Best Martin for finger picking - Page 2

1folksinger · #16 12-31-2010, 01:26 PM

I started out (centuries ago) playing a Martin 'dreadnaught'.... and really didn't begin playing "finger style" on a regular basis until I discovered the 'OM' body style and neck. D-18''s were built (in 1964 anyway) with a 1&11/16's board, so I spent many a year strumin' and flatpickin', without too much thought to expanding my playing horizons. When I found a 'killer' OM45 in 2001, everything began to change. That OM45 does it all....(and without ANY 'breaking up.') From the 1&3/4" neck, to the wonderful midrange 'punch' it has, it's probably one of the finest instruments I've ever had the pleasure to play or own. Don't get me wrong, the D-18 still reigns in the bluegrass world for me, but the shape and tone wood choice of the OM45 is just about as perfect as a guitar gets. (Yes, it is a Brazilian/ Red Spruce OM45 Golden Era, but I digress).
My recommendation for a "fingerstyle" choice in guitars would be an 'OM' shape, but as has been already mentioned in this thread, any guitar (worth its salt) can be fingerpicked. It all comes down to personal choice (duh).... but with the little bit extra in the width dept., it just seems a wider fingerboard lends itself to some good 'fingerpickin'! (At least for this player).
Happy 2011 everyone! And remember, "keep 'em in tune, your friends will love you for it!
1 folksinger (AKA Riversongwriter)

Tony Burns · #17 12-31-2010, 01:28 PM

000 and OM's -I love my OM28v , but the vneck is too much for some people -Id look at the OM-21 Special . Lower priced Martins in the OM size dont have the sound .

sunburststrat · #18 12-31-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chum66

best Martin model for fingerpicking?

I've been on a multi-year, multi-guitar search for a great fingerpicking guitar. Of all mine (Collings, Larrivee, Martin, etc) my favorites have been Martin's 000-17S (fits my hand and body perfectly) and the best guitar I've ever owned, a Martin 000-40S (Mark Knopfler - he calls it "Ragpicker's Dream").

Both are 12 frets, the 000-17 has 1 3/4" nut, the 40S has 1 13/16".
Personally, I would not get narrower than 1 3/4" nut. The bridge string spacing is very important too and both Martin's have more space than my Collings or Larrivee. Believe me, I got out my metal rule and carefully checked.

I think the 000-17S or 000-15S are ideal for a first (i.e. affordable) fingerpicking instrument. The "S" models have the slot head, 12 fret body, and 1 3/4" nut.

TwoMartinMan · #19 12-31-2010, 03:01 PM

The best fingerstyle steel string guitar I found for me is my Martin 000-28EC.

zmf · #20 12-31-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kscobie8

If I were to get a Martin for fingerstyle playing, I'd go with an OMC-Fingerstyle 1. They don't have a ton of unplugged acoustic power (not that you'd need it), but the tone is sweet and they play nice. Spanish cedar b/s and an Adi top, ooh la la!

Here's the one that Wildwood Music (near me!) has. I played it and I want it.
http://wildwoodmusic.com/Inventory/G.../CFMomcFS.html

Bel isi,
-kyle

Kyle,

Not really a serious request, but if you get out to Wildwood Music anytime soon to check out that OMC, could you do me a favor? I'm interested in Lowdens, and they've got a nice selection of O and F models, maybe one of the largest in the country right now. I've tried the O23 cedar/walnut, and it has a very big sound. If you could test the O23 and F23, I'd be curious to know if the smaller F23 gives up much of the big sound.

I'd drive out myself and do it, but Wyoming's a ways away.

Nick

Transylvania · #21 12-31-2010, 03:25 PM

There's a D28-12 fret for sale on this forum. It would be great for fingerpicking. Worked well for Don McClean anyway. If I weren't guitared-up, I'd be giving it a serious look.

gamabry · #22 12-31-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Burns

000 and OM's -... Lower priced Martins in the OM size dont have the sound .

In my search for a "fingerstyle Martin", that was about the first lesson I learned.

runamuck · #23 12-31-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chum66

what is the generally accepted best Martin model for fingerpicking?

I just started playing guitar (few months ago) and figured I am mostly a finger picker.... Have a D-16.. love the sound of it.. would love to shop for a good Martin finger picking model if D-16 is not it. (have some difficulties picking it as the strings are quite close to each other.... what's the term.. nut width??!)

thanks!

The best thing for finger picking, regardless of the guitar, is practice.
It's tempting to think that getting another instrument will improve your
playing - especially when you've just started.

My advice is to stick with what you have and get better. Meet some goals you set and then reward
yourself with a better instrument down the road a bit. At a couple months in you're probably unable
to make even the best guitar in the history of guitars sound very good.

Jim McCarthy

kscobie8 · #24 12-31-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmf

Kyle,

Not really a serious request, but if you get out to Wildwood Music anytime soon to check out that OMC, could you do me a favor? I'm interested in Lowdens, and they've got a nice selection of O and F models, maybe one of the largest in the country right now. I've tried the O23 cedar/walnut, and it has a very big sound. If you could test the O23 and F23, I'd be curious to know if the smaller F23 gives up much of the big sound.

I'd drive out myself and do it, but Wyoming's a ways away.

Nick

Nick,

PM sent!

Bel isi,
-kyle

Glennwillow · #25 12-31-2010, 07:57 PM

As others have noted, there is no one answer. I used a Martin D-35 for years and found it to be responsive and an excellent guitar for finger picking. But the nut width is 1 11/16" like your D-16.

Many people consider smaller OM/000 guitars better for finger picking. I own a Martin 000-28VS with 1 13/16" nut width -- a lot more room between strings. You might look for one of these.

Regards, Glenn

AZLiberty · #26 12-31-2010, 11:05 PM

MFG just did a custom run of Martin OM-35s with a 1 3/4" nut. I think they have 3-4 left.

I'd have a hard time picking anything better. Truth is though, I fingerpick everything.

Turp · #27 01-01-2011, 08:14 AM

Generally I have always liked 000 sized models with a 1 3/4 nut. I have since added short scale to that, but it's not a deal breaker.

For me 000's are just comforatable and have a feel and tonal response that compliments fingerstyle playing.

BBWW · #28 01-01-2011, 10:57 AM

Why box yourself only to Martin? Is it sacrilegious to say this in a Martin thread? :-)

I played a Martin for 20 years. Then the sky opened and other guitars and builders fell through like rain.

So many guitars so little time.

Find one the speaks to you. You'll hear it. None of use have your ears...and those are the ears that count.

harmonics101 · #29 01-01-2011, 11:57 AM

My best finger picking Martins are my D18GE and D21 Special. Any 1 11/16 nut width Martins are just too cramped to get that finger picking style going.

Interestingly enough, all my Gibson models are finger pick friendly.

Go figure,

Harmonics101

Lefty56 · #30 01-01-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunburststrat

I've been on a multi-year, multi-guitar search for a great fingerpicking guitar. Of all mine (Collings, Larrivee, Martin, etc) my favorites have been Martin's 000-17S (fits my hand and body perfectly) and the best guitar I've ever owned, a Martin 000-40S (Mark Knopfler - he calls it "Ragpicker's Dream").

Both are 12 frets, the 000-17 has 1 3/4" nut, the 40S has 1 13/16".
Personally, I would not get narrower than 1 3/4" nut. The bridge string spacing is very important too and both Martin's have more space than my Collings or Larrivee. Believe me, I got out my metal rule and carefully checked.

I think the 000-17S or 000-15S are ideal for a first (i.e. affordable) fingerpicking instrument. The "S" models have the slot head, 12 fret body, and 1 3/4" nut.

+1 for Martin 000 12 fret guitars, great fingerstyle guitars.