#76
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However...the "Martin bug" has you. Back in December, I finally gave in and got a Martin GPC 15. It's the Mahogany style with the worn finish. I bought it to play/gig and have done exactly that--I'm very satisfied with it, no regrets. I am by no means a high end guitar guy and have owned Conn, Yamaha, and a couple Seagulls--all good, solid players. If you have the itch, scratch it so you'll know! |
#77
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I do a lot of minor work myself, but since my binding issue was warranty covered, I took it in. Be very careful with glue. You can ruin your finish easily. I'd bite the bullit and have a pro do it. One thing on a $400 guitar, another on a + $1200 one.
Those bound Custom 15s are very nice. Love my 00 15 12 fret.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa |
#78
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I'm sure whoever ends up with this guitar 80 years from now will thank me for not botching it. It always breaks my heart a little to see vintage guitars that someone treated as a woodworking project. |
#79
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I totally understand this. I really wanted a Martin just because of their history and fame. I bought a new X1-DE for $460 and it sounds amazing!!! However, my quest for a more "real Martin" didn't end and I was set on a D-28. However the D-28s I've tried at music stores did not impress me. I played guitars costing hundreds less that sounded better...
I am happy with my cheap X1-DE, and no longer have a need or want another Martin.
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Taylor 814ce Gibson G-00 Epiphone J-200 Heritage Cherry Sweetwater Exclusive Gibson G-45 Studio Martin X1-DE Washburn WP21SNS Taylor 110 Mitchell D120 |
#80
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CC132,
Fixing the binding should be a darn low cost repair. If you didn't notice a problem with the nut and string height, don't bother to fix that. it can always be done later. I do find it sort of funny you found one with the binding pulling loose! The only Martin I've ever played that sort of caught my ear was an all mahogany one. It seemed to have a more balanced tone.
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2010 Guild F47R 2009 G & L Tribute "Legacy" 1975 Ovation Legend 1986 Ovation 1758 12 String 2007 Walden G2070 2008 Guild D55 Prototype 1998 Guild Starfire IV 2016 Guild Newark St. X-175 Sunburst 1996 Ovation 1768-7LTD " custom " |
#81
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D-16
If you want a more affordable, American-made Martin with a spruce top and either rosewood or mahogany back and sides, I recommend the D-16. Mine was my second acoustic purchase. I play it often and really like it. I kept my Larrivee as it is very playable and has rosewood back and sides. I would put it up there with any of my Martins. Both are satin finish, which I like. The D-16 does have a gloss top. I also prefer the 1.75" nut and my acoustics have that. My fingers tend to get tangled up with 1 1/16". I went on to get a 000-15SM. It sounds very sweet. Then I got my HD-28 and it sounds wonderful as well. I always say that it makes me sound better than I really am. My guitars all have different characteristics (to include my electrics). I was able to acquire these over the course of two years because I was doing an experiment to see if I could live without my National Guard drill check during the last two years of my career (I bought guitars with that money instead of spending it on other things). It turns out I could live without it, so I retired from my part time job. I can't draw my retirement money for another 3 and a half years, so the instrument search is mostly over for now. I'm slowly saving for a high-end mandolin. If you have the patience, save for the D-18 or HD-28 (or 35). If you want one right now, go for a D-16 or something from the 15 series. Just don't get caught up in the Martin snobbery that your first guitar isn't good enough, because it is. For example, while at a show, I sat and listened to a fellow brag about the D-45 he inherited and how much better than anything else his D-45 was. I determined that he was in the crowd like me and not on stage somewhere playing it, so it must not be that great (or he didn't know how to play it). It will become a never-ending carousel if you let it. Even if you get a standard model someone is going to one-up you. It's human nature for some people. It is better to get lessons live from an outstanding instructor and stick with it. You will see a vast improvement in your playing skill and your "lesser" guitars will sound better as a result. *I didn't mention my Little Martin in that bunch- it was my travel guitar for when I got called up for hurricane duty or annual training. Not a main guitar for me but good for travel.*
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#82
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mine should be here today, it left Hutchins at 0338 this morning! |
#83
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I was quite the opposite- when I was looking for a OM guitar, I had my heart set on a boutique- Santa Cruz etc. When Ted at LA guitar put the OM 42 in my hand and said it’s his favorite, I was thinking how pedestrian / everyone plays a Martin 😌 but the tone was there and I bought it on the spot. A good guitar is a good guitar regardless of what’s on the headstock.
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CSteyer ___________________________ 2014 Martin OM-42 Madi/Adi 2009 Huss and Dalton MJC |
#84
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Like others have mentioned, I would add a Martin to your herd if you are wanting to buy into the americana of the Martin brand. I know that I have always been drawn to them as well for similar reasons and I knew I would buy a new Martin at some point to support their company and contribute to their continued business.
I think a D-18 would compliment your Waterloo very well, or if you don't like D size than a 000-18. They can't be beat and they are a hell of a value.
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My Therapy: Martin 000-18GE 1937 Sunburst MFG Martin 000-15 Kevin Enoch Tradesman Open Back Banjo Collings MT2-O Honey Amber Royce Burt #560 5-String Fiddle |
#85
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Don't rush, keep playing them, and a Martin will find you.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa |
#86
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Edit: in this price range, I don't know whether the finish is nitro or synthetic. Martin only specs "satin". If it's a synthetic satin, then regluing the binding without finish damage will be much less complicated.
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'21 Bourgeois Vintage D '21 Martin Custom Shop 18 Style 3 personally crafted mandolins 2 tele partscasters Yamaha Pacifica 611 VFM Last edited by RoyBoy; 07-29-2021 at 02:47 PM. |
#87
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A particular brand does not guarantee satisfaction. There are some excellent Martins and many ho-hum Martins.
If you have to have a "Martin" then go buy one. Beware you might find yourself in a rabbit hole of finding a "better" Martin. I went through that, and ended up buying and selling at least three Martins. I even considered buying an OM-42 Custom for about $7500. Glad I didn't. I would definitely keep your Waterloo since it seems to hit the sweet spot for you. FWIW, I ended up keeping an older Martin OM-28V, a couple Santa Cruzes, and a Collings OM-1 Traditional.
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Collings OM-1 Traditional Santa Cruz OM Santa Cruz 00 Martin OM-28V |
#88
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I own two Martin guitars. Not because I "drank the kool aid", not because I'm dimwitted, and got sucked into the Martin hype or fell for their marketing strategy. I don't own them because I'm old fashioned (well, maybe a little...).
I own them because I like them. I really like the scooped mid-range, accentuated bass & crystal-clear trebles of the "Martin Sound". It's the sound that's in my head as what a guitar is supposed to sound like. Everybody has their own personal version of "that sound". I've played several other brands...and although a couple of boutique brands get my attention, they tend to be more expensive than my budget allows...so I come back to what has been pretty reliable for me...and that's generally a Martin guitar. I've played some that were "meh"...and I have two now that are really very good to my ears. Buy what is "really very good" to your ears. If a Martin is that for you...buy one. You'll pay for it...but you'll be happy. If it's not a Martin...don't pay that just to have a Martin...pay for what sounds "really very good" to your ears. Period. |
#89
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All I ever wanted was a good d28...
I wouldn't argue that Martin guitars are the only good ones, but in my guitar journey, I had a sound in mind. I tried a couple as I was shopping, but the one I settled on has been with me now for many years. Some companies seem to bake in their sound - and when I got my D28 I heard the sound I had always looked for. YMMV
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All I ever wanted was a good D28 |
#90
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2018 Guild F-512 Sunburst -- 2007 Guild F412 Ice Tea burst 2002 Guild JF30-12 Whiskeyburst -- 2011 Guild F-50R Sunburst 2011 Guild GAD D125-12 NT -- 1972 Epiphone FT-160 12-string 2012 Epiphone Dot CH -- 2010 Epiphone Les Paul Standard trans amber 2013 Yamaha Motif XS7 Cougar's Soundcloud page |