Members rbm Posted December 12, 2003 Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 I'm in Atlanta GA and went to a music store today (not GC) and found a 1977 Martin HD-28.Picked it up and man it had so many checks/cracks over the front it was silly.Played it and it was heaven compared to the brand new HD-28 I played a few seconds before.The owner of the store said the cracks don't affect the value of the guitar - $1,899.What do you acoustic guys think? Is it only about sound? Do the 1970's Martins have quality issues like I've heard? I've got to say it was a great sound in comparison. Also, anybody around Atlanta please let me know of some great "unknown" music stores that have great acoustic guitars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bigmo66 Posted December 12, 2003 Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 Sweet sound or not, Unless I was the original owner and watched the cracks develop myself, it would bother me. There are a ton of sweet sounding guitars out there cracked all to heck, but unless it is vintage, phenominal sound and a bargain, I'd be inclined to keep looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilHippy Posted December 12, 2003 Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 perhaps the cracks are just checking you didn't look at closely.My 74' D-35 is really checked.It took me so long to examine and see if it had any cracks.I used a magnifying glass and looked over every square inch of the exterior and as much as I could of the interior using a small mirror and a flash light pen.I love my 74' Martin.I am indecisive about selling and keeping it.Of course, I am indecisive about selling or keeping any guitar.....I guess i'm an indecisive person at heart.I love her......but like any guitar she gives you her ups and downs....plusses and minuses...I hope you understand what I meant be that.I don't know what it is with me and 70s Martins.Mine really is different from all the problems most have had.It's never had the infamous vintage Martin pickguard crack....no cracks at all.I have'nt had any problems with my 74'.Good thing about 70s Martins....they aren't as expensive as new ones yet cheaper than most vintage Martins, you don't have to worry about them really getting beaten up or scratched,and they have already opened up and have great tone.Minuses: more problems in 70s Martins due to the big strike at Martin and increased production with less employees.~EH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilHippy Posted December 12, 2003 Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 Originally posted by rbm I'm in Atlanta GA and went to a music store today (not GC) and found a 1977 Martin HD-28.Picked it up and man it had so many checks/cracks over the front it was silly.Played it and it was heaven compared to the brand new HD-28 I played a few seconds before.The owner of the store said the cracks don't affect the value of the guitar - $1,899.What do you acoustic guys think? Is it only about sound? Do the 1970's Martins have quality issues like I've heard? I've got to say it was a great sound in comparison.Also, anybody around Atlanta please let me know of some great "unknown" music stores that have great acoustic guitars! Oh, I forgot to mention something.I bought my guitar from Randy Wood Guitars.He founded GTR,which is now Gruhn Guitars, with Tut Taylor and George Gruhn.The guitar was owned by a Mark Vaquer who worked at one of his shops.Randy is pretty well known as he has built guitars for Eric Clapton,Danny Gatton,Elvis Presley,and he fas fortunate enough to build a mandolin for Bill Monroe.You can tell from his hand crafted guitars that he is an artist and a genius and he loves what he does.I think he has a shop in Bloomingdale,Georgia and Savannah,Georgia. I've got his business card at hand here.He is a custom instrument specialist,an engraver,woodcarver,and pearl inlay artist.He is also an authorized luthier for Martin Guitar repair.His phone number is (912)-748-1930. His site is http://www.randywoodguitars.com ~EH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LittleBrother Posted December 12, 2003 Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 Maple Street Music in Buckhead one block from peachtree&peidmont DreamCatchers in Roswell north of the perimeter. best and smartest Martin repairman in these parts is Ralph Luttrell (404)325-7977. he repairs special cases back to new if you want it. You can take anything to him. He also makes super fine resonators. Buy what makes your heart sing. If you can have a luthir look at it. Almost anything can be repaired or stabilized. If you ever need help I am in Conyers. Email on my website below Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rbm Posted December 12, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 Originally posted by EvilHippy Oh, I forgot to mention something.I bought my guitar from Randy Wood Guitars.He founded GTR,which is now Gruhn Guitars, with Tut Taylor and George Gruhn.The guitar was owned by a Mark Vaquer who worked at one of his shops.Randy is pretty well known as he has built guitars for Eric Clapton,Danny Gatton,Elvis Presley,and he fas fortunate enough to build a mandolin for Bill Monroe.You can tell from his hand crafted guitars that he is an artist and a genius and he loves what he does.I think he has a shop in Bloomingdale,Georgia and Savannah,Georgia. I've got his business card at hand here.He is a custom instrument specialist,an engraver,woodcarver,and pearl inlay artist.He is also an authorized luthier for Martin Guitar repair.His phone number is (912)-748-1930. His site is http://www.randywoodguitars.com ~EH thanks alot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rbm Posted December 12, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 Originally posted by LittleBrother Maple Street Music in Buckhead one block from peachtree&peidmontDreamCatchers in Roswell north of the perimeter.best and smartest Martin repairman in these parts is Ralph Luttrell (404)325-7977. he repairs special cases back to new if you want it. You can take anything to him. He also makes super fine resonators. Buy what makes your heart sing. If you can have a luthir look at it. Almost anything can be repaired or stabilized. If you ever need help I am in Conyers. Email on my website below Thanks:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rbm Posted December 12, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 Originally posted by EvilHippy more problems in 70s Martins due to the big strike at Martin and increased production with less employees.~EH Do you know anything about Martin quality circa 1977? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dean Posted December 12, 2003 Members Share Posted December 12, 2003 I have a 2001 HD28. Probably doesn't sound nice and open yet like the '77. I bought it used last month. Got a good deal. I played some new and used ones before I bought it. It sounded better than the rest but ofcourse all guitars sound different, even the same make from the same year. What was weird was that it had, what looked to be, a 1" long top seam separation near the bottom of the guitar right between the two martin braces that run on a diagonal. It bothered me but the guitar sounded so good. I had it looked at by a great Luthier here in Toronto (12th Fret) and he repaired it for $75(CAN). He glued a small spruce diamond shaped tab on the underside and put in some glue in the top side. In the end, he touched it up real nice. He feels that the "crack" didn't go all the way through seam, there was no movement in the top plates, no light went through the "crack" and with the spruce reinforcement and glue it should be fine. The finish, though, prior to the repair, showed signs of separation which is why I had it reinforced - just to be on the safe side.75 bucks is nothing. I sometimes wonder though if this will affect the value of the guitar. I don't think it will. I don't plan on selling it anytime soon. I could see if the guitar was dropped and damaged, it may be tough to sell (like a car in an accident). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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