Anyone besides me think Martin and Taylors - are a big rip o

[ibanezcollector]

im having this debate at another forum where I post and just wondering if anyone besides me thinks this way?

heres the other forum.

http://www.antsmarching.org/forum/sh...threadid=12911

[Polaris20]

Martins are decent, but every Taylor I've ever played has left me saying "why the f#%k would someone pay so much for this lame sounding guitar?".

Don't get me wrong; the quality is top notch. But the tone blows.

[jem777az]

Polaris20 on 4:37 pm on April 18, 2002
Martins are decent, but every Taylor I've ever played has left me saying "why the f#%k would someone pay so much for this lame sounding guitar?".

Don't get me wrong; the quality is top notch. But the tone blows.

Polaris.........I feel the same way about Martins that you do about Taylor's.......lol. *I can't stand Martins, but absolutely love Taylors. *I will not buy an acoustic if its not a Taylor. *

[l8r g8r]

I've got a Sigma (made by Martin) and I absolutely love it. *My grandmother bought it in a pawn shop for $60 for my 15th birthday. *I usually keep light gauge Dean Markley's on it. *With the right strings, the tone is very full. *Never played a Taylor, so I can't comment about them.

-Jeff

[Polaris20]

jem777az on 6:03 pm on April 18, 2002

Polaris.........I feel the same way about Martins that you do about Taylor's.......lol. *I can't stand Martins, but absolutely love Taylors. *I will not buy an acoustic if its not a Taylor. *

That's what makes it a free country. Besides, acoustic tone is so subjective it's pointless saying what is best.

Call me crazy, but I like Seagulls the best. I've A/B'd them with the Taylors, Martins, and Tacomas, and found them to be the most pleasing to my ear. But that's just me.

[vaijem777]

Taylor makes some gorgeous guitars, but...tonally I find them lacking. *I guess I'm old-fashioned in that I can't really take seriously an acoustic guitar with a bolt-on neck. *There's a lack of artistry there. *With a nice Martin D-28, 35 or 41, there's just something there. *I'm particularly fond of the pre-1970 Brazilian rosewood Martins. *There is a certain purity of the instrument that comes through in the feel and sound. *However, I'm currently a devoted Lowden fan. *They're incredible! *

Seagulls are great for the price, but again...bolt-on neck. *Same with most Tacoma's (at least the Chief and Roadking flagship models). *Taylor's are just fancier versions. *

There are benefits to both, I'm sure. *Just as there are benefits that a Strat or an RG have over a Les Paul or a PRS (and vice versa.). *It all boils down to personal taste, but...when it comes to acoustics, I
prefer a hand-set dovetail joint over a couple of screws anyday.

In either case...you get what you pay for. *There is a reason that a Martin D-28 can cost upwards of $2K. *There is a lot of work and man hours that go into the making of one. *However, I have a hard time justifying an even higher price for a comparable Taylor. *Once the neck and body are ready...two bolts are all it takes to complete the guitar. *

Just my $.02 worth though. *

(Edited by vaijem777 at 10:23 pm on April 18, 2002)

[vwall]

jem777az on 6:03 pm on April 18, 2002

Polaris.........I feel the same way about Martins that you do about Taylor's.......lol. *I can't stand Martins, but absolutely love Taylors. *I will not buy an acoustic if its not a Taylor. *

HAHAHA.
Thats exactly what I was goona post:-}

Im with jem777az all the way here guys.

[vwall]

To throw a wrench into the mix.. I would have to say
Larivee is the rip off of the upper end acoustics...

[jay ratkowski]

I think Taylors are for guitarists that can't play acoustics. *They are always built with thin necks and super low action. *Small frets too. *Tone? *Sounds like aluminum foil.

[jem7vwh]

hmm.. i won't comment on the tone of either brand since I personally find accoustics pretty boring. *But I will say this in regard to price:

Guitarists are a spoiled bunch. *Compare your hobby to that of automobile enthusiasts. *Want to completely change your guitar? *$100.00 pickup. *Want to change your Corvette? *$3000.00 engine (and that's just the start).

2k for a great Taylor or Martin isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. *(Of course I realize that everything's relative, and if you haven't $200, then $2000.00 seems like a lot).

All in all, I don't think either one is over-priced for a good guitar, but I do think that Martins are over-hyped. *I don't hear the *magical* tone that everyone supposedly hears. *I think it's much like the alleged Harley Davidson feel of a motorcycle.. Mostly brand name allegiance.

[JESTER700]

Can't say anything about over $1500 ones, but under that I chose between Taylor & Martin a few years ago. *Went with a Taylor 412ce (small bodied one). *Tone is great, as long as you don't need full bass. *It's "sweet". *The full size ones had the bass, but I wanted greater comfort and always rolled bass off when recording anyway. *

Small frets are standard on many acoustics (jumbos would be more for "guitarists WHO can't play acoustics" ;-)

[vaijem777]

There are really only 2 or 3 current Martin models that I'd even touch...if I were to purchase another acoustic, it would be either a 35+ year old Martin or a Lowden F-series cutaway. *My Lowden was the fullest sounding acoustic I've ever played. *

[wallopwallop]

vaijem777 on 2:21 pm on April 19, 2002
There are really only 2 or 3 current Martin models that I'd even touch...if I were to purchase another acoustic, it would be either a 35+ year old Martin or a Lowden F-series cutaway. *My Lowden was the fullest sounding acoustic I've ever played. *

I was just about to bring Lowden into it when I spotted this. Beautiful guitars and a benchmark by which other acoustics should be judged IMHO. (I'd still really like a Taylor Baby for afternoons in the park tho!!)

[jem777az]

jay ratkowski on 4:12 am on April 19, 2002
I think Taylors are for guitarists that can't play acoustics. *They are always built with thin necks and super low action. *Small frets too. *Tone? *Sounds like aluminum foil.

Didn't Stevie Vai play a purple Taylor acoustic? *I know when he was with Whitesnake and I was working one of the shows that he had a Taylor in his guitar rack. *I guess that means Steve can't play an acoustic huh? *;o)

[jay ratkowski]

jem777az on 11:55 am on April 19, 2002

Didn't Stevie Vai play a purple Taylor acoustic? *I know when he was with Whitesnake and I was working one of the shows that he had a Taylor in his guitar rack. *I guess that means Steve can't play an acoustic huh? *;o)

I guess so.