Your favorite Martin guitar... - Page 2

allen st. john · December 3rd, 2006, 06:35 AM

I'm mostly an old Martin guy, but two newer ones have gotten my attention.

Budget category: 000-15 S Both Leo Kottke and Bill Frisell play this one. Great body size if you don't play past the 12th fret much (and Segovia didn't)

Higher End: OM-18 GE. Really credible (but not totally accurate) repro of a '30s OM-18 one of the most toneful guitars on the planet. Banjo tuners, plain headstock, and rosewood bindings give it a slick, old school look.

allen

trag-o-caster · December 4th, 2006, 12:56 AM

Here's a photo of my 1934 0-17 that was given to me several years ago. It stays in the closet untouched. The fret ends are so sharp that they'd cut your fingers to shreds if you slid into a note! It has a GREAT tone though.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Stefan · February 25th, 2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trag-o-caster

The fret ends are so sharp that they'd cut your fingers to shreds if you slid into a note!

Why don´t you fix it?!

Robsocal · February 25th, 2007, 01:09 PM

My DCX1E is my first, and only, Martin, for now. I played it so much when I first bought it that my Tele got jealous. It has me jonesing for an all wood, higher-end, Martin. I can't get enough of the resonant fullness and balance of my "laminate."

Tim Armstrong · February 25th, 2007, 01:24 PM

My brother Mike's 2002 D-41 is a pretty magical one (we went up to Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island and played five of them, and this one just jumped up and said "it's MEEEEEE").

Cheers, Tim

moo · February 26th, 2007, 05:23 PM

OMC-28E and 000-15S

Ya know, I'm always planning on selling the 000-15S to make some cash for a D-28 of some variety. Then I pick it up and play some fingerstyle blues and it's safe again. I doubt I'll ever actually sell it.

The OMC-28E is great. My guitar teacher has a tough time putting it down, and it keeps me up way too late at night.

zane · March 3rd, 2007, 09:22 PM

well I have 2...dig 'em both...
000-18GE~ooo-28EC

usc96 · March 4th, 2007, 09:23 AM

Filthy McNasty · March 13th, 2007, 09:27 AM

As much as I like my 000-16GT it just isn't up to par with the 000-18. I bought the 000-16GT because it was half the price of the 000-18. It was an acceptable compromise.

Bob Mc · March 13th, 2007, 01:55 PM

And, sorry as I have no pictures either.

I had a D2R, which is from the road series;a great guitar for the money, but I wanted something more comfortable. I tried SWOMGT and OMM, and I knew that's the body size I wanted, but I wanted to also upgrade to all solid wood and the better bracing. It responds to my pick and finger style very well, and for straight flat picked rhythm work it sounds almost Gibsonish (in a very good way).

What a great little guitar, I do believe it's a keeper.

lewis · March 16th, 2007, 08:59 AM

I don't own one but I played a OOO-28vs at Elderly last month that was real magical. It outshined the comparable Santa Cruz and Larrivee models that they also had on display.
Now I know what to save my pennies for.

Specialk32928 · April 12th, 2007, 10:49 PM

whoops photos didn't show up...

Specialk32928 · April 12th, 2007, 10:50 PM

I LOVE MARTIN GUITARS!

there had to get that out of the way-- as for Martins I've owned theres only one so far lol (although in the future there will be more)

Rosewood Dreadnought (Custom), satin finish

GREAT sounding-- personally i prefer satin finish as it makes the sound like weighed down (for fingerpicking and even flatpicking in some cases)

as for future Martin conquests it's a safe bet i'll probably add a 000 and (maybe in a few decades) a D-45 or D-41 (one can dream

)

Big Lug · April 15th, 2007, 09:44 AM

I absolutley love my D-28!!!

From Page to Hedges, it is so versatile and sounds so nice.

Taking it with me when I check out of here.

williamfriggle · April 15th, 2007, 11:06 AM

I love my Guild, but I have loved Martins from the begining. My favorite I had, :-( was a 2003 HD-28V. And absolute cannon. Tone to die for. Number 2 would be my old OM-21. Incredable little guitar. I don't own a Martin right now, but I am itching for a D-28. I like the tone of the non scalloped braced guitars. To me they have a tight tone to them that I really like. Maybe down the road somewhere I will get one. But for now I am really happy with my Guild. A Martin would be an add on.

Bill

62RI · May 2nd, 2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidercaster

My 1967 D-28.

That one is starting to look like Willie's! (Nelson of course!)

chipl · May 2nd, 2007, 09:43 AM

I own 2, a 1970 D-18, mahognany sides and back, a great clear, bell like tone...the guitar does it all, it's strummer, it's good for fingerpicking, single lead lines...

I also own a 74 D28 which I love..great cannon like sound, nice boomy bass
great high end...again it does it all.

BUT my favorite Martin of all time is one I do not own. It's a 1968 D-28 a college friend of mine had back in the early 70s. It played like butter, had action so good it could practically play itself. Whether you were fingerpicking it, strumming it, or doing just about anything, it offered the least resistance of any acoustic I ever played. The sound was bell-like, in the best sense of the word. It just rang! Two other guys at college had a magnificent D-45 and, the other and beautiful D-41. But this D-28 just blew 'em away.

The stars and planets and the martin guitarmakers musta been in total alignment during the days that guitar was made.

I visited this friend several times when he lived Colorado in the 1980s and 90s and got to play it each time...and the thing had opened up/improved with age as we know vintage Martins often do...and it was like magic...a six string orchestra...I would swear I heard angels singing in the overtones and harmonics.

TELEkinetic · May 2nd, 2007, 09:24 PM

gtrman911 · May 2nd, 2007, 10:25 PM

i've had 3......kept the d-15

pure heaven, imo

crippe · May 3rd, 2007, 05:24 AM

The Martin 000-28EC, this is the nicest acoustic I've ever played. I really fell in love with the smaller body, wider fretboard and the strong V-shape neck. The sad thing is I don't own one :( yet :)

Harmony Blitzer · May 3rd, 2007, 06:30 AM

i will second what Robsocal said....regarding the DCX1E

zombywoof · May 3rd, 2007, 05:10 PM

Don't have a pic cuz it ain't mine (I blew it which is another story). Anyway, it is a friend's 1942 000-18. I got to play it a day or two back. Best sounding Martin I have heard in about 40 years.

Buck@r00 · May 5th, 2007, 06:14 PM

I love my straight braced D-28. One of my sons has a D-18V with the scalloped bracing and it sounds GREAT in the living room but when you play it in a group or on stage it gets real muddy and lost in the mix. My regular D-28 always cuts through

David Barnett · May 5th, 2007, 06:53 PM

I love mahogany dreadnaughts, D-18 and D-15 'cause they're warm and loud.

But the best musical instrument I have ever played was a WWII-era "herringbone" D-28 that a friend in college had on evaluation from a dealer. Oh my that guitar had it all -- warmth, clarity, sustain, projection, playability. It even had good intonation. Friend ended up not buying it because $2000 seemed a bit extravagant in 1977. Of course it would be a $30,000+ guitar today, I hope he is still kicking himself daily for letting it slip away.

The open tuners looked like the thumb screws you find at a hardware store, and worked perfectly.

biker joe · May 6th, 2007, 02:24 AM

000-18s are the most comfortable to play with their small body and short scale yet still maintain a fantastic balanced sound. But I love the powerful cutting sound of the D-18s the best. Although, sometimes there are a few moments when I yearn for the deep 3D base of a rosewood dread. So then basically, you need at least three!
Of the new ones, I'm floored by how good the Golden Era guitars are. The 000-18GE and d-18GE are just superb sounding/playing guitars. Don't even pick up a D-18 authentic if you can't afford one.
Oh yeah... can't forget the LXM. After my tele, it is my most played guitar.
Interesting... I have not picked up an EC that I liked, and I have picked up quite a few. On paper it seemed like such a great guitar. I just think I've had to come to the realization that the combo of rosewood with shortscale and small body don't go together well. Maybe if I actually tried an actual 1939 000-42 I would feel differently. It basically made me realize that I guess I just favor the hogs...

December 4th, 2006, 12:56 AM	#42 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,394	Here's a photo of my 1934 0-17 that was given to me several years ago. It stays in the closet untouched. The fret ends are so sharp that they'd cut your fingers to shreds if you slid into a note! It has a GREAT tone though. [IMG][/IMG] __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

February 25th, 2007, 01:09 PM	#44 (permalink)
Robsocal Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southern California Age: 46 Posts: 238	My DCX1E is my first, and only, Martin, for now. I played it so much when I first bought it that my Tele got jealous. It has me jonesing for an all wood, higher-end, Martin. I can't get enough of the resonant fullness and balance of my "laminate." Last edited by Robsocal : February 25th, 2007 at 01:45 PM.

February 25th, 2007, 01:24 PM	#45 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 8,095	My brother Mike's 2002 D-41 is a pretty magical one (we went up to Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island and played five of them, and this one just jumped up and said "it's MEEEEEE"). Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

February 26th, 2007, 05:23 PM	#46 (permalink)
moo TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 29	OMC-28E and 000-15S OMC-28E and 000-15S Ya know, I'm always planning on selling the 000-15S to make some cash for a D-28 of some variety. Then I pick it up and play some fingerstyle blues and it's safe again. I doubt I'll ever actually sell it. The OMC-28E is great. My guitar teacher has a tough time putting it down, and it keeps me up way too late at night.

March 4th, 2007, 09:23 AM	#48 (permalink)
usc96 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: East Coast Age: 38 Posts: 69	DC16-GTE __________________ My Guitar

December 3rd, 2006, 06:35 AM	#41 (permalink)
allen st. john Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 677	I'm mostly an old Martin guy, but two newer ones have gotten my attention. Budget category: 000-15 S Both Leo Kottke and Bill Frisell play this one. Great body size if you don't play past the 12th fret much (and Segovia didn't) Higher End: OM-18 GE. Really credible (but not totally accurate) repro of a '30s OM-18 one of the most toneful guitars on the planet. Banjo tuners, plain headstock, and rosewood bindings give it a slick, old school look. allen

March 3rd, 2007, 09:22 PM	#47 (permalink)
zane Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Panther City,Tx Posts: 1,013	well I have 2...dig 'em both... 000-18GE~ooo-28EC

March 13th, 2007, 09:27 AM	#49 (permalink)
Filthy McNasty Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: upstate N.Y. Age: 38 Posts: 670	As much as I like my 000-16GT it just isn't up to par with the 000-18. I bought the 000-16GT because it was half the price of the 000-18. It was an acceptable compromise.

March 13th, 2007, 01:55 PM	#50 (permalink)
Bob Mc Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mo'town NJ Posts: 1,574	OM21 for me And, sorry as I have no pictures either. I had a D2R, which is from the road series;a great guitar for the money, but I wanted something more comfortable. I tried SWOMGT and OMM, and I knew that's the body size I wanted, but I wanted to also upgrade to all solid wood and the better bracing. It responds to my pick and finger style very well, and for straight flat picked rhythm work it sounds almost Gibsonish (in a very good way). What a great little guitar, I do believe it's a keeper. __________________ All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out. Mark Twain

March 16th, 2007, 08:59 AM	#51 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,748 23 Photos	I don't own one but I played a OOO-28vs at Elderly last month that was real magical. It outshined the comparable Santa Cruz and Larrivee models that they also had on display. Now I know what to save my pennies for. __________________ "I'm a maestro, I'm a maestro," Taj Mahal, 8/20/05.

April 12th, 2007, 10:49 PM	#52 (permalink)
Specialk32928 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Guilderland, NY Age: 18 Posts: 23	OOPS whoops photos didn't show up... __________________ "All I can do is be me, whoever that is..." "He not busy being born is busy dying. " "I'm just a guitar player..." -Bob Dylan Last edited by Specialk32928 : April 12th, 2007 at 10:51 PM. Reason: photos did not show up

April 12th, 2007, 10:50 PM	#53 (permalink)
Specialk32928 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Guilderland, NY Age: 18 Posts: 23	I LOVE MARTIN GUITARS! there had to get that out of the way-- as for Martins I've owned theres only one so far lol (although in the future there will be more) Rosewood Dreadnought (Custom), satin finish GREAT sounding-- personally i prefer satin finish as it makes the sound like weighed down (for fingerpicking and even flatpicking in some cases) as for future Martin conquests it's a safe bet i'll probably add a 000 and (maybe in a few decades) a D-45 or D-41 (one can dream ) __________________ "All I can do is be me, whoever that is..." "He not busy being born is busy dying. " "I'm just a guitar player..." -Bob Dylan

April 15th, 2007, 09:44 AM	#54 (permalink)
Big Lug Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Mainland, BC Posts: 527	I absolutley love my D-28!!! From Page to Hedges, it is so versatile and sounds so nice. Taking it with me when I check out of here. __________________ “To be is to do” – Socrates “To do is to be” – Jean-Paul Sartre “Do be do be do” – Frank Sinatra

April 15th, 2007, 11:06 AM	#55 (permalink)
williamfriggle Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Denver, PA, USA Age: 41 Posts: 282	I love my Guild, but I have loved Martins from the begining. My favorite I had, :-( was a 2003 HD-28V. And absolute cannon. Tone to die for. Number 2 would be my old OM-21. Incredable little guitar. I don't own a Martin right now, but I am itching for a D-28. I like the tone of the non scalloped braced guitars. To me they have a tight tone to them that I really like. Maybe down the road somewhere I will get one. But for now I am really happy with my Guild. A Martin would be an add on. Bill

May 2nd, 2007, 09:43 AM	#57 (permalink)
chipl Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 732	My Favorite Martin I own 2, a 1970 D-18, mahognany sides and back, a great clear, bell like tone...the guitar does it all, it's strummer, it's good for fingerpicking, single lead lines... I also own a 74 D28 which I love..great cannon like sound, nice boomy bass great high end...again it does it all. BUT my favorite Martin of all time is one I do not own. It's a 1968 D-28 a college friend of mine had back in the early 70s. It played like butter, had action so good it could practically play itself. Whether you were fingerpicking it, strumming it, or doing just about anything, it offered the least resistance of any acoustic I ever played. The sound was bell-like, in the best sense of the word. It just rang! Two other guys at college had a magnificent D-45 and, the other and beautiful D-41. But this D-28 just blew 'em away. The stars and planets and the martin guitarmakers musta been in total alignment during the days that guitar was made. I visited this friend several times when he lived Colorado in the 1980s and 90s and got to play it each time...and the thing had opened up/improved with age as we know vintage Martins often do...and it was like magic...a six string orchestra...I would swear I heard angels singing in the overtones and harmonics.

May 2nd, 2007, 09:24 PM	#58 (permalink)
TELEkinetic Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Central Arkansas Age: 51 Posts: 378 11 Photos	My '73 D-18 __________________ *Guitars better than women:* You can have a guitar professionally adjusted......

May 2nd, 2007, 10:25 PM	#59 (permalink)
gtrman911 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Camelot Posts: 1,121 7 Photos	i've had 3......kept the d-15 pure heaven, imo __________________ My opinion is worth what you paid for it.

May 3rd, 2007, 05:24 AM	#60 (permalink)
crippe TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 34 Posts: 73	The Martin 000-28EC, this is the nicest acoustic I've ever played. I really fell in love with the smaller body, wider fretboard and the strong V-shape neck. The sad thing is I don't own one :( yet :) __________________ www.myspace.com/christianjonsson

May 3rd, 2007, 06:30 AM	#61 (permalink)
Harmony Blitzer TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 36	i will second what Robsocal said....regarding the DCX1E __________________ God Speed ! Romans 12:2

May 3rd, 2007, 05:10 PM	#62 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,777 17 Photos	Don't have a pic cuz it ain't mine (I blew it which is another story). Anyway, it is a friend's 1942 000-18. I got to play it a day or two back. Best sounding Martin I have heard in about 40 years. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

May 5th, 2007, 06:53 PM	#64 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: LIttle Rock, AR Age: 52 Posts: 5,241	I love mahogany dreadnaughts, D-18 and D-15 'cause they're warm and loud. But the best musical instrument I have ever played was a WWII-era "herringbone" D-28 that a friend in college had on evaluation from a dealer. Oh my that guitar had it all -- warmth, clarity, sustain, projection, playability. It even had good intonation. Friend ended up not buying it because $2000 seemed a bit extravagant in 1977. Of course it would be a $30,000+ guitar today, I hope he is still kicking himself daily for letting it slip away. The open tuners looked like the thumb screws you find at a hardware store, and worked perfectly.

May 6th, 2007, 02:24 AM	#65 (permalink)
biker joe Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 295	000-18s are the most comfortable to play with their small body and short scale yet still maintain a fantastic balanced sound. But I love the powerful cutting sound of the D-18s the best. Although, sometimes there are a few moments when I yearn for the deep 3D base of a rosewood dread. So then basically, you need at least three! Of the new ones, I'm floored by how good the Golden Era guitars are. The 000-18GE and d-18GE are just superb sounding/playing guitars. Don't even pick up a D-18 authentic if you can't afford one. Oh yeah... can't forget the LXM. After my tele, it is my most played guitar. Interesting... I have not picked up an EC that I liked, and I have picked up quite a few. On paper it seemed like such a great guitar. I just think I've had to come to the realization that the combo of rosewood with shortscale and small body don't go together well. Maybe if I actually tried an actual 1939 000-42 I would feel differently. It basically made me realize that I guess I just favor the hogs...