NGD: Martin D-28 Marquis (pics added to post #1):

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by gfsark

Wow, that was quick. Better to cut your losses than to hang onto something that won't work. But how did the guitar not work with your voice?

This guitar has tons of mid range, and when I do my solo singer/song writer stuff it competes with my voice, odd as it may sound. My wife came up afterwards and had a sad look on her face. She said "I hate to tell you, but your old Martin sounded a lot better with your voice." I could hear it myself, but was hoping it was just me. Tonight I was unplugged for a folk gathering / listening room. I didn't demo the guitar while singing, as I will occasionally do.

My retro sounded superb last weekend over the big PA. But, it is a slightly heavier built guitar (for road worthiness) and sometimes gets lost playing in the bigger acoustic jams. I'll go back and look at the '37 Authentic and the D28 Marquis. Otherwise, I guess I'll try to get my retro back.

I'm heart broken because the Collings looks and feels like $1M. For a flat picker, you couldn't ask for a better dread.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[brencat]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

This guitar has tons of mid range, and when I do my solo singer/song writer stuff it competes with my voice, odd as it may sound. My wife came up afterwards and had a sad look on her face. She said "I hate to tell you, but your old Martin sounded a lot better with your voice." I could hear it myself, but was hoping it was just me. Tonight I was unplugged for a folk gathering / listening room. I didn't demo the guitar while singing, as I will occasionally do.

Collings voices all of their instruments to be loud, and with a 'hot' midrange. The tone is in your face all the time, not mellow or warm. They excel at flatpicking and fingerstyle, but are not the best strummers (too articulate) and for vocal accompaniment... well, it seems you just got run over . Of course, the Adi top is going to be sharp, crisp, and bell like. But even with a more mellow top like Sitka or German, your typical Collings will never have the warmer and more vintage voicing of a Martin.

If you want a guitar for vocal accompaniment, I think you need to play some Gibsons.

[christoph.penny]

I've just googled an image and wow she is lovely, she needs a name like Clara,

Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

[christoph.penny]

Keep her as a play around the house guitar

Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by christoph.penny

Keep her as a play around the house guitar

Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

I certainly wish I could afford to keep the Collings as a Bluegrass jam guitar. It seems custom made for that purpose.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[christoph.penny]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

I certainly wish I could afford to keep the Collings as a Bluegrass jam guitar. It seems custom made for that purpose.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Find a backer or groupy to pay for it lol


Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by christoph.penny

Find a backer or groupy to pay for it lol


Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

Wanna be my groupie? Pretty please? :-)

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[christoph.penny]

Lol, doe's your wife work? Is it your birthday soon?

Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

[crikey]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

This guitar has tons of mid range, and when I do my solo singer/song writer stuff it competes with my voice, odd as it may sound. My wife came up afterwards and had a sad look on her face. She said "I hate to tell you, but your old Martin sounded a lot better with your voice." I could hear it myself, but was hoping it was just me. Tonight I was unplugged for a folk gathering / listening room. I didn't demo the guitar while singing, as I will occasionally do.

Ah, that satisfies my curiosity. I was wondering why you couldn't shape the Collings' tone with EQ, but if some of your gigs are PA-less, that explains it.

[00-28]

So sorry to hear this. Sometimes it takes a few experiments to finally get to where you want. You are still on your adventure to find that special one. Good luck and looking at the good side, until you make your next move, you have a Collings.

.....Mike

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by crikey

Ah, that satisfies my curiosity. I was wondering why you couldn't shape the Collings' tone with EQ, but if some of your gigs are PA-less, that explains it.

I'm about 50/50. I do listening rooms, folk club, senior centers, children's groups. Then I'll do the usual open mic, or larger charity event with PA systems. It's all charity community focused music. I try and leave the paying gigs for the pros who do this for a living.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by christoph.penny

Lol, doe's your wife work? Is it your birthday soon?

Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

Lol. She takes care of the kids. So, yes, she works harder than I do a lot of the time.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[martingitdave]

Anyone have recent experience with the new Martin D28 Marquis? I've got the option to exchange it for that model tomorrow.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[brencat]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

Anyone have recent experience with the new Martin D28 Marquis? I've got the option to exchange it for that model tomorrow.

Do not buy a Marquis without trying it first. I've found them to be inconsistent, and I'm not alone in this view. They can be awesome and airy and resonant, and they can be really tight and lifeless.

Are there any other Collings dreads at this dealer you can try? Did they have any of the -T (Traditional series) in yet, and/or ones with Baked Sitka tops? If so, give those a try!!

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by brencat

Do not buy a Marquis without trying it first. I've found them to be inconsistent, and I'm not alone in this view. They can be awesome and airy and resonant, and they can be really tight and lifeless.

Are there any other Collings dreads at this dealer you can try? Did they have any of the -T (Traditional series) in yet, and/or ones with Baked Sitka tops? If so, give those a try!!

Thanks for the advice. I'll have a few hours to play anything in the shop. I have my fingers crossed.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk