this is untrue....

an older, reasonably cared for Martin won't need more than new strings and a setup (truss rod adjustment, light fret filing) that doesn't cost much, and for the mechanically inclined, the only real cost is the strings, so $20 total

I think the reference was to the pre 80s Martins that don't have adjustable truss rods. The necks can be straightened, but not nearly as easily. Sometimes a neck reset is required and you don't want just anybody doing that. The sound and feel of a good one is worth it !

geo

Yeah - what geo said.

I have a '72 D-18 that didn't set me back too much but it's gonna need a neck reset soon and probably a re-fret. Spendy. I also had a '74 D-28 I got for a grand. Found out it had been refinished and also needed some work still. Glad to have sold it for the same $.
My D-1 was a great sounding guitar - if you could find a used one it might be affordable.

Thing is, many 70's martins weren't cared for and have issues.

BTW, the Martin's I still have are the '72 D-18, the 00-16 DBR (slotted headstock/signed numbered Women In Music), D-28 DM (signed numbered Del McCoury w/ blue lapis inlays) and an old nylon stringed 1st gen Backpacker.

I have 00-16DBRFM #4, which is the flamed maple version. very pretty guitar!

It seems funny to me that we will rip big motorcycles down to the last bolt, and recoil at the thought of taking a guitar apart to make it play and sound better.

my 58' custom had the neck reset, and a truss rod installed where it didn't exist before. this work was done by a luthier who used to be a production engineer at the Nazareth factory. needless to say the repair/upgrade was on par with factory standards.

my brother who is an accomplished player has proclaimed my Martin the finest sounding guitar he has ever played, and he owns a bunch and has played even more. somethimes these old guitars can really be worth the time and money. SmileWavy

True, but weren't we trying to give some advice for a first, reasonably priced, no-hassels guitar?

My 00-16 sounds huge for it's size. I'm a Martin guy. Was a Taylor/Martin guy for awhile but Taylors required too precise of humidity and adjustment to play right so I sold all but my baby Taylor.

I think their is a huge difference in dismantling a motorcycle and adding bolt on parts. I never alter anything on the bike that can't be reversed. Wood cannot be put back that is removed and I'm not comfortable doing a neck re-set myself anyway. Guitar market values are always based on what the owner didn't alter. I have to keep this in mind as it's my only savings account.

But, if it's a keeper - alter it into all the modern conveniences. Thing is, it may lose the magic in the process - or it may sound better. I can't bear to take that gamble.

The guitar that multiple incredible artists have commented on how great it sounds is my Bourgeois JOMC. It was made the first or second year Dana was making guitars under his name. It has all the MOP appointments and is as visually stunning as it is aurally.

Quite a story behind how I got it. I had my 78 R80/7 posted for sale at the local coffee shop. The buyer contacted me and asked if I played guitar and was interested in a trade. I played the Bourgeois and knew it was special but couldn't nail down a value. I decided he could trade me the guitar + $1000 for the bike. He agreed but then called and said his wife wouldn't let him have a motorcycle (bear in mind the guy was in his 50's). So the deal was off but he contacted me again a week later, asked if I still had the Beemer and said he had turned his wife around and would I still make the trade. I did and have no regrets. I found out later that it would cost $5,500 to reproduce that guitar so even at a good used price it was a nice trade.

Yes! I want to keep it under 4 bills for now. Way too many choices looking around the net. Looks like you can get a Big Baby used for under 3. Martins look out of reach for now. Just want a solid starter I can be happy with for a while.

get one with a solid top then. I am not much of a Taylor fan, way to commercialized for me. They are much too slick and all about the money, they make some nice instruments though.

Taylors do make a good gig axe, Jeff. My brother-in-law loves his. Records contemporary jazz.

They Big Baby is a no-frills, solid-top, bolt on neck, comes-with-a-padded-bag kinda Taylor.
Taylor Guitars – Model BBT

I sold the quilted maple back and koa back Taylors I had. If you want to really drool check out R. Taylor It gave me a new respect for Taylor guitars.

Here's mine:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1262893823.jpg

Oh wait. Wrong thread. Dammit!

Nice stuff...
 

Here's my loot...

Personal stuff-


1927 Steinway M

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...s/Steinway.jpg

Strat

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...dles/Strat.jpg

Studio stuff-

Various Keys

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...28365_4309.jpg

nice coffee guy, you got a bike?

99' S
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...s/IMG_6064.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...IMG_6071-1.jpg




Unless you meant bicycle, then, nope.

Nice collection of vintage keys to go with the lava lamps CG !

geo

The lava lamps help the magic- flow.

Got bike with miles, Jeff. Definitely not a garage queen.

Taylor Baritone 8-String Acoustic In The Hands Of COmpany Founder Bob Taylor | Gearwire

geo

Very Cool. Neat idea but I'm not gonna be selling my Tacoma Thunderhawk to get one.

No, they're all worth keeping. We have a Gibson SG Baritone (!) here in town that is real and original, currently needing a neck reset as it has pulled away from the body, but its a really great guitar especially used as a slide instrument.

Here's a photo of one of its family that I found on the net. There aren't very many of these around.

1965 EB-6 Baritone Guitar - Vintage Gibsons - Gibson Forums

geo

Surprised no one caught the number sequence here. Guess I'm just into oddball numerical sequences, paladromes and stuff...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...IMG_6071-1.jpg