Help me choose (Martin)

[Silly Moustache]

I cannot vote in this poll.

I could tell you which I would choose but that would be an elephant, edit: that should read "irrelevent".
If you don't know whether you want/need a dread , or a 000, and you don't know whether you want hog or rose, and you don't know whether you want a 12 or 14 fret .......................

...... then I suggest that it isn't an appropriate time to go shopping.

[Mike McLenison]

The bigger the Martin the better. That's how I see things.

[jim1960]

Choose the guitar that inspires YOU the most, not the guitar that inspires some AGF posters the most. You're the one that will be playing it, not them.

[Skip Ellis]

D18s are great and I've owned few over the years but , if you don't need the powerful low end, the 000-18 fits the bill nicely for just about everything I want to do. I Play mostly (80%) thumb style/fingerpicking (Chet/Merle/Celtic) and the rest flatpicking. For me, I've decided that the D18 is just a little 'bottom heavy' for my playing but the 000-18 suits me real well. Some good You Tube vids showing the 000.

[Humbuster]

Originally Posted by RoyBoy

If you buy through one of the sponsors here you can get a new one (they sound great right out of the gate, + factory warranty) for about the same price as a used one. If you need a shorter scale length or a smaller body for couch slouching then go with the 000.

This one, as I recently did. as mentioned above, purchase new as the re-imagined Standards are fantastic, and used pricing is ridiculous.




If you wanna go be bigger, M36 or J40 would be a good choice.

[brencat]

Why did you sell the Santa Cruz OM/PW ? (Unless I misunderstood you). This will help us zero in on a recommendation. Because none of those Martins you’re asking about can hold a candle to the OM/PW in my opinion for all around versatility, nor playability. The D-18 standard I find very bland, the 000-18 is great but slightly boxy, same for the 000-28. Can’t speak to the discontinued 28vs.

[Hey_day]

Originally Posted by brencat

Why did you sell the Santa Cruz OM/PW ? (Unless I misunderstood you). This will help us zero in on a recommendation. Because none of those Martins you’re asking about can hold a candle to the OM/PW in my opinion for all around versatility, nor playability. The D-18 standard I find very bland, the 000-18 is great but slightly boxy, same for the 000-28. Can’t speak to the discontinued 28vs.

Interesting point. It was years ago when I was in a fit of buying and trading and just let it get away.

[Hey_day]

Originally Posted by Humbuster

This one, as I recently did. as mentioned above, purchase new as the re-imagined Standards are fantastic, and used pricing is ridiculous.




If you wanna go be bigger, M36 or J40 would be a good choice.

Did they reimagine all their guitars? Online it looks like just some of them

[FrankHudson]

As Silly M says above we're not going to be able to tell you better than you can tell yourself what guitar to buy.

But I'm in the mood to play along this morning. From your capsule description that you fingerpick primarily but sometimes like to strum forcefully I'd say that you should definitely consider a 000 sized box. In my experience that general size can serve the strummer well and the arpeggio player excellently.

So rather than saying what you should buy, I'll say my answer is more at answering "What Martin should I try before deciding?" and I voted the 000-18.

[jaan]

I voted other as I’d recommend trying an OM.

[gfspencer]

How about a D-28?

[Dominick]

Originally Posted by Hey_day

I am mostly an at home/couch player.

While all 4 guitars listed are very fine in their own right, I find Dreads to be uncomfortable for playing on the couch. So i guess you should ask yourself really how comfortable are you playing your old Yamaha Dread when sitting down?

There is a reason many seniors don't play much or even sell off their Dreads. I recently sold both mine locally and play my grand concerts exclusively. The OO body size is the most comfortable I've ever played.
My vote would be for a OO-18, so i voted other.

[jaymarsch]

If size is not an issue for you ergonomically, then the D-18 would be the ticket. Every 000-18 that I have played has left me wanting a bit more. If you like rosewood, then the 000-28 would be the choice. Depends on what your priorities are in terms of tone and style of playing. Have fun deciding!

Best,
Jayne

[zmf]

Originally Posted by Hey_day

I’ve sold everything but my old red label Yamaha dread that’s in rough shape and a Mcilroy A25 (cedar over walnut). So I am looking for something to compliment that.

00028vs

Seems that the Yamaha and McIlroy already complement one another, so getting a Martin that complements both of them becomes a complicated equation.

But there is hope. The 00028VS will complement just about anything.

[mawmow]

From the one you listed, I guess you play fingerstyle, so I voted OOO-18 :
Those made since 2014 are just great !