Most iconic Martin dreadnought players per style?

[ataylor]

I watched Martin’s “Ballad of the Dreadnought” documentary again recently (well worth a watch if you haven’t) and it got me to thinking. Who would be 3–5 of the most iconic players known for using each of the most popular styles of the dreadnought? I know they spotlight a fair share of folks in the feature but I’d be curious to get an AGF take.

D-18
D-28 pre-war/herringbone
D-28 late 40s–present
D-35
D-45 (or other 40 style)

Thoughts? Curious to see what names folks come up with.

[Paddy1951]

Originally Posted by ataylor

I watched Martin’s “Ballad of the Dreadnought” documentary again recently (well worth a watch if you haven’t) and it got me to thinking. Who would be 3–5 of the most iconic players known for using each of the most popular styles of the dreadnought? I know they spotlight a fair share of folks in the feature but I’d be curious to get an AGF take.

D-18
D-28 pre-war/herringbone
D-28 late 40s–present
D-35
D-45 (or other 40 style)

Thoughts? Curious to see what names folks come up with.

Neil Young

D-18 ( I think he still has Hank Williams guitar.)

D-28 I don't think pre-war, but one of the last Brazilian rosewood models.

D-45 Again, later model, probably Brazilian rosewood.

His bandmate, Steven Stills, has the pre-war guitars. But I tend to think of Neil Young first.

[lifebreath]

Originally Posted by Paddy1951

Neil Young

D-18 ( I think he still has Hank Williams guitar.)

D-28 I don't think pre-war, but one of the last Brazilian rosewood models.

D-45 Again, later model, probably Brazilian rosewood.

His bandmate, Steven Stills, has the pre-war guitars. But I tend to think of Neil Young first.

The Hank Williams guitar is a D-28, IIRC.

[lowrider]

How about Clarence White?

Martin has had both D-18 and D-28 CW models.

[KenL]

Gordon Lightfoot gets my vote. He often recorded with a D-18.

[HHP]

I would say....

D-18 - Norman Blake
D-28 pre-war/herringbone Clarence White/Tony Rice
D-28 late 40s–present Hank Williams
D-35 John Fahey
D-45 (or other 40 style) George Shuffler

[ataylor]

Cool to see some of the responses come in.

I’m not a Martin aficionado and I’m not super well-versed in some of the music styles that Martins would have been prevalent in — particularly early on — but here are some names that came to my mind:

D-18
Andy Griffith
Elvis Presley
Kurt Cobain

D-28 (post-war)
Elvis Presley
Paul McCartney
John Lennon

D-35
Johnny Cash

D-45
Neil Young

[Daniel Grenier]

Michael Hedges and his 1971 D28 has to be the most unique, inventive and daring player of the guitar pretty much ever. Not as popular as some/many but a genius at breaking the rules while producing meaningful, engaging and really powerful music.

[alien]

D-18....Gordon Lightfoot, Doc Watson(until he didn't ), Kenny Vaughn

D-28....Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page
D-28S..Peter Yarrow
D-41....Dan Fogelberg
D-45....Marty Stuart(The one he got from Johnny Cash,who got it from Hank), All of CSN & Y.

[archerscreek]

Clarence White was the best guitar player to ever lay hands on any model of Martin guitar. An amazing talent. Known for his beat up D-28, he also played a D-18 on a lot of songs. Do yourself a favor and get his CDs, Flatpicking and 33 Acoustic Guitar Essentials.

[zoopeda]

To add to the obvious (already listed above)...

D-28 (Modern) Paul McCartney, Jerry Garcia
D-35 David Gilmour
D-45 Jimi Hendrix

[H165]

"Doc Watson(until he didn't )"

I think Doc Watson (D-28 among others) fits into this list pretty well. He did switch to the Gallaghers later in his career, but the rather cool picture on his first major album is a nice recommendation for this list. I am not sure the pictured guitar is the one he actually played on the album, but he played Martin Ds for decades; some of those years before the birth of many others on this list.

[jaymarsch]

Don McClean was a huge Martin dread fan and had quite a collection. I think that he played a Martin D-45 and that was the guitar that he used to write American Pie. I know that Martin released a signature D-40M when American Pie became a big hit. I remember reading an interview with him in Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He spoke of his main guitar as if it were alive. He really was inspired by his main Martin dread.

Best,
Jayne

[Borderdon]

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

Michael Hedges and his 1971 D28 has to be the most unique, inventive and daring player of the guitar pretty much ever. Not as popular as some/many but a genius at breaking the rules while producing meaningful, engaging and really powerful music.

I have to drag out my (vinyl) copy of “Aerial Boundaries” again, sublime playing & tone from that Martin dreadnaught !

[mcduffnw]

Originally Posted by jaymarsch

Don McClean was a huge Martin dread fan and had quite a collection. I think that he played a Martin D-45 and that was the guitar that he used to write American Pie. I know that Martin released a signature D-40M when American Pie became a big hit. I remember reading an interview with him in Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He spoke of his main guitar as if it were alive. He really was inspired by his main Martin dread.

Best,
Jayne

Whenever I saw Don on TV playing, or pictures of him in concert, back in his early Tapestry, American Pie, Don McLean album years, he was mostly using a Martin 000-28 12 fret. On the back of his American Pie album cover he is holding a D-28. I never saw him with a D-45, and only really saw him using a dreadnaught regularly when Martin came out with his Signature Model Martin.

One of the greatest folk/pop wordsmith/tunesmiths of all time and actually one heck of a GREAT guitar player...just listen to his work on "Three Flights Up", and "Sister Fatima"...just superb, elegant, articulate playing!

duff
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