D35 Cutaways

[DrewStrummer]

I’m in the market for a decent cutaway... I see a ton of 000-0000 cutaways... but not too many D35 cutaways, although they’re out there. Perhaps because the D35s are known more as chord and singer instruments? Rather than a finger picking soloist guitar?

Anybody own or try a D cutaway? Martin or any brand. Thoughts?

[llew]

You need to talk to Gary Roberts...he has both Martin D-18 & HD-28 with cutaways.

[JGinNJ]

I haven't seen a DC-35 in the wild, not sure if they're even in the current line-up. I've had a DC-16RGTE for years, I don't think they're as good now because Martin cut corners on the materials with newer models. I would say it has about 90% of the tone of a D-35. My D-35 has a deeper, louder tone. I'd love to find a DC-35E (with electronics) but I think I'd have to order it.

[noledog]

Originally Posted by DrewStrummer

I’m in the market for a decent cutaway... I see a ton of 000-0000 cutaways... but not too many D35 cutaways, although they’re out there. Perhaps because the D35s are known more as chord and singer instruments? Rather than a finger picking soloist guitar?

Anybody own or try a D cutaway? Martin or any brand. Thoughts?

* I'll second Jim's aka llew's, recommendation to consult with Gary aka Broberts here on the forum, he has two Martin beauties that sound great that he plays so wonderfully!

* Other brands with great cutaway dreads you ask? Takamine has a few MIJ models that are excellent. I had the P3DC that was a beast! Plus they have a gorgeous torrified model EF360SC TT: https://www.esptakamine.com/products...8042-tt-series

eric

[DrewStrummer]

My main guitar is a Johnny Cash D35... I’ve been looking for a backup.. and a cutaway... always wondered what a single cut D35 with the JC specs (forward X, Engelman Top, East Indian Rosewood back and sides, genuine mahogany neck... would sound like. Actually called Martin for a custom price and ir was very reasonable.

[ii Cybershot ii]

There are a few DC-35e on Reverb...

I have played the DC-28e a few times, it's good... I have found that the cutaway models don't sound exactly the same as the regular ones. I don't know if the bracing is in slightly different location due to the cutaway or what, but they have all seemed a tad "tighter" and "brighter" than their non-cutaway counterparts. This was observed in a fairly obvious direct comparison a few times.

My favorite cutaway that I've played from the Martin lineup is the 2018-current OMC-28e with the reimagined appointments and scalloped bracing. Really sweet guitar!

[Groberts]

Gary Roberts at your service. I have been gigging extensively with a 2018 Cutaway Martin (DC-18E) and recently (as of Jan 7th, 2019) added a Martin HDC-28E. Both have the Martin factory installed LR Baggs Anthem. I gigged both guitars last night in fact!

I also was privileged to hear fellow AGF member AeroUSA gig his Martin HDC-28E on a visit I took to NYC early December 2018. As a listener I was blown away ...hence my order for an HDC-28E for myself.

Bot these models are currently available from Martin and various dealers. I got both of mine from Sweetwater.

I have bought and sold a LOT of acoustics and these two cutaways for me are the best I've ever gigged with amplified and I love both of them acoustically as well. The Baggs Anthem PU for me is without parallel as a plug n play pickup that sounds very natural and is very resistant to feedback. Not impervious, but more resistant than any other PU. The battery lasts for months based on a weekly gigging schedule.

For gigging, I still find the DC-18E to be the front runner. It is organic and enhances my singing in addition to cutting well in a loud venue or music mix. The HDC-28 is rosewood and I am loving it for the ways the Rosewood offers tremendous sustain and harmonically "precise" detail. Each note and string-to-string sounds are a bit more 'pristine'. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. Good when I play cleanly. Bad ...because if I don't play cleanly, the notes are more 'laser' like and precise, so mistakes seem to be a little more "out in the open". Just a recent observation. But I still need to optimize the set up on the HDC-28. My DC-18E (Mahogany/sitka) plays like butter and has become an extension of my hands.

You cannot go wrong with either the DC-18 or HDC-28. But I strongly suggest the Anthem over the Fishman PU for natural tone, battery life and feedback resistance.

Here are a few video's I made recently. (The last video includes a Gibson J45cutaway that I am selling)

[DrewStrummer]

Hey Gary, thanks for that... pretty amazing videos and a nice arsenal of guitars you got there. Your definitely the right guy to show case D cutaways.

What’s your preference on nut scale? 1 3/4 or 1 11/16?

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by Groberts

I have bought and sold a LOT of acoustics and these two cutaways for me are the best I've ever gigged with amplified and I love both of them acoustically as well. The Baggs Anthem PU for me is without parallel as a plug n play pickup that sounds very natural and is very resistant to feedback. Not impervious, but more resistant than any other PU. The battery lasts for months based on a weekly gigging schedule.

For gigging, I still find the DC-18E to be the front runner. It is organic and enhances my singing in addition to cutting well in a loud venue or music mix. The HDC-28 is rosewood and I am loving it for the ways the Rosewood offers tremendous sustain and harmonically "precise" detail. Each note and string-to-string sounds are a bit more 'pristine'. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. Good when I play cleanly. Bad ...because if I don't play cleanly, the notes are more 'laser' like and precise, so mistakes seem to be a little more "out in the open". Just a recent observation. But I still need to optimize the set up on the HDC-28. My DC-18E (Mahogany/sitka) plays like butter and has become an extension of my hands.

You cannot go wrong with either the DC-18 or HDC-28. But I strongly suggest the Anthem over the Fishman PU for natural tone, battery life and feedback resistance.

Here are a few video's I made recently. (The last video includes a Gibson J45cutaway that I am selling)

Of the three in this posting I have to give the nod to the HD28. While the D-18 sounds good, I think it lacks the high end presence of the HD28, perhaps making the D-18 a better instrument for vocal accompaniment and the HD28 better for solistic stuff where you need full punch and articulation across the tonal spectrum.

... But a D35 cutaway???... Blasphemy, I say :0 !

Originally Posted by Groberts

I definitely prefer 1 3/4 without question! For what I do, the extra width allows me to play cleaner without accidentally muting the adjacent strings with my fingering hand.

I take it you've never played violin, Gary

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by DrewStrummer

Hey Gary, thanks for that... pretty amazing videos and a nice arsenal of guitars you got there. Your definitely the right guy to show case D cutaways.

What’s your preference on nut scale? 1 3/4 or 1 11/16?

Glad to help Drewstrummer! I definitely prefer 1 3/4 without question! For what I do, the extra width allows me to play cleaner without accidentally muting the adjacent strings with my fingering hand.

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Gary Roberts at your service. I have been gigging extensively with a 2018 Cutaway Martin (DC-18E) and recently (as of Jan 7th, 2019) added a Martin HDC-28E. Both have the Martin factory installed LR Baggs Anthem. I gigged both guitars last night in fact!

I also was privileged to hear fellow AGF member AeroUSA gig his Martin HDC-28E on a visit I took to NYC early December 2018. As a listener I was blown away ...hence my order for an HDC-28E for myself.

Bot these models are currently available from Martin and various dealers. I got both of mine from Sweetwater.

I have bought and sold a LOT of acoustics and these two cutaways for me are the best I've ever gigged with amplified and I love both of them acoustically as well. The Baggs Anthem PU for me is without parallel as a plug n play pickup that sounds very natural and is very resistant to feedback. Not impervious, but more resistant than any other PU. The battery lasts for months based on a weekly gigging schedule.

For gigging, I still find the DC-18E to be the front runner. It is organic and enhances my singing in addition to cutting well in a loud venue or music mix. The HDC-28 is rosewood and I am loving it for the ways the Rosewood offers tremendous sustain and harmonically "precise" detail. Each note and string-to-string sounds are a bit more 'pristine'. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. Good when I play cleanly. Bad ...because if I don't play cleanly, the notes are more 'laser' like and precise, so mistakes seem to be a little more "out in the open". Just a recent observation. But I still need to optimize the set up on the HDC-28. My DC-18E (Mahogany/sitka) plays like butter and has become an extension of my hands.

You cannot go wrong with either the DC-18 or HDC-28. But I strongly suggest the Anthem over the Fishman PU for natural tone, battery life and feedback resistance.

Here are a few video's I made recently. (The last video includes a Gibson J45cutaway that I am selling)

Your description of the characteristics of rosewood in the hands of Martin is excellent. Good thread.

[DrewStrummer]

Those videos are wonderfully made, you can really hear the tone of each guitar.