Taylors vs Martins

[Outlaws]

Actually, he was contrasting them, not comparing them. Hence the phrase Martin vs. Taylor. Pointing out the differences between two makes of guitar isn't stupid. On the contrary, it furnishes everyone with a better understanding of what makes a specific model unique, and thus allows players to infer from these articulated differences an appropriate application of each guitar in question.

Ok I get it, every Martin is "dead" sounding and "hard to play". Wow I feel so much more enlightened now. How I made it though life before I don't know. thanks for opening my eyes.

 

[TelePaul]

Ok I get it. Every Martin is "dead" sounding and "hard to play". Wow I feel so much more enlightened now. How I made it though life before I don't know. thanks for opening my eyes.

Uh, when did he say that?? He just said contrasting is more effective than comparing if you're considering a purchase.

Nobodys putting down Martins... 32-20 was talking about getting a 000-15.

 

[Outlaws]

Uh, when did he say that??

Did you read the original post? Let me quote it.....I will even high light the notable parts.

Sound off with your opinions of Martin acoustics vs. Taylors. I have played many Martins. I try them whenever I get the chance, because I want to see if all that mystique and glory is ever going to be true, and I am let down every time. New ones, old ones, they are all the same to me so far. Hard to play and a flat, dead tone that sounds like you're playing in a small box. Every Taylor I've ever played blows away every Martin I've played without acception.

 

[TelePaul]

Did you read the original post? Let me quote it.....I will even high light the notable parts.

Yeah I read the original post.

Why were you qouting what 32-20 blues said?

 

[Outlaws]

Yeah I read the original post.

Why were you qouting what 32-20 blues said?

He was saying the original poster was "contrasting" the two. Contrasting...comparing...IMO the original post was neither. It was bashing.

 

[TelePaul]

He was saying the original poster was "contrasting" the two. Contrasting...comparing...IMO the original post was neither. It was bashing.

''Sound off with your opinions of Martin acoustics vs. Taylors''

Yeah, how dare he voice an opinion like that!!

 

[Outlaws]

''Sound off with your opinions of Martin acoustics vs. Taylors''

Yeah, how dare he voice an opinion like that!!

No need to stick up for your Irish brethren, I wasn't attacking him. Calm down, put away the pipe bomb, and step away from the buss.

 

[TelePaul]

No need to stick up for your Irish brethren, I wasn't attacking him. Calm down, put away the pipe bomb, and step away from the buss.

Ya know, Martin guitars aren't infallable.

Oh wait...you don't know that. Or that 'tone' and 'playability' couldn't be more subjective. If one guitar brand was categorically better than the rest, there probably wouldn't be a need for the guitar and bass forum.

Im sticking up for accuracy.

 

[LI_Slim]

I'll secound the "apples vs oranges" thing. If you really want to know how good a guitar sounds you need to sit in front of it not with it on your lap. Maybe get someone to play them for you if you want to make a real judgement.

This is an important point. It also helps to play the guitar facing a wall about 3 feet in front of you.

 

[mrface2112]

one Martin fan reporting in. i agree that this is largely apples to oranges....and very reminiscent of gibson vs fender.

I've got a D15 that is just plain impossible to record poorly. there's just something about that guitar that translates excellently onto a recorded medium. I chose my D15 over a bunch of 16's and 28's (and other 15's). it was, by far, the best sounding guitar of the lot.

a buddy's got an HD28V, and while it's a hand cannon and would more than hold its own in a crowded bluegrass jam, it's not got the same sweetness that my 15's got--understandably so, considering the woods used, etc. i've got my eye on an OM42 i've played, though......talk about as perfectly balanced guitar as there is. i've played some OM28V's that were quite nice too.

contrast--i've never played a Taylor that i've thought was worth 1/2 the price they were charging. sure, they play VERY easily. it's almost like playing an electric guitar. but the bottom's missing, the trebles are hard sounding and the guitars just sound "lifeless" to me.....or maybe bland is a better word for it. is like "yeah, it's an acoustic guitar there, but so what?". i think the low action has a lot to do with that.

i DID get a pretty good sound out of a Baby Taylor recording this singer/songwriter chick once.......but i think that more than being a "good sounding guitar", rather it was the right guitar for the material. the old Guild she had with her had a MUCH better tone......but the baby taylor fit her voice and the songs better. the Guild was "too much" for most of the songs--but it worked a LOT better on the one heavy strummy song, though.

my brother in law's got a 1950-something Gibson J-45 (or maybe it's a J-50, i can't remember). it's been to hell and back--patched, beaten up, you name it.......but in his hands it's a monster. great tone.

personally, if i were looking for a new guitar that wasn't an OM 42 or 45 series Martin, i'd probably look at a Maton from down under (i've yet to play one that i didn't like--they remind me a lot of what a Martin crossbred with a Gibson would sound like)......or possibly a Santa Cruz. I played a couple Santa Cruz's in Buffalo Brothers a few years back that were just wonderfully balanced guitars.


cheers,
wade

 

[TelePaul]

.

I've got a D15 that is just plain impossible to record poorly. there's just something about that guitar that translates excellently onto a recorded medium.

Yep the D15 brings me much joy!

 

[32-20-Blues]

I've got a D15 that is just plain impossible to record poorly.

Impossible you say? Not for me.

 

[mrface2112]

Impossible you say? Not for me.

did i say IMpossible? i meant UNpossible. sorry bout that!

tell you what, you come to my place and play and i'll do the recording. as long as you can play it worth a damn, i can make the recording sound at least as good as "worth a damn".


cheers,
wade

 

[32-20-Blues]

did i say IMpossible? i meant UNpossible. sorry bout that!

tell you what, you come to my place and play and i'll do the recording. as long as you can play it worth a damn, i can make the recording sound at least as good as "worth a damn".


cheers,
wade

My fingers choke up on expensive acoustics! I'm not used to that much quality.

 

[mrface2112]

My fingers choke up on expensive acoustics! I'm not used to that much quality.

bro, there's nothing expensive about a martin D15 and the ~$700 they go for. it's the cheapest solid-wood martin there is.

my buddy's HD28V coming in at $2600, though ......personally, i don't think it sounds 4 times better than my D15, but it's a beautiful example of fine craftsmanship.

now, the yammerhammer acoustic that i keep in nashville tuning.....it was $60 at the pawnshop. believe it or not, even IT sounds pretty good at times.


cheers,
wade

 

[TelePaul]

bro, there's nothing expensive about a martin D15 and the ~$700 they go for. it's the cheapest solid-wood martin there is.

my buddy's HD28V coming in at $2600, though ......personally, i don't think it sounds 4 times better than my D15, but it's a beautiful example of fine craftsmanship.

now, the yammerhammer acoustic that i keep in nashville tuning.....it was $60 at the pawnshop. believe it or not, even IT sounds pretty good at times.


cheers,
wade

YOU get em for $700...I paid about twice that in dollars for mine. Tink it was €1100

 

[32-20-Blues]

now, the yammerhammer acoustic that i keep in nashville tuning.....it was $60 at the pawnshop. believe it or not, even IT sounds pretty good at times.


cheers,
wade

I'm on the look out for one of those - a cheap acoustic to keep in open e tuning. I want a pawn shop price, but one that will still sound reasonably good. I know, I know, you can't get everything.

 

[philboyd studge]

I've always liked Martins, but more from an investment and later resale standpoint. There just hasn't been one I owned that I felt I had to keep. Over the years though several I've played have stood out, and all three were '41 D-18's....they were outstanding.

Taylors on the other hand I've looked at as well made and setup stage instruments. Not a fan of bolt on necks on a serious acoustic.

 

[Duditz]

Not a fan of bolt on necks on a serious acoustic.

Any particular reason you're not a fan of bolt on necks?

 

[therage!]

I must say I have never played a Taylor guitar that followed me home-I'm always wondering where they hid the bottom end, cause I can't ever find it.

I have generally felt the same way until I picked up an all Koa 4 series that has incredible low end.