Pelican Parts Forums - Guitar comparison test

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I inherited my father's Martin. He bought it the 70s. Such a wonderful instrument. Only downside is it needs a refret. Thinking of buying the tools and giving it a go.

Martin’s have a lifetime warranty for the original owner. Maybe you’d qualify if it’s covered. I’d call them- you never know. Probably a precision job, too.

Needing a refret is not a warranty issue. Frets are a wear item, like brake pads.

I figured as much. But maybe they’ll give a bro deal. The fret metal affects the sound, too.

I like them all, but I like my Washburn action better and the tone is good on it, but more brassy than a Martin, especially when plugged in. I would probably buy a Guild if I got anything else, unless money was no object, then I would get a Lowden. I got to hear Randy Stonehill play one and talked to him afterwards about it. They sound very good live. He is my uncles favorite artist and he played for his birthday and we were all invited.

So many things to compare. The tone woods appear the same. Body shape/size/design/string gauge/string material-brand/luthier set up are all factors. I don't own a Martin, but have 2 Taylors. They are great guitars.

But there are so many amazing guitars. In my collection the two "best" guitars tonal wise (To my ears) are my Prestige Eclipse Koa and my Guild 12 string. Completely different guitars. The Taylor Koa is right there as well. Prestige https://www.prestigeguitars.com/ is a boutique manufacturer, much like Morgan www.morganguitars.com . Both can produce an instrument that is hard to find from any big manufacturer on the wall at your fave guitar shop.

The Prestige Eclipse Koa I have a preference for as I was able to select the actual wood pieces that they used to produce the guitar for me.

I have played a couple of Martins and I do want to add one to the studio soon.

Sadly, it is all wasted on me as I am still a bit of hack.... lol

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951 (Post 11598913)

Nice video.
I think the tonal differences described can really be attributed to the guitar shapes themselves as much as the makers.

The Martin is a dreadnaught- full bodied, and with scalloped bracing, very deep bass. The size and shape was designed before electronic pick ups, and as an acoustic hail mary to "bigger is better/louder." Prewar Martin dreadnaughts have aged well tonally, and most new dreadnaughts are modelled after them.

The Taylor is smaller, it's a grand auditorium, with a cutout. Both the smaller size (and to a lesser degree- even the cutout) is going to clip that large mellow bass tone for a more defined upper end. It's a better balanced fingerstyle guitar with a more immediate response.

Back in the day, guitars were named by the room they could fill with music. Parlor, Auditorium, etc. iirc- That Grand Auditorium is Taylors modern interpretation of a 'jumbo auditorium', which is bigger than a auditorium, but still smaller than a Dreadnaught (named after the battleship)

That doesn't mean either size is better-
With a pick though, the dreadnaught shape is going to be flat out awesome too. Deeper, louder. That is why it is and will remain a flatpicking favorite.

In my own personal experience, Taylors are a more consistent brand in tone and playability due to their construction methods. Martins, can be more hit or miss, BUT, when they get a particular guitar right, they hit it right out of the park in tone and playability.

This post is perfect. The only thing I would add (as an owner of 2 Taylors) is that perhaps the Martins can be more hit and less miss with a proper set up performed? Not sure, but suspect that may be the case.

Bracing…x brace, scalloped, fwd-shifted etc, has as much to do with tone as any other component. Most new buyers don’t even realize it should be a major consideration if searching for a particular tonal character

My name is Craig and I have a problem.....

After selling some stock with the dropping market, I parked the $$$$ waiting to pounce like a Puma when it rises again.

Well, a "Holy Grail" guitar came along and I pounced like a puppy. It's a 2015 Kevin Kopp K-35 based on Gibson's J-35. Scalloped braces, hide glue and hand built in Bozeman Montana.

It has a "burst" finish that Kevin's guitars are well known for, hand applied and rubbed with a cotton ball and alcohol.

It's really something. Plays like dream and tone for days.

To quote Charles De Mar in "Better Off Dead"... "Sometimes you just gotta say "WTF".

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1649530076.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1649530113.jpg

Craigster59, That is a super cool guitar, and beautiful as well.

Cheers

Hey everybody
I posted a couple pics of her Granados earlier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zODzRiNGvgo

This is a win at the Indiana International Guitar competition last weekend.
Sorry for the video quality - wife was juggling all the logisticals along with pulling a cell phone video.

Just wanted a chance to show off my kid’s chops.

She will be pursuing a bachelor’s in music - guitar performance starting this fall.

Proud dad here.