OK, Musicians! I'm Gonna Post This Here In The Lounge Too

[ProfessorGAC]

I bought a Martin this weekend. Inventory moving sale and i got it for just a little more than half of list!

I got down to three finalists: Two different models of Martin and a Taylor.

But, i was looking for the highest price acoustics with minimum ornamentation. (I don't like all that inlay on the binding and the ultra fancy rosettes.) I figured that way, i would get the best sounding guitar i could get and just be paying for playability and tone.

I played each for about 20 minutes, maybe a little more, then had the sales guy play them so i could hear what they sounded like from in front of the guitar, as well as when it was on my lap. I liked the one i bought because it had such a nice combination of brightness and woodiness. The Taylor was too bright. The other Martin too woody sounding. Also, the Martins have a slightly smaller radius neck than the Taylors and the one i bought has a neck slightly thinner at the 12th fret. So, i got the one that i liked the sound of the best, AND it was the easiest of the three for me to play.

Now, my Takamine is the one i set to my Kottke-esque tuning, and the Giannini is just my sentimental value guitar. (First decent acoustic that i bought in 1977 or 8) I'm psyched. Think my guitar collection just may be finally complete.

The Professor

[musette_sf]

1. So which Martin did you buy?

[ProfessorGAC]

6. You Would Have To Ask That

Sorry, i don't remember. I left all the docs in the case, and the case is in the closet. I display all my guitars in my rec room. Two advantages to that: First it looks cool! Second, if they're all out, then i play all of them. Otherwise i'd play the same one or two and the rest would collect dust.

So, the guitar is hanging on the wall, (no i didn't nail my new Martin to the wall), and the papers are in the case. So, sorry i can't answer your question. You can ridicule me over that.

I bought because it played great and sounded wonderfully. Didn't even care to check the model number.
The Professor

[musette_sf]

8. D? 0, 00, or 000?

These are body shapes.

18, 28, 32, 45 (yeah right, a bit pricey for me)

These are models, higher number is more fancy.

Last time I did a test between a Martin and a comparable Taylor, Taylor won the battle. That's why Enquiring Minds want to know which model it is. When you have time. Don't rush.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Dreadnought Size

It's definitely a D. I'm guessing by price it's in the 25 or 28 range. They also have Series designation. (The low line is the "X" series, there is the "Natural" series etc. Then at the high line is the "Prestige" series. Those things are $5k and up!

It's not completely plain. (That's my Takamine. Absolutely as plain as they make them.) But, it's not all overornamented like the 45 or 35 models.

BTW: Usually the higher numbers are fancier, but the 35 is usually more dressed out than the 45. My brother-in-law has a mid to late 60's D45. It's not that ornamented. But, his friend's 35 has so much crap on it it's a nightmare.

I know my guitars. The thing is, i absolutely did NOT care which model was which. I was narrowing to a price range and then played everything in that range. When i found the one that i liked the best, i bought it. The model number was irrelevant. But, all the guitars i played were dreads. I wanted that bigger sound, and i think Jumbo's are TOO big. So, there was only one body shape of interest.

I'll check tonight and PM you.
The Professor

[musette_sf]

25. D is good

My object of Martin lust is the OM model. Made in the 20s and early 30s, basically a 000 size guitar with the join at the 14th fret instead of the 12th (a big innovation at the time). I played one in the early 70s and went crazy over it. It was $900 then, which for me at that time was a small fortune. If only... because I am sure it sells now for 5 figures.

Martin has done some vintage repros, and I checked out their repro OM-28 at a guitar show several years ago. Of course a pre-war model is going to be much, much better-sounding... but I was not all that impressed with the repro.

There's a fella in Tiburon who does some very nice vintage Martin style guitars, Eric Schoenberg. If I ever get to satisfy my OM jones, I'll go here first.

I *am* a Jumbo fan, but I tend to like the Gibson J-200 and the Guild F models, above the Martin Dreadnaught.

Okay, that's enough fantasizing...

[XNASA]

2. I have never thought of your tuning as Kafka-esque before.....

...but now that you've mentioned it.

Can't wait to play it. ;-)

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Kafka! LOL!

Actually, some of the stuff i play is probably as hard to enjoy as is reading Kafka. That may be awfully appropriate as a metaphor!

Yeah, when you come by, you have GOT to play it. It's great.
The Professor

[bertha katzenengel]

3. congratulations

I'm jealous, but it doesn't diminish how happy I am for you!

[Beetwasher]

4. Ha!

"Think my guitar collection just may be finally complete."

Not bloody likely!

Sounds like you made a nice purchase!

They opened a new guitar center here in NYC this week on 14th st. and I went to check it out this weekend just for shits and giggles. They've got some pretty amazing vintage equipment as well as some really high end new stuff. They have quite a collection of Martin's there. One had a crazy pearl inlay all over that was going for like 40K!!!

[johnnie]

5. Congrats!

I hope to one day own one. I bet you have been looking at it, playing it, looking at it, playing it, looking at it, playing it...

I have a friend who's wife gave him one for Christmas one year. I wish cloning was in full gear, I would have cloned his wife.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Well, My Wife Didn't Get It For Me, But . . .

. . .she knew i was going to get it. She was cool with it. As a matter of fact, i wouldn't WANT my wife to go get me a guitar, even if she took one of my guitar player friends. I've gotten VERY particular about how a guitar plays. I wouldn't want anything i didn't play myself, first.

But, i do agree with your cloning idea. That was pretty cool of her.
The Professor

[Zuni]

10. no guitar collection is ever complete

there is always another one you will want

I want a thinline Tele myself

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Yeah, I Know. I Will Regret Saying That At Some Point

Actually, i long for a Rickenbacker electric. Probably the twelve just to have one. But, i really am committed to this one being the last for quite some time.
The Professor

[Zuni]

31. I like Rickenbackers

the 360/12 is what makes Roger McGuinn stand out so much

[Susang]

12. No guitarist's collection is ever complete

Not by a longshot. You'll buy again. You can't help it, it's in your nature. ;-)

Congratulations on your new child, btw! :D

on edit: freaky dupe post! :wow:

[ProfessorGAC]

16. You Have To Come and See The Baby!

Remember the Seinfeld episode where the new mom kept saying that? Everytime any of us gets something new, the phone messages go out "You have to come and see the baby!" Most of my pals (local) have seen it. A few are coming by during the week.

Yeah, you're right. EVentually i'll likely get another, but not for a while. It's time to slow down a bit.
The Professor

[Squeech]

14. Hope you have lots of fun with it

Never liked Martins myself, they all sound too woody to me. (Not that I like Ovations, which all sound tinny to me, despite being made of neither wood nor tin.) What I'd like to have is an old Gibson Hummingbird, or a comparable Guild of similar vintage.

Except all my acoustics are staying in their cases for the time being, as I've been trying to regain my electric guitar chops in anticipation of a shameless psychedelic revival group I hope to assemble real soon now. (And the guitar I'm playing is an archaic and gloriously cheesy Japanese thing. At least it has 22 frets, and a cutaway that lets me reach most of them.)

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Ah! The Woodiness Problem

Yeah, that's why i played so many different models. I don't like that overly boomy, dark sound either. This model doesn't sound like that. It's super rich sounding, but it has a WHOLE lot of snap to it. I played one of those Martin all mahogany models. Horrible! Played nice but sounded like mud! ALL wood, no top!

I tried a used Guild. Liked it, but it wasn't this guitar! It has a uniquely full tone and was clearly the best of the 20 or so i played. And, it plays easy and fast. (Yeah, i know, too many notes. I can't help myself.)

I especially like the definition of the notes when using drone strings. It's all so evenly balanced that the drones don't dominate the fretted strings or vice versa. I'll get the model number. You might be surprised at how much different this is from the older Martin's.
The Professor

[Lannes]

15. Im a lefty

So my choices of guitars are very limited.Damn right handed biased world!

[bertha katzenengel]

17. How did you learn to play?

I'm left-handed, but learned to play the usual way (chords w/ the left hand, pick w/ the right).

[Lannes]

19. I reversed the nut

so the strings would fit.Was the best I could do without a lefty guitar.Finally got an Ibanez years later.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Oh, We Don't Like Left Handed People

Sinestra, e malo. That'll teach ya! Actually, i can see how that would be annoying. I have a left handed golfing buddy and it's so hard for him. Somebody gets something new, and he's the only one who can't try it. It irks him too.

The Professor

[enigmatic]

26. Me too

Every guitar I've ever bought and used in bands was a "righty"; although I've borrowed and tried out lefty acoustics and electric, I never got around to buying one. I had a Hollow-Body Tele that I played in my last band that was a righty; I searched and searched for a lefty to no avail...

Martin is the best acoustic guitar out there, no question..

[Bonhomme Richard]

20. Just look in the soundhole toward............

the neck. The model number should be stamped in there. I have a D-18 and it's about as basic as you can get and I'm like you. All my instruments are out in stands in the music room. Th Martin is right next to the Rickenbacker 330-12 (LOL, just had to rub it in). Because they are out I will play them all.

[ProfessorGAC]

21. Yeah, I Know Where It Is

I'm not home now, and i honestly didn't consider the model number when selecting it. I just went solely by feel and sound. I know the model numbers of everything else i have. Just not this one. And two people wanted to know the model. I guess i should have checked before i posted, huh?

BTW: How many are you up to now? This is my 11th.
The Professor

[Bonhomme Richard]

24. 11 for me too for string instruments if I count the.........

little backpacking guitar.
I'm content now.

[ProfessorGAC]

27. Well, I'm Counting Everything

Except the bass that is. That's a different instrument. But, i do have an old Dan Armstrong lucite body. It's really not a very good guitar because as the thing aged, the neck and body didn't change shape together. Now, it's only good as a slide guitar. The bridge is not that easily adjusted so the intonation is marginal. (Not terrible, just not excellent.)

I count that even though it's mostly just a "look at this one" piece. I really don't play it. But i only paid about $60 for it.
The Professor

[Bonhomme Richard]

29. LOL, I counted the Bass. n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

30. CHEATER!!!!!

You cheat, you cheat, you cheat!

So there.
The Professor

[Bonhomme Richard]

32. OK, OK, ...You win but if I didn't get rid...................

of my Hagstrom II (my first guitar) and had my Guild D-25 stolen it would be a different outcome.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. Stolen! Bummer!

Man i'd hate it if that happened to me. That's a real drag. You seem to be taking it well. You're a good man Richard! (I'm so punny.)
The Professor

[Bonhomme Richard]

34. Actually that's how I got my Martin.

Because my Guild was a D-25BR customized with double pickguards and gold Schaller machines the insurance company (it was stolen out of my car) had to give me list price value which was around $800.00, if I remember right. Sooooooo since I got more than the guitar was worth I went out and bought the Martin brand new for $800 and change, which was a lot of money in the early 80's. Now you understand why I took it so well.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. "Think my guitar collection just may be finally complete"

Yeah...sure.

If I had a buck for every time my husband said that, I could buy a Strad.

Enjoy your guitars! :D

[ProfessorGAC]

28. Actually, I've Never Said It Before

Not that i mean it permanently but i've never made this promise to my wife before, and i didn't promise her this time. Remember i said i THINK my collection is complete. I could always buy something in the future and just admit i was wrong! Hee Hee! How lawyerly of me!
The Professor