Quote:
Originally Posted by rokdog49
I would like to approach this question from a slightly different angle.
I have read posts where folks have said they couldn't "find a this or a that which was befitting their wants or needs". I have read posts where the "quality of Gibson or Martin" wasn't there compared to this Boutique or that.
I read another post that simply said there's no comparison.
Here's a thought. If Boutique Builder "A" builds a few hundred guitars a year and
95% of those are exceptional, great.
If Martin or Gibson builds tens of thousands of guitars in a year, no one will ever convince me that in that number there aren't at least hundreds of those guitars that are as good or better than the any number of Boutiques, especially at the higher end.
Yes they will be hard to find, but they exist.
My answer is yes Martin and Gibson do build that kind of quality. You may have to look to find it or then again, it might be hanging on a wall at GC or your favorite independent dealer, but they exist. I would put my friend Lee's Custom Shop Martin OM H up against any Boutique instrument at a comparable or higher price. It's a gorgeous looking and sounding instrument and IMHO worth more than what it cost.
Finally, to those who would say no, my response is this. Have you seen and played every J45 Gibson built in 2018. Oh, you haven't, then how would you know if there aren't any of a quality comparable to a Boutique? Sheer numbers say there likely are, if only a handful.
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I can agree with this, but it isn't a tremendous complement to either Gibson or Martin. In fact, perhaps because it's such a true statement, it illustrates the problem with both makers and why boutiques are thought of as "better". When I go in store after store and play these brands it's a rare experience that I play a truly fine guitar. That doesn't happen with most of the boutique brands.
But rok is on point, they're out there, but if you're buying unplayed your standards better not match mine. Good luck, you'll need it.