Well, I bought my Martin today, not without the help of all of you. Thanks guys! I did do a search on previous threads as well.
Anyway, the guitar shop just got in a used D-18. They wanted 1495.00 + 15% tax. It had some checking and some pick scrape on the front. To be honest I thought it would sound amazing because it's worked in a little. I was not impressed at all. I played some less expensive Martins that were nicer sounding to play. Now, I have to admit that the neck was a pleasure to play. I could tell the past owner did not use a humidifier!!
Anyway, I ended up with a 00-17. It just sounds amazing and it's smaller for me because I'm a short dude with not the largest hands either. It felt really nice to play. It was 1795.00 and I got it for 1695.00. Beautiful Mahogany, it's a really sweet playing guitar with a nice warm, smoky tone. I fell in love with it. They had a 30th anniversary model there for about 300 less but it didn't sound as sweet as this honey did.
I listened to your advice guys and played every guitar in the shop that was in my price range. My price range increased because I forgot I had some cash put away for a Spalted Maple Tele that I've ordered. The dude that I'm starting to get to know quite well now (LOL), told me not to worry cause they'll put it in the back and I can pay it down when I want to. There are some benefits to a small town that only has one good guitar shop. You have no choice but to get to know the guys that way.
I played Taylors and a couple Gibsons (not impressed with either) and I played a couple Takamine's. There was one Takamine I liked but still there's something about the sound of a Martin?? All the Taylor's were nice when I played them yesterday. I didn't play any Martins because I didn't think I could afford any that they had. So, today when I played the Taylor's they just didn't seem to have that special sound that the Martins do. They seem to be a little more trebley than the Martins. I'm now a Martin boy.
There were a couple high-end Martins I played but unfortunately I couldn't afford 2500.00.
I also bought my neice a Ibanez EWC30 PDE. It was 550.00 and the dude took a $100.00 off of it as well. I can't believe how nice this Ibanez plays. It far outplayed the Normans, the Fenders (yuk) and alot of the Yamaha's. Now there were a couple Yamaha's in the higher price range that of course played better. This Ibanez is all wood and abalone inlays with on board electronics. To be honest if it hadn't been for that Martin, I may have bought it for myself. It's a surprise since she starts lessons tomorrow. It really is a sweet little guitar. Smaller size cause she's got short tiny fingers and she's only 5'.
Nice easy playing neck. Quite impressed actually. The dude told me that they've had Ibanez electrics in for years but they just started to get the Ibanez acoustics in. He said they're quite impressed with the sound and quality of the guitars and plan on getting more in.
I didn't like the Normans at all. I didn't like the Fenders in any way, shape or form. They also had Art and Luthier's or something like that. One played nice but that was it.
I want to thank everyone for the advice because it really helped me out. It makes a big difference when you sit there and play every guitar in your price range. It gives you a good idea of what guitars really sound sweet and which just don't have it. Thanks for that. I would have bought a Taylor and to be honest, it would have been more for the name. That's all I played because my budget was a lot less the day before.
It seems like common sense now that everyone who buys a guitar should play every brand in the price range and then decide.
I have to say that I was happy that I found one that just seems so comfortable in my hands. I've always fought with acoustics so I never bought one. I shouldn't have said I was new to acoustics though. I did have a Yamaha that I loved the sound of but it wasn't comfortable to play. I was given a Breedlove 25 that was a beautiful looking guitar and sounded great too but I felt like I was fighting to feel comfortable with it.
Dude sold me a gig bag for the Ibanez real cheap and a couple stands real cheap as well. It was a costly day all in all, $2500.00 tax in. Yikes!!!
At least the wife new I was buying my neice a guitar so that helped with the cost a little.
So, thanks guys, I appreciate the help and it really was a learning experience thanks to all of you. See, sometimes it pays to answer questions that you are repeatedly asked. You should feel good about helping me or anyone. Really, thanks to all.
H