I love guitars and guitar playing. Hopefully you will find some of these videos helpful with either 1. you looking for that new guitar purchase or 2. you want to learn some new playing skills.
Thanks for the comparison, hope it is the strings that are making the tinny sound. I find "bright" guitars irritating, but many love the sound. I like to have some wood tones instead of the metal strings. I am not going to buy elixers if that is the case. I have asked at our music store for strings that are not bright sounding and they really cannot help me out. I think you did though so thanks again.
Every time you go down with the thumb, come back up with the index finger. Practice the back and forth till you can do it without thinking about it. Starting out is like patting your head with one hand, while rubbing your stomach with the other one.
It's wrong to refer to alternate bass/treble finger-picking as Travis picking. Merle Travis only EVER used his thumb and 1st finger! There were loads of guitar players playing proper alternate bass/treble finger style long before Merle Travis. A classic example is "Freight Train" by Elizabeth Cotten, but Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Boy Fuller, Willie McTell, Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Skip James and Charley Patton (to name but a few) all played amazing finger style, some of them before Merle Travis was even a twinkle in his Father's eye!! If you wish to promote a professional way of playing finger style/finger-picking/alt bass/treble then Travis is definitely NOT the name folks should be referring to!
I’ve owned a ‘77 F-360S and a ‘78 F-340. I bought the 360S in 1981 for $100. For the best comparison, both guitars would have to be freshly strung with the same strings.
Appreciate your vid, however an acoustic guitar comparison is not an accurate comparison if you use completely different strings. Even the very same guitar can sound very different under those circumstances unless different strings brings out the best in a particular guitar. Btw, the Japanese custom shop Yamaha AC5R has a sound rarely put up against Taylor, Martin, etc. People always use the lower model AC3 Chinese made version, but don't sleep on this high-end Japanese handmade guitar. It sounds absolutely amazing.
i purchased the 1975 takamini not really knowing anything about it , i went to buy another wayne guitar but was confronted with the takamini no complaints from me . the wayne guitar was an australian name and model . the takamini looks like the martin i really cant afford, tony from down under , cheers🙂
The Takamine sounds more like a Taylor than a D28! You mentioned your Martin is strung with D’Addarios, but failed to mention which actual strings they are. For a real comparison really the 2 guitars need to be strung with a new set of the same strings. Stings make a huge difference.
If you can get your hands on a used Aria dreadnought from back in the 80's then you'll have a guitar that is on par with the martin for alot less. I read somewhere that they were actually a martin with minor flaws that got shipped overseas and rebranded with the Aria headstock logo.
You will pay around $3000 for a D28. You can pick a Takamine (lawsuit era) for around $500. There's not a $2500 dollar difference in the sound. It's is a no brainer. 🙄 I have a Takamine F307, and its by far my favorite guitar.
It’s pretty ridiculous what these Martin’s are going for these days. As the value of the dollar declines more people are investing their money in guitars and causing the prices to skyrocket.
Interesting demo. My 1981 F360 doesn't sound anything like that Takamine guitar, let alone the recording. It could be strings, the gauge, string material, pick material and or the the recording device itself? In your video the Martin sounds richer, has bolder mids and tight highs. The Takamine sounds thin and almost weak, almost like a laminate would sound. Id like to hear a revision to this demo with both guitar setup similar, played the same way and with the same strings.
I went with the GS mini (spruce top) when making this choice a little while back. It just sounded better to me than the Martin. I like the mini so much that I acquired another one (mahogany). I was fully satisfied until I played the Yamaha short scale parlor/travel guitars (CSF1 and CSF3). Both minis have been sold and now a CSF1M Yamaha is my go to travel and also my everyday guitar. I've got to stop trying other guitars...
Hmmm....its tricky, i believe the taylor sounds more top end with the martin giving more bass.....i think. Id be very h ppy with either, to be honest. Ive never had a taylor and i love the look.
I have a Lam version Tak F-360 I purchased new in "73 and still own. I never practiced enough to become a very good player, but my impression of the sound has always been that it is very bassy and loud. I have done some investigation of it's origin and found that there was originally a agreement to copy the Martin, but Martin decided to withdraw their consent and Takamine mutually agreed. Takamine had decided that they wanted to start making their own designed guitars, and they just went on their own.
First, you could not go wrong with either. However, I own the Martin Djr and I pick that up before any other in my arsenal. It's the only guitar I own that if something happened to it I would leave the house immediately and go buy another one (given I could afford it).
I picked up a 1974 Tak F340S about 30 years ago in perfect shape with a hard case for $150 and it's still kicking ass. Excellent guitar. I won't say it sounds better than my Taylors, but it has a sweet, dry top end that sits so well with other guitars and it plays beautifully. Great neck.
Oh yes the wood , i do believe epiphone showed some good acoustics in 73, and Ibanez too, dollar for dollar id take the vintage. That warmth and depth,, while so many were cutting corners. The new Guitars ring like glockenspiels.
I have the lawsuit F360S only mine is a 1984 - stamped inside at the neck joint, mine even has the binding on the neck as this one did, not all had that binding. Makes you wonder if this "lawsuit" was a business deal turned to a cease and desist. After 7 years you would think Takamine would have complied a lot sooner seeing how the guitars are near identical in material and construction. Mine does not soumd as bright as this video and I use Martin Strings - fine (not sure who actually makes the strings.
@jamespitstick8823 Sorry, can't be sure, I'm not experienced enough in Acoustic builds for one. A lot of wrong info. out there and I don't want to be the one issuing it. The "S" is supposed to be "Solid Spruce" top, but its at least 2 piece. Inside is impeccable work as is the outside (the fit and finish is same as Martin's I've seen), inside, it does appear to be some kind of unfinished (of course) exotic wood, (has same type of funky grains as outside and colour, light / dark changes too) but I can't say for 100% that means it's solid Rosewood. If it's cheap plywood laminate would they squish that between two pieces of rosewood laminated as -> rosewood / plywood / rosewood? Would that even make sense? @jamespitstick8823
There was never a lawsuit between martin and Takamine. This is just false. martin did contact Takamine about the logo similarities, and after some time Takamine changed to the modern logo. No lawsuit ever occured. There was a lawsuit against Ibanez brought by gibson, which started all this "Lawsuit" misinformation....
@@jamespitstick8823 You're very welcome James! And great to hear those words... excited for what is ahead! And thanks for the great videos you put out.. they're appreciated!
I've been playing guitar since 1975 and also performed professionally for many many years. In my opinion, the Elixir strings have always been way overrated and sound very thin & wimpy compared to D'adarrio or Martin Marquis strings. The Elixir strings also feel more like rubber bands compared to the other 2 brands I just mentioned. Back when Elixir strings first came out, I tried them, and hated them. I switched right back to tried & true Martin Marquis strings. Switch the strings on that Takamine to some better strings, and watch how much better the instrument will project. Trust me.
Yea, they don’t sound as fresh or bright as some of the other non-coated strings like D’Addarrio phosphorus bronze, Earhwood or back in the day Guild strings but the Elixers seem to not go dead as fast, meaning you can usually go a few months before having to change them. I’ve heard that D’Addarrio X coated strings sound great! I’m going to try those out. What do you prefer?
I can see why martin was worried. But yes, Tak went a little too far with the same style font and everything. Also if im not mistaken the 360s had laninate back and sides, better comparison woukd be the takamine 375s which was all solid.
