I want a guitar like this

I've been wanting to get a new acoustic for awhile now but haven't had a lot of time to go out and try some, and the few I tried I was less than pleased with.

I know it's impossible to know exactly which guitar it is by the recording but maybe it can give you some idea on the sound I want and you can give me some suggestions on what brands/models to start with, because I have no idea.

I'm not taking budget into consideration, I'll save up however long I need to for my next guitar because I want it to last awhile.

I'll be using it mainly for recording. And I play songs like the one in the sample I'm posting (mixed fingerstyle with strumming, etc.).

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=5735

The sample was taken from Audio Technica's website and you can listen to them here (AT4060):

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms//9...418/index.html

[zazz]

i know its a bit of a guess but that sounds like a martin D ....and if it isnt then a martin makes that sound quite readily.

I was guessing it was a Martin. The few I've tried in the shop didn't sound anything like that though. Not sure which models I was playing, but they were upwards of a $1000.

So you think I should try some out in the D "series"? D41, D15, etc.?

[muttley600]

you really have to get out there and try as many as you can. Only you can pick the sound you like and the instrument that can produce it. Don't rule out geting one made.

Don't forget that the sound you hear as player is not the sound you hear as a listener out front. Get someone to play them for you as well so you can judge sound and projection.

The sound on those samples is very sinilar to the sound Martin Simpson gets. He plays Stefan Sobell guitars. They have a very distinctive purcusive ring to them and are ideal for that style.

Happy hunting....

Originally Posted by muttley600

you really have to get out there and try as many as you can. Only you can pick the sound you like and the instrument that can produce it. Don't rule out geting one made.

Don't forget that the sound you hear as player is not the sound you hear as a listener out front. Get someone to play them for you as well so you can judge sound and projection.

The sound on those samples is very sinilar to the sound Martin Simpson gets. He plays Stefan Sobell guitars. They have a very distinctive purcusive ring to them and are ideal for that style.

Happy hunting....

Thanks muttley. Never heard of Stefan Sobell guitars before but just checked out their website.

I'd really like to be able to try other guitars besides just Martin, Taylor, Gibson and the other popular brands, but the shops around here don't have a lot to choose from.

[muttley600]

If you go to Martin Simpsons Website you can hear the Sobell guitars. Unfortunately you'll find it hard to track one down, like me he builds mostly to order and sells stuff pretty quick.

Just keep looking and playing something will turn up that will suit you. If you haven't found one by this time next year. I'll make you one I'm booked til then..

Thanks muttley. Checked out his site...nice music and obviously a nice guitar too. Sounds a lot like the one in the sample. "Darling Corey" is a cool song I'll have to listen to more of his stuff.

I e-mailed Audio Technica, and asked them what guitar was used for the sample. Wasn't expecting them to know, but this is what they said.

Originally Posted by Audio Technica

The guitar used for the sample is a MARTIN OM35 with D`addario Phospher Bronze strings.

Almost a $3,000 guitar.

[warble2]

I've heard good things about the new Taylor GS acoustics. I don't play, but a guitarist friend seemed pretty impressed when he tried one out locally here. We're talking $2K for these baby's, but they have four different variations on woods used, and what he stated as "a very cool low end".

[Outlaws]

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

So you think I should try some out in the D "series"? D41, D15, etc.?

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

Almost a $3,000 guitar.

The D41 you asked about is a $3000 guitar. Infact, I think they are around $3400 now. But I will let you in on a secret. The D41 is a HD-28 with some jewelry on.

You can get a used HD-28 for about $2000 I think, maybe less if you look around. People like to say the D-28 is the "standard" by which all D model guitars are judged, but the D28 they are refering to is the 'old' D28...which is basically the modern HD-28.

If you like finger picking, the OM and the OOO models are great. They tend to cost more...a lot more...but thats life.

But anyways, all that aside, don't be scared of Marting/Taylor/Gibson just because everyone already plays one...they do play them for a reason.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

Thanks muttley. Checked out his site...nice music and obviously a nice guitar too. Sounds a lot like the one in the sample. "Darling Corey" is a cool song I'll have to listen to more of his stuff.

If that's the song I think it is (I can't access sound files here), he didn't write it. The Kingston Trio recorded it in the early 60's; I don't know who wrote it.

Some of the lyrics of the song I remember go something like:

The last time I seen darlin' Corey
She was wanderin' through the weeds
With a government man behind her
Gonna grab her for her deeds

Is that the same song?

EDIT: The first part (which I removed) was from another song about Maggie, not Darlin' Corey. Sorry.

Thanks warble and Outlaws.

I guess I'll be saving for a really long time unless I can find a good guitar that sounds good in the $800-$1200 range. $3,000 is a lot of money for working part time/going to school.

I'm gonna try some of those D'Addario bronze strings on my guitar and see if it helps the sound any. I've also heard replacing the nut/saddle with bone instead of plastic can help the tone a lot too. But I also heard it can make a guitar sound more "trebbly" and "harsh"

The guitar I have now is already bright sounding and not sure if that would be a good idea.

Originally Posted by ggunn

If that's the song I think it is (I can't access sound files here), he didn't write it. The Kingston Trio recorded it in the early 60's; I don't know who wrote it.

Some of the lyrics of the song I remember go:

Yonder stands darlin' Corey
With her dram glass in her hand
She's drinkin' away her troubles
And foolin' another man

and

The last time I seen darlin' Corey
She was wanderin' through the weeds
With a government man behind her
Gonna grab her for her deeds

Is that the same song?

Didn't hear any lyrics in his version.

[pohaku]

Don't be put off by list prices for guitars. Keep in mind that production guitars (like Martin, Gibson and Taylor) are often heavily discounted by sellers. It isn't unusual for actual selling price to be 65-75% of the list price for some of these. You might also look at Larivee which IMHO is a bargain for the quality of guitar they produce. Don't be afraid to consider used guitars as well. You do really need to play them before you buy though.

[muttley600]

Darlin' Corey, credited to Bill Browning but I suspect it to be one of those trad things that were around for years. Didn't Flatt and Scruggs record it?? The version I first heard was Lonnie Donegan.

Keep hunting for that guitar. You shouldn't have to spend big bucks to get close to the sound your looking for just in the right shop at the right time. You can increase your chance by getting out there as much as possible and play em all

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by muttley600

Darlin' Corey, credited to Bill Browning but I suspect it to be one of those trad things that were around for years. Didn't Flatt and Scruggs record it?? The version I first heard was Lonnie Donegan.

So, is it the song I remember from the Kingston Trio?

I remembered some more of it:

Wake up, wake up darlin' Corey
What makes you sleep so sound
The revenue officer's a-comin'
Gonna tear your still house down

I think I remember Doc Watson singing it, too.

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by ggunn

So, is it the song I remember from the Kingston Trio?

I remembered some more of it:

Wake up, wake up darlin' Corey
What makes you sleep so sound
The revenue officer's a-comin'
Gonna tear your still house down

I think I remember Doc Watson singing it, too.

A quick google and I think you are thinking the same as me Darlin Corey Can't play the sample on Martin Simpsons site now to confirm it

[notCardio]

What guitar are you playing now? Have you tried experimenting with different strings? That can make a HUGE difference in your tone.

Originally Posted by notCardio

What guitar are you playing now? Have you tried experimenting with different strings? That can make a HUGE difference in your tone.

I'm playing a Cort. I think it sounds great for finger-style, not so much for heavy strumming/rhythm.

It's the first acoustic I got, and the only one I've really had since.

I've tried several different types of strings, and it does make a huge difference.

I'm going to pick up some of those D'Addario phosphor bronze strings tomorrow and see how they sound on my guitar.

What do you think of this sound?

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=5783

Just a rough recording (I didn't take the time to learn the sample note for note).

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

What do you think of this sound?

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=5783

Just a rough recording (I didn't take the time to learn the sample note for note).

Isn't it more of a csae of what you think of it? It certainly isn't shabby and I've heard a lot worse. What would you like us to comment on?

Originally Posted by muttley600

Isn't it more of a csae of what you think of it? It certainly isn't shabby and I've heard a lot worse. What would you like us to comment on?

Just wanted to hear other people's opinions on the sound.

I'm not too crazy about it to be honest.

Strumming sounds harsh. The high e string sounds "pingy" (don't know why?). Not much low end either.

It works good for fingerstyle though.

Also the 12th fret on the high e string doesn't sound at all really. And the 13th sounds the same as the 14th.

What do you think could cause this?

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

Just wanted to hear other people's opinions on the sound.

I'm not too crazy about it to be honest.

Strumming sounds harsh. The high e string sounds "pingy" (don't know why?). Not much low end either.

It works good for fingerstyle though.

Also the 12th fret on the high e string doesn't sound at all really. And the 13th sounds the same as the 14th.

What do you think could cause this?

Well its hard to judge a guitars natural sound via a recording. Everything colours it a bit. Mic room etc..

The main thing thats missing to my ears is the middle and a little of presence in the low end. I could be wrong because as I say I'm listening to a recording.

Lack of brilliance in the middle can often result in the unwound strings sounding "pingy" or dominant. Some people like it. You really are gonna just keep hunting for that elusive guitar. It will turn up.

If you want a guitar thats great for fingerstyle, strumming and digging in your making the search even harder.

the problem with the high E at the 12, to 14th fret is almost certainly down to a raised 14th fret. When you fret at the 12th it is choking or just sitting too close/on the 14th fret. When you fret the 13th fret it is sittining on the higher 14th fret. It is not uncommon and is what is known as the 14th fret hump. Theres a lot of things going on at the neck joint and as things settle and move over the years you can get a high spot there as its where you have the wood of the neck,fingerboard, soundboard and neck block all trying to hold their place..Does it happen on any other strings at the the same fret?

The fix is to get the fret levelled and polished by a good repair shop. If it was just the one fret I would recon on less than an hours work. More like 20 minutes for me if it was straight forward. A cheaper but less perfect solution is to raise the action till it plays ok. You may find you have to raise it too much. You can shim the saddle to do this but the better solution is to dress the frets where its a problem.

Happy hunting for that dream guitar. Its out there waiting for you..

Thanks muttley.

All strings buzz on the 12th fret. But it's real bad on the high e string.

I was thinking of getting my action raised anyway because it's pretty low.

When I took it to the shop awhile ago to get the high e string thing fixed, it wasn't doing it. A few days after that it started doing it again. Go figure.

Do you think raising the action might also help somewhat with the tone?

Thanks again.

[muttley600]

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

Thanks muttley.

All strings buzz on the 12th fret. But it's real bad on the high e string.

I was thinking of getting my action raised anyway because it's pretty low.

When I took it to the shop awhile ago to get the high e string thing fixed, it wasn't doing it. A few days after that it started doing it again. Go figure.

Do you think raising the action might also help somewhat with the tone?

Thanks again.

Its not that surprising that it comes and goes a bit. Wood is moving all the time with changes in humidity. You typically have Mahogany, ebony, spruce and the neck block timber depending on whats been used all moving by differing amounts. Hows the weather where you are, is it changable? As a guitar gets older it tends to stabalise a lot so the problem settles or remains constantly depending on severity. Get a small straight edge (credit card or similar) and rest it over the 14th fret it will most likely show that the fret is higher than the others. As I said the best fix is to get the fret seated and stoned properly. Raising the action can help out in the short term but is not an ideal fix.

Raising the action is unlikely to give you a marked improvement in tone. It will allow you to dig in a bit more without buzzing and rattling. The only time raising and lowering the action can dramaticaly change the tone is on archtops or instruments with tailpieces. By raising the action on them you increase the downward pressure on the soundboard and that can sometimes have a marked effect. With a fixed bridge the forces of the strings are acting in a different direction when they are at rest.

Thanks again muttley.

I'll try taking it to the shop Monday (if it's still doing it) and see if it's the fret, and how much they'd charge to fix it.

I also need to invest in a case. I've had this guitar for over 5 years and it's never been inside a case. It's always been in my room though, and in my car a few times, but not for long.

I think I'll notice an improvement once I get that problem fixed.

Thanks again.