Your favorite Martin guitar...

[Del Pickup]

I love my Clapton model. Plain and simple but absolutely superb tone. I've lost track of the number of positive comments I've received on its tone from other musos - and sound men who find it so easy to deal with.

I've read that some reviewers reckon that it's not as good as a strumming style instrument but I use it for a lot of rhythm work and have never found a problem with it.

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by Booman

I really like my '93 D16 H. A modest sleeper in the Martin realm. (Anyone else out there have one and care to comment?) I'd love a 50's 00018 or a nice early D18. Love dim Marty's

I have a 92 D16 H. One of the best acoustic guitars I have ever played. It doesn't have the rosewood sound of a 28, but its definetly got that killer Martin tone, very boomy with a bottom end like nobodys business.

[tcarp]

I have 4, none of which I'm worthy to own.

In order of aquisition:

2003 Smartwood OM

I started to play guitar in 2004 at the ripe old age of almost 52. I had a very nice Alvarez dread cut-away but the neck was too slim and string spacing too narrow, and my newbie fingers kept crashing into each other. I made very little progress in 3 months. One day at a local GC I spotted a used OM21with a 1-3/4" nut and slightly wider string spacing. I could barely do clean open chords but 10 minutes with a small bodied, wider neck guitar convinced me I had to have a Martin or I would just die. In a huge leap of faith my wife gave the OK and I came home with the SWOMGT. I made immediate progress. Sitka Spruce top, solid cherry back and sides, aging toner, gold trim. My forever guitar.

2002 000-15

Purchased new in '05, all 'hog, pre-Sapele. It's gotten the least amount of play time....my SWOMGT was always my small body of choice. I recently noticed that the heel is slightly seperating from the body, so it's due for a warranty repair, and then it's off to the classifieds.

2006 D18

Got it brand new in March '08...an amazing deal too...41% off list, free shipping, and since it came from a dealer in Pa, no tax....under $1500. Despite my love for the Smartwood, I've since adapted well to a 1-11/16" nut and the D18 has become my go-to acoustic. I recently polished the rosewood headstock plate to a mirror finish, installed Grover 18:1 vintage Sta-tites, added snakewood bridge pins, and topped it off with a Greven 50's tortoise pick guard. It also got treated to a gorgeous, very dark brown Vintage strap from Sully's. This guitar is a tone monster and a keeper.

LX175 Anniversary Martin

The little, MIM Martin with graphics depicting the company's history....given to me as a present from my best friend Doug whom I've known for almost 53 years now. Once the basement is done, this will proudly be displayed on the music wall.

In 2012 I turn 60, and a milestone birthday calls for a special present. I can think of nothing more special than an HD28. In sunburst. With Waverlies.

Tom

[Colt W. Knight]

I bet the anticipation is going to give you a heart attack before the four years are up. You should probably just buy one now.

[tonedr]

had a D-18GE that i really liked.....great guitars!

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

I bet the anticipation is going to give you a heart attack before the four years are up. You should probably just buy one now.

Besides, that way it'll be fully broken in for the 60th celebrations.

[Colt W. Knight]

And can you imagine the tone coming out of it by the time he turns 100?

[tcarp]

I bet the anticipation is going to give you a heart attack before the four years are up. You should probably just buy one now.

And if I try to sneak one into the house now, my wife will find a dozen ways to kill me before a heart attack does me in.

Tom

[Colt W. Knight]

Yeah, but you will die happy!

[redstringuitar]

I've never owned a Martin, which makes me feel a bit of an imposter on this thread with all these beauties, but my old acoustic work-horse is a Sigma DR41 and I will never part with it. It sounds gorgeous with the right strings and looks just like the real thing (apart from the fake-gold tuners). It also had a horrible thick poly coat, which I sanded down, the wood and build are top-notch, it booms and shimmers better than many far more expensive acoustics and plays lovely with rock-solid dependability.

[otterhound]

Originally Posted by redstringuitar

I've never owned a Martin, which makes me feel a bit of an imposter on this thread with all these beauties, but my old acoustic work-horse is a Sigma DR41 and I will never part with it. It sounds gorgeous with the right strings and looks just like the real thing (apart from the fake-gold tuners). It also had a horrible thick poly coat, which I sanded down, the wood and build are top-notch, it booms and shimmers better than many far more expensive acoustics and plays lovely with rock-solid dependability.

You will someday . Trust me .

[fltpkr]

The only one I've ever owned. I love this guitar as much as my tele, and I really love my tele. 1974 D28.

[Telesavalis]

Originally Posted by Del Pickup

I love my Clapton model. Plain and simple but absolutely superb tone. I've lost track of the number of positive comments I've received on its tone from other musos - and sound men who find it so easy to deal with.

I've read that some reviewers reckon that it's not as good as a strumming style instrument but I use it for a lot of rhythm work and have never found a problem with it.

My 000-28 EC is the best recording acoustic I've ever owned-and I've had a bunch of them during the past 40 yrs. Yes, it's great for finger picking but it's also equally great for strumming with any degree of attack.

[RickG501]

Originally Posted by tcarp

And if I try to sneak one into the house now, my wife will find a dozen ways to kill me before a heart attack does me in.

Tom

We all gotta go sometime.

[Gumby]

A HD-40MS (only made in '96)...found one in December 2008 and it is now my one and only acoustic baby, the cannon like tone, the feel of the neck, etc. make it the best acoustic I have ever played...I appreciate it more and more every time it comes out of the case!

[BottyGuy]

Originally Posted by Gumby

A HD-40MS (only made in '96)...found one in December 2008 and it is now my one and only acoustic baby, the cannon like tone, the feel of the neck, etc. make it the best acoustic I have ever played...I appreciate it more and more every time it comes out of the case!

Plus its got all those cool fretboard inlays, congrats on your find, do you have a picture?

[orangeblossom]

This is my HD-18 Elliot Eastman #5 of 28 made.IMG_0129.jpg

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by BottyGuy

Plus its got all those cool fretboard inlays, congrats on your find, do you have a picture?

Thanks BottyGuy! I do not have a picture on this computer, but will try to post one asap.

[Lathem]

Of the two I own, this is my favorite, an 0-28IA:

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by BottyGuy

Plus its got all those cool fretboard inlays, congrats on your find, do you have a picture?

OK, I got a picture posted :

HD-40MS.jpg

[FiddlinJim]

The left half of my family portrait:

a '51 (or '52, I forget) 00-17
a 2008 John Miller sig model (1 of 5, it's a 000-18s)

The 00-17 is the best sounding I've ever heard, not boxy or small sounding at all. The JM has that great mahogany body sound, but bigger sound than a 000 14-fret due to the larger body. No buyer's regrets at all!

Jim

[Higgs F. Boson]

I love my '05 D-18. But I had the opportunity once to play a friend's LSV - unreal!

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by imwjl

I have two, and the HD-28 is it. I got it used, but it quickly got the status of last guitar I'd part with, and any player who has touched it has been impressed. People who play and don't marvel at the tone.

I love my other dread, but this HD-28 almost like having an unfair advantage when playing with other acoustics unless it's the 1958 D-28 the leader of the jams uses.

I have to change or eat my words here. I'm at 4 now if Little Martin counts. My 00-18V and OM-28V probably get about 1/2 of all my guitar playing and my OM would have to be "the one" if there could only be one. I just did another round of compare them all and it would indeed be the last to go.

I think playing electrics has change my tune of liking dreadnoughts exclusively.

[David Barnett]

Anything with the number 15 or higher in its name.

[Charlie Bernstein]

My '71 D-28. No need for a picture. Looks like all the rest of 'em.

[Kewk]

Originally Posted by Stefan

I have a 000-15 too, and I really like it! It´s not the prettiest Martin but it sure has a look and sound of its´own and that´s what counts I guess...

I also have the 000-15. While some guitars look better, I have to say the 000-15 is the best smelling guitar I've ever played. Love the smell of mahogany in the morning.

If I had the money I'd get an 00-18, mostly because it's a more comfortable couch guitar.

[blue metalflake]

Originally Posted by Kewk

is the best smelling guitar I've ever played.

Not sure whether its a Martin thing, but I'm always knocked out by the smell when I open the case. Never fails to be there - its nearly as good as the sound !

[Fret Wilkes]

A recent shot of my 1973 D28 picnicing with the rest of the family.

[Sterling Indigo]

Martin GAS, thanks guys. Here's an addicting game-design your own Custom Martin:
http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/...ustombuild.php dont forget the carbon fibre case at the end (for about $3k).

[tcarp]

I'm very fortunate to own two....an '03 Smartwood OM, and an '06 D18.


Tom

[mingming68hk]

I Have Only One Martin, OM-42 Koa

[curtbob]

While I don't have a Martin, I saw a used D-15 at a local shop recently. Anyone have any thoughts about it?

[Warm Gums]

Played many over the years..have fond memories of the 00-15, I aslo liked the 000 out of the "Road" series very much..

[flapjack]

I have a 1979 M-38 and it is to me the best guitar I have every played. The second and third best I've played were an M-36 and another M-38, so I obviously have a thing for these models. I still can't believe how good this guitar sounds every time I play it and I have had it a loooong time. Might need a neck reset soon though - yikes. Sorry no pics.

[Telesavalis]

000-28 EC. hands down the best acoustic I've ever owned or played. I currently have
7 acoustics, all high end guitars, and the EC is the best, not the most expensive, but the best of them.

[Don Wiklund]

I own 1 1/2 Martins. A DC Aura and a 1980 Martin/Sigma Anniversary D10. I love the DC Aura but in the bang for the buck category the old Sigma is a mind blower. Sounds as good as any D18 I've ever played. I highly recommend the old Japanese Martin licensed guitars of that time.

[Humbuster]

Here is my favorite Martin (along with my 2 favorite Fenders)
D18V, Thin Skin 52, Thin Skin 62


[IMG][/IMG]

[wcap]

Just got one of these custom 000-15 Martins last week:

http://www.thepodium.com/p-16686-mar...ss-finish.aspx

I was initially in love with the sound (I'm mostly a fingerpicker). Compared to all the other guitars I tried (including some much more expensive ones), this had the most lovely sound, especially for notes and simple chords held a long time. As the main note fades you are left with this lovely chorus of long lasting harmonics. It sounds especially superb in DADGAD tuning, and another customer in the shop who was listening to me play this guitar in DADGAD thought it had an almost 12-string sound.

But it is not a particularly loud guitar. Maximum volume fingerpicking is noticeably less than what I can easily get out of my classical guitar. To really appreciate the sound of this 000-15 I need to be in a relatively quiet space, especially a space where the guitar sound resonates a bit.

I was in love with this guitar for several days, and then I tried playing music with my wife and daughter (violin and flute). Fingerpicking, we could hardly hear the guitar, even with me playing as loud as I could. Flatpicking (which I'm not currently very good at) was better, but volume was still limited, and maybe not enough if we were to add another instrument or two to the mix.

And strumming chords with a pick (when playing music with my family) seemed to give a bit of a mushy sound, presumably because of the otherwise wonderful harmonics in great abundance.

So now I'm pretty frustrated. Not sure whether I should take this back for store credit and go for some other steel string guitar with a bit more volume (the ones that interested me cost more), or maybe I should put the extra money into getting a second less expensive Seagull or something (decent guitars, but not necessarily ones that have amazing tone like the 000-15) that would be louder and used specifically for playing music with my family or others.

Even when playing guitar alone, I like the option of having a lot more volume for greater dynamic range when I want it for dramatic effect.

Very frustrating, especially after being so certain this was the guitar for me.

[BigMike]

I have a wonderful 1998 HD28 that I purchased in 2001 from a UK Military Pilot who was being posted to Belize and could not take it with him.

I had it set up by a local Luthier some 6 months ago and it plays and sounds amazing.

Having always wanted a Martin I can honestly say that the one I have is a truly great instrument that compliments my Guild G37 and Takamine EAN10 well.

BigMike

[Humbuster]

Big Mike,

Guild G37s are great guitars.
Found one in '97 at a garage sale in nice shape with Guild case for $300.00
Sold it a few years later and would like to find another.