Members knockwood Posted October 8, 2005 Members Posted October 8, 2005 All right. I've done a good amount of Martin bashing on a corporate level. This is not by any means a retraction (I still find the "Select Hardwood" designation indefensibly obnoxious)... HOWEVER, in fairness I should acknowledge that I love their guitars. I've said before that the first time I picked up one of their dreads, I understood immediately why so many people love them and why they have survived so long and so well as a company. Yesterday I took a Martin home with me for the first time. What an incredible honeymoon I am having with this thing. Mama! I love every cell, every note, every nuance, including the "Select Hardwood" neck (in this case, a lovely piece of cedar). Whatever I may think of the Nazareth folks on a corporate/PR level, these people definitely know how to make a great guitar. So there's my slice of humble pie.
Members Picker Posted October 8, 2005 Members Posted October 8, 2005 LOL... wecome to the Martin family. I just got mine two weeks ago and the honemoon aint' over yet! ....Dem dare guitfiddles shore got soul
Members knockwood Posted October 8, 2005 Author Members Posted October 8, 2005 Originally posted by cfgsteak Model? Pics? This will sound a little weird, but I can't divulge precise identity just yet. Sadly, I'm not yet sure I'll get to keep this thing. Fingers crossed, prayers extended. I will say it is a relatively lower-end model - all the more reason why I'm so thoroughly impressed by how good it is.
Members woody b Posted October 8, 2005 Members Posted October 8, 2005 All you have to do to change a Martin haters mind is get them to play one. People are always changing strings, saddles, nuts, bridgepins ect on their T----rs trying to get them to sound like a Martin.
Members knockwood Posted October 8, 2005 Author Members Posted October 8, 2005 Originally posted by woody b All you have to do to change a Martin haters mind is get them to play one. People are always changing strings, saddles, nuts, bridgepins ect on their T----rs trying to get them to sound like a Martin. Nah. First, I was never a Martin hater. Always felt they made great-sounding guitars for the most part and have always coveted a few of their models. I just hate some elements of their corporate approach and that hasn't changed. If I didn't like their guitars in the first place, I'd be indifferent. I also own a Taylor and love it precisely because it sounds so different from anything else I own. Would never want to try making it sound like a Marty - or any other make - or I'd feel like I wasted my money. My GAS is born to a love of endless variety - what's the point in having a bunch of guitars that all sound alike?
Members lalatingstrings Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 i have played them.many times my friend who owns a guitar store has shoved one in my hands.the final concensus is i dont like them.they just dont feel right in my hands and im totally sorry but outside of the all mahogony ooo i think they are ugly.i am way to vain to be seen playing a guitar i think is ugly.not that i'll play a pretty one that dont sound good.i'm a tone freak.but i am also vain.
Members JasmineTea Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Originally posted by lalatingstrings i am way to vain to be seen playing a guitar i think is ugly.not that i'll play a pretty one that dont sound good.i'm a tone freak.but i am also vain. Hey that's funny. I would'nt want be seen playing something does'nt look trad, like a Martin.
Members cfgsteak Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Originally posted by JasmineTea Hey that's funny. I would'nt want be seen playing something does'nt look trad, like a Martin. I agree. And the more "aged" looking the better. My teacher has an old beat up Martin that sounds so sweet, and looks tough, like a blues guitar should. I always feel weird with my shiny guitar.
Members LDF Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Originally posted by lalatingstrings i have played them.many times my friend who owns a guitar store has shoved one in my hands.the final concensus is i dont like them.they just dont feel right in my hands and im totally sorry but outside of the all mahogony ooo i think they are ugly.i am way to vain to be seen playing a guitar i think is ugly.not that i'll play a pretty one that dont sound good.i'm a tone freak.but i am also vain. Hey lala I just bought a 000-15 and I must say I'm in love with it. DARE I say, it might even displace my Yairi WY-1 as my favorite guitar... Why won't Yairi make an all mahogany orchestra model?? The Martin one is SWEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!
Members JasmineTea Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Originally posted by LDF Hey lala I just bought a 000-15 and I must say I'm in love with it. DARE I say, it might even displace my Yairi WY-1 as my favorite guitar... Why won't Yairi make an all mahogany orchestra model?? The Martin one is SWEEEET.! I'd edit that by adding a few exclamation points.
Members LDF Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Originally posted by JasmineTea I'd edit that by adding a few exclamation points. How about now?
Members JasmineTea Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Originally posted by LDF How about now? Much better.
Members beard Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Hey man, I felt the same way when I first picked up a Martin D-18 45 years ago. Then again when I bought my first D-18. Then again when I bought my first D-28. And now that I have my first D-35 the same feeling has come over me once again. I don't care how many times I see posts gushing all over the Taylors and Seagulls, ect., down deep inside their hearts they all lust for a genuine Martin dread. They just don't admit it! Beard
Members lalatingstrings Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 i have been asking myself that same question.those wy1's sure are sweet.i love my koa model.would love to get hold of a wy1-12.uh-oh gotta go before i turn this into another GAS thread!
Members themusicdude Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 Originally posted by LDF Hey lala I just bought a 000-15 and I must say I'm in love with it. DARE I say, it might even displace my Yairi WY-1 as my favorite guitar... Why won't Yairi make an all mahogany orchestra model?? The Martin one is SWEEEET!!!!!!!!!!! that guitar sounds {censored}ing awesome.i just didn't like the way it played.-am
Members lalatingstrings Posted October 9, 2005 Members Posted October 9, 2005 I DONT I DONT!!had the chance,had the $$$$$$$$$$ I DONT!!!!!!!!!
Members flatfingers Posted October 10, 2005 Members Posted October 10, 2005 Hey guys, I've posted in this forum along the same lines, but saw you guys were talking about the martins and thought I would throw this question out there. What's your opinion on the HPL (high pressure laminate) backing on the dcx1ke model martins? I'm new to martins, actually never played on till this past weekend, and I love the way it felt in my hands, but i'm a little bit shy about the HPL material, Traditionally the wood is what makes a guitar "sound" the way it does. So I guess my question is how does it compare to a "wood" guitar. thanks, -flats.
Members LDF Posted October 10, 2005 Members Posted October 10, 2005 Originally posted by lalatingstrings I DONT I DONT!!had the chance,had the $$$$$$$$$$ I DONT!!!!!!!!! Me neither, but it's only because dreads aren't my thing. I'm more of a percussive fingerpicker. I did have a few days with a D-28 and I wasn't impressed to be honest. It was then that I realized I would never be a big dread fan. If a Martin D-28 can't satisfy me, I doubt any dreadnaught could.
Members Andrewrg Posted October 10, 2005 Members Posted October 10, 2005 Originally posted by flatfingers Hey guys, I've posted in this forum along the same lines, but saw you guys were talking about the martins and thought I would throw this question out there. What's your opinion on the HPL (high pressure laminate) backing on the dcx1ke model martins? I'm new to martins, actually never played on till this past weekend, and I love the way it felt in my hands, but i'm a little bit shy about the HPL material, Traditionally the wood is what makes a guitar "sound" the way it does. So I guess my question is how does it compare to a "wood" guitar.thanks,-flats. Flats,there are a few people who maintain that the back and sides of a guitar play more of a supporting role,and the tone really lies in the top combined with the volume of air in the box.I`ve heard great sounding laminate guitars,and lousy solid wood models-some expensive Martins too.Of course the reverse is also true.As always,comparisons are difficult between guitars,so the old cliche applies-if it sounds good to you ignore everyone else!
Members LDF Posted October 10, 2005 Members Posted October 10, 2005 I have no personal experience with these guitars, but I have it on good authority (ALL OF YOU GUYS) from 100's of posts that the back and sides of a guitar count little in the sound of a guitar. I tend to agree. That's why you can find high end acoustics with laminate back and sides; the luthiers know that it makes little if any difference. There will always be debate I'm sure, but the concensus -if there is one- is that as long as the guitar has a good top and good construction it will be a good guitar.
Members JasmineTea Posted October 10, 2005 Members Posted October 10, 2005 Originally posted by flatfingers What's your opinion on the HPL (high pressure laminate) backing thanks,-flats. It does'nt have the character of wood, but it's got even tone. IMO, it's "technicaly" better than wood because it's more consistant from one guitar to another. I do not like it. B & S woods contribute to tone signifacantly, though not nearly as much as the top/braces. The difference between rose and mahog is definatly audible.
Members knockwood Posted October 10, 2005 Author Members Posted October 10, 2005 While I do believe the type of b/s wood used can and often does make a significant tonal difference (if we're comparing solids to solids), I have actually come around to a point where I prefer laminate sides on a guitar. To me they make more structural sense and they subtact nothing readily apparent tonally - to my admittedly unrefined ear - if the guitar is well constructed. I think the reason laminate sides are not more often used has simply to do with stigma and the market's general love affair with the phrase, "All Solid Wood." I have huge admiration for Robert Godin's guts in using lam sides and shrugging off public perception in favor of qualitative and practical advantage. Yes, there's an advantage for him too in that lams are cheaper, but this benefit is extended to the customer as well in that Seagull's prices are about the best you'll find in a North American-made git. The guitar that kicked off this thread is a Martin D-1 (laminate sides) and I am completely in love with the thing. Ask someone how you can tell if sides are laminate and you'll be told to look at the grain lines on the sides' interior and compare them to the exterior, etc. What you won't be told is something like, "Play a G chord, and if the sides are laminated, it'll sound like this..." I've played a couple of Marty X gits that sounded fantastic. If I stare at the b/s/neck for long enough I guess I must admit there're some things I'd change aesthetically... But I think they're fun to play and sound damn good and they're comparatively low maintenance. I particularly like the 000X1. I think that guitar is a blast.
Members Cldplytkmn Posted October 11, 2005 Members Posted October 11, 2005 i think the argument that B/S don't contribute to tone is false... what i see is information regarding the RELATIVE impact that the different tone woods have being small, and i see people turning around and saying (i'm not saying this about anyone in particular) B/S woods don't matter. differences from one solid wood to another are distinctly there, IMO, however slight... but in my own experience the HPL doesn't act or feel like its acting like wood... I'm no luthier, only speaking from my run ins.
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