Post by jubbo on Apr 8, 2018 21:18:37 GMT
After many years and many guitars I have come to realise that solid wood is not the "everything" I was lead to believe.
I have played and owned many of the "mid - level" - second or third guitars. Faith, Eastman, Freshman, Tanglewood, Ibanez, Taylor (100-200), Yamaha and Martin (D-15, 000-X).
My second guitar was a Martin 000X1. Spruce top and HPL (Martin's version of laminate) back and sides. Great guitar and really brought me along in my playing. As I advanced, i started to think about "the next guitar" and the lure of "all solid wood" took hold. I ended up buying a faith venus and selling the Martin. Then, over the past 10 years or so I have bought and sold many different solid wood guitars varying between £300-£900 in price.
It's taken me a lot of years and thousands of pounds, but I am right back where I started. This week I visited a couple of stores looking for an electro acoustic. I had a budget of around £1.5k. I spent nearly three hours in each store and tried at least 12 different guitars. I ended up purchasing a £620 X series.
Out of the Martins, I tried:
1) GPCPA4 - £1799
2) GPCRSGT - £1099
3) Dreadnaught JR - £649
4) Martin 00X1AE - £649 (got it for £620)
I also tried, Faith, Eastman, Tanglewood and Taylor.
The best I tried was the GPCPA4, but it was not £1,100 better than the X series not even close. The GPCRSGT and DR JR are both solid wood and did not sound or feel as good as the X series. I was shocked. Some of the other brands, were good, but just didn't feel as tight. The only ones that came close was Faith HiGloss and Faith Legacy.
I am often asked by friends and family about what guitar they should buy for themselves or for a family member. I now will not even hesitate with my answer. A Martin X series. You can't go wrong. In fact I would go as far as saying that unless you are spending more than £2k, my recommendation would be a Martin X series. Above £2k you are into realms of Martin Standard series, Brook, Lowden, Collings as well as the talented Luthiers on this forum. It's at this level where you really hear and feel the difference.
This is all just my opinion, but I really do think a lot of people really place too much importance on an "all solid guitar" at this price point. Even when I was in the store the guy said to me, "if you are spending under £1k you should be looking at Eastmans and Faith's as they are knocking out all solid guitars. If you buy an x-series you are just paying extra for the Martin brand". I couldn't help wonder if his margins are better on the Faiths and Eastmans
I may post a video. It would be interesting to get your thoughts, as I now have a 00-28 and 00XAE. One cost 4 times more than the other. It would be interesting to see if you can hear the difference.
I have played and owned many of the "mid - level" - second or third guitars. Faith, Eastman, Freshman, Tanglewood, Ibanez, Taylor (100-200), Yamaha and Martin (D-15, 000-X).
My second guitar was a Martin 000X1. Spruce top and HPL (Martin's version of laminate) back and sides. Great guitar and really brought me along in my playing. As I advanced, i started to think about "the next guitar" and the lure of "all solid wood" took hold. I ended up buying a faith venus and selling the Martin. Then, over the past 10 years or so I have bought and sold many different solid wood guitars varying between £300-£900 in price.
It's taken me a lot of years and thousands of pounds, but I am right back where I started. This week I visited a couple of stores looking for an electro acoustic. I had a budget of around £1.5k. I spent nearly three hours in each store and tried at least 12 different guitars. I ended up purchasing a £620 X series.
Out of the Martins, I tried:
1) GPCPA4 - £1799
2) GPCRSGT - £1099
3) Dreadnaught JR - £649
4) Martin 00X1AE - £649 (got it for £620)
I also tried, Faith, Eastman, Tanglewood and Taylor.
The best I tried was the GPCPA4, but it was not £1,100 better than the X series not even close. The GPCRSGT and DR JR are both solid wood and did not sound or feel as good as the X series. I was shocked. Some of the other brands, were good, but just didn't feel as tight. The only ones that came close was Faith HiGloss and Faith Legacy.
I am often asked by friends and family about what guitar they should buy for themselves or for a family member. I now will not even hesitate with my answer. A Martin X series. You can't go wrong. In fact I would go as far as saying that unless you are spending more than £2k, my recommendation would be a Martin X series. Above £2k you are into realms of Martin Standard series, Brook, Lowden, Collings as well as the talented Luthiers on this forum. It's at this level where you really hear and feel the difference.
This is all just my opinion, but I really do think a lot of people really place too much importance on an "all solid guitar" at this price point. Even when I was in the store the guy said to me, "if you are spending under £1k you should be looking at Eastmans and Faith's as they are knocking out all solid guitars. If you buy an x-series you are just paying extra for the Martin brand". I couldn't help wonder if his margins are better on the Faiths and Eastmans
I may post a video. It would be interesting to get your thoughts, as I now have a 00-28 and 00XAE. One cost 4 times more than the other. It would be interesting to see if you can hear the difference.