#16
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"Finger Style Guitars"
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) |
#17
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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 .
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--------------------------------- Wood things with Strings ! |
#18
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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. Last edited by sunburststrat; 12-31-2010 at 02:27 PM. |
#19
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The best fingerstyle steel string guitar I found for me is my Martin 000-28EC.
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Martin HD-35, Martin D-35, Martin 000-28EC, Martin D-1, Martin DR, Martin DXM, Gibson J-45, Recording King RD-16, Lucida Concerto LG-777, Fender Stratocaster (8), Gibson ES-335, Gibson SG Standard (2), Epiphone ES-335 Pro LTD., Epiphone Lennon Casino, Epiphone Casino (Peerless), Epiphone Casino (China), Firefly FF-338 |
#20
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Quote:
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 |
#21
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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.
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Santa Cruz D12-12 string, Ger. Maple/Ger. Spruce Froggy Bottom SJ12 Custom Spalted Maple/ Adirondack Petros GC Cocobolo/ German Spruce Emerald X-20 Custom SS Life's been good to me so far.... |
#22
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In my search for a "fingerstyle Martin", that was about the first lesson I learned.
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#23
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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 |
#24
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PM sent! Bel isi, -kyle
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My neglected music blog: www.kylescobie.com Be sure to check out my brother's music: www.kurtscobie.com |
#25
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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 |
#26
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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.
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#27
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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.
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Martin 000-28EC, Taylor 12fret Cedar/Mahogany, Taylor GC8, Carvin AC275, Takamine TC135SC, Yamaha APX5na |
#28
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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.
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-T...56266954411686 http://www.reverbnation.com/jayhowlett http://www.jayhowlett.com Guitars: I'm really happy to have a few nice ones. |
#29
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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 |
#30
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Quote:
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