Martin D-21?

[kwakatak]

Does anybody know anything about this model? I think that they stopped making them sometime in the 1960s-1970s. From what I hear it's similar to a D-28 but with no neck binding. I also hear that Jim Croce used to play one.

 

The reason I'm curious is because I have a Tak clone of a Martin D from that era and its appointments seem to mimic what I've heard about the D-21, with cheaper materials of course. I like my Tak but I'd like to get my hands on the real McCoy someday and see how close they case.

 

(In the meantime I'll just continue drooling over Paragons and Larriv

[35fingerpicker]

"...The new Martins don't seem to have the same mystique about them that the vintage ones do..."

 

The "mystique" is what brings people to the store but the Martin tone is still what sells them. Martin is makng some great guitars now; some of them are amazing, considering the fact that they are building +/- 65,000 guitars a year.

 

The D-21 never was much of a hit among Martin buyers because the price spread between it and the D-28 was so small and the white binding and Ebony FB and Bridge of the 28 just looked better (by the way, style 28 Martins don't have fingerboard binding). Most of the old D-21s are quite valuable now because they were built before the changeover to EIRW. Martin did build 73 each in Indian and Brazilian Rosewood to commemorate Jim Croce's life and music a few years back.

[JasmineTea]

 

Originally posted by 35fingerpicker considering the fact that they are building +/- 65,000 guitars a year.

WTF...

 

I don't think anyone should be allowed to build that many guitars in a year, or a lifetime. Of course, I'm a commie...

 

35fingerpicker,

I think you just convinced me to buy a Collings.

[54merk]

 

Originally posted by kwakatak Does anybody know anything about this model? I think that they stopped making them sometime in the 1960s-1970s. From what I hear it's similar to a D-28 but with no neck binding. I also hear that Jim Croce used to play one.   The reason I'm curious is because I have a Tak clone of a Martin D from that era and its appointments seem to mimic what I've heard about the D-21, with cheaper materials of course. I like my Tak but I'd like to get my hands on the real McCoy someday and see how close they case.   (In the meantime I'll just continue drooling over Paragons and Larriv

[JasmineTea]

After the introduction of the D

[kwakatak]

Thanks everyone. Just dreaming aloud really. It would have been nice to find one hanging on the wall at a local shop but it seems they are pretty rare and probably considered to be "vintage" because they are dscontinued and have BRW back/sides. I saw one at GC's ebay store for $3800 but it was pretty beat.

[Terry Allan Hall]

A friend of mine bought one about 20 years ago for $500 w/ hsc! At the time, it had been hanging on the wall of the music store for a few years and nobody thought it was particularily desirable, as it was thought of as a "poor substitute for a D-28".

 

Glenn still has it and it's his main guitar...

[kwakatak]

Originally posted by Terry Allan Hall A friend of mine bought one about 20 years ago for $500 w/ hsc! At the time, it had been hanging on the wall of the music store for a few years and nobody thought it was particularily desirable, as it was thought of as a "poor substitute for a D-28". Glenn still has it and it's his main guitar...

 

Poor man's D-28 indeed!

 

I would guess that with BRW back/sides/bridge & fretboard that it's worth a LOT more than the $500 he paiid for it! That is, if the bridge and fretboard materials actually add anything to a guitar's value.

 

So what kind of music/picking technique does he play opn it and how does it sound?

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by kwakatak Poor man's D-28 indeed! I would guess that with BRW back/sides/bridge & fretboard that it's worth a LOT more than the $500 he paiid for it! That is, if the bridge and fretboard materials actually add anything to a guitar's value. I know he's had at least one offer of 5K for it! So what kind of music/picking technique does he play opn it and how does it sound? He's like me (singer/songwriter with a jazzy-folky slant), he plays fingerstyle with bare fingers, and it's always sounded great! He has no P/U, prefers to just mic it w/ a 57. I borrowed it to play on a few track on my upcoming CD, where I wanted a more "bluegrass" guitar sound...worked very well.

 

[54merk]

 

Originally posted by kwakatak . I saw one at GC's ebay store for $3800 but it was pretty beat.

 

 

 

GC Ebay stores are a real joke. Some of the most overpriced stuff I've ever seen.

 

I am certainly no expert on Braz RW guitars but the few I've played sounded remarkably similar to EIRW. Even the beautiful Santa Cruz Brazilian OMPW which I played at Podium in the Twin Cities would have been difficult to distinguish from their standard EIRW if I were blindfolded.

 

I know that some of the most respected builders believe that they sound so much better than IR so maybe my ears are just not good enough to discern that much difference. It sure is purdy, however.

[35fingerpicker]

"..so maybe my ears are just not good enough.."

 

Maybe it's not your ears.

[ksargent]

 

Originally posted by JasmineTea WTF... I don't think anyone should be allowed to build that many guitars in a year, or a lifetime. Of course, I'm a commie... 35fingerpicker, I think you just convinced me to buy a Collings.

 

 

You won't hear a negative word about Collings from me - I love them. But I wouldn't rule the Martins in that price range out either. My last guitar buying trip started out as a quest for a Collings OM1 - it ended up as a purchase of an Martin OM-18V.

 

Martin is building some wonderful guitars right now - don't write them off without checking them out.

 

Ken