Most disappointing guitar you ever bought?

[brad4d8]

'64 (?) Gretsch Chet Atkins, never could get the sound I wanted. Traded for a Tele with a humbucker at the neck. Kept that until the band I needed it for broke up and traded it for a Guild D 50.

[Nash Rambler]

Martin D18

[AmericanEagle]

Martin DXM. All HPL dread. Absolutely horrible.

[loco gringo]

Taylor 612CE. Sunburst Turd.

[Mr. Paul]

Originally Posted by nitram

I find it ironic that for the many champions Martin has, Martin seems to have provided so many instances of disappointment.

The answers to any general question that begins with "which guitar ..." will be well represented by Martin as they sell lots of guitars.

[Herb Hunter]

Originally Posted by Mr. Paul

The answers to any general question that begins with "which guitar ..." will be well represented by Martin as they sell lots of guitars.

And yet, Taylor, sells more guitars than Martin.

[Shuksan]

Originally Posted by cyberdog

Martin has the reputation. Expectations are high. The higher the expectation, the more chance for disappointment. Sometimes expectations can be unrealistic.

Expectations can be unrealistic, but expecting the bridge not lift of the top, the finish on the headstock to not peal off, and the truss rod to not come from the factory broken are realistic expectations. All of those problems showed up within two years after buying a Martin new at Elderly. The guitar was not abused in any way. It was just a lemon.

[ObiWanSymbian]

A fender acoustic, d28 look-alike, which had always been dead, but I was too stupid to return it the second I discovered that it’s just a guitar shaped piece of furniture.

An Oscar Schmidt that my parents bought me in 90’. I still cannot believe that someone would sell a guitar wit a visibly misplaced bridge that made the strings run “diagonally”.
I was too inexperienced to notice that. And to ashamed to ask my father to return in to the shop. It was bought for their hard earned money in a distant city.

Both the guitars were used for ca 2 years each. What I learned was a thourough guitar checking process.

I now play a guitar for about a week in the shop, even for the risk of being out-purchased by someone else.

[fpuhan]

The is The Acoustic Guitar Forum, so I'll stick with that; I could name an electric or two that would fit, but the most disappointing acoustic I've ever bought was a recent Martin OMC-15ME. I don't fault the guitar - it has a great sound. It just doesn't fit my playing style.

[PajamasMusic]

Froggy Bottom C whole hog. Lovely guitar but just didn’t fit.

[reddcee81]

2008 Taylor 714ce. I bought this guitar almost a decade ago and was so excited about it. At the end of the day, while I know it is subjective, it was the most disappointed I've ever been with any guitar I've owned. It was gorgeous, but the sound was merely "meh".

[Scotso]

guild d-50

So scooped it was like the mids did not exist

[aeisen93]

I guess I'm lucky - I haven't purchased guitar that was really disappointing. However, I wish my G45 sounded better with a guitar pick (strummed). It sounds great with fingerpicking, but when using a guitar pick it sounds a bit thin. But I really enjoy it anyway.

[aeisen93]

Originally Posted by Lwilliams

Back in 1995 I bought a Washburn D28S. I tried so hard to like that guitar. It never worked out. Sold it and moved on. I won't go back to that brand again.

That's an impressive signature! I would love to spend an afternoon playing all of those guitars!

[Slothead56]

I bought a pre-owned Martin 000-28 custom 12 fret slothead several years ago. I was so excited to get it...it pushed a lot of buttons for me.

It was awful. Dead. No magic at all...

Promptly sold it.

I’m a Martin guy and it was just disappointing.