Which is the best-sounding acoustic guitar you own? - Page 4

Mirosh · #46 07-09-2020, 09:28 AM

1. How it sounds as I perceive it while I am playing it?

or 2. How it sounds if I am listening to someone else play it?

1. includes evaluation of vibration against the body.

2. is more purely "how it sounds."

How many of us listened to someone play a guitar for us before buying it?

raysachs · #47 07-09-2020, 09:31 AM

Easy call. I only own two, a cheap Alvarez that lives at my daughter's place 3000 miles away in Oregon for whenever we manage to get out there to visit her, and a Martin CEO-7, which is my only acoustic the overwhelming majority of the time. The CEO-7 is the best sounding acoustic I've had since a 1968 D-28 I had for about 25 years starting in 1978-79. I can't even say the D-28 sounded better - it was the best sounding guitar I'd ever played when I bought it and continued to be for the time I owned it. The CEO-7 is smaller and has mahogany back and sides, is a short scale, etc, so it's a very different sounding guitar, but my preference has moved from rosewood to mahogany and I don't want or need the volume of a dread anymore, so the CEO sounds pretty much perfect to me these days. Not even close in terms of the two I've owned, or frankly relative to any of the 5-6 acoustics I've had since I sold that Martin about 15+ years ago. This is the first one since I've been playing a lot again that meets my standards as an all-rounder.

-Ray

rstaight · #48 07-09-2020, 09:32 AM

At the moment I am leaning towards the Takamine GJ72CE 12-string. Maybe because it's the one I am going to playing tonight.

6L6 · #49 07-09-2020, 09:38 AM

My 1997 Martin D-45V is the second best sounding guitar I've ever played (second only to a certain 1941 D-45 I had the honor of playing).

After 23 years of ownership it still blows me away every time I play it. Very light build.

bufflehead · #50 07-09-2020, 09:39 AM

Best sounding? My 2009 Martin Custom D. A few listeners have commented that I sound best when accompanied by my 000-15m, but in terms of unaccompanied guitar, the Custom D has a bit more depth.

It's nice to have a couple guitars in the running.

MakingMusic · #51 07-09-2020, 09:47 AM

I couldn't really say which one is best-sounding. I use them all for different moods and styles. Each one is the best at what they do. Afterall, why would I keep one that isn't "the best"?

BoneDigger · #52 07-09-2020, 10:22 AM

My acoustics are varied enough so that each one has its strong points, and no one guitar can really be said to sound "better" than the others. My acoustics include a D18GE, D35, two D15s, and a custom Elijah Jewel (sinker redwood over walnut).

The D18GE is a good strummer but is great at lead playing. It does well when used for Americana music in general, and bluegrass specifically. The D35 is a good flat picking guitar, but it really excels at strumming. The D15s work well for both, but they have a specific kind of tone, very fundamental, and are great for folk and blues. A D15 is my primary song writing guitar. The Elijah Jewel is a beautiful sounding guitar when using a light to medium touch and is great for finger picking.

So, I can honestly say that one or the other might be better for a specific task, but since I try to vary my musical styles and playing type, I really can't say one just is better than the others. They all are great guitars and all have their place.

kiva238 · #53 07-09-2020, 10:41 AM

Still da winna and champeen! The old 1937 Martin D-18.

Bill R · #54 07-09-2020, 11:02 AM

I currently have only 2 acoustic 6-string guitars. My 2013 Greven OOO in Brazilian rosewood and Lutz spruce is by far better sounding than my Rainsong Al Petteway OOO, but that should be no surprise to anyone. Having said that the Rainsong does sound very nice, it's just that the Greven blows it out of the water.

Bill

Bridgepin · #55 07-09-2020, 11:06 AM

It changes from time to time but it it always is between these three

2015 Martin D-28 Marquis

1989 Martin D-41

1995 Collings D3H

Cool555 · #56 07-09-2020, 11:12 AM

Best sounding for now is my Martin 00-15M...followed closely by my Yamaha FS5 Red Label. I favor the 00-15M more because of its comfort, light-weight and sweet tone.

pagedr · #57 07-09-2020, 11:24 AM

I go back and forth between my CEO-7 and '51 00-18. Both get played every day for the most part, tough to really choose one though.

cliff_the_stiff · #58 07-09-2020, 11:57 AM

My Martin Grand J-35e- easily takes the blue ribbon in my living room.
My Martin 000c Steve Miller signature model has only been with me for a couple weeks now, but the Engelmann top and Mahogany combo is just fantastic-
It’s nice to see all of the agreement about the Martin 000-18.

Most comfortable to play is a toss up Collings/ Burner. The Burner is a Manzer wedge body- Which I quite like.

Rev Roy · #59 07-09-2020, 12:12 PM

It depends on the tone I want and the mood I’m in. But, basically, all my guitars are “the best”...for certain tasks. That’s why I own them.

If I want crystal clarity and sweet musicality then my Custom 18-Style OM is “the best.” If I want to lay into some heavy strumming and picking while still enjoying a warm, compressed tone then my 717e GP is “the best.” If I want to dive into some Blues with some funk and sass in the tone my DSS-15M is “the best.” Life is best with multiple “bests.”

brad4d8 · #60 07-09-2020, 12:14 PM

I have a number of fine sounding guitars, but the one that I always come back to and is the one I go to when learning something new is my F-50. That said, people have told me that my Pawless stands out when playing with a number of other people (it may just be it has a different sound than the mostly Martins in our folk society). I haven't spent enough time with my Orpheum to see if it might be my go to, and if I had to go with best sound it would probably be my F512, but that may just be due to its 12 string sound.