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.
The only thing I ever played that I liked more than a Martin HD28 is a Gibson Advanced Jumbo. They are like a D28 on steroids. Total different animal than the other Gibsons. Long scale, rosewood, light bracing. Loudest guitar I ever played. I had a AJ and a HD28V I lost in a house fire 3 years ago and I just replaced the Martin a few days ago finally. Good to have another Martin hd28 again 😎👍🏻. But I still miss that Gibson AJ
Dude. A real 1937 D-18 in unplayable condition would be worth $50k. If the one you played sounded that good, it would be worth $100k easy. Why on earth were they selling it for $7500??
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.
I love all these boutique brands, and I would certainly have a few of them if I had more money and more space, but two years ago I bought a used 2012 D-18GE, and...I'm satisfied. I've got some other nice acoustics, including a Custom Shop D-28 that I love, but the D-18GE has something the rest of them don't. I knew it the second I picked it up. (Incidentally, the guy at the store told me that the previous owner sold it because he bought a Pre-War, so...there you go.)
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.
He was only reviewing guitars in the $5k to $15k range. Not the $10005433677880766.0005 range like Henderson guitars😅 Nah but seriously, I was fortunate enough to try three Henderson guitars at dream guitars in Asheville and they are mind blowing! All the tone aside, by just the way those guitars feel in your hands you can tell how incredibly built they are. Wayne is a master. If only I could fork out $25k to get 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 . 🤟👨👽👽😳
Agree. I just bought my first Martin a couple of days ago but it’s only because their X Series is $599. The sound and playability won me over but I’d have left it at the store if the price tag had been much more than that. My financial situation was the deciding factor.
Larrivee isn’t really trying to build a Martin though. They’re really their own thing regarding how they build their guitars. I’ve owned two and liked their tone but found them to be stiff when it comes to sustain. I agree though - their craftsmanship is impeccable.
Use bought a Larrivee LJ09 ARTIST from 1997…..fabulous guitar with Indian Rosewood,Canadian spruce,ebony and abalone rosette. All for 1800 pounds UK. YOU CAN STICK ON ANOTHER GRAND FOR A SAME SPEC. MARTIN.
*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.
@@stevenwilliams9758 Not for me. Bourgeois, Collings, Huss and Dalton, Boucher, all use bolt on necks and their guitars are great. There are many other factors that effect tone other than a neck joint. I've played many Martins that were duds with dovetail neck joints. I currently own 3 Martins so trying to explain my opinion from a neutral standpoint.
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.
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.
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.
Gallagher Guitars is another great brand built here in Tennessee. They ended production production in Wartrace, TN a few years ago. However, new owners bought the company, rehired some of the former employees, and are building guitars again in downtown Murfreesboro. I haven’t played one yet, but everyone I’ve talked to who has played both the originals and the new ones say that they are really great.
You're right about Gruhn's Custom Shop Sinker Mahogany Martin's that he has built to his specifications. They are fantastic! I have the OM-18 and the sound is close to a pre- war. Don't believe me, play one or listen to the videos of Gruhe's sinker guitars, or call him . He actually answers, or at least they will put you through to him and Gruhen is one of the most knowledgeable Martin guys there is.
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.
Only one I've heard better than a Martin that also sounded like a Martin, was a Merrill c18. And I've heard every brand amd know exactly what you're talking about
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
@@sc12100 same here quit watching him period i play a hd-28 and no yamaha ive heard competed its a 2018 model with forward shifted x bracing and scalloped just beautiful soond
@@sc12100 JP never said that a HD28 is a shit guitar, he actually said thats its one Martin he would love to have but that its to expensive..He also never said that Martins are shit guitars. His whole point is that you dont have to pay a fortune to get a guitar as good as a Martin and if you are going to pay the big bucks, maby you should buy a guitar from smaller builders like shown in this video.. A 4000$ guitar from one of these smaller luthiers will give you more guitar for the price than a 4000$ Martin. Martins are factory made unlike the guitars seen here and Boucher for example..So they are bound to have problems..You pay for the name and the fact that they are made in the usa..THATS HIS POINT ON MARTINS and he actually loves Martins.
@@sc12100 You can buy many guitars around 4000$ from Boutique builders.. Martins are overprice, that the point hes making. Its not the same quality and attention to details.. But hey man, i dont blame you, when you payed that much for your hd28, you better believe its the best guitar in the world! Lol
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.
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.
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.
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?
In the past 3 years I’ve been all over the east coast in search of the perfect dread and have played all of the brands listed except a prewar guitar co… But I tested a custom shop $13,000 Martin with Brazilian/Adirondack and the martin was by FAR the worst sounding off all brands listed. In my opinion it wasn’t worth 3,000. Martin, even their custom shop is still a manufacturer/factory where as the rest are high quality accomplished luthiers. In all my travels from worst to best (specifically speaking of high end guitars) Santa Cruz Bourgeois Collings Huss and Dalton Thompson Thompson guitars are absolutely incredible! And Huss and Dalton are the closest rivals I’ve seen in terms of tone. I have owned a Bourgeois, Thompson, Huss and Dalton, and 50s model Martin d-28 and the Thompson’s are by far the best sounding with Huss and Dalton coming in second. Unless it’s some kind of vintage Martin I would never waste money on a Martin unless I was just tight on cash and it was all I can afford. Hope this review helps!
He is just a martin hater i have a hd-28 sounds as good as most ive heard big time bluegrass players play martin billy strings goes back and forth between thompson and martin
@@bjornegan6421 i question your ear if u think martins dont sound as good as everything that mimics them, i mean they are all trying to make their own Martin people on the internet will say it’s better cause they are paid to promote so u can say all u woant I really dont care
@@KillerBudda1418 well, you confirmed my guess. to objectively prove your statement wrong, i'll just bring up voicing. these other builders do it, martin doesn't. that's why one martin may sound excellent and others don't. 100 martins of the same model compared to each other and some might sound good, most will not. a statement such as 'if u think martins dont sound as good as everything that mimics them' not only tells me you don't have an ear, but don't know how guitars are built or why anyone 'mimics' 'martins'.
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!
The six guitar makers that you featured undoubtedly make wonderful guitars, beyond most players needs and dreams. We are in a golden age of super fine guitars being made by master builders at the highest levels. We are spoiled for choice. I recently purchased 2 Collings Traditional dreadnoughts with Adirondack tops and both are amazing instruments by any measure.
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...
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'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.
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 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.
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
??? 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.
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.
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!
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
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!!
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
Hi Tony, after watching today's episode I have a serious issue I'd like to raise. I need to apply for compensation from Acoustic Tuesday for my lost socks. After listening to some phenomenal bluegrass dreadnoughts they were blown off and flew out the window. I look forward to your response. :)
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.
Me too, I tested a Santa Cruz Vintage Artist and in my opinion is the best acoustic guitar I’ve ever played. I played two Collings but they didn’t impress me. Anyway I’m very happy with my Martin HD35. Martin forever
I've tried them all and nobody makes a guitar that sounds like a Martin. Take that for what you will but it's all a matter of personal taste and personally I generally prefer Martins.
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.
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 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.
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.
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...
Just for a point of reference let me say that I own a 1966 Martin D28. Sure it’s not 34-41 but it’s great. However I played a Collings D1A once that blew my mind. I used to believe that only rosewood dreads had real power...boy was I wrong.
@@jbilly24 The truth is you can get a good guitar from either tonewood. One need not look any further than Clarence White. He had a D28 and a D18. He sounded great on both.
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👍
All of the instruments you talked about and demonstrated sounded awsome. Unfortunatley the price of admission is far too steep for most guitar players. I'm not saying they aren't worth it they are just too expensive for a lot of players myself included. I stumbled across the Blueridge brand by Saga instruments. A couple of years ago while spending quality time on Reverb I came across a Blueridge BR160A. It has Indian Rosewood back and sides with a sitka spruce top. I scored this jewel used with a hard case for $500 and have to say it will hold it's own with with any of the Martin's my friends have especially considering the price difference. Please don't get me wrong I lust after so many guitars and shold I ever hit the lottery I'm doing some serious shopping.
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.
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.
I have a Collings D2H, and I like it better than my friend's Martin D-18, which itself is a phenomenal guitar. At this level, there really are no losers.
@@sc12100 Dude - total brain fart on my part. My friend has a D28 - I fat-fingered it and then didn't even pay attention or think when I replied. You are right, what I said in my original post was incorrect as to what my friend has. File under duh for me.
@@mvp019 Ah I see....... I would compare the D2H more with a newer HD28. Both have forward shifted scalloped bracing (unlike the D28). I actually own an HD28 and while I love the tone, I'd rather have a D2H. The D2H has a better neck also imo.
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.
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 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.
Another great episode Tony. Although I was surprised you didnt call out the Molly Tuttle signature Preston Thomas model. LOL. This was an exceptional episode!
Billy Strings can out play all those guys and he looks happy doing it. His tribute concert to Doc Watson blew my mind. I like him more than Clarence White. He is the real deal.
Amen. As soon as you mentioned Thompson, I knew Billy'd be your picker in the demo video. Billy brings those Thompsons to life better than anyone alive. Thanks again, Tony.
Molly Tuttle can out play Billy Strings. Cleaner and more innovative. If she was a guy more people would probably be talking a lot more about her than Billy Strings. I've seen them both live multiple times.
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.
Great show, Tony. I didn't realize how many real competitors to Martin have emerged. That said, my '83 HD-28 continues to warm my heart every time I pick it up. But I have to admit, the Collings and Thompsons I've demo'd are very impressive...
I am fortunate to own a Gibson Hummingbird Custom Shop from 2001 and a Hand built Paul McCartney 1964 Epiphone Texan actually signed by the man himself! Both amazing guitars…..by the way I was lucky enough to recently buy a Martin HD28 SV…12 fret from 1993…huge vintage sound….but my absolute favs are my 2 SJ200s.
Guild D55. It is not trying to sound like a Martin. It is the sound I prefer and many Martin players that I know are very surprised by the tone and playability of the D55. I think the huge headstock influences the tone. That being said, they are a very heavy build compared to a Martin D.
Bourgeois consistently sound amazing across the board and to my ear sound better than anything else out there. I firmly believe Dana is making the best guitars today. Bonus - his guitars are built to last! You can't go wrong with a Bourgeois. That 6th G will ring out all day.
Bourgeois are great... but they sound like something other than a Martin to me - closer than say a Collings, but still modern in a way. In particular they have a more even tonal response w/ a fair bit less bass on the handful I've tried compared to a 30s Martin. As an owner of a braz PreWar 000-28, it gets dang close to the actual prewar martins I've played.
@@carmonaville My HD28 has great bass, pretty good trebles, but terrible mids. Really looking at getting a Bourgeois D Vintage to see how it competes with the HD28.
Be sure to look at Gallagher guitars. The new owner Dave Mathis is increasing production of their "signature" models (G-50, G-70 and Doc Watson) but also has a new model called the Bluegrass Bell, based off of a 1937 D-18. I won two-a Doc Watson I bought in 2014 and a new G-70 with a yellow cedar top. You will be able to find these more readily than was the case before the new ownership. Otherwise, I agree with your other top guitars.
imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... so, as others have pointed out, Martin cornered the market in design way back in the '30s... if someone spends a lot of time and effort to make the best iteration of a design it will probably be better than the original mass produced item.. some very beautiful guitars on ur list.. shame u couldn't get Billy to play all of them for a true test !! ps slightly startled to NOT find some kind of Bob Dylan mention this week? apart from being his birthday, he has inspired me and countless others to play guitar ... generation after generation he continues to inspire.. and I've never bought into his "poor" guitar technique.. it suits his voice and he has skills - back to the imitation thing - how many people have a Bob Dylan song or 10 in their repertoire?? Give him him a shout-out Tony!!
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!
Sound comes from touch and it’s also objective. My two favorite guitars are my 1993 HD28 and my 2 year old Yamaha FG830. I’m not pretentious and my needs are basic.
Great guitars. Nice vid. But let’s see them build a great guitar for the price of a D18 or even a 28. The guitars in the vid are all at least twice the price. None will likely ever be as iconic because they are well out of the price range of the average person. That’s not a knock on them though, as they are fine instruments and represent grail purchases for many of us. That said, on the other side of the coin and as you have done vids on in the past, are guitars that give you Martin sound and even some of the quality, for a lower price. That’s even more likely interesting to me,. BTW I like Matins and love my 00028. Keep up the good work.
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.
Obviously, everyone has a favorite and for different reasons. The guitar/luthiery world is big and diverse. Searching for the "best" guitar is an endless journey. One thing to remember is that guitars sound more like the player than the luthier and that differences in wood are also minimized by how the player plays. Don't search for the perfect guitar, search for guitars that add something different to your song choices, playing style, and overall satisfaction. Bottom line is that everyone should keep buying guitars!
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.
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.
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.
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.
I own 2 “boutique” dread guitars as well as 2 Martins. 2020 Pre War Model D 2021 Collings D1AT 2021 HD-28 2015 D-18 Everyday there is a new favorite. Each has their own strengths. Right now I’m really into the dry/woodiness of the Pre War. Collings fit and finish is top notch, just a total different sound than the others I own.
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.
