is it just me when it comes to martin guitars

musicman100

Is it just me that can't really find a martin that I like enough to buy. I've tried loads n I've always wanted to love them but apart from the eric Clapton model ive always come away feeling cold.

BahHumbug

I've never found a Martin that I got on with at all. Lots of people like them, which is fair enough.  I don't.

thomasross20

I like them, depends what model. I like those omcp models, actually.

I find the action on them is really good. Prefer the sound of my larrivee.

SquireJapan

Martins are literally the only acoustics I can stand.

Horses for courses...

musicman100

SquireJapan said:

Martins are literally the only acoustics I can stand.

Horses for courses...

Definitely, it's like me with electric guitars as I'm a massive fan of gretsch but thier not everyone's cup of tea.

Winny_Pooh

You could be more specific? If you've only played rosewood models then you should try a D-18.

RandallFlagg

Many guitars copy the Martin designs so what exactly is it you don't like? Looks, woods used, feel, tone?

ToneControl

I believe they are all very expensive for what they are

For the same price as a Martin, you can get a boutique guitar with a better sound from the smaller US builders (Or Avalon, Lowden, etc)

Johnspreyer

I'm so relieved it's not just me.  When I was in the fortunate position of being able to afford a good acoustic, I knew I wanted a Martin.  After trying nearly every one in the (huge) shop, I came home with a Taylor.

thomasross20

ToneControl said:

I believe they are all very expensive for what they are

For the same price as a Martin, you can get a boutique guitar with a better sound from the smaller US builders (Or Avalon, Lowden, etc)

My Larrivee is all-wood, light, sounds fantastic, and was £800 or so. And that included a case that costs $250USD. 

TOTAL bargain buys are Larrivees.

thomasross20

I'm like that with Taylor - I don't get on with them, sorry to say.

richardhomer

Martin is THE classic flat top. Virtually every 'boutique' brand uses their designs as their starting point. They are a tonal 'benchmark'.

Modern Martins are extremely consistent and very playable. And compared to other US brands - reasonably priced - if not exactly 'cheap'.

Not really sure what's not to like....

crunchman

They vary.  To me the vintage spec ones with the forward shifted bracing sound a lot better than the ones with the post war bracing style.

In the recent production it's very hard to find a bad one, but some are better than others.  If you can find a really great one they stand up to anything from any maker.  If I had to list the top ten acoustics I've ever played there would definitely be at least 3 or 4 Martins in there, and most of the others would be from very expensive boutique brands that are more expensive than Martin.

By the way the OP might want to move this to the acoustic section.

musicman100

Imo if you take collings for example they basically copy martins design but make a better guitar. The last martin i tried was a d28 and imo it was very poor for the money as It just lacked something. But at the end of the day it's all down to personal preference. I have a collings now n to me it's everything i wanted a martin to be n more.

BigLicks67

musicman100 said:

Imo if you take collings for example they basically copy martins design but make a better guitar. The last martin i tried was a d28 and imo it was very poor for the money as It just lacked something. But at the end of the day it's all down to personal preference. I have a collings now n to me it's everything i wanted a martin to be n more.

Fair enough, but I've found the opposite to be the case. I tried a D28 against a Collings Dread which was £600.00 dearer and I preferred the Martin. That's not to say there was anything wrong with the Collings it was a beautifully made instrument, but I preferred the D28.

ICBM

musicman100 said:

Imo if you take collings for example they basically copy martins design but make a better guitar. The last martin i tried was a d28 and imo it was very poor for the money as It just lacked something. But at the end of the day it's all down to personal preference. I have a collings now n to me it's everything i wanted a martin to be n more.

It very much is personal preference. I've never played a Collings I even like.

To me they've copied Martin's (or Gibson's, depending on the model) designs and taken out everything that gives them the tone and character I want. Beautifully made but entirely uninspiring, to me.

That's not just restricted to Collings either, I feel the same about every other high-end brand guitar I've ever played as far as I can remember.

crunchman

musicman100 said:

Imo if you take collings for example they basically copy martins design but make a better guitar. The last martin i tried was a d28 and imo it was very poor for the money as It just lacked something. But at the end of the day it's all down to personal preference. I have a collings now n to me it's everything i wanted a martin to be n more.

Should have tried an HD28V.  I'd definitely take that over a Collings and it's a couple of hundred cheaper than the Collings D2H.

richardhomer

ICBM;1138833" said:

It very much is personal preference. I've never played a Collings I even like.

To me they've copied Martin's (or Gibson's, depending on the model) designs and taken out everything that gives them the tone and character I want. Beautifully made but entirely uninspiring, to me.

That's not just restricted to Collings either, I feel the same about every other high-end brand guitar I've ever played as far as I can remember.

I agree about Collings - I find them stiff and lacking in subtlety - I really don't 'get' their appeal at all.

I once got close to replacing my D28 with a Santa Cruz, which when I tried it in the shop blew me away. To be sure, I went home and got my Martin. I spent ages comparing the two and concluded there were aspects of each which I preferred over the other - but neither 'won' outright. Given that my Martin has great sentimental value, I've stuck with it ever since.

Incidentally, I much prefer the post-War bracing. The tone is more even - with more sustain. The forward-shifted models have greater dynamics - but are less tonally balanced.

SRich

Never played one - nor any affiliation - but if you like the Clapton Sig..........this also looks very appealing

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/74870/martin-omjm-acoustic-guitar-as-new-2-350-ovno#latest

Sassafras

I haven't played that many but the only one that really blew me away was a very old pre-war 00-28 parlour sized thing. It sounded absolutely glorious although the action was a bit of a challenge.

musicman100

Well I'll stick with collings as imo there great