martin 0-18 or martin 012-28 for blues guitar

[gazza19]

Hi,
I’m an ageing electric guitar player who is looking to learn acoustic blues.
I’m looking for a small bodied guitar that I can have on the couch.
Anyone have any experience with these 2 Martins?
I know there is a difference in price but I’m more interested in the difference between 12 and 14 frets, which would be easier to play. Also which would be most suited for a nice blues sound?

Your thoughts please

[Charlie Bernstein]

Both would sound and play great.

The advantage to fourteen frets is that you can play twelfth-fret bar chords. You have a wider palette.

The advantage to twelve is that if you're in an open tuning and playing with a slide on your pinky, your hand can slide right up to the chord you're tuned to without having to look where you're going. It makes those high accents a breeze.

Other cool tips:

- Putting 0.12 strings on it puts you at a useful intersection of speed and tone.

- Fingerpicks give you a wide dynamic range because they let you hit loud without stopping you from hitting soft. I like Fred Kelly's Delrin thumbpicks because they're fast and Acri's brass fingerpicks because they stay on.

- When you're in standard tuning, try tuning all your strings down a step: DGCFAD. Capo the second fret when you want the normal tuning, and take the capo off when you want to play some bendy blues.

[kmckenna45]

Hi,

I'm 62 - have been working on finger-style for a while now. I found over the years - a shorter scale length is easier on my wrists - and a smaller body is easier to hold. So - I was looking for a small body, shorter scale - but since I wanted to maintain fret width - I also was looking for a 12 fret guitar. I don't use frets above the first five usually anyway.

So - I tried many - and I've owned/sold several. I found the spruce top, rosewood back/sides to be the best sound for fingerpicking.

When you look at those features - there aren't too many guitars out there - unless you want to spend over $5K.

I bought an Eastman E20-OO. It was a great value - but not quite as good as a Martin, in sound. I was able to sell it at a slight profit.

I was enamored with the Martins - specifically a 12 fret 00. I couldn't afford a 012-28. But I found an 00-28VS and bought it.

When I brought it in for a set up - my guitar guy said - save the receipt. I laughed at him. I was keeping this forever! Not so. Why? The neck width.

I have bigger than average hands - but I found the 1 7/8" nut width too wide to play any barre chords. After a year I sold it. Both the 00-28VS and the 012-28 have 1 7/8" neck width. I think that's too wide - unless you're never gonna play barre chords - or wrap your thumb over the top.

If you want to go down the 12 fret road - The Eastman is a great guitar.

I now have an 000-28EC which I've found to be a nice balance. the 1.75" nut width is fine for finger style - and I can still barre. And the 24.9 scale is comfortable. Yes, it's 14 frets to the body - but I had to compromise somewhere . It also has a "standard V" neck shape - which I find much more comfortable that the "Modern V".

Good luck.

[K20C]

For an acoustic blues/couch guitar, I’d recommend a small body 12 fret short scale guitar. Depending on your budget, there are lots of viable candidates. I wouldn’t mind having a Martin 012-28 myself.

[gazza19]

Maybe add another one in the mix, up a size CE-07?

[Bluenose]

Buy the 14 fret and if you get the urge to play a 12 fret, put on a capo.

[blindboyjimi]

You’re going to ask 30 strangers and get 40 opinions! I’m a blues fingerpicker. I have many 0/00/000 guitars in rosewood, mahogany, maple, and Koa in 12 and 14 frets with spruce tops, mahogany, and Koa tops. I am 6’2, 200 lbs, and wear a large size glove. I have no trouble with thumb-over barre cords on my 1 7/8” nut guitars. My favorite size is a 00 or 000 that is 1 13/16” x 2 3/8”.

Edit: I re-read your post and if you're fixed on the 0-18 vs the 0-28 in 12 fret, then I'd for certain go mahogany. If I ever had to sell all my guitars, I'd keep one mahogany guitar.

Personally, I’d not ignore the Waterloo guitars. They are mostly L-00 size in 12 or 14 fret and the L-00 sits in between an 0 and 00. I love my WL-12. It’s a 12 fret L-00 in spruce/Maple and is 1 3/4” x 2 3/8”. Best of luck.

[BluesKing777]

Originally Posted by gazza19

Hi,
I’m an ageing electric guitar player who is looking to learn acoustic blues.
I’m looking for a small bodied guitar that I can have on the couch.
Anyone have any experience with these 2 Martins?
I know there is a difference in price but I’m more interested in the difference between 12 and 14 frets, which would be easier to play. Also which would be most suited for a nice blues sound?

Your thoughts please

If you are just beginning acoustic blues fingerpicking guitar, it would probably be better to start with a ‘normal’ guitar.....I would go up in size from the 0-18 to the 00-18, fairly standard stuff. The Martin standard neck currently has 1 3/4” nut on a fairly slim neck, an easy transition from an electric guitar like a Strat or a Tele.

After you find your feet, or this case, fingers......you could sell the 00 and try some more exotic finger stretchers.

Or ignore me totally and fo for the full on blues fingerpicker with Mod V neck tendon stretcher like a Waterloo WL-14 ladder braced or a Martin Eric Clapton 000-28EC!!! And have achy previous electric guitar playing hands!

Have a look at Stefan Grossman Guitar Workshop, lots of online advice and millions of blues lessons!


BluesKing777.

[Synrel]

I know it's not one of the guitars that you mentioned, but since watching a bit of Justin Johnson on Youtube, I like the sound of the Martin 17 series guitars. You may want to look at the 00-17 or the 000-17.

Here is his review of the 000-17 Martin.

[gazza19]

Thanks for all the input. I’m going to a store today that has the 0-18, 00-18 and ce07. I’ll let you know how I get on.

[pcf]

The classic blues guitars would be Gibson L-00

[gazza19]

Came away with the 00-18 today :-)

[sinistral]

Congrats! The 00-18 is a fantastic, comfortable all-rounder. Great for blues and a lot more.

[gazza19]

Hi Bluesking, bought the 00-18 as discussed on the other forum. Thanks again for the advice

Gary

[BluesKing777]

Originally Posted by gazza19

Hi Bluesking, bought the 00-18 as discussed on the other forum. Thanks again for the advice

Gary

Cool!

Enjoy that 00-18!


BluesKing777.