Do These Builders Make Better Martins Than Martin? ★ Acoustic Tuesday 188 

In truth, Martin is the standard that all guitar makers try to attain. I’ve played several of the brands you mentioned, sorry, not better than my Martin D-28. All my life I wanted a Martin D-28; finally broke down and bought one for my 50 birthday, I’m now 63. Playing this Martin always puts a smile on my face, especially when you hit the note or chord right; it rewards you with beautiful sound. A few years back my wife and I were in Oklahoma, we went into a music shop which had mainly fiddles but had bluegrass posters all over; I play in a Bluegrass band. The shop was owned by Byron Berline, used to play fiddle for Bill Monroe. I asked if they had any guitars, they directed me to the back room which had some Mexican made Martins. I began to play an old Bill Monroe tune; I sing also, called “I Gotta Travel On” . Immediately Byron came from the office and told the salesman to bring out a good guitar. The brought out a beat up 1937 D-18. What a sound that guitar had, best I ever heard in my life. Better than anything you mentioned here. I played a sung the song again, this time Byron played his fiddle with me. He wanted to sell the guitar to me but they wanted $7500; I made a big mistake and didn’t buy it. A couple of years after visiting that shop, it went up in flames. I’m sure that guitar is lost forever. Please don’t try to convince me that there are other Martin guitars made by copycats. We all know if they’re trying to copy the Martin than Martin must be the pinnacle. I do own a Sigma made for Martin that sounds pretty good. But I found it’s hit or miss on Sigmas, some good some not good. I only paid $125 for it, it’s my beater, but I still love my Martin D-28.

I love my Santa Cruz Tony Rice! Bought it 4 years ago and played it every day since. It already was a cannon and now it's a force to be reckoned with!

Hey Tony, I am really enjoying my new Boucher Studio Goose 42 V. It has a torrefied Adi top with Brazilian Mahogany B&S. I grab it before I think about my D45 79. It really is beyond what I expected. Robin Boucher is an incredible builder too. I have been to Thompsons factory. Love those guys too. And Dana Bourgeois is amazing.

I own a 2002 Martin D-18 GE that has forward-shifted bracing, and a 2020 Martin D-18 Authentic 1939 Aged that has rear-shifted bracing. Both offer a unique version of the Martin sound that existed from 1934 to 1944. All of the luthiers you mentioned are making wonderful guitars, and they're all chasing that same 1934 to 1944 Martin sound. You should play a Martin before you decide to buy something else that only sounds like a Martin.

All solid choices, but it's hard to believe you left Wayne Henderson off your list. Is there anyone more revered at building golden age Martins than Wayne? Not sure, ask Ricky Skaggs or Eric Clapton. Fun fact: Wayne worked on pre-war Martins for Gruhn Guitars back in the day.

Hey Tony, Love the Acoustic Tuesday feeds and also really dig your whole program with the daily challenges 🤙 Thanks man.

Hi Tony, Boucher from Quebec should be on your list ! Great value too.

*Pre War* is really the only company trying to recreate vintage Martin’s. All the others sound great (big fan of SCGC & Bourgeois) but they are different builds in regards to Martin. A bolt on neck isn’t a Martin trait.

I've only heard these on RU-vid but over the last year I'm beginning to fall in love with the Thompsons

Huss and Dalton sounded pretty sweet!!!

Tony, you forgot about Boucher guitars from Quebec, Canada!

Thompson is my favorite as well and Boucher is another one.

I agree with most of the brands you mentioned, however most of them are above $4000 and most people can’t afford that kind price tag . Therefore I would like to mention Larrivee guitars 🎸. The ones I’ve played sound fantastic and are quite affordable . 🤟👨👽👽😳

This was a fun and very exciting program full of some of the most beautiful Acoustic art I have seen in some time.

Boucher BG-52 are on the top of the list for sure!!!

Nice spread here! You covered a lot of ground. Some of favorite non-Martin dreads include the Bourgeois AT D-LSH in Adi/Madi, the basic Collings D1 in Sitka/Hog, and the Larrivée SD-60.

Great show Tony 😁 I find Dreads a bit big myself but still an interesting show, here’s a thought, if you haven’t already, a similar show on modern fingerpicking guitars would be cool 😎

I absolutely love this episode and agree wholeheartedly with your list, ranking order and specific model choices. If I could have only 1 of them, I think it would be the Pilgrim. No articulate reason why. Another name I think worth mentioning for consideration is Boucher. Thank you, Tony.

Played a few Bob Thompson - West Virginia - dreads few years ago at Cabin Fever Va Beach.. Very impressed.

Boucher guitars has a few models that are nice check out the BG52

??? Tony, Please, please, please tell me where I can get one of those "Be nice and play guitar" hats (or a tee). I've looked all over the internet to no avail. Thanks, and keep bringing us acoustic goodness. Loved today's episode.

Pre-War is my favorite! Their HD and J models are at the top of the food chain of guitars. On another note Mr. Polecastro, can you do an episode like this one featuring one-man builders? Wayne Henderson, D.L. Wilson, Jackson Cunningham, Jimmy Edmonds are a few that come to mind. Just a thought for what it’s worth. Thanks for another great episode! Keep up the good work! JR, North Carolina

Great video with great content Tony! Boucher Guitars in Canada builds some really nice Bluegrass Guitars. You even reviewed the Bluegrass Goose BG-52-GM model a couple of years ago. You might have heard the story that Robin Boucher spent quite a lot of time examining multiple pre-war Martins before making major modifications to his own guitars in late 2013.

Love the show been a fan since you did acoustic letter 🤘🏼💪🏼

Props on the production!

I love Martin guitars and I mainly play on them but I have loved this episode! Always wanted it!

Tony - I enjoyed the show. Looking forward to next weeks show on using the metronome. I have been using one in my daily practice and find that it helps me push myself out of my comfort zone. It also helps me keep time better when practicing songs in general.

There are some very good Martins still being built today. The Custom Shop Sinker Mahogany ones from Gruhn’s (and other shops) come to mind. But another great builder is Chris Bozung out of Fairview, TN. I think he is currently taking orders for a limited run of 20 dreads based on 1936 D-18. They have Adirondack spruce top and 40 year old mahogany back and sides.

How wonderful that there is enough interest in the American made and built guitar to foster all of these small companies keeping this wonderful contribution to the world of music born and bread in the good ol USA alive.

I believe there are many brands making Martin better than Martin. However, Martin is essentially a mass produced product so maintaining the best quality just isn't possible at that scale, so we shouldn't be surprised or afraid to call it out. However, I play a D35 that I love despite there being better versions available but what Martin manages to achieve is wonderful instruments at a fair price so it's a balance between price and craftsmanship. I feel Martin is one of the brand's that gets this balance right and certainly compared to some other big names who trade expensive based on brand legacy.

Wayne Henderson in VA and Chris Bozung in TN make FANTASTIC dreadnoughts as well.

Tony, I am new to this channel and I am just started my guitar journey at 30....hopefully not to late in life. What a channel to fall into though. Lots of history and information on the channel by the looks of it. Also love that it is all about acoustic. If you have any tips or tricks or suggestions on where to start for guitar I am all ears. Same for anyone on this channel or reading this post. Can't wait to start from AT1!

Absolutely love my pair of Collings Dreads....D1 T SB with baked Sitka and the D2H T SB Satin.

I really enjoyed this video. It would be interesting if Tony did one for slope shoulders.

I am loving my new Furch Orange series D with walnut. Super cannon esque. Also of note after 20 dreads...I had a Goodall adi/cocobolo TRAD D that I ended up selling because it needed a huge right hand to get into gear. But oh what a gear. Now I love my adi J45 -TV and my 1999 J 45 rosewood which has huge tone. I am 65 and the short scale helps. I use the 25.6" scale Furch for a whole different ball game. Thank you, Tony!

Another great bluegrass dreadnought luthier is Gary Cotten from Cotten Guitars in Grayson, Kentucky! Lead guitar from the bluegrass group Hammertowne being a full time supporter...You should check him out...

Love the video Tony but I believe Boucher should be on your list some of the best in the world!

I had my hands on a Tony Rice model back in the 90's sure wish I scooped it up

I guess..I would have liked to have heard more than your great presentation. Thank you for sharing.

My 1993 Collings D2H (Sitka and Indian Rosewood) and my 2008 Bourgeois Country Boy (Adirondack and figured Mahogany). Those are my favorites. But close behind is my 2015 Rockbridge dreadnaught (Adirondack and Indian Rosewood). All are beautiful, articulate, and sweet. Each one has a slightly different and compelling sound and feel, but I love them all.

I'm midway through a second Martin OO kit with a student. The first one turned out great, and sounds better than his 2000's factory guitar. The kits are a crap shoot, though. It's wood that didn't make the grade, but that can be down to really superficial cosmetic stuff, like a tiny knothole in a neck, or inconsistent grain width. There are some great boutique builders out there doing one-offs, and smaller companies that are making dreadnoughts just as good as Martin. I believe that once you get above a certain level of quality, it starts getting really subjective. Not everyone wants the same sound and feel in an acoustic. Martin also went through some pretty dark years in the 70's though I think they've got their mojo back. As a side note, I had somebody bring me a cheap purple sunburst Fender from the 80s that had a bridge pulling up that I'd stack up against any D-18 in a blind test. You just never know. Also, I think the StewMac kits are Martin parts, but I could be wrong.

I like the Pre-war company herringbone Brazilian rosewood dreadnought and the Collings D1A VN varnish too

Jerry Rosa Guitar based on the D-28 Padauk back and sides Spruce top when I get my Furch guitar back from Furch I plan on sending you my Guitarsennel and joining TAC

Awesome Video!!

Love this site and all spoken about guitars are wonderful. I have a Martin D41 ambertone, and gibson J200 custom vine, a taylor PS 14ce, a Furch red LC, a Zager 900ce, a Blueberry dragon masterpiece, a 1976 Yairi 1000, and an Alvarez/Yairi 66 HD. They all sound beautiful. It has taken me over 45 years to find the certain sound I was always lookin for. I've finally achieved this. My favorite 2 guitars are the yairi 1000 and the alvarez/yairi 66hd. Unbelievably good sound and quality and ease of play. In my mind they are the best guitars I've ever played. They are up there or beyond the sound I get from all my other guitars. They are worth looking at. Thanks for your time.

Atkin D37. Played one recently and it was the biggest sounding guitar ever. Compared it to many different brands and this just sounded massive. Big and boomy but still clear and with a very nice tone. Definitely worth checking out.

All brands listed are amazing guitars. My buddy started to date a girl a while back and he kept bringing these amazing guitars around for me to play. Turns out his gf’s dad is a luthier. I was absolutely amazed with the quality of instrument that he puts out. I am currently having an HD style dread built by him and it should be a beautiful instrument when finished. His name is Doug Trivette out of Lenoir,NC

My Boucher Bluegrass Goose BG152GM - amazing sound and amazingly build quality!

Great episode!!

Tony I would put forth a Boucher model BG52 Bluegrass. Tonally it is balanced, even with a capo stays in tune up the neck. J P Cormier just did a review on it. Amazing in volume, projection, balance just the entire spectrum and should be on the list. #BeardedGuitar Bros

I have a brand (2019) D-28 Modern Deluxe Martin. What can I say. My go to guitar for years was my 1992 D-18GE which I still love, and then I walked into our local music store not even thinking of buying a new guitar. It's that good. It took less than an hour to make that decision. Of course I played it a lot longer after my mind was made up but so would you. I've only played a Collings, a couple of Bourgeois and just one SCGC dreadnoughts. The others I can't comment on but this Modern Deluxe is treat to play and I'll take it over those three I mentioned. Martin seems to have seen what was happening and responded beautifully. And yes I agree acoustic guitars are changing and only for the better. My 87 Guild GF-50 is a great guitar but the new one, well experience the new toys and enjoy.

A friend of mine has a very rare Daley dreadnaught. Incredible guitar!

I note two things. First, Tony's of list 10(?) guitars he bought after testing hundreds contained 6 or 7 Martins, and they aren't all prewar! Second, the majority of the competitors mentioned here are more expensive (in some cases, a LOT more expensive) than a D28. So what if you got a Martin custom shop dread and paid the same price as, say, a SCGC or a Thompson? What then?

My Custom Roberts from Daniel Roberts Stringworks, Belgrade, MT -- Adirondack Spruce top & braces, Highly Flamed Mahogany back & sides. When I got this, I sold my SCGC TR...

You nailed 5 of 6 of favorite manufacturers. I’d never heard of Bourgeois, so thank you for that. Gallagher guitars made famous by Doc Watson is probably my favorite.

I bought a Furch Vintage 2 D SR ( Dreadnought, Spruce, Rosewood) made in the Czech Republic. Awesome, crystalline sound and under 2 grand ( even comes with a Hiscox case, which blows my mind). Tremendous value!!

Like the sound of the Epiphone Frontier, but - can I have one without the pickguard?

Anyone know where to get the "Be Nice and Play Guitar" hat?

Man do i love my Boucher BG-42G.

sometime, I would like to hear you talk about owning and playing playing multiple instruments vs owning multiple guitars on acoustic Tuesday. I played acoustic and electric guitar for decades, playing mostly 3 or 4 country style flat picking and finger picking. I tried many times to wrap my head around theory but just could not get it done. Adding mandolin taught me relative minors, chord scales and drove home the fact that playing all the notes in a chord is not necessary. In less than 3 months of playing I learned what I failed to learn in the previous couple of decades. Playing resonator open tunings really hammered home the whole root, third, fifth thing in a way standard tuning could not and how to figure out minors, 7ths et al because no matter what major chord position the bar is in, the 1-3-5 are always the same. Dobro (i call it because I play lap style) also made it much easier to play pentatonic scales over a chord progression. Dobro also made much more clear the idea of major and minor scales because it is linear. So instead of many different acoustic guitars, I have one steel string acoustic, one classical, one electric, one mandolin, and two resonators (open D and open G) and one electric lap steel (in search of a second for same reason as my dobroes). When I get the T Shirt, I will post a pic and list the brands.

I didn't see Froggy Bottom mentioned, so I figure I'd throw that name out there. I have a custom depth Collings OM model that can easily outperform my Martin D41 in volume and tone. So I'm a Collings vote.

I have two martins the hd-28 and d-35. Love them both but can't afford the ones you mentioned here so I am limited to my budget. I wanted a mahogany body dreadnaught. I had my mind set on the d-18. I tried several d-18s then tried godson's j-45. I now have a j-45 and purchased the first one I played side by side with the martin. It's as loud and better action than the d-18. The shorter scale length is more comfortable for me since I'm a small person. I'm not a bluegrass player so the j-45 is a wonderful surprise to me. I still love my martins but the j-45 complements them very well.

Alvarez Yairi DY70ce Resonant AA Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides, Gotoh tuners, 1-piece mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard, rosewood direct coupled bridge, Bone nut and saddle. But is the Yairi better than a Martin D-28? Idk 🤷‍♂️ My favorite Martin is the D-18 I own the D15m and it’s really nice too.

Can I ask which Thompson Guitars are you referring to is it Bob Thompson Guitars or PK Thompson guitars? Sorry if it is a dumb question it is just that I would like to try and buy one. I have not seen any here in Australia. Thanks

My newly acquired Collings D2H A Traditional with a sunburst Torrefied top is quite impressive. The "straight out of the box" tone is somehow quite burnished and the treble is subdued in a way that you would only see on a well played broken in guitar. All the glassiness of a new instrument seems to have eliminated. A pleasure to play!

I love my Collings D1 and would rank it above my 2015 Martin D-28 or 1999 Bourgeois Ricky Skaggs Signature. Can't wait to try the other luthiers mentioned if the right deal comes along.

I have limited exposure to these down here in Australia. I like the sound Verlon Thompson had with his Collins behind Guy Clark. Martin D-45, Neil Young's Hank Williams D-28. But the one that blew my socks of was a Santa Cruz Tony Rice model. The player was not a hotshot flatpicker, just average, but the volume was astounding and the tone great. There was a PA SNAFU and the bloody thing still rang like a bell 15 rows back in a festival tent. All lovely stuff of course.

It's a wonderful thing that there are so many really great (!) guitar makers out there. My feeling is that the question of "better" or "best" is purely subjective, and that (to paraphrase an old saying) an hour spent playing a guitar you love ~ no matter what kind it may be ~ is an hour added to your life. For me, it's Santa Cruz. I got my first one, a rosewood D/PW, about twenty years ago, when I turned 50. Since them I've picked up three more (a 2010 mahogany D/PW, a 1995 mahogany 12 fret dreadnought and a 1997 rosewood OM). Over the years I've had chances to play vintage Martins from the '30s and and '40s, and Collings and Taylors and whatever else, but since I got these Santa Cruz guitars I'm off the hunt.

Recently bought a Martin HD Modern 28.. Holy grail guitar.. I can now die in peace.

I am done with Bluegrass I can never find anyone who can play, i am moving on to Delta Blues. What make and models do you suggest high end.

My favorite is a toss up between 2 guitars I have made by David Nichols at custom pearl inlay in malone new York. The 1st was made in 07 an adi/eir think D-28 marquis. The second is a 2018 adi/braz dreadnought.

I purchased a D-18 this year. I wanted a D-28 for 38 years (my teachers). Tried the D-18 and took it home. Well I swapped for 5 minutes my Rickenbacker 360 to Richard Thompson this past summer at "Frets and Refrains" for his Lowden 3/4 of the size of my D-18 twice the volume. Four times the price. If I was making my living from that guitar it would be a Lowden or Santa Cruz Tony Rice. If I were a professional mechanic you would find Cornwall or Snap on in my tool box. Not Craftsman.

Tony, great show and your guitarsenal has grown so impressively! Have you ever heard of 'Zager' guitars? If so can you share your thoughts?

The bourgeois D Large Soundhole. The Holy Grail Modeled After The Holy Grail.

How about the Martin 1939 Authentics? Do you think they compare to these six builders?

Great, now I want another guitar.

Don't forget Johnny Rushing...worked decades for Martin...I own one and it's absolutely awesome!..Builder from east Tennessee...I highly recommend Johnny Rushing guitars👍

Hey Tony, are you still involved in the Acoustic Letter?

What do you think of driftwood. He has many videos online making his guitars. I think they start at 8 K. His video are outstanding..

first i m a bourgeois guy but in these videos i would rank, Collings, Thompson, Huss dalton, Santa cruz,Bourgeois, pre wars

I played a Santa Cruz once that was maybe the best I've ever played, really great sounding and playing. I've played some Collings that were just so so. But my HD-28 sounds pretty fantastic and cost many thousands less than any of these guitars. I really don't need anything better than that. I will say the best mandolin I ever played was a Collings, would love one of their mandolins.

Just purchased the “King Of The Swamp” digital album by David And The Devil. Purchased from Bandcamp where you can specify how much you’d like to pay. If you love Justin Johnson, you’ll love David And The Devil. Thanks for the introduction, Tony! Resonators for life ...

I play a Collings D2ha Traditional Package with a satin finish. I do agree there are some great builders .

I own a Pre-War guitar company HD-28, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides Adirondack top torrefied and I own several other brands as well and I have owned a 1945 Herringbone that was a great one but the Pre-War co. HD is truly amazing they can capture that prewar Martin sound one of the best guitars I've ever heard.

The Yamaha FG5 Guitar roolz.

I have a Reimagined D41 and it is a FANTASTIC guitar!! I had a Short Scale Bourgeois Slope D Banjo Killer Adi-top custom that was an incredible guitar, but I never bonded with the Mahogany tone. I now have an Aged Tone Bourgeois Vintage D with torrefied Adi Banjo Killer bracing and it's unreal! The Slope D Banjo Killer was great, but it's not even comparable to the Vintage D Banjo Killer as far as volume, projection and tone goes. That is the Bourgeois model that really outMartins Martin guitars! My D41 can't hang with the Bourgeois.

How about Harmony guitar shop? Chicago, they have fine luthiers in their shop and have been there for many years....I love it.

I have a Collings D2H. For a Collings Dreadnaught it's low end but it sounds better than any Martin I've ever heard. I also have a Santa Cruz 1929 00. I know it's not a dreadnaught but it's easily the best 002H I've ever heard. Yeah, I changed the topic from exclusively Dreadnaughts but the story behind both acquisitions you may find interesting. I've lived in Bangkok for over five years now and I've been checking out a very reputable shop that only sells left handed guitars (Yep. I'm a leftie) around the Boston area and I saw these two and had to have them. And they're really snapped up quickly. Special Delivery for guitars this valuable is several hundred dollars. And they inspect the woods to make sure they're not endangered. And you have VAT. But I took both of them home on the same day. Worth every penny.

I'd agree with a comment further down in this thread about Wayne Henderson. I personally love my 2007 Martin HD28V. I looked and play at least 40 of these guitars until i found the one i took home. When I first hit a chord and felt the tone woods vibrate into my chest, I knew this was it. I had looked at many others, some on your list, but decided the HD met all the requirements I was looking for in what would be my workhorse. I've been beating this thing in public for almost 15 years, dropped it twice, broke the nut, hit it on the mic stand twice the first night out and it still gives me love every time I put it around my neck. Are there better guitars out there? Probably. Is there a better guitar for me? Probably not. Find what you like and play it, all the time.

I've just purchased a Boucher BG-52 with torrefied Adirondack top. I think it would absolutely fit in this list.

Last night Jimmy Fallon smashed a Martin HD 28. I could not believe he would do that. It was Friday May 28, he was playing and singing when he went on stage and looked at Quest Love and grabbed the guitar by the neck and smashed it on the corner of the stage. Then the camera showed a close up of the guitar laying on the floor smashed to pieces. It was hard to watch and I love Jimmy Fallon but that sucked and was not funny at all

I bought a Ferangeli Dreadnought Sika in Cebu Philippines. It sounds great, has a spruce top and sides and back are Philippine ebony. It was around $1,200 and well worth the price.

Great video! To be fair here, however, you've got to consider the price point when you are comparing these guitars. How much more are they then a standard Martin Dread? And, while we're at it, perhaps we can compare them to Martin's high end offerings. :) BTW, I like your list!

Blueridge BR180A sounds darn good it’s my only dread out of my small herd of acoustics . 😊

Bob Altman. I have an Altman OM, Coco/Adi and one of the top luthiers in Chicago told me it is one of the best guitars he’s ever heard. Additionally, there’s a local guy with a bunch of high end guitars (Pre War, Collings T, Blazer & Henkes) and he’s told me the same thing. Altman also makes an outstanding dreadnought. That said, if I were buying one to add to the flock, I’d be all in on a Pre War, with the exception of the 2 year waiting list.

Agree with much of what you say, although Martin with their recent reimagined series is now making guitar as good as any they've made in decades. I have four Martins, including vintage, but the 2018 D-41 I have is a killer, as good as any boutique guitar. I've tried most of these guitars but there are a couple you mentioned that I have not really found that have come close to the D-41. My sample is small on all of these, but I have tried a couple of Huss and Dalton TDRs that I didn't find were that great, and same with Santa Cruz. I will say though that some of the best guitars I've played were Collings and Bourgeois. I have not tried a Thompson or Prewar yet, but sure would like to. Prioux guitars also fit in this category and are very good.

Great Video. 👍👍👍👍🙂

I played a Tony Rice model Santa Cruz but I was pretty young and I don't think I appreciated it as much as I should have. But I know I didn't have any complaints. But the best guitar I know I've ever played is my late uncle Mike's 1969 Martin D-28. I wish I could show you guys pictures of this thing it's pretty warn down and has his DNA all over that guitar I bet you there is blood sweat and tears of that thing. The MOJO it has is simply unreal and it playes itself too.

Are we comparing these to mass-produced Martins or the custom shop?

A Martin D28 from start to finish is about 9 1/2 hours. A Collings D2H clocks in at around 53/54 hours. What does that say to you? The thing about Collings players? They LOVE their Martin guitars too. Martin players? They mostly do NOT want to talk about it. Something also that makes some Martin players upset, is that Collings do NOT sound like their Martin counterparts. Bill did not want that. Thanks for everything you did Bill.