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  #16  
Old 08-18-2017, 07:16 PM
Carey Carey is offline
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I had a 00-28G on long-term loan from a friend which I played for several years. There were a number of things I liked about the sound, so I did
a bit of measuring here and there. The soundboard, which appeared to
be Sitka, was quite a ways off-quarter and had noticeable runout. It measured
a surprisingly thin 2.2-2.3mm at the soundhole next to the lower transverse
brace. To me, it was not a particularly light instrument. It felt sturdy and
had a nice-sounding bass range, which kind of dominated the sound.
The thing that was of most interest to me was that the trebles, which
were pretty lifeless and lacking color in the lower positions, had a solid and
vocal round sound from fret 7 or so on up. Getting that sound required a firm
attack, though.

A question about the 00-18G and 00-28G that I've wondered about for a while
if if they were built with some kind of neck reinforcement? My sense is that
there was something in the neck besides mahogany, but I don't know.
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  #17  
Old 08-18-2017, 07:53 PM
Gitfiddlemann Gitfiddlemann is offline
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Re: Neck reinforcement
It's my understanding (again, from discussions I've followed on the UMGF) that the G necks were reinforced with an ebony rod. So, reinforcement yes, but wood based, not steel.
It's interesting that you note how your 28G didn't feel particularly light. I suspect the 18G is lighter because of the mahogany construction. Someday I'd like to get my hands on a 28G to really compare the two sound wise. Some who have played both have remarked that they are very similar.
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  #18  
Old 08-21-2017, 06:31 PM
Cameleye Cameleye is offline
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Thanks for all the comments and discussion folks, fueling my GAS but not as yet my decision process.
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  #19  
Old 08-25-2017, 09:39 PM
Carey Carey is offline
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In a post above I used the word "lifeless" to describe the sound of one
00-28G's trebles in the lower positions, and want to take that back. The sound
was lacking in color, but the dynamics were ok if pushed, and became better
up the neck, as mentioned above.

I have the idea that I'd actually prefer the 00-18G to the -28G, though I
haven't played the former.

Last edited by Carey; 08-25-2017 at 11:39 PM.
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  #20  
Old 08-25-2017, 10:49 PM
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StephenHD35 StephenHD35 is offline
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I have a '53, '54, and a '57. The '54 is my favorite, though each of them is, I think, a good example of the model. I very much enjoy playing these guitars. I also have a '54 and a '56 00-18G. The '56 is particularly nice, but I prefer the '54 00-28G. There can be so much variation with these- they all sound and feel different from one another. The necks, while generally in the same ballpark, are noticeably different from one guitar to the other, but they're all fun to play. If you like the 00-18G, chances are you'll enjoy the 00-28G as well. Maybe even more.
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  #21  
Old 08-27-2017, 07:26 AM
Cameleye Cameleye is offline
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Thanks Stephen, I'm encouraged by your comments.
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  #22  
Old 08-27-2017, 09:08 AM
zhunter zhunter is offline
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Comparing bracing, remember that the height of the brace is cubed (or is that to the 4th power?) when calculating the effect of the brace on stiffness of the system. Height adds stiffness much more quickly. So while the Martin bracing visually appears "lighter" due to fewer braces and may actually weigh less, it may be much stiffer since the braces are taller.

hunter
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  #23  
Old 09-09-2017, 05:43 PM
Cameleye Cameleye is offline
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Thanks, all, for the responses. Got the ol' camel eye on a couple.
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  #24  
Old 09-17-2017, 02:49 PM
Dave T Dave T is offline
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All this 00-28G talk got me interested again so I went looking in the usual places. The only one I've found so far has an asking price of over $4000. A bit rich for my income range (retired old phart).

Dave
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  #25  
Old 09-18-2018, 06:36 PM
Cameleye Cameleye is offline
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Well, it took me a year but today I came home with a '51 00-28G. Just about to give it a workout. Later I'll A/B it with my '54 00-18G and post my impressions.
Thanks to all who posted above and helped me through the decision process.
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  #26  
Old 09-20-2018, 07:24 PM
Carey Carey is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameleye View Post
Well, it took me a year but today I came home with a '51 00-28G. Just about to give it a workout. Later I'll A/B it with my '54 00-18G and post my impressions.
Thanks to all who posted above and helped me through the decision process.

Congrats on your new/old OO-28G. I sure wish I still had the one that I used
to play, and am interested to hear how you like yours.
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  #27  
Old 09-21-2018, 07:14 PM
Cameleye Cameleye is offline
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Carey, after three days of extensive noodling and A/Bing (with the 00-18G) I've noticed that the 18 is way more bright and alive. The 28 has more gravitas.
Obviously the Brazilian vs mahogany. I'm going to try carbon based strings on the 28 and see where that leads.
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  #28  
Old 09-21-2018, 09:27 PM
Carey Carey is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameleye View Post
Carey, after three days of extensive noodling and A/Bing (with the 00-18G) I've noticed that the 18 is way more bright and alive. The 28 has more gravitas.
Obviously the Brazilian vs mahogany. I'm going to try carbon based strings on the 28 and see where that leads.
Interesting. I've never played an 18G. I do remember that the 28G had a
somewhat weighty and *very* resonant bass range, such that when I tried
Augustine Red basses it was way too much, and I quickly switched back
to J45s. I wonder how Knobloch carbons might sound. I think I tried
Savarez Alliance carbons for a short time, but they didn't make the cut.
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  #29  
Old 09-22-2018, 07:20 PM
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StephenHD35 StephenHD35 is offline
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I will say that with these models the choice of string is VERY important. I use Oasis extra hard tension on mine. Recently I was out of the HT and used lower tension Oasis strings on my '54 00-28. The guitar lost a lot with that string change. I changed them as soon as I could get some of the HT delivered, and life was good again. I experimented with a lot of strings before I settled on something that felt and sounded good. The only problem is that the Oasis strings break pretty regularly. They do so while in the case, not while being played. And they break well before they would normally be due for a change. Still, I use them.
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  #30  
Old 09-27-2018, 06:18 PM
Cameleye Cameleye is offline
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So I put a set of Oasis regular tension carbons on the 00-28G and am impressed with the increased treble clarity and projection. Don't know what was on it before so I can't make a comparison. Will be trying a set of D'A Pro Arte carbon (EJ45FF) on next, but that'll be a while.
Carey, the bass is loud on this guitar with both sets of strings so I try to compensate with a lighter thumb and a heavier hit with the others.
Stephen, I'll order a set of Oasis HT next. Thanks.
It's fun to match strings to guitars and with this Martin nylon I'm really in uncharted territory for this long time steel stringer.
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