Members EvanAgee Posted March 11, 2006 Members Posted March 11, 2006 Hello all, I just found out that my wife bought me a new Martin DM as a gift and I can't wait to get it. I'm wondering what some of you other DM owners think about the guitar overall? This is my first nice acoustic, my current dreadnought is a Johnson which has surprisingly nice tone but in the end it's an inexpensive guitar. Your thoughts?
Members jackwr Posted March 11, 2006 Members Posted March 11, 2006 So much for the surprise you lucky fella. You'll love it! My thoughts are your wife's a keeper.
Members EvanAgee Posted March 11, 2006 Author Members Posted March 11, 2006 I guess my post was a little misleading. I didn't "find out" she actually told me (after she dropped a hint that I couldn't let go).
Members Gretsch Fan Posted March 11, 2006 Members Posted March 11, 2006 I think you will be happy. The tone and volume will be exactly what you'd expect from a Martin. Congrats. +1 on your wife being a keeper.
Members JasmineTea Posted March 11, 2006 Members Posted March 11, 2006 Originally posted by EvanAgee I guess my post was a little misleading. I didn't "find out" she actually told me (after she dropped a hint that I couldn't let go). Does she have a sister?
Members EvanAgee Posted March 11, 2006 Author Members Posted March 11, 2006 Nope, just a brother. So, if you swing that way there's still a chance...
Members PieterH Posted March 11, 2006 Members Posted March 11, 2006 Lucky devil. Mind you, my wife recently bought us a korg SP500, Allan&Heath WZ16:2 and helped me get my new G&L ASAT classic semi-hollow too. So this year we are going to the USA for the summer so no more guitars for me this year...
Members djsrc Posted March 12, 2006 Members Posted March 12, 2006 Hi Y'all! Martin DM? I dreamed of getting a Martin my whole life! Played a Yamaha FG-180 from the Year One, until it disintegrated. The Body hangs on my wall as a memento. Wanted to get a solid body Martin, but just don't have the mullah. Picked up a DM on CL after reading all the player reviews on HC. Year 2000, from the original owner, with a Martin Hardshell case. One nonthreatening scratch across the grain on the top by some schmuck who got too zealous with a pick. A Pro Woodguy said it's completely cosmetically repairable, but it doesn't affect the perfomance of the guitar in any way. Otherwise it is in beautiful condition. Great action! Not a buzz! $500. I can't believe the tone of this guitar for the money! It's $750 new on the Net, with the case. What an amazing bargain. I am in Heaven...
Members paulh Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 I also have a 2000 DM. I've had several people comment on the great tone. It's got the Martin sound, which is sometimes too bass heavy for some of the music I play. I prefer to use ligther, bronze strings to brighten up the tone. DM's don't seem to get much love on this, or other forums. Don't know why, I think its a great guitar, Martin tone (and headstock) at an affordable price - so you're not afraid to take it out of the house or let others touch it.
Members t60 fan Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 Along with the DR, some of the better values in the Martin lineup IMHO.
Members EvanAgee Posted March 13, 2006 Author Members Posted March 13, 2006 I'm not sure whey they're looked down upon. I worked in a music store for a while that carried Martin guitars and the DM was one of my favorites and we even had some of the better models 24s and even a 48. I preferred the DM.
Members djsrc Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 Exactly, paulh! It's funny you mention the light strings, because that's what was on the guitar when I bought it, and the dude threw in five sets of Markley?, strings. On the Martin site it says that Medium Phosphor is the optimum string, but it sounds great with the lights. Using the mediums would make it louder, I suppose? It would also increase the stress on the neck, no? The action would be tougher, no? Any comments from anyone regarding the difference overall, in using the meds instead of the lights would be greatly depreciated (hehe). I'm just too lazy to go through all the trouble to change back and forth to find out. Like I said, it sounds great with the lights. I totally agree that this would be the ax I would take out of the house, let alone that it sounds great to my ears, at least. If I owned, or ever own a solid wood Martin, I would be in a tizzy just even thinking about taking it out of the house. I guess that's why they call it the "Road Series"?
Members t60 fan Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 Sometimes I think people get a little deluded re: solid B/S. The top on DM's (and DR's) is solid, and that is the part carrying the most stress on a steel stringed guitar. So the Road Series is not necessarily less susceptible to damage from humidity or impact than more expensive "solid wood" Martins. They are less expensive, so that may ease concerns to some, but I would definitely consider it a quality guitar deserving proper care and treatment regardless of it's reasonable price.
Members djsrc Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 Agreed, t60. The solid wood b/s is more for additional resonance, I would imagine. The DM has great resonance and sustain of tone, IMHO. What does LAMINATED wood mean, anyway? I find that confusing. Do they take strips of thin wood and glue them together? That would make the wood even stronger, no? The DM probably gets slammed because it is a no frills Martin. The LAM thing probably has something to do with it. The SOUND and playability for the money invested is what counts.
Members t60 fan Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 Take two small , 1/4 inch "sheets" of wood product, one solid (say rosewood or mahogany) and the other "plywood" of the same species of wood. It is relatively easy to break the solid wood along its grain pattern, while the "plywood" is much harder to break.
Members paulh Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 I prefer extra lights - .10's or .11's (if you can find them) - lights and mediums (.12 or .13) are louder, but I like the tone and playability of the lighter strings. I also use bronze strings, rather than PhosphorBronze. I think PB's and heavier strings give it more of a bluegrass sound. I haven't really thought much about the effect of string gauge/tension on the guitar itself, after all, it is a Martin, so I expect that it can handle the stress of any normal strings (unless you tune it high)
Members knockwood Posted March 14, 2006 Members Posted March 14, 2006 Originally posted by djsrc What does LAMINATED wood mean, anyway? I find that confusing. Do they take strips of thin wood and glue them together? That would make the wood even stronger, no? The DM probably gets slammed because it is a no frills Martin. The LAM thing probably has something to do with it. The SOUND and playability for the money invested is what counts. It is exactly what you've surmised it is, and yes, it is generally stronger. I have a D-1 with laminate sides and I wouldn't change a thing about that guitar. I personally think lam sides make a helluva lot of sense and I suspect they might be more widely used if not for the wacky stigma associated with laminates - because they're cheaper. I read in AG not too far back that 90% of the world's guitar sales are concentrated in guitars under $300 retail. So most of the guitar labels discussed in this forum, and many more that aren't, are all competing for a mere 10% of the market. With that kind of competition, I'm sure many of them feel a need to be able to boast "All Solid Wood." One guy who doesn't - or at least didn't until very recently - is Robert Godin. Aside from added strength and stability, one obvious benefit of lams is that they allow builders who use them to keep their costs - and by extension, retail prices - down significantly. One of the reasons Godin is able to offer so many kickass guitars for such kickass prices. Just my opinion. I don't apply any of this to tops, btw. I'm not a particular fan of lam tops. Edit: Oh yeah! DM... I've tried several and think they're damn good.
Members dc1516 Posted March 14, 2006 Members Posted March 14, 2006 The Laminated sides are much stronger and have the least amount of impact on acoustic sound. Especially in mahogany you will see over time what are called "key cracks" in solid mahogany sides. This will not happen with laminates sides. There are few finer guitars for the price, if any at all with the laminates used by the Seagull folks. If you really want strength try the HPL back and sides of the Martin X series. These are amazing for $500.00 in sound and value. dc
Members Rolyat714ce Posted March 14, 2006 Members Posted March 14, 2006 Congrats on your Martin:thu: They make great guitars!!Here is a great Martin guitar forum great guys,friendly and very knowledgeable. http://p082.ezboard.com/btheunofficialmartinguitarforum
Members EvanAgee Posted March 14, 2006 Author Members Posted March 14, 2006 Thanks, I know I can't wait to get it. I can just imagine what it's going to feel like to play it.
Members t60 fan Posted March 14, 2006 Members Posted March 14, 2006 Be sure to let us know how you like it when you get it.
Members Alias Roberts Posted March 19, 2006 Members Posted March 19, 2006 I have a 2001 DM and I love it! I suspect you will too. Lovely tone; I put a light strings on it cause that
Members djsrc Posted March 19, 2006 Members Posted March 19, 2006 Ugh! Knockwood on edge of BIG ISLAND, across churning river! Speaks wisely of Laminates, and unfair criticism of. Thank you for your input. Look North, to instrument factory that creates the legendary STEINWAY pianos, in QUEENS, NY. Bodies are the best selection of hardwoods that are LAMINATED into the classic grand piano shape. Saw a TV piece on the 150th year of the company's history, recently. Steinway hand built his own GRAND, about twenty years before he started the company. The 1st Steinway grand, was built in his kitchen. It is called the KITCHEN STEINWAY. And when.... What? This is an Acoustic Guitar Forum? Oh, sorry about that.
Members JasmineTea Posted March 19, 2006 Members Posted March 19, 2006 big cloud rolls towards sunset many people hunt buffolo campfire burns late into night we drinkum much firewater play music and dance alot
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