Do you like which one better? Martin vs Taylor

[colins]

The missing option 4 describes me - No preference. Both companies make great guitars that I enjoy playing.

[Steel and wood]

Martin's for me.

As far as acoustics go, all I ever wanted to own was a Martin dreadnought.

[mercy]

Martin too bassy, Taylor too thin, Gibson too dull, Goodall just right

[Silly Moustache]

I grew up looking at Martins and Gibsons on album covers but all were out of reach in the UK.

For me Martin long ago designed "the" shapes, especially before the "rhythm guitar" era from 1934 on.

Taylor make perfectly good guitars. My first experience of hearing them was at a Nanci Griffith gig and they sounded like six string banjos (the fault of the sound engineer I'm sure).

Taylor tend to have their own shapes (which is good - although I see they copy the dreadnought shape too).

They have some very strange names for body sizes which mean nothing to me, and because I am so imprinted on Martin body designs - Taylors look "wrong" to me.

[Doranged]

My first 3 guitars were Martin my last six Taylors!

[FOG01]

I've owned both and enjoyed both. However, I've "found my fit" with a custom Grand Auditorium with an engelmann spruce top and rosewood back and sides. There is truly nothing I don't love about this guitar; the sound, shape (along with play-ability), aesthetics, and build quality are all off the charts for this guy. It leaves me wanting for nothing.

So while I'd be happy to own more of either, my Taylor is the keeper.

[RP]

Originally Posted by ChrisE

I like both...

And that should have been the fourth possible answer. Maybe it's just me, but I think that most of us have dipped our toes in both waters and see the good in each...

[raysachs]

I've owned four Martins and one Taylor. The Taylor played easily but just wasn't the sound I hear in my head when I hear an acoustic guitar playing. I've had four totally different Martins, rosewood/spruce, mahogany/spruce, mahogany/mahogany but all of them had that fundamental woody Martin sound that sounded right to me the first time I picked one up 42 years ago. Total respect for Taylor, but my heart is in the Martin camp. And strat for electric - it's what they're supposed to sound like in my head.

-Ray

[GCWaters]

Definitely both...

[mawmow]

I voted Taylor because I had a few Martins but more Taylors.
But I also owned many others. It was a matter of nut width : need 1,75".
Now have a Martin OOO-18 (2014), Taylors 322, 412ce and 510.
Also : Larrivées L-03koa and OM-09, Guild F-30 Aragon, Gibsons L-OO TV
and L-1 1928 Blues Tribute, Seagull Performer CW QIT.
I love Taylors, but I can also appreciate other brands...

[Dwight]

I worry about loose binding, neck reset and slow warranty turnaround complaints on Martins posted here on the forum.

Taylor's customer service is outstanding.

[Dut4907]

I like both.

I love Martin’s tone.

Love Taylor’s build quality and playability.

So, I chose the tone over build quality and play a Martin D-16RGT.

[rllink]

I voted Taylor because that's what I have. But I do like the responsiveness of the Taylor company and the sense of family you get when you buy one. I'm not stuck on Taylor. Maybe Martin has that too, I just don't own a Martin.

[SpruceTop]

I like both Martin and Taylor.

[jklotz]

At the moment, the poll is 63% Martin/23% Taylor. I wonder how those numbers would have been different is the category "both" had been added.