which is best for you.

[Samilyn]

Wow - some stellar choices there.

 

My preference is for Martin over a Taylor - just like the tone of Martins better, as a rule. It seems to have more depth and richness to me. But taste is highly subjective.

 

I'm also one that prefers big, boomy dreads, but I believe several members here have a Martin 000-15, in which case I'm sure they can give you a good, objective review of them.

 

Whichever one you ultimately choose, enjoy!

[flip333]

Nice research! How important is size to you? How big are your hands and fingers?

The 000-15 will give you a sweet, warm tone from a comfortable little chocolate box. It will fingerpick nicely with its thin 1 11/16 neck. Won't get as loud as a dread or have the full bottom end of a dread, but I found that my 000-15S gives plenty of bass for me. I played a $2000 000-18 that sounded like a small AM radio to me. The 15's give a nice tone.

I like the Martin DM. It is a nice dread for $1000 with a good growl on the bottom. 1 11/16 neck is small for those with bigger fingers who want to play fingerstyle

I love the Taylor GC7. I would like to try the GC3 because I like mahogany b/s w/spruce top. Pretty full sound for a grand concert size body. Great playability with the short scale and low action. 1 3/4 nut is a good compromise for most.

I will guess the GAD's are good as well as the D-16GT which does get pretty good reviews.

In the end, I have yet to find a match for the tone of my Larrivee L-03, except for a $4500 Goodall and a $3000 Breedlove C25. Larrivee's are smooth and full with great overtones. Some people want a more fundamental tone with a darker warm feel like a Martin. L-03 is 1 3/4 nut. I can tolerate that spacing, but sometimes I like a more narrow net and a more narrow neck.

I appreciate your need for answers and opinions. When you want a guitar, you get excited and VERY interested in the possibilities!