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  #16  
Old 06-11-2009, 06:39 AM
rmyAddison rmyAddison is offline
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I agree very poor comparison, too many differences.

Martins sound like Martins and Gibsons like Gibsons, take your pick or choose both but long versus short scale , different woods, nothing to really compare apples to apples, they are different animals.
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  #17  
Old 06-11-2009, 06:42 AM
actaylor actaylor is offline
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I have the standard D-28. I used to own a J-45. They are very different guitars, IMHO. I sold my J-45 and regret doing so. Love my Martin, but the J-45, with its shorter scale, was fun to play. Maybe one day I'll own another..
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  #18  
Old 06-11-2009, 06:57 AM
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patticake patticake is offline
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and not all j-45's sound exactly the same, either. age, among other things, can make a huge difference. i'm a big fan of the sound and feel of j-45's, or at least the ones i've played.
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  #19  
Old 06-11-2009, 07:10 AM
1cubilindo 1cubilindo is offline
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I have a D-28 and a J-50 so the difference is actually more pronounced to my ear. Loud vs Subtle. One's sound is direct and the other just embraces you. Would not trade either.
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  #20  
Old 06-11-2009, 07:41 AM
Navajo Chief Navajo Chief is offline
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I also own and love both!!!!!
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  #21  
Old 06-11-2009, 08:10 AM
Yaz1009 Yaz1009 is offline
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Default Perhaps try the Gibson Advanced Jumbo

It is round shouldered like the 45, but with Rosewood and a longer scale.
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  #22  
Old 06-11-2009, 08:17 AM
davenumber2 davenumber2 is offline
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Gibson also makes a J-45 Rosewood if you prefer the rosewood sound to the mahogany. I like the shorter scale on the J-45. Just agrees with me better. But, as has been said, you just need to play 'em.
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  #23  
Old 06-11-2009, 08:23 AM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by duaneallen View Post
Can anyone explain to me the difference in sound between these two. I have a Martin HD-28 that I love, but the smaller body of the Gibson is interesting to me. How would any of you characterize the difference between the two. Thanks.
Both the Martin HD-28 and Gibson J-45 can be loud! The Martin HD-28 has a darker rosewood tone while the mahogany back and sides Gibson J-45 coupled with its bracing pattern has the wonderful Gibson midrange presence and is more "open" sounding than the Martin HD-28. With their scalloped braces--forward-shifted on the J-45--both guitars feature prominent bass emphasis and a warm overall resonance and make great flatpicking and fingerpicking guitars. Dimensionally, the Gibson J-45 is a bit wider and deeper than a Martin HD-28. The Gibson's 24-3/4" scale length with it's lesser string-tension vs. the Martin's 25.4" scale length makes the Gibson an easier-playing guitar. If a guitarist is into dreadnought guitars, they should have a Martin HD-28 and a Gibson J-45 in their stable as the tone characteristics and playability of each are different enough that each guitar is a refreshing change from the other.

A new Gibson J-45 (regular mahogany back and sides model) will be a bit less costly than a Martin HD-28 and the J-45 includes the L.R. Baggs Active Element pickup/preamp with soundhole volume control while a new Martin HD-28 is acoustic-only.

Regards,

SpruceTop
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