Some Martin comparisons

[mjz]

Found these looking for a guitar sample for another thread, thought I post 'em here for your comparative listening enjoyment.

Recorded flat, no effects. KSM 44 just off 12th fret. FocusRite Red One pre-amp. Angelo M is the picker. Sorry for the .mp3 artifacts.

2005 D-18 Authentic
http://www.maxfilms.com/audio/2006_D18a.mp3

1997 HD-28
http://www.maxfilms.com/audio/1997_hd28.mp3

1990 HD-28 Brazilian
http://www.maxfilms.com/audio/1990_HD28_BLE.mp3

2006 D-35
http://www.maxfilms.com/audio/2005_D35.mp3

2003 D-45V
http://www.maxfilms.com/audio/2003_Martin_D45V.mp3

1983 D-45
http://www.maxfilms.com/audio/1983_D45j.mp3

max

[Acoustic Rick]

Wowee the Brazillian HD28 blew me away. Can I have it please? Next in line was the warm woody sounding 83 D45. But man I can't get over the Braz HD.

[Tony]

Maybe it's my bad ears (or my bad laptop speakers), but they all sounded pretty much the same to me. Do you think it's cuz they're all dreadnaughts, or perhaps they're all rosewood (except the D18)? Nonetheless, I liked the sound of all of them. Makes me miss my D35 I sold. I need to get a Martin back in my stable.

Also, do you have the tab for that ditty?

[wilbarger]

They all sounded great. Maybe I have bad speakers as well, it was hard for me to dicern which one I liked best. There was something about the D18 that seemed most likeable.

[HHP]

Heard more difference in the treble volume, but all were perfectly fine. Think the palm muting on the bass masked some of the difference you might hear with the bass strings allowed to ring.

[AcousticMark]

I also couldn't really notice a difference.

[Acoustic Rick]

Man they ALL sounded different to my ear. I do have a Bose sound system hooked up to the computer so that may be it but there is marked difference in tone between all of them with the Braz HD sounding the best.

[mjz]

They certainly all sound the same on my computer speakers. They are all Martin Dreads, so the differences are subtle. Played over soem decent speakers and the differences are real apparent -- at leastto my ears.

I think you're right about the bass response, HHP. Angelo is a very light player and a bare finger picker at that . To me the D-35 benefits the most by his technique, although I'm partial to the more open sound of the '83 D-45.

The HD-28 braz is our favorite rosewood recording guitar. Man it's so complex and chocolatey.

max

[riverman]

the low end of the braz 28 is _fantastic_, but the mids of the 83 d45 blew me away. if there were two martins that could convert me to the dark side, those two would be it (of course, this is excluding ancient martin hog oo/ooo's, I've had a woody for those for some time now)

anyhow, THANKS FOR POSTING THAT MAN, and nice playing to boot

[Glennwillow]

Very nice and very interesting.

Regards, Glenn

[Pvee]

I favored the D-18, HD-28 Brazilian and the D-45.

Seems like I hear a lot of compliments on the D-18.

[Hambone]

Nice playing!

What I found interesting was how complex the D18A sounded next to the Rosewood dreads (particularly the Braz).

I'd love to hear them in person.

[fingerstyle2]

Also, do you have the tab for that ditty?

The first tune is "Windy and Warm," a tune that Doc Watson made popular. Tommy Emmanuel and loads of other folks have recorded and performed it and I'm sure the tab is around.

Not sure what the second tune was--kind of a flatpicked "Deep River Blues" knock-off.

BTW, unless I'm mistaken, these were recorded (and perhaps played) by UMGFer "Dadsbones." His name is Max and he's in the video production industry, so the "Maxfilms" in the URL points to him.

David

[D28guy]

The 1st one played for me.

None of the rest would play.

[Dek431]

I now see the benefit of Brazilian, having never played one. First is Braz 28 second is D45V. If you cant hear a difference do what i do, headphones!