If You Could Have One Of These Three Guitars, Which Would You Choose?

[denny1948golf]

Martin HD-28-VS, Martin D-18VS or a Dana Bourgeois Vintage D/Adi Top. Yep, I know, the Martins are 12 fret and the Bourgeois is a 14 fret, but these are the three I'm looking at.

[HHP]

I own a D-18VS and a Bourgeois. They are very,very different. What are you going to do with it, how will you play, what will you play, solo, small group , large group?

[Kevin A]

Dana Bourgeois Vintage D

[HudsDad]

D-18VS for me simply because I prefer mahogany over rosewood.

[Brent Hutto]

Whichever one has a round neck and is easier to reach around with my right shoulder.

[Morgan1]

All very different instruments. Whichever sounds best to your ears, in context of how you expect to use the instrument, and also feels best in your hands...that's the best one.

[billgennaro]

which ever one i liked the best after I PLAYED ALL THREE!!!!!!!!!

bill

[hank]

Originally Posted by Kevin A

Dana Bourgeois Vintage D

Love mine!

[justjes]

For me, it would come down to which one felt and sounded the best (profound, I know). I don't play much that requires access above the 12th fret, so that's not an issue for me. I have played some fantastic sounding 12 fret dreads (mostly Collings sitka/eir), but I've never played a bad Bourgeois either. I think I just prefer the tone and resonance (sp?) of a 12 fret body in some cases. Not much help I guess, but I'd think those three would be different enough that one would speak up and call to you more than the other two. The Martin 12 fret necks can be a bit big (if I remember correctly) but if that's not an issue for you...

[denny1948golf]

Originally Posted by HHP

I own a D-18VS and a Bourgeois. They are very,very different. What are you going to do with it, how will you play, what will you play, solo, small group , large group?

So here's the deal. I'm looking for a dred with good bass response, good volume, responsive, not to bright on the top end, decent balance, good sustain, not muddy, mic's well, and is equally good for finger style and strumming with a little flat picking thrown in. I mostly play for myself at home, but do get together with friends and jam.

I've owned quit a few Taylor's over the last eight years or so. Don't get me wrong, I liked the Taylor's for the most part and still do. I just want something with a bigger sound. I'd love to play all three, but that would take me ordering all three and returning what I don't want. I can't find any of them locally. I know they are very different from each other, but these are the three that caught my ear while cruising sound clips and youtube.

[HHP]

Originally Posted by denny1948golf

So here's the deal. I'm looking for a dred with good bass response, good volume, responsive, not to bright on the top end, decent balance, good sustain, not muddy, mic's well, and is equally good for finger style and strumming with a little flat picking thrown in. I mostly play for myself at home, but do get together with friends and jam.

I've owned quit a few Taylor's over the last eight years or so. Don't get me wrong, I liked the Taylor's for the most part and still do. I just want something with a bigger sound. I'd love to play all three, but that would take me ordering all three and returning what I don't want. I can't find any of them locally. I know they are very different form each other, but these are the three that caught my ear while cruising sound clips and youtube.

The Martins will excel at giving you a big, wide sound. I use mine when playing duos or small groups to fill in all the sonic holes. If you go that way, the 18 might be a better fit than the 28. The Bourgeois will excel at clarity, projection, headroom, and balance. They are powerful guitars that will cut through a mix of other instruments with a focused , crystaline tone. If I need to dig in and be heard over several instruments, I'd go Bourgeois. My particular Bourgeois sustains very well compared to my Martins. I often have to do a 4-5 note roll of hammers and pulls and the Bourgeois does not run out of gas making the last note clear and audible.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by denny1948golf

Martin HD-28-VS, Martin D-18VS or a Dana Bourgeois Vintage D/Adi Top. Yep, I know, the Martins are 12 fret and the Bourgeois is a 14 fret, but these are the three I'm looking at.

Of the many questions like this that appear on the forum, this is one of the more difficult to respond to. Really depends on what sounds and feels good to you.

I don't have the one's you mention, but I do have a D-18V and a Bourgeois Sig D. Very different. I don't amplify much, but the Sig D has great balance for a big MadRose dread -- it would mike well. On the other hand, D-18 is just plain fun.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by HHP

The Martins will excel at giving you a big, wide sound. I use mine when playing duos or small groups to fill in all the sonic holes. If you go that way, the 18 might be a better fit than the 28. The Bourgeois will excel at clarity, projection, headroom, and balance. They are powerful guitars that will cut through a mix of other instruments with a focused , crystaline tone. If I need to dig in and be heard over several instruments, I'd go Bourgeois. My particular Bourgeois sustains very well compared to my Martins. I often have to do a 4-5 note roll of hammers and pulls and the Bourgeois does not run out of gas making the last note clear and audible.

I have played all 3 and agree with HHP's comments. The two 12-fret Martins, in my opinion, are better for fingerstyle playing whereas the Bourgeois takes more string impact to bring out its sound. I am mainly a fingerstyle player and found that the Bourgeois did not work particularly well for me. Both Martins sounded good played fingerstyle. The D-18VS is a little clearer sounding while the HD-28VS is darker sounding because of all the overtones coming from the rosewood B/S. I liked the HD-28VS and, actually, my wife wanted me to buy it, but I said no, I have enough guitars, including a 000-28VS, which sounds very similar to the HD-28VS.

Have fun!
- Glenn

[denny1948golf]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I have played all 3 and agree with HHP's comments. The two 12-fret Martins, in my opinion, are better for fingerstyle playing whereas the Bourgeois takes more string impact to bring out its sound. I am mainly a fingerstyle player and found that the Bourgeois did not work particularly well for me. Both Martins sounded good played fingerstyle. The D-18VS is a little clearer sounding while the HD-28VS is darker sounding because of all the overtones coming from the rosewood B/S. I liked the HD-28VS and, actually, my wife wanted me to buy it, but I said no, I have enough guitars, including a 000-28VS, which sounds very similar to the HD-28VS.

Have fun!
- Glenn

Glenn, I have a Martin HD-28SV coming from MF tomorrow. I also received an email from someone who is selling a D-18VS with the 30's sunburst. He's within a reasonable driving distance (under 100 miles). so I'm going to take the HD-28SV to audition next to the D-18VS. If one or the other really blow my skirt up, I'm done. If not, I'll give the Dana Bourgeois Vintage D with Adi top a go.

One thing you said that surprised me is "Bourgeois takes more string impact to bring out its sound." I talked to Bryan Rankins at Fazio's Frets and Friends today and he told me he finds the Bourgeois's to be very responsive. In fact, he said he has a natural light touch finger style and the Bourgeois's work well for him. Was this one Bourgeois you were talking about, or did you try several.

[HHP]

Here's a decent sample of a Vintage D sound, pick and bare fingers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHsG_vDTmQc