Bought A Martin This Weekend

[ProfessorGAC]

Finally completed my collection, i think. Now i have a highline acoustic that makes me happy. Don't ask me the model. I forget already. I just bought the one that played the best and sounded the best. I even had the sales guy play the three i was thinking about (another Martin and a Taylor) so i could hear it from in front of the guitar as well as sitting on my lap.

It plays very smoothly, has a perfectly shaped neck for me, and has resonances off the scale, compared to what i'm used to. Sunday, i took it to my drummer's house, and for the first time (yes, i bought it solely on how it sounded as is) plugged it in. It gets louder and more presence without feedback, than any acoustic/electric i've ever heard. And, i didn't even care about that when i bought it. All i wanted was a great sounding acoustic guitar. I got a doubleplusgood hit on this one.

And, the price i got was phenomenal, since i got it at a close-out sale. I paid just a little over 50% of list!

Happy, happy!
The Professor

[cleofus1]

1. my dream accoustic

really my dream guitar...with gibson running a close second...

good for you! congratulations! It's a Martin!

(electric wise...which i really don't play...i would love to have a rikenbacher)

[ProfessorGAC]

2. I've Got LOTS Of Electrics

A Rick, though, might be the only thing i need to REALLY complete the collection. (Don't tell my wife i said that!) I have a Takamine and a Giannini. I had a Taylor, but didn't like the neck at all. Way too broad, way too flat. I bought it used, and sold it for what i paid.

The Taylor i played this weekend that became one of my three finalists was far better. It was equal to the "other" Martin in playability, but had a tone that was a bit bright and lacked any "woodiness". Really loud, though.

The other Martin was a bit TOO woody sounding. It also had an ebony fingerboard, so i expected it to have a really nice bright tone, but it didn't. The one i got has a better feeling neck, (rosewood, with a beautiful grain structure) and has a WONDERFUL combination of brightness from the top and woodiness from the body. It's got a two piece back (bookmatched) and they picked a gorgeous piece of wood for that.

I was looking for the upper price end of the least ornate guitars. I don't like all the inlay and overdone rosette stuff. This one is elegant and simple, so i know what i paid for was the quality of the wood and construction, and tone! The heck with abalone!

Now, i've retuned my Takamine to the open chord for my Kottke-esque stuff, although when i record, i'll probably use the Martin and just tune it. The sound is too good not to use it.

The Giannini is now just an "xtra" guitar. Can't get rid of it, though. It was my first acoustic, which i bought in 1976.
The Professor
The Professor

[leftofthedial]

3. con't beat a Martin

congrats!

[dbt]

4. Professor, we simply MUST know the model number!

Go dig it out so that we may know what degree of ENVY that we will all be in. For example, D-18 Envy is several notches below D-28 Envy, which is in turn MANY notches below D-41 Envy.

There is NOTHING like the sound of a Martin, is there?

[dogonarug]

5. D-41

When I went looking for a quality "lifetime" acoustic years ago I decided, whatever rosewood/spruce guitar that sounds best under 5K will be the one. I didn't really expect that a Martin would win(thought it would be a Taylor) and like the OP, had no desire for fancy inlay stuff. This particular D-41 beat em all, even the D-45 that I tried.
Every Martin that I tried was unique, though this one was the one that had the perfect blend of high/low end, volume and playability. Scary thing is, it has gotten significantly better in tone in just 6 years!
Enjoy your new baby and use a good humidifier.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. OK!

I got the DCME. It's, i think, the top of the mid-line, made in the U.S. series. There are way more expensive Martins, but i didn't want to get ridiculous, considering how understanding my wife is about these things. Can't push my luck, you know?

No numbers. Just DCME. The E is for the fact that there is a piezo pickup in the bridge. I think the C is a for Cutaway. (Not completely sure about that though.)

I think this Martin is only about a 6 on the drool factor scale, but it does sound great and plays superbly.

So, you're many notches below the D-41 envy, but i certainly have no regrets about my choice.
The Professor

[dbt]

7. M.D.A!

(Much Drooling Anyhow!)

Any thoughts on the pickup's tone yet? I have heard that Martin uses a superior sort of piezo system nowadays.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Beyond My Expectations

I didn't even try it in the store, because i didn't care about the electronic side of it. THat's not why i bought it.

But, Monday me and my boys jammed, and we had an extra bass player. So we did half a dozen songs that i could play acoustic, plugged in.

It's so present and rich, through a simple 100W solid state amp and one 12" and can get REALLY loud without feedback.

It's more than i expected, to be sure.
The Professor