The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 06-10-2008, 12:25 PM
doug1's Avatar
doug1 doug1 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Brooksville Fl
Posts: 380
Default Taylor GA4 / Martin D28

I made a mistake today and went into a guitar store to try a GS7 to compare with my GA4. there was a Martin D28 sitting right next to me so i had to try it out. now i want my Taylor to sound like the Martin. i am sure this isn't possible but can changing strings make the Taylor sound a little deeper or mellower? If this is possible what string would you recommend. I like the Taylor brighter sound but I also like the Martin deeper sound. any help would be great. thanks Doug
__________________
Martin OM21
2009 Marshall MG 30DFX
Ibanez AM 53 hollow Body
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-10-2008, 12:27 PM
rlouie rlouie is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 13,255
Default

I don't believe thats possible no matter what strings you put on it, Taylor and Martin are at opposite ends of the spectrum................the closest I've ever gotten to dampen the brightness with strings on a Taylor is Dean Markley Alchemys
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-10-2008, 12:28 PM
jwsamuel jwsamuel is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,690
Default

Try some different strings and see.

Jim
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-10-2008, 01:23 PM
ColoJeff ColoJeff is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 27
Smile enjoy the differences

I have owned several Taylors and several Martins and I have come to appreciate the tone of both. One of the few things that I can say that I have learned through my limited time playing the guitar is this...............A Taylor sounds like a Taylor and a Martin sounds like a Martin. Enjoy the differences.
__________________
Collings OM-1A
Martin D28 Marquis
Taylor GA3
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-10-2008, 02:29 PM
re17 re17 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: London, England
Posts: 1,578
Default

As others have said, Taylors and Martins seem to occupy tonal ground that is almost mutually exclusive, but you said you wanted to try a GS7, so did you compare that to the Martin? The GS7, being cedar over rosewood, is probably about as mellow a Taylor as you could hope to find.

Richard
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-10-2008, 02:49 PM
doug1's Avatar
doug1 doug1 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Brooksville Fl
Posts: 380
Default

When i got to the store the GS7 was gone. all they had was a GS8 and it sounded so similar to my GA4 that i wouldn't change for the difference in cost. I think there was some difference but not much. i am sure the cedar top would have been mellower. that is what i am looking for(mellower).
__________________
Martin OM21
2009 Marshall MG 30DFX
Ibanez AM 53 hollow Body
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-10-2008, 03:16 PM
tsaidog tsaidog is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 650
Default

It's absolutely impossible. Those are two different beasts in the industry. It'll be just as difficult trying to turn a Martin into a Taylor.

Sorry.

Like RLouie said, Alchemy's GoldPhos will probably give your guitar the richest darkest mellow sound possible (try medium and adjust the truss rod for the change)... if you want that Martin sound, you just gotta purchase a Martin.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-10-2008, 04:15 PM
banpreso banpreso is offline
Bang for the Buck Guitars
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 3,556
Default

strings will make a differece, Dean Markley Alchemy Goldbronz would be the warmest string on the market.

but if you like the martin sound, you gotta get a martin. but you already know that.

i smell GAS
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-10-2008, 07:24 PM
doug1's Avatar
doug1 doug1 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Brooksville Fl
Posts: 380
Default

I think you are right, i am going to get Martin. i would like to get a D28 or D35, but i want a 1 3/4 nut width and i don't think they make them?
__________________
Martin OM21
2009 Marshall MG 30DFX
Ibanez AM 53 hollow Body
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-10-2008, 09:38 PM
dreamwarrior dreamwarrior is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 655
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by doug1 View Post
I made a mistake today and went into a guitar store to try a GS7 to compare with my GA4. there was a Martin D28 sitting right next to me so i had to try it out. now i want my Taylor to sound like the Martin. i am sure this isn't possible but can changing strings make the Taylor sound a little deeper or mellower? If this is possible what string would you recommend. I like the Taylor brighter sound but I also like the Martin deeper sound. any help would be great. thanks Doug
You've mentioned GA and GS body styles of Taylor's, but the D28 is a dred, so I think that's one of the biggest differences between the two sounds. A Taylor dred doesn't sound like a Martin, but it does have more low end than a GA style. Taylor dreds are great guitars.
__________________
Dreamwarrior
www.markspencermusic.com
'07 Taylor 424ce SL
'06 Taylor 414ce
'03 Taylor 355
'05 Gibson 185 EC Special jumbo
'91 Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite
'96 Gibson Les Paul Studio
'04 Fender Highway One Strat
'06 Fender American Precision Bass
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-10-2008, 10:57 PM
banpreso banpreso is offline
Bang for the Buck Guitars
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 3,556
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by doug1 View Post
I think you are right, i am going to get Martin. i would like to get a D28 or D35, but i want a 1 3/4 nut width and i don't think they make them?
D28VS has a 1-3/4 neck, so does D18GE

you can also look into offerings by santa cruz or collings or bourgeous, or Huss and dalton
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-11-2008, 04:36 AM
doug1's Avatar
doug1 doug1 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Brooksville Fl
Posts: 380
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dreamwarrior View Post
You've mentioned GA and GS body styles of Taylor's, but the D28 is a dred, so I think that's one of the biggest differences between the two sounds. A Taylor dred doesn't sound like a Martin, but it does have more low end than a GA style. Taylor dreds are great guitars.
This is good news because i really like the deeper sounds and i would like to stay with the Taylor line of guitars. i will try a taylor dred, i never played the Taylor dred. Thanks for all the comments, this is a great forum.
__________________
Martin OM21
2009 Marshall MG 30DFX
Ibanez AM 53 hollow Body
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-11-2008, 04:41 AM
doug1's Avatar
doug1 doug1 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Brooksville Fl
Posts: 380
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by banpreso View Post
D28VS has a 1-3/4 neck, so does D18GE

you can also look into offerings by santa cruz or collings or bourgeous, or Huss and dalton
If my playing gets better i will look at the costume built guitars but at the present time my playing ability doesn't warrant that upper scale cost of costum guitars (says my wife). As you can see i have 2 obstacles cost and my dear wife.
__________________
Martin OM21
2009 Marshall MG 30DFX
Ibanez AM 53 hollow Body
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-11-2008, 05:22 AM
Chuck Sylvester Chuck Sylvester is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Cinnaminson, NJ (Near Philly)
Posts: 200
Default

While there's nothing that can make a Taylor sound just like a Martin, you can get some better bass response by changing to a bone saddle. It won't take away that treble/mid shimmer that we love about Taylors, but maybe a Taylor dred with the bone nut and warmer strings will get you closer to what you're looking for.

I've played a bunch of Martin D28's D35's, and HD28's. There have been only a couple I really liked; most felt like I was playing a brick- really dead to my ears. But then again, I love that Taylor shimmer.

Good luck! A big part of the fun is the journey.
Chuck
__________________
'04 Taylor 612-CE
'76 Ovation Balladeer
'10 Custom Carvin Kit 5-String Bass -Swamp Ash/Maple
'04 Fender Standard Fretless Jazz Bass
'73 Fender Jazz Bass Ash/Maple
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-11-2008, 04:35 PM
ColoJeff ColoJeff is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 27
Default D-28 Marquis

Quote:
Originally Posted by doug1 View Post
I think you are right, i am going to get Martin. i would like to get a D28 or D35, but i want a 1 3/4 nut width and i don't think they make them?
The D-28 Marquis has a 1 3/4 nut width.
__________________
Collings OM-1A
Martin D28 Marquis
Taylor GA3
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=