Old Martin vs Young Gibson

petrivoges · #1 07-26-2019, 03:42 AM

Hi gents, so the Larrivee LV 09 that i've just purchased will be getting a new owner and I will continue toward the illusive dream guitar.
So i've already started negotiations for a 1991 HD28 P and 2016 Gibson Songwriter Delux and I think $1700 is a decent price.

I'm partial to the Martin but the Gibson is pretty sweet. A completely different tone to martin. The Gibson i can actually play, the Martin will be bought online. The Martin also will require some work on the neck. The previous owner decided to remove the gloss on the neck...

Both are premium guitars but does the 25 year difference in the guitars manufacturing play a role. Has the luthier techniques and bindings that have been brought into guitar making improved the overall product. As an example, i've looked at 1997 Taylor 812 c and the white binding just put me off for such an premium instrument.

Anyway, what are your thoughts. Old or New?

Silly Moustache · #2 07-26-2019, 04:01 AM

Just a nod to the wise. I suspect that a Martin with a "P" suffix has a very shallow neck profile, (like an electric).

Wade Hampton · #3 07-26-2019, 04:48 AM

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The Gibson Songwriter is where you can play it in advance. If you like it, buy that one.

whm

petrivoges · #4 07-26-2019, 05:19 AM

I have bought a number of premium guitars online and have not yet been disappointed.
I have also now confirmed from a luthier that the Martin neck can be restored so that does sway me towards the Martin more

Goodallboy · #5 07-26-2019, 05:33 AM

Always play an acoustic guitar before buying, or up you're upping your disappointment risk factor.

The Martin has been altered and it's value lowered. I can't see the upside to the Martin at this point.

Tycobb73 · #6 07-26-2019, 06:59 AM

Gloss removed from the neck? I wouldn't pay half book value of an excellent example for that. I'm not afraid to buy unplayed but id better get it at a price where id i don't like it i can flip it and not lose money, including fees.

whvick · #7 07-26-2019, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The Gibson Songwriter is where you can play it in advance. If you like it, buy that one.

whm

Ditto. See my recent story on another thread. Bought a Martin sight unseen to do a friend a favor, and the neck had to be reset to play it. Luthier did good job and I am happy now, but would recommend play before you buy
Whvick

petrivoges · #8 07-26-2019, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

Always play an acoustic guitar before buying, or up you're upping your disappointment risk factor.

The Martin has been altered and it's value lowered. I can't see the upside to the Martin at this point.

Valid point. My biases might be leading me astray

Osage · #9 07-26-2019, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrivoges

Has the luthier techniques and bindings that have been brought into guitar making improved the overall product.

No, there will be almost no difference in the building techniques of a Martin D-28 built in the past say 30 years. I'm sure some things have changed at the factory but overall, it will be functionally the same guitar. 1991 is still pretty modern as far as acoustic guitars go and Martin is a very traditional companies.

bufflehead · #10 07-26-2019, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The Gibson Songwriter is where you can play it in advance. If you like it, buy that one.

whm

Sound advice here. This approach gives the guitar itself a bit of voice in the decision.

Nctom · #11 07-26-2019, 08:28 AM

Nothing you have mentioned, including the LV-09, sounds or plays remotely similar. Are you just fishing and trying anything out there? I would advise going to a couple of stores and trying to find something you really like.

If I recall, both the Martin and Gibson have the "dreaded" white binding.

lowrider · #12 07-26-2019, 01:03 PM

It seems to me that you'd be paying retail for the Gibson and wholesale for the Martin, and I don't see how someone taking the shine off of the neck on the Martin is altering the neck. They probably took 3 or 4 swipes with some 0000 steel wool.

It also looks to me like you'd rather have a Martin. Where did you find the martin? Reverb? GC online? With them, you have some protection. If it was me, I'd do a lot of checking on the guitar I prefer before I settled on another guitar that's ''pretty sweet''.

Larry Mal · #13 07-27-2019, 07:45 AM

From what I'm reading, I would get the Gibson.

Erithon · #14 07-27-2019, 08:06 AM

The gloss removed from the neck is actually a plus for me. Gloss necks are sticky. A neck roughed out to a satin finish is something I'd happily play and not something I'd say needs work (unless they did a poor job removing it)...what are you going to do, refinish the neck in gloss? But, knowing this modification damages resale value I'd make sure I was paying an appropriate price--which should be easy, considering the gloss has already been removed and therefore the price already lowered.