what dread would you suggest

[barley]

Originally Posted by Placida

https://reverb.com/item/11058163-martin-gc-mmv-2008

Make an offer to get it closer to your budget.

I’ve got to say my wife’s MMV is an amazing value. However, when we bought it, there were two of them at the local GC and the one we didn’t buy was just pretty good.

[williefo]

Used Eastman...

[Zissou Intern]

I'd look for a used Eastman E8D or used Blueridge BR160A.

[Steadfastly]

I don't know if others have mentioned these or not. You are right, the Alvarez has a bit more treble or less bass than most Martins. Try the X series Martins. If that's what you like, they definitely have the Martin sound. They are decent instruments and are in your budget range.

[Graham H]

I would also recommend the Yamaha LL16 they are such sweet guitars, if you can swing it get the A R E spruce with the Rosewood back and sides, it has a 5 piece maple neck and sounds and plays like heaven !!!

[Casey86]

I recently tried a number of dreads side by side in three stores. Martin hd28, Santa Cruz and others. Some were very expensive.

Based on sound and not looks the Larrivee D40r with rosewood won. Larrivee's are very consistent so I then found a used one online for about $900 to the door. It is unplayed and one year old.

Based on looks I would of gone with SC. Based on resale Martin. Based on sound first and price second Larrivee. I could of bought any guitar that pleased me.

https://www.larrivee.com/products/d-40r-legacy-series

Here's one that's getting close to your price:
https://reverb.com/item/9865296-larr...006-price-drop

Edit: if you have your heart set on a Martin hang in there and get it

[Elroy Bean]

Originally Posted by Daveyo

I have about 700 bucks,looking for a rosewood dread
Used,would love a Martin but yeah right,Alvarez yairi is on my
Radar but they seem to be a little on the jangly side

What else is available?
David

MF has open box Alvarez MD-70s(all-solid rosewood/sitka dread) for $695.99. I own a Masterworks MDA66SHB and can vouch for the line. Very good build, fit and finish combined with very good playability and tone.

I do see a number of bargain priced Yairis online. For $700, or maybe a tad more, a real bargain might be found. Gotta find a trustworthy seller, of course.

[GKing34]

In that range, I would go for a used Eastman E8D or AC420.

[robj144]

Originally Posted by mpaul73

i thought i needed a dread, ended up with a GA Taylor. I really was better off with something more comfortable to sit with on the couch!

You got a Taylor GA for less than $700?

[Rockysdad]

I'm going along with the others, who recommended a used Larrivee. Very well made, great guitars.

[Steadfastly]

Originally Posted by Graham H

I would also recommend the Yamaha LL16 they are such sweet guitars, if you can swing it get the A R E spruce with the Rosewood back and sides, it has a 5 piece maple neck and sounds and plays like heaven !!!

You've been there?

[v32 finish]

Ok, I'm biased because I own one, but for value... I own a Washburn that I simply cannot even believe how good it is. It constantly amazes me, and sounds EVERY bit as good as my Taylor. Even my wife commented on it... I did the "tap test", tapping the top of the guitar, and the back, with a finger.. listening to the resonance and the sound that emanates... doing this side by side with my Taylor 710, my Washburn has a sweeter, louder, more harmonic sound from a finger tap.

https://reverb.com/item/6731167-wash...EALw_wcB&pla=1

I can't vouch for this one, as it's a 42 and mine is a 44, but I'm tempted to buy this thing because it's so cheap and because how stellar mine is. Anyway. Again, I know I'm biased, but Washburn singlehandedly changed my opinion of their whole company when I bought this guitar. That being said, there's other options too.. but with the above, you'd still have 450 bucks in your pocket.


For 700 bucks, I would either go with a used Larrivee, as others have pointed out... but I would also look at a few others, like Epiphone's Masterbilt guitars, or something from Eastman or Alvarez. YOu could try to extend yourself (this is my GAS speaking)... what I always do... if my budget is 700 dollars to start, I start thinking in terms of "well, I can always save a BIT more and make it to 900... and then that will put me into a different category of guitars by buying used, I can get a $1300-1400 that's used or marked down". Me personally, I'd use that 700 as a jumping point, and try to get it up to 1000 or 1200, so you could get into a used Martin. Even without doing that, they now have options like the DRS2 which are affordable and still sound good, but I digress.

If you truly can't go past 700, I think your options are still good; you have to do a bit of work by searching, but you can still find some true gems. My Washburn is proof of that... the last Eastman I played had a *fantastic* sound, but the glossy finish on the neck made it sticky and almost impossible to play/move around on; I'm not sure if that's the same all across the board with Eastman or just the dread I played.

So yeah, to avoid this post getting longer (sorry):
-2003 Washburn Rarewood series (WD-42S, WD-43S, WD-44S)
-Used Larrivee
-Eastman/Alvarez
-May even be able to get into a Taylor 210 or 310 for that price. there was just a 310 on classifieds here for 500 bucks, which would be right up your alley(and a steal if the condition was good) .

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!!

[dgt178]

.......another +1 on the Yamaha LL16......you will NOT be disappointed......

[BoneDigger]

Since you would like a Martin, I think the obvious choice is a guitar that sounds like a Martin. Again, the obvious choice is the Blueridge. You also mentioned Alvarez, and there are several new Alvarez guitars that might suit your needs.

Yamaha makes a great guitar, but nobody will confuse it for the tone of a Martin. If Martin is where your heart is, nobody matches the Martin tone like Blueridge.

[Oldguy64]

$700.
I have seven dreads five of them are Alvarez from an old 5013 to a 2015 ADA 1965.
Buy a Cedar over Rosewood dread, string it with EXP16’s or EXP17’s and don’t look back. That combination should rattle your teeth loose with bass.
Granted, the Cedar may not offer the headroom you want.

I also am quite fond of my Taylor 110e. It will rattle your ribs with the bass.
It seems warmest with Ernie Ball Phosphor Bronze or Curt Mangan Phosphor Bronze.
If that isn’t enough bass for you, you’ll never find the bass you’re looking for.