#1
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In 20 years of owning/buying/selling/trying good guitars this is what I've learned
I have owned 3 guitars made by Tom Sands, 3 guitars made by Stefan Sobell, 3 Avalon Guitars, 5 Martin guitars and have played multiple guitars each by Jason Kostal, Kevin Ryan, Taran Guitars, Ralph Bown, Nigel Forster, Yamaha, Nick Benjamin, Ted Astrand, Froggy Bottom, Dana Bourgeois, Michael Greenfield, Taylor…and many more.
What I have concluded from my travels is this:
I haven’t played instruments from every top flight guitar builder but I have played many and I have been constantly searching for not only great instruments but a great mix of instruments which has led me to where I am. I have a great pallette of sounds and feels hanging on the wall. Of course I still “need” a decent 12 string (probably a Martin D12-20) and I still need a parlour/small instrument, I still need a carbon fibre guitar and I still need a really top-flight luthier-made traditional Martin style OM/000 style instrument (perhaps a Circa, a PreWar, a Bagnasco & Casati or similar - which will probably replace my Martin OM28 Authentic), a harp guitar and I still need to explore some more electrics (principally a good Les Paul and a Strat). Other than that…I’m sorted! So what have you learned on your travels?
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#2
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Interesting enough.
Gotta make some popcorn… |
#3
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what have I learned? it's the "price ceiling" moves all too easily.
I used to think I could never spend $4k ~ or there abouts, on a guitar. That is, until I wound up with two of them in the stable. (Gibson SJ200 Standard / Taylor 814ce V Class Deluxe)
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Ray Gibson SJ200 Taylor Grand Symphony Taylor 514CE-NY Taylor 814CE Deluxe V-Class Guild F1512 Alvarez DY74 Snowflake ('78) Last edited by rmp; 06-27-2022 at 12:02 PM. |
#4
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Very interesting post, from someone that has played quite a few more nice guitars than me. Nothing contentious there from my point of view and with much less experience of what is available I would come up with similar points, especially the characteristic sound of the builder showing through wood differences and the variance from any one maker.
Having 3 guitars that get used because I enjoy their specific qualities has taught me to be content with what I have, even knowing that I could potentially find better. BTW I could do you a job lot on a Les Paul, Strat and D12-20 that don’t get played. |
#5
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Interesting statements here. I've been playing and trading good, bad, and ugly guitars for about 30 yrs, and see some truths here (and not)! It'll be interesting to watch and listen to the noise on this one.
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#6
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Yeah, so true.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#7
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Quote:
(not blanket statements but universal truths!)
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#8
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Quote:
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... Last edited by Adamski; 06-27-2022 at 05:49 AM. |
#9
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Excellent post, I’m sure someone, somewhere at some point in time will be offended as it’s quite fashionable to feign offense these days but much of your post is common sense. The only contentious point maybe the notion of Brazilian being tonally the best. I like some old growth mahogany myself over any rosewood but I’d have to sell all my guitars to obtain something in that realm.
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Huss & Dalton DS-12 Custom (Italian/Mahogany) Collings 000-2H (Sitka/Rosewood) Dave King L-00 (Adi/Mahogany) Gibson J-45 JT project "1942 Banner" (Adi/Mahogany) Eastman E20P (Adi/Rosewood) Sigma-SDR-28MLE (Adi/Madagascan Rosewood) Sigma SDR-45 (Sitka/Rosewood) Sigma SDM-18 (European/Flamed Mahogany) Freshman FA400D (Engelmann/Rosewood) Freshman FA300 (Cedar/Hog) Voyage Air VAD-06 |
#10
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Quote:
Your other observations are equally provocative... I can faintly hear the sound of furious typing as those with differing firm convictions rush to add their opposing opinions to the fray. Buckle up...
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Jim Magill Director, The Swannanoa Gathering Guitars:'07 Circa OM, '09 Bashkin 00-12fret, '10 Circa 00 12-fret, '17 Buendia Jumbo, '17 Robbins R.1, '19 Doerr Legacy Select, '12 Collings 000-28H Koa. Pre-War guitars: '20 0-28, '22 00-28, '22 000-28. Mandolins: '09 Heiden Heritage F5, '08 Poe F5 , 1919 Gibson F-4, '80 Monteleone Grand Artist mandolin, '83 Monteleone GA (oval),'85 Sobell cittern. |
#11
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Can't wait!
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#12
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Thanks Bob...you're wrong! ;-)
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#13
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I’ve learned to buy a guitar I like and be happy with it. I like 000 18s and J 50s. I’ve played better guitars. But I sound like me when I’m playing mine.
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Peace, Jimmy Optima dies, prima fugit |
#14
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Quote:
And we all know what those are like. |
#15
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Well, I've learned a few things from you.
1) You have disposable income. 2) You're not married. (Or, if you are, you have a heck of a partner.) 3) You really, really like guitars. Seriously, I am well behind you in this search and hope I never catch up - but have little to complain about in your statements. My own ears are not sensitive enough to have made some of these statements myself. The one I'd take issue first about is the one about Brazilian, only I haven't played enough BR guitars to argue intelligently. (I have other reasons to not own a BR instrument, reasons that have nothing to do with sound.) It seems to me that this is more your tonal preference and that someone else may have quite a different preference, one neither better nor worse than yours.
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The Bard Rocks Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber '31 National Duolian + many other stringed instruments. |