Members polyphony Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 Hello all, I've been playing a 6 string fretless for about 10 years now, and I've tooled around on a guitar or 2 in my day as well.. but never owned. So, I'm shopping around for something nice. I thought I wanted a Martin, but they sound a little dull when I played them. Taylor seems pretty nice. I would like to get something that doesn't break the bank.. ~$600-800, but something that will last. Something I could keep for years and maybe give my kid when the time comes I'm thinking Dreadnaught, as I think that body type has the richest sound.. but I'm not tied to it. Not really interested in acoustic/elec. I can always add a pickup. Suggestions please!
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 I own Taylors and Martins, dreads and nots, and they are all wonderful guitars. You need to keep playing then until one just cries out to follow you home. Because Martin ships their guitars with their own uncoated strings (which typically have a life of a month) and Taylor ships with coated strings (which might be good for several months) you may find Martins in shops that simply have dead strings. A good shop should be changine strings on their stock periodically, and if I found a Martin that I was seriously considering buying I would not hesitate to ask the shop to throw a new set on for me. Dreads are typically big boomy guitars, best for flat picking and boom-chuck strumming, but they can be used for a lot of other styles too. You might also want to compare some of the more balanced bodies like an OM or GC, and even something like a jumbo. Others will chime in with all their favorites - but I'll just say that you have a lot of great choices and should be able to get something really nice in that price range.
Members Tony Burns Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 polyphony - it all depends on where that particular Martin was , if you were to tell me you played it at a Guitar Center , this would make scense - they do not take care of their acoustics ( in general ) you can always ask for new strings in they are shot , most respectable stores will do that ( if they are not busy with something or someone else ) Larry's as well as Taylors are great guitars for the money , think you'd be happy with either make if your not into Martins-- good luck my friend ! I also totally agree with Freeman Keller on the strings , I personnaly dont like coated strings , my experience is that uncoated PB sound better but dont last as long - if I play a guitar ocassionally Id be more tempted to put coated strings on it than regular PB.
Members polyphony Posted November 7, 2006 Author Members Posted November 7, 2006 Any specific model suggestions I should play?
Members 1tallbassguy Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 I too am wanting a good acoustic bass, while keeping the cost down to around 5-6 Franklins. I really liked the Martin, but it was out of budget. I also liked the Tacoma, with the jumbo body, but again, over budget. I am planning on ordering a Takamine this week. For about $549 with HS case, it seems to be reasonable. Edit: Sorry I misread the thread title.
Members polyphony Posted November 7, 2006 Author Members Posted November 7, 2006 Originally posted by Tony Burns polyphony - it all depends on where that particular Martin was , if you were to tell me you played it at a Guitar Center , this would make scense - they do not take care of their acoustics ( in general ) you can always ask for new strings in they are shot , most respectable stores will do that ( if they are not busy with something or someone else ) Larry's as well as Taylors are great guitars for the money , think you'd be happy with either make if your not into Martins-- good luck my friend ! I also totally agree with Freeman Keller on the strings , I personnaly dont like coated strings , my experience is that uncoated PB sound better but dont last as long - if I play a guitar ocassionally Id be more tempted to put coated strings on it than regular PB. Ya I did play it at Guitar Center.I'm looking around for nice shops in NYC where I live.I just moved from Boston a few months back, so I don't know the small places yet. I believe I played a DX1 or DXM
Members polyphony Posted November 7, 2006 Author Members Posted November 7, 2006 Originally posted by 1tallbassguy I too am wanting a good acoustic bass, while keeping the cost down to around 5-6 Franklins. I really liked the Martin, but it was out of budget.I also liked the Tacoma, with the jumbo body, but again, over budget.I am planning on ordering a Takamine this week. For about $549 with HS case, it seems to be reasonable. Hi bassguy.I'm actually looking for an acoustic guitar, not a bass at the moment.I was just saying I'm a fretless bassist, if that makes any difference in what guitars might suit the fact I'm used to pressing the fretboard quite hard.
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 Poly, if it was a DX1 or M that you played do try some other Martins. In the DX series the backs are "high pressure laminate" with a wood pattern - not "real wood". I've honestly never played one and they might have great place in the guitar world, but IMHO you should try 15, 16, 17 series Martins, 3xx and 4xx series Taylors, the Epi Masterbuilts that some others will recommend, 03 Larrivees - everything you can lay your hands on. Play guitars at or slightly above your price point - for example my 314 Taylor currently lists for about $1500, but the street price could be between 900 and 1000 for a new one, and I see used ones all the time at 750.
Members polyphony Posted November 7, 2006 Author Members Posted November 7, 2006 What are peoples thoughts about Grand Auditoriums vd Dreadnoghts Also where's a good place to shop around? Freeman you said your 314 would be around $900-$1000, but all I've founs online is 1150 and up.
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 Originally posted by polyphony What are peoples thoughts about Grand Auditoriums vd DreadnoghtsAlso where's a good place to shop around?Freeman you said your 314 would be around $900-$1000, but all I've founs online is 1150 and up. Oversimplification - dreads are flatpicking, bluegrassing, strumming bassy cannons OM/GA's are fingerpicking, balanced little pistols that does it all. You can fingerpick a dread (look at Doc Watson) or strum a GA (can't think of anyone...). I'm a fingerstyle player (mostly blues, Fahey, Kottke, Cooder, type stuff) and my big beautiful dread mostly sits in the closet. My price thing is based on the price from Taylor's site ($1535, I think), and the belief that you can get somewhere about 60 to 70 percent off at the big box or internet stores. W/O warranty I figure a used git is worth at best 50 percent of MSRP. Personally I like to deal at a local store and figure 75 percent is a good price if they have the git in stock for me to play.
Members Cldplytkmn Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 Originally posted by Freeman Keller Oversimplification - dreads are flatpicking, bluegrassing, strumming bassy cannonsOM/GA's are fingerpicking, balanced little pistols that does it all.You can fingerpick a dread (look at Doc Watson) or strum a GA (can't think of anyone...). I'm a fingerstyle player (mostly blues, Fahey, Kottke, Cooder, type stuff) and my big beautiful dread mostly sits in the closet. My price thing is based on the price from Taylor's site ($1535, I think), and the belief that you can get somewhere about 60 to 70 percent off at the big box or internet stores. W/O warranty I figure a used git is worth at best 50 percent of MSRP. Personally I like to deal at a local store and figure 75 percent is a good price if they have the git in stock for me to play. psst... freeman... i think you meant to say 60-70 percent OF the list price... actually i know you meant to say that... we'll let that one slide though... my advice is pretty much as FK has said... i'd probably personally be leaning toward an Epi masterbuilt or a use larrivee... although the martin -15s are pretty awesome too
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 Originally posted by Cldplytkmn psst... freeman... i think you meant to say 60-70 percent OF the list price... actually i know you meant to say that... we'll let that one slide though... yes yes yes, OFF, OF, whats the difference? One stinkin' little F Mostly you'll hear people say that they can get 30 or 40 percent OFF list, but it is one stroke less on my calculator to do 60 or 70 OF list. Most stores get their stock at about 50 OF (or OFF, how 'bout that one?) list, so they really aren't making a whole lot.
Members Cldplytkmn Posted November 7, 2006 Members Posted November 7, 2006 Originally posted by Freeman Keller Most stores get their stock at about 50 OF (or OFF, how 'bout that one?) whoa... advanced move there...
Members polyphony Posted November 12, 2006 Author Members Posted November 12, 2006 Anyone had any expierience with the Martins that are made for Guitar Center. I picked up and quite liked a GC-MMV WC Dread with a solid Sitka Spruce top and gloss finish. I really like the gloss on the Martins, but I'm wondering if having GC specific guitar is worth the $$ or if I should get a normal Martin.
Members eor Posted November 12, 2006 Members Posted November 12, 2006 or strum a GA (can't think of anyone...) eorlove,eornow you know one
Members leftync Posted November 12, 2006 Members Posted November 12, 2006 don't limit yourself to looking at low-end taylors or martins. for the same money, you can get nice, all solid guitars from epiphone masterbuilt, blueridge (if you can stand the headstock), and maybe seagull. not sure where larrivees start, but its admirers are many.
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