[QUOTE=KevWind;5559882]Yes. I have heard of these kind of occurrences. Very silly really. A quality guitar is a quality guitar. My friend who has 4 Taylors is very talented and truth be told can play circles around me. People that behave that way are only hurting themselves.

4 Taylors and 3 Martins. It doesn't matter how old I am, a great guitar is a great guitar.

For me, the "big three" will always be Martin, Gibson, and Guild.

I have owned a mini from taylor and 2 000 sized guitars from Martin. I will never purchase again from these two brands. Both legendary companies with great line of products, but not for me.

I was just gonna say that.:wink:

Well...I'm 66... :D

And you still haven't switched to Martin at your age? Must be in the genes.

I pull my pants up over my belly button. Does this mean I'm one of the older guys? But I also wear baseball hats backwards and like to vape. So confused!

I'm in my late thirties, which isn't that young, but I prefer the Martin sound and look to Taylor. I also like old Ovations.

I think one of the reasons that I'm not that into Taylors is I associate them with the 90s, and that's a period that I can't really romanticize.

You better google split personality disorder !! well or maybe just quirky or eccentric :D

My guess is the guitar we pick is based on many things, and if we were honest, only a fraction of it is sound and playability.

There is an old saying that we buy based on emotions, and then we use logic to justify it.

I have no way of proving this, but I'll bet only about ten percent of the people on this forum could actually pick their guitar out in a blind "taste test." Blindfold them, have the same guitarist play a couple of things on five different (but similar) guitars, and I'll bet the guitar owner could pick his out about 20% of the time.

Playability is different of course, but many times playability comes down to what you are used to. A guy I play with has a Taylor. It was his dream guitar. He had to save up to buy and and now he can't imagine anything better. You could offer him anything, and he'd keep that Taylor. He's never played a Guild. But he's sure the Taylor is better.

So to get back to the OP, I think the segment who chooses a guitar based on what their favorite artists are playing (and there are more of those than we would like to admit) will probably choose Taylor, because that does seem to be the way it is breaking these days.

Those who choose their guitar on tradition -- or the memory of someone they know who used to play -- they probably choose Martin.

And some will never choose Martin or Taylor, because they have to buy against trend.

That being said, it is always fun for me to watch Martin and Taylor guys argue about who's brand is better. Such a relief from listening to Republicans argue with Democrats, I'll tell you.

Words of advice from someone with two Asian built guitars in his sig :ha:!

I'm 63 and own two Taylors acoustics and two Gibson acoustics. No Martins, unless you count my antique 0-28. Just not into the Martin look. Being female, I like a little bling. I bought most of my guitars when I was just starting out on my guitar journey, and I've grown into the sound of each one nicely.

I'm 34 and have owned a Martin for 10 years, and just added my second. I did try the GS Mini mahogany for a time and I really respect what Taylor has done to elevate the consistent playability that has carried over to every other manufacturer.

But like mentioned, I appreciate the history and Americana aspect of Martin Guitars what the weight that their guitars have carried in the music industry. But being a fan of traditional looks, tones, and feel, Martin is my soulmate. I also play bluegrass, blues, americana, etc. I have never, and I mean never, found a Taylor that fit the tones I am looking for in my guitar. I have tried a few that came close, but just not quite there.

I was immediately drawn to Martin Guitars when I was young even though Dave Matthews played Taylor. I think it was Johnny Cash that made me start researching, and I ended up touring the factory when I was on the east coast and that was that.

When you find your soulmate, you hold onto her.