Help with Martin 00017-SM Replacement

[Uncle Pen]

Folks, I'm looking for some help uncovering all stones in a search for a Martin 00017-sm replacement.

I'm a dreadnought player at heart, and I'm mostly a moderate to bluegrass heavy strummer. I've a couple spectacular dreads, a Martin Marquis D28 & Iris DF, that I hold completely responsible for shifting my preference towards substantial neck profiles (Martin 1-3/4" nut Mod-V)(Iris 1-3/4 nut full C), and I've found that once you get used to a big neck, its hard to go back.

While I lean towards dreads, I still enjoy a medium sized guitar for a softer, more responsive play and different tone timbre. For those times, I have a superb, clean Martin 000-17sm. It was my first nice acoustic, bought it new, and I like most everything about it, including its tone, response, feel... except the Modified Low Oval neck. That ever progressing preference towards a substantial neck profile is now evident whenever I play it, and unfortunately, its pushing me to consider something similar with a different neck.

Replacement Parameters:

• Body Size: I'd hesitate with anything smaller than an OM or 000. Open to both 12 & 14 fret architecture. 12 frets have always appealed to me.

• Tone: The Martin 000-17sm tone is pleasing to me. I'd like to have something with a hair more headroom for strumming, but I don't want sustain or response to suffer too much.

• Neck: I need a minimum 1-3/4"neck width (wider is fine) with a more substantial profile than the Martin Mod Low Oval.

• Cost: Looking to roll sale funds into replacement purchase. I'm not necessarily looking to upgrade. However Martin is a big name, and I would assume I could get better or equivalent quality at a lower cost from another builder. I'd be tickled to come out ahead, or way ahead.

Current Options Shortlist:

• Eastman E6 or E8OM: In the Martin tone ballpark. I recall the neck being pretty comfy on these compared to the MLO.

• Breedlove Revival OM or 00012 Fret: Their models are way confusing, but I'd consider either a Revival Deluxe, Revival, or American Revival. Can anyone compare these necks to the MLO?

• Larrivee OM or 000 40 Series: I've owned 2 Larrivee's in the past (L-02 & SD-03R with 1-13/16" nut), so I know I agree with their necks, I'm just not sure I want the Larrivee tone again. I'm very intrigued, though with their 000-40R model.

• Recording King ROS-626 or 627: These look good on paper, but I've never played one.

• Martin 000-28VS: Wonderful and probably too much for a secondary guitar. A guy can dream.

Give me some feedback on these options against the Martin I currently have. Anything I've missed? Anything else that you'd recommend that might fit the bill?

[jacot23]

I absolutely love my Larrivee OM-40R. It's the only Rosewood b/s I've ever liked. Not for sale, but fairly common; I think Dave's has one right now.

[Uncle Pen]

Originally Posted by jacot23

I absolutely love my Larrivee OM-40R. It's the only Rosewood b/s I've ever liked. Not for sale, but fairly common; I think Dave's has one right now.

There's actually one for sale locally, by owner. I'll have to check out that model a bit more closely. Thanks!

[j38guitar]

I have an Eastman E1om as my second guitar to my D35. It gets used daily and I can't complain.

[Uncle Pen]

Originally Posted by j38guitar

I have an Eastman E1om as my second guitar to my D35. It gets used daily and I can't complain.

I played a couple Eastman's today, including an E1OM and E8OM. They are very nice, and the neck profile is thick enough for me. They are definitely on the list.

[Uncle Pen]

Anyone have experience with the Yamaha FS3 Red label? How's the neck profile on those? I'm wondering if they're worth considering.

[zoopeda]

I don’t have much experience with the non martins you listed and will leave those for others to reply, but I’ll throw in one more off-the-wall suggestion to try the Martin 000-15SM. Cheaper than the 17, and the gem of the 15 series imo. Really wonderful guitars, and the MLO doesn’t feel as thin as the standard series because of the wider string spacing vs the standards. Worth a try before you decide. Also, some of those musicians friend style 16 custom runs have been interesting and competitively priced. Good luck!

[Uncle Pen]

Originally Posted by zoopeda

I don’t have much experience with the non martins you listed and will leave those for others to reply, but I’ll throw in one more off-the-wall suggestion to try the Martin 000-15SM. Cheaper than the 17, and the gem of the 15 series imo. Really wonderful guitars, and the MLO doesn’t feel as thin as the standard series because of the wider string spacing vs the standards. Worth a try before you decide. Also, some of those musicians friend style 16 custom runs have been interesting and competitively priced. Good luck!

Thanks. My 000-17sm is nearly an exact copy of the 000-15sm, except for a gloss spruce top. So don't think the 15 will work for me.

[j38guitar]

Originally Posted by Uncle Pen

I played a couple Eastman's today, including an E1OM and E8OM. They are very nice, and the neck profile is thick enough for me. They are definitely on the list.

I agree, neck profile is a very comfortable neck. Not sure how it compares to the Martin you are replacing in sound.

[Br1ck]

If the ever was a find a guitar town and play guitars for a couple of days situation, this is it. I took a huge leap of faith on my 07 D 35 custom based in part on Bryan Kimsey having to measure the nut on the guitar. It felt like 1 3/4 to him, but measured 1 11/16. I'd have guessed wrong too, but it feels good. You never know until you try.

[Br1ck]

If the ever was a find a guitar town and play guitars for a couple of days situation, this is it. I took a huge leap of faith on my 07 D 35 custom based in part on Bryan Kimsey having to measure the nut on the guitar. It felt like 1 3/4 to him, but measured 1 11/16. I'd have guessed wrong too, but it feels good. You never know until you try.

[Synrel]

I know it's not on your list, and it's a bit more expensive unless you buy used, but a Martin CEO-7 has a nice mod-v neck and a sound that defies it's body size. Great for fingerstyle and handles strumming well compared to others of similar size that I've played.

[Uncle Pen]

Originally Posted by Synrel

I know it's not on your list, and it's a bit more expensive unless you buy used, but a Martin CEO-7 has a nice mod-v neck and a sound that defies it's body size. Great for fingerstyle and handles strumming well compared to others of similar size that I've played.

That's a great model. I played one awhile back before I was in the market, and it surprised me with it's large sound. I'll keep an eye out, but that model will likely overstretch the budget.

[Uncle Pen]

Did anyone have insight to the neck profile of the breedlove American Revival series? I've heard non definitive info that they're wide and thin necks. If that's true, they're out for me.

[chrisserger]

I second the CEO-7. This thing can do it all. And I LOVE the Mod V neck.