I need a new Martin...

[BrandRecordingCo]

Hello,

I'm in kind of a dilemma. ha! I just sold my Martin DX1 ($450 retail) and am looking to upgrade. I made the mistake of walking into a local music shop, playing on a Martin OM 21 Special and falling in love. Unfortunately, there is a $2600 price tag on the guitar, and I am looking for below, or right around $1000 for right now. Eventually, I would like the OM 21 special, but I just can't swing that right now. I'm buying up other gear, and throwing that much moola at a guitar is just too much.

Anyways, the problem is now, I can't find a guitar that even comes close to the sound and/or feel of the OM 21 Special. I even played a regular OM 21 and it didn't sound near as good. I know someone on here will say...save up and buy it then. Not an option right now as it will take too long and I need the guitar now.

So...I am just wanting some advice and opinions on a good Martin (yes I'm a loyal Martin guy and don't wish to switch). I'm looking for one with a 1 3/4" neck...I don't like the 1 11/16" feel as much. Any good ones at or around $1000? I'm frequently searching ebay as well.

Thanks!

[tropicalhotdog]

I'm a Martin guy myself (1968 D-45, among a couple others)

There's no way in hell to tell what you'll like the sound of without walking into a guitar shop and picking up some guitars and playing. There are a good number of nice guitars that record well that you don't have to drop Martin type $ on, some that might never come to the mind of a player sitting at a computer and typing opinions on the matter. Acoustic guitars are unpredictable and finicky, and two of the same model from the same year can feel and sound drastically different.

And besides, how can you pass up the opportunity to walk into a guitar shop and try out guitars, knowing that you have some cash to make a puchase? One of life's truly great pleasures.

Also, if you're interested in recording good sounding guitar, I'd prioritize getting an instrument that sounds good before getting expensive gear. Even $100,000 worth of high end mics, pres, comps, EQs and converters will only accurately capture the crappy sound of a crappy guitar.

[BrandRecordingCo]

Thanks for the response. I guess I should clarify that yes, I will be trying these guitars out for myself at local shops. However, at this point I've looked and haven't found anything I like quite yet. I continue to look and play, and hope to find that one that longs for me, as yes, they do all sound very different. BTW...I am not wanting a Dreadnought...but more of a 000 body type.

Anyways, just looking for opinions of stuff ppl may have in mind that I can hunt down and play on. I just haven't found one yet I like. The search continues.

[tropicalhotdog]

And don't buy an acoustic guitar on eBay. WAY to risky.
Try Gbase.Com - Guitars & Musician's Gear from hundreds of small businesses and collectors. | Home.

What city do you live in?

[djbrough]

Buy used to save a little coin. Check out the D-15. It's darker, but very rich and it has the whole Martin thing happening.

Have you thought about Larrivee or Guild?

[tropicalhotdog]

Not sure that used ever = less money in the Martin universe.

+1 on Larrivee or Guild

[swafford]

Originally Posted by tropicalhotdog

And don't buy an acoustic guitar on eBay. WAY to risky.

Has that been your experience or your perception? I've bought and sold probably a dozen acoustics on Ebay and a 1/2 dozen more through GS or other online source, from $500 to $3k and never had a single person tell me the guitar I sold them was not everything I said it would be or the guitar I bought everything as described to me. Anyone who sells you a guitar online should provide some grace for you to try it out. From the deals available, that's worth eating the $50 in shipping.

[lcressy]

I haven't found a new Martin in the $1000.00 range, that I would want. In the lower end price range, there are some acoustics, built off of the design of the old Martin and Gibson's, Blueridge is the brand name. I think they are imported by a company names Saga. They are in the $400 -$500 dollar range, and sound and play very well. I think they sound better than the newer, low end Martins and play better as well. I have a 1956 000-17, that has a real cool sound (not big), and it is hard to find a new guitar that resonates like the old ones, just because the wood hasn't dried out enough yet, takes time. The Blueridge guitars impressed me, they are not bright like the new Taylors. Breedlove makes some wonderful acoustics as well. The lower end ones don't sound as good as the American, but worth checking out nonetheless. I ONLY buy American guitars, I just like the sound and build better, but I also, stick to the custom shop/handmade models. I have in addition to the Martin, PRS Custom 24 10 top, Les Paul Standard, Jeff Beck Fender Strat, Foster (Jimmy), St. Charles 7 string Archtop. I state that only to point out, that these are the guitars that I like and play, the Blueridge models, reguardless of the price, impressed me and I believe they are a great value and may be just what you are looking for.

[tropicalhotdog]

Originally Posted by swafford

Has that been your experience or your perception? I've bought and sold probably a dozen acoustics on Ebay and a 1/2 dozen more through GS or other online source, from $500 to $3k and never had a single person tell me the guitar I sold them was not everything I said it would be or the guitar I bought everything as described to me. Anyone who sells you a guitar online should provide some grace for you to try it out. From the deals available, that's worth eating the $50 in shipping.

I've had too many terrible eBay experiences to ever buy something like an acoustic guitar through it. I guess if you live someplace where there's little access to guitar stores or Craigslist sellers, you have no choice but to do it by mailing guitars around the country. I myself would never buy a guitar that I didn't pick up and play first. IMO, there are too many dishonorable people selling through eBay to risk that kind of money on acoustic guitars, where problems might not be immediately apparent.

But I'm still trying to get my money back from a seller who took my $ and didn't send me the API 550A's I bought from him, so maybe I'm a bit soured right now. That's not my first bad experience on eBay though. It's a gamble.

[vernier]

Play all the Martins in your price range ...if one doesn't stand out, then start saving for the one you want. Simple as that.
'

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

guild. amazing sound. Some are affordable. But as you were already told, the best is to try them. They all sound different.

One of the best acoustics I ever recorded was a $40 guitar. Go figure.

[steelyfan]

Most people i know would tell you that Martins are the most overated guitar in history.(i have four friends that own them and never play them). I've never played one i liked, and everytime I go to a friends house to play around and jam they throw the Martin in my hand
and end up playing a $300 yamaha, Fender ,ibanez themselves. (and trust me, it's not because I'm the best player in the room.....this is for sure.)
They've always seem so thin and bright to me, I'm not an expert and this is my own personal experience, but the nicer yamaha's and fenders seem thicker and have more body to the sound.
I think you should walk in an acoustic room and pick something up without looking at the brand or price and play as many as possible, then pick your 5 favories and look at the brand and price then, after you've played them, I'll bet you'll be very surprised.
Price tags and name brands will make your brain react differently to THE TRUTH!!
steelyfanthumbsup

[tropicalhotdog]

Originally Posted by steelyfan

Most people i know would tell you that Martins are the most overated guitar in history.(i have four friends that own them and never play them). I've never played one i liked, and everytime I go to a friends house to play around and jam they throw the Martin in my hand
and end up playing a $300 yamaha, Fender ,ibanez themselves. (and trust me, it's not because I'm the best player in the room.....this is for sure.)
They've always seem so thin and bright to me, I'm not an expert and this is my own personal experience, but the nicer yamaha's and fenders seem thicker and have more body to the sound.
I think you should walk in an acoustic room and pick something up without looking at the brand or price and play as many as possible, then pick your 5 favories and look at the brand and price then, after you've played them, I'll bet you'll be very surprised.
Price tags and name brands will make your brain react differently to THE TRUTH!!
steelyfanthumbsup

I have 8 acoustic guitars, three of them Martins, and have played scores of others over the past 30 years of playing and couldn't disagree with this post more. Sure, there are players who don't like Martins (although "thin and bright" is generally not the complaint), but it's usually because of preference for another good guitar with a very different sound like a Taylor or Gibson J.

As I said above, acoustic guitars are very variable and you can definitely find inexpensive guitars that sound terrific. I do a lot of my playing on a $190 white Yahama with a molded plastic back -- people love it and have tried to buy it from me. But it ain't the D-45. The craftsmanship, the wood choices, the esthetics, are all deserving of the reputation.

Now, I won't end this by saying "THE TRUTH" because this is obviously all really subjective stuff. I like Martins. Most of the players I like also play Martins.

That said, if someone has a J-200 from the '50's that they're selling cheap, PM me at once!

[mdjice]

Martin DSR...trust me....

[BrandRecordingCo]

Thanks for all the replies and opinions. I choose Martin because I'm in love with the tone. I HAVE played on many, many different brands of acoustic guitars and have kept an open mind. At one time, I even thought I was going to make the switch to Taylor because for a day, it sounded better to my ear. However, this lasted only a day...I guess I was in a different mood that day. But Martin quickly won my heart back. I'm not saying that all of the cheaper Martins sound bad as in compared to other guitars...I'm saying they don't sound as good as the OM 21 Special I played. I could take a $450 Martin (which I use to own) and play it against a $3000 Taylor and still like the Martin feel and tone better...and that's no exaggeration. I just like the Martin sound. Martins are so warm, thick, and smooth...where as a Taylor is more bright and present to my ear. So trust me, I have compared to other brands and through the years established that I just love the sound of a Martin. It's not like I just woke up and said I'm only buying a Martin and nothing else...but they continue to sound like an acoustic guitar should sound in my head...so I stick with it.

[A440]

Originally Posted by vernier

Play all the Martins in your price range ...if one doesn't stand out, then start saving for the one you want. Simple as that.
'

+1 this is great advice.

[Frost]

go play a collings then start saving your money.
Frost

[Meriphew]

I'd take the money you have and make a deposit on that exact guitar that you loved so much. That way it will be on hold for you. If it spoke to you, if it had that magic, don't let it be the one that got away.

[voicegenius]

You're not talkin about an Aston Martin??? Oops, wrong thread! Carry on...

[SeanBlack]

I wanted a Martin until I played a Larivee.

[Track 7]

Originally Posted by vernier

Play all the Martins in your price range ...if one doesn't stand out, then start saving for the one you want. Simple as that.
'

+1 and stay away from Ebay... and mail order on acoustic guitars!

[elambo]

Best advice I could give -- Guild! (or save for a used Collings, a brand which is getting more affordable in this market)

I have a rather nice stable of ac gtrs (Martins - vintage and new - quite a few Collings, even a couple Borges, which are the finest I've ever played anywhere) - and a guitar which tends to get recorded often at our studio is my Guild D-55. Remarkably good at any price. Takes to a microphone incredibly well. Round, full, and woody. Great action right out of the box. I don't remember it's price but it was reasonable. If too much, it certainly has a brother that should be even less. Guild seems to know how to focus on the important elements of guitar building without going crazy with costs.

[creegstor]

For a grand? If you're determined to get a new guitar Blueridge is the only brand who make consistently good guitars in that range. God knows I've tried 'em all. You absolutely CANNOT get a good Martin new for that price (barring a minor miracle) let alone any other brand. Martin's don't even start getting good til $3000 plus. The Blueridge I got last year is better than guitars I auditioned that were 3 and 4 times the price. Guild, Larivee, Gibson, Breedlove, Taylor the lot. The Blueridge smoked 'em all.

Just make sure you spend the money to get it set up properly.

If you're really thatstuck on the Martin "sound" get a Simon & Patrick instead. I just got an old Rosewood model and I gotta say it's the nicest guitar I've ever played.

[elambo]

Blueridge is a nice option. I had one for several years - sold it just two months ago. For <$1K it's very good. I think Larrivee would take the cake in that range, but both brands should be auditioned if you can.

I've never played a Blueridge that I preferred over any of Guild or Larrivee, but maybe they're out there.

[johnnyjellybean]

For under a grand you can pick up a Blueridge BR-160A which is a takeoff of a prewar D-28 and has advanced X bracing like a prewar dreadnaught. Solid indian rosewood back and sides with an Adirondack spruce top. Best bang for the buck out there. It will crush a new D-28 and comes close to a Golden Era D-28 which is a $8500 guitar. I know because I have had the chance to compare them extensively. By the way I don't own either so my comparison was purely subjective.

[BeatleFred]

Have you considered a slothead? (12 fretters). Slotheads are way cool and sound great. The 000-15S is very popular, as you can see if you browse the message board where all the Martin enthusiasts hang out, UMGF. (Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum).

I have a 2001 000-16SGT, its a great guitar. I was looking on Ebay on lo and behold, I see one at a really good price, from the same seller I purchased mine from, he's a reputable guy- posts often on UMGF. The early 16's had the Waverly tuners and ebony bridge, not like the later ones which switched to cheaper micarta.

2001 Martin 000-16SGT - Waverly's / Ebony Original! - eBay (item 130292999161 end time Mar-15-09 19:20:20 PDT)

Regards,

Fred.

[mdjice]

i find it funny how people on GS can't help but to answer something completely out of topic...
"I LIKE MARTIN GUITARS WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY?"
answer on GS: buy a Taylor, buy a guild, buy a gibson, buy a piano, by a new car, buy ...

I mean come on!!! he asked a simple question, most of the people answering another brand is only becasue it's something THEY OWN. You like that better then a MAtrin? good for you!! but that was not the question.
I LOVE the sound of martin guitars, you could try to convince me all day to buy something else more expensive, better? I could care less.
If you want to buy a convertible I won't advice which is the best truck to get.

[mdjice]

Originally Posted by Randall

He also stated he has a 1k budget.. he's not going to find a decent Martin in that price range.. not new.. period.
Martin outsources their lower end guitars to japan and god knows where else... nothing special.. I play them every time I walk in a music store.

We are simply giving him some options.. WTF is your problem?

I disagree,you can find a GREAT martin for $800 ( i suggested the DSR earlier) I got a couple of guitar players try it at my studio and they all went a bought one. We did a test where I had a pro guitar player (some old guy from Australia who has been playing for over 40 years) try EVERY Martin in the store no matter what the price was. at the end the DSR was the one the majority of people present picked along with a 69 used . If you think you can't find a great Martin for less then $1000 then you have never tried the DSR. I dont have any connection with the brand and I could care less. It's just a steal for the price and my F)@*# problem is that everytime someone ask an advice about "A" or "B" someone here will always say "C" "D" or "E" only because that's what THEY bought. it's just getting old that's all!!

[tropicalhotdog]

Originally Posted by mdjice

I disagree,you can find a GREAT martin for $800 ( i suggested the DSR earlier) I got a couple of guitar players try it at my studio and they all went a bought one. We did a test where I had a pro guitar player (some old guy from Australia who has been playing for over 40 years) try EVERY Martin in the store no matter what the price was. at the end the DSR was the one the majority of people present picked along with a 69 used . If you think you can't find a great Martin for less then $1000 then you have never tried the DSR. I dont have any connection with the brand and I could care less. It's just a steal for the price and my F)@*# problem is that everytime someone ask an advice about "A" or "B" someone here will always say "C" "D" or "E" only because that's what THEY bought. it's just getting old that's all!!

Isn't that kind of the point of asking for other people's opinions? So they could maybe suggest some ideas, based on their experience, that you might not have thought of?
Isn't that kind of the point of the forum? I doubt the OP had considered every suggestion in this thread before posting the question. It's not like people were saying "hmmm, you want a martin for under $1000, so you should really only wear sneakers with Velcro instead of laces.". The responses all seem like pretty good and relevant advice.

It's not a crime to be open to new ideas, my friend.

[mdjice]

Originally Posted by tropicalhotdog

Isn't that kind of the point of asking for other people's opinions? So they could maybe suggest some ideas, based on their experience, that you might not have thought of?
Isn't that kind of the point of the forum? I doubt the OP had considered every suggestion in this thread before posting the question. It's not like people were saying "hmmm, you want a martin for under $1000, so you should really only wear sneakers with Velcro instead of laces.". The responses all seem like pretty good and relevant advice.

It's not a crime to be open to new ideas, my friend.

I never said it was a wrong thing to mention other ideas but it seams like this forum always gets carried away from the original topic:
Q:should I get a 1084 or a 1081?
A: well I got a daking Pre try them and blah blah...
Well if I ask an opinion between two preamps for examples it means that I already did some research, tried and tested preamps ( at least I would) and now it's down to 2 options that's all I need opinion on...anyways Back to the OP I gave an answer to his question earlier I'll leave it at that