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Gabor Szabo played Martin D-45 and D-28.
I dabble with Martin flat tops, currently a 2015 00-18V .Last edited by bohemian46; 04-06-2020 at 10:14 PM.
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04-06-2020 08:32 PM
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I have a 1976 Martin 000-28 that I bought new. I have other flat-tops - a Vagabond Travel Guitar and a Gibson Parlor Rosewood Modern 2019 (seriously, that's what it's called) which was a gift, but the Martin is all I need. By the way, before I bought the 000-28 I had a 1970 D-41 which I hand-picked from 3 samples. Everything about it was gorgeous, but it was just too big for me - I felt like I was hugging a tree when I played it.
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Originally Posted by msr13
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Originally Posted by DRS
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Martin 000-16GT...
I bought it recently.
I always loved Martins but never thought I would get one soon... I tried this one occasionally in the shop, there were also other Martins, Taylor and Matons...
I bought it though the retail price was pretty high...
Before that I played luthier-made (small local worshop GMD) flattop - OM type, it was beautiful sonorous guitar - all solid body, solid cedar top - nice slotted head - but when I played that Martin at home in comparison - the tone and balance was so much more balanced and complex...
You know on that old guitar I played the tune and it was generallly the tune... when I played the same song on Martin I noticed how many things actually happend there - how many things I can do.
There is also interesting thing - that other guitar I had seemed to be louder and quicker response than Martin, more straight forward and easier to play...
(Good Martins in general in my opinion are not easy guitars to play really well (they are more demanding on your technique and control)
But when I played for the others - they said that they actually hear no difference in volume and that Martin sounds actually very different both in picking and strumming... my daughter said that old guitar sounds 'like a picture of cathedral, and the new one like real cathedral with demensions'.
I know 000-16 is considered cheaper end but I tried recently 000-28 (I would not have bought it anyway - too pricey for the moment)... and it was great but in my opinion there is nothing that makes 000-16 worse.. it is different, yes... but not worse.
My dream is to find one day good old seasoned flattop...
Here are both of them, that GMD is not bad at all too considering the price especially wich is 3 times cheaper than Martin.Last edited by Jonah; 04-09-2020 at 03:19 AM.
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what gauge strings do you people use?
I'm used to playing electrics so the heavier gauge strings I use (lights 12) comes at a cost to playibility.
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Originally Posted by DRS
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What did Kenny Burrell use in this concert. He plays a few tunes with just the acoustic. This version he swaps it out. He sounds great to me .
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Over the years a few pretty nice flat-tops have come and gone, ranging from a '61 Martin D28 and 30s Gibson L-00s to a Gurian S3R.
But since I don't play flat-top often this Tacoma C1C Chief is it now. In Martin terms it's like an OM with a 00-size upper bout -- long scale but very comfy. It was inexpensive, sturdy, sounds great at home and plugs in really well. The bolt-on neck means it can be easily set-up just right.
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I love my Larrivee C-09. Rosewood with cedar top. Amazing tone.
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Originally Posted by DRS
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The main one is a yairi masterworks 12 fret slope shouldered sort of oddball. Wide nut, slotted headstock, rosewood back and sides. Kind of specific, but a damn masterpiece to play, listen to and smell.
The rest are all small bodies: an om, a 12 string om, a baritone om, and a baby all hog guild m20. All weird and distinct and fun.
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Originally Posted by DRS
Martin had their own strings but they are a bit too soft for my feel...
I have no problem with switching for heavy gauges (I play lutes where tension is about 4 times lighter than on steel string acoustic).
But I have quite low action - really at the edge of buzz.. I elaborated some kind of picking that allows me to avoid buzzing
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Originally Posted by DRSOriginally Posted by Jim Soloway
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Originally Posted by DRS
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Thanks, guys. I currently use Martin Retro Monel Light (12). I can lower the action at the bridge but then I can't use the guitar for traditional acoustic rhythm playing so easily.
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Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
Forgive me if this has been answered before, how do you like the X7? A production 12 fret with a cutaway is very attractive but the 24" scale is a question. Coming as the builder of long-scale Swan guitars, how did you find the change? How does it sound acoustically. I know it sounds great as recorded by you. The guitar would be over $3,000 cdn so I need to do my due diligence.
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Originally Posted by Sam Sherry
Excellent guitar with exceptionally sweet trebles!
Congratulations on your good taste.
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Originally Posted by DRS
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Since I was a flat-top guy for decades before I fell for this archtop thing, I have owned a fair number of them.
My favorites have always been Martin dreadnoughts, and my gigging one for the last decade or so was my D-18 Authentic 1937. I am also quite fond of my D-28 Authentic 1931, however, which is a 12-fret monster. The D-18A has been great for laying down bass-and-rhythm.
My friends who are real jazz guitarists, however, have paid particular attention to my Running Dog minijumbo, made for me by Rick Davis (now retired). It's neck is much less chunky than a Martin dread, and the action is lower than on my Martins (I always basically played factory action, with medium gauge strings, on the Martins), and uses light gauge strings.
It has an Italian spruce top and bubinga back and sides, and is an absolute beauty.
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Originally Posted by Jonah
A good modern alternative is a new D-15M. You can season it yourself! I picked one up to noodle on while window shopping at Gryphon a few months ago and was gobsmacked by the feel, tone and workmanship. (These are all factory-Plek’d. Martin has stepped their game up so much in recent years.) I am *not* a fan of mahogany topped Martins but this one was just clear, resonant and lovely as can be. All solid, $1200 for a brand new guitar. I played it for 20 minutes, then looked more carefully at it. When I saw the snowflake fretboard inlays I knew I was f*@&ing hooked.
Forgot to mention that the bridge, fingerboard, heel cap and peghead overlays on those 90s D-16H models are Brazilian rosewood. Thought I'd share some pics of these distant cousins.
Last edited by lukmanohnz; 04-12-2020 at 03:08 PM.
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Copy everything that he just said and swap in "guild" for "Martin". Plenty of cheap veterans from the 60s-90s out there, and they also have a current hog top dread offering. It's an interesting concept. Just a thought.
Though I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how pretty his are. That's a silky top.
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Originally Posted by feet
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Strings,
I use 12s on my 0000s (M/Jumbo size but shallow like a 00, 000 or OM) and dreadnaughts.
I use 11s on 00s and 000s and OMs.
Another two thumbs up for the early D-16H model, simply outstanding.
I very much like the dreads but too large.
However the slope shoulder S models such as the D-18S ( and variants) and my D-35s\S.. all with 12 frets and slotted headstocks, 1 7/8ths nut width are my favorites of the dreads.
Another fine flattop is the Gibson WM 45.. a sleeper..
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My D-28 Authentic 1931:
My D-18 Authentic 1937:
Both with "medium" gauge strings (for acoustic flat tops, medium means .013 - .056).
Gibson Thin line Guitar Models
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