The Guild D-120 is $700, the Martin D-15m is $1700, and the Taylor $1800. It's not an even comparison. The American Guild D-20 is about $1600. Comparing that one would have made way more sense.
I miss that guitar not only for the wonderful sound but for all of the compliments I got on the sound when I was out performing. They do have a wonderfully noticable sound even when you're out playing at a bar camp on the beach.
Awesome Chris🎸《☆》Nice playing👍🏾🍺🤳The Guild seemed to sound a bit richer in tone on my Cellphone. It would be interesting to sand some Poly off the top & have another go✌😎☯️
The Martin is a fantastic instrument. Picked out mine in Salt Lake 15 years ago, choosing the best sounding between two in stock. You can strum it as hard as you want, it just keeps answering back. Played it so much it’s now on its 2nd set of frets!
I like the Guild for looks, but the Martin for tone. It has a dark, warm, rich, bass sound, which is what I would expect and want from a mahogany guitar.
I own the Martin and absolutely love it. It has a heavy low-end, which is why I ultimately chose it over my Taylor. It can do folk, singer/songwriter, country, blues, you name it. The only way I wouldn’t recommend it is if you tend to make more brighter sounding music/sing in a higher vocal range.
What I'm doing right now, on a classic guitar I bought for just 15 euro, is adjusting the bridge for extra light gauge electrical strings. The idea is, these strings bend very very easily, and they have a sound of their own, I get a guitar that is pretty unique. Who does this? On an accoustic, maybe. But a classic? However, doing so, I couldn't get the intonation okay. The bridge must move a quarter of an inch, maybe. That's great, I don't want a PLASTIC bridge, anyway. Nut and saddle are homebrew nickel and copper, now. Will you believe what that does to sustain and probably even volume? Ah, and the bronze frets are polished by the steel strings, so it will need steel frets, or it gets fretless all by itself. Oops. Fret job on a 15 euro guitar. This small project won't be ready, soon. Of course you will never do such things to your Martin. When you wrote, your Martin can play a lot of music styles, well, when I've finished this funny 15 euro classic conversion, it can do things your Martin can't. Just kidding, you can play, and I just noodle some.
Great review but, as you mentioned, comparing the Martin D-15M ($1,350), Taylor AD27 ($1,500) and Guild M-20 ($1,600) would have been a more fair comparison. I'd love to see it. I think the Guild might win.
The Guild M-20 was the only fair comparison to be made. For me, I’m a never MIC guy. I’ve never played an instrument that came from China that sounded worthwhile. Mostly cheap crap/firewood. I’m sorry to hear that the venerable Guild is off shoring their builds in China.
I own an m20 it's a wonderful guitar made in California and it's certainly not a dreadnought I think you meant the d20 made in California would have been a fairer comparison.
@@charlie2265 no worries I actually did play a guild d20 fresh from the factory. It sounded really nice. And true story I don't know if the Martin I played had dead strings but I played a d18 one day, which on paper is every bit better than the d40 with the satin finish, because of the handfit dovetail neck joint nitro etc. D18 sounded good until I picked up the d40 satin and it just felt so much more alive. I mouth the words holy crap and look over at the d18 and scratch my head with a stunned look on my face like that can't be right 😂 makes me wonder if the lack of finish made it all the more resonant and louder. Very tempted to save up for the d40 despite price inflation. Did I find a particularly good one or have others experienced this phenomenon too lol the on paper vs reality paradox
Cooper and Chris, you really teach us a lot about how to evaluate guitars with these videos. In the Taylor vs Martin head-to-head, it’s a dead heat for me. I’m a Taylor owner, and gosh this mahogany model sounds great. The Martin is a different flavor, more blended and rich, while perhaps not as defined in the mid to treble range. Either one seems a winner and, as always, string changes, both type and gauge, could bring these guitars much closer together. As for Guild, I just like their product line and this import is no exception. An amazing value.
I've bought new D-15 in 2002. I bought it over the 000-15. At the time it was @ $800. An all-wood Martin for that amount of $$$ swayed me. Awesome sound. Built like a tank IMO.
Great to hear Chris playing again. I add,the Martin 000 15sm does have a 13/4 nut and I want one. I was actually impressed with the Taylor on some of the styles of playing.
Thanks for the video guys I just bought the Taylor AD27e, saw this title and though “O crap I just paid double what I could have!” But hearing the three I liked the sound of the Taylor and feel even better about the purchase. And the made in the USA is a definite plus.
All good but I own a Martin DM and would choose the Taylor here. That model of Martin had too much midrange for me. Would have to hear it against a DM. That Taylor just has it all. Thank you for the video! 🤘🎸
I have the Guild d-120....glad I found this review..I was thinking of selling it for a "better" guitar..but I don't hear much difference especially since we are not comparing apples to apples...I am happy with the orange in this case which was my choice back then...as i recall...it was my first "all wood" guitar"...that was my reasoning.
They all sound great. I pick the Taylor with it’s nice balance of low end Mahogany and it’s touch of Taylor’s brightness. I own a discontinued 2015 Taylor 320E dreadnought with sapele b+s Hog top. High quality guitars.
The Martin, in my headphones, was as if the EQ was suddenly corrected. It’s just so present and crystal clear. All great guitars, but very impressive for the Martin. Makes sense they’re the standard setters.
Excellent video. I love the sound of the Martin 15 series but I don't buy any guitars with 1 11/16 nut. I have a Seagull SWS Maritime Mahogany dreadnaught that plays and sounds terrific. But I am saving for a 000-15SM, the very best mahogany guitar of all.
Im a martin guy cause im about thst bass. But the taylor wins here. The martin had more base bit was very muffled and not that clear especially in the high-end. And the guild felt metallic and twangy sounding for me. The Taylor had the best all-around sound here. Im very surprised.
Awesome comparison for those of us in the lower economic level. Since I want best for my money, I also don’t want to think about replacing in 3 years. Sticking with first impressions and going with Taylor. Just need to save up a bit. Thx
I played a Martin 000-15m and Taylor AD22E (mahogany- shapeless back) and found found I could sing and sound better with the Taylor. As for Guild, I got a DS memoir 240 Vintage Sunburst slope shoulder dreadnought for my 12 yr old Grandson that sounds great for what he does. So I don't count the Guild out. I just liked the Taylor because I could easily sing with it. I'd need to sing with that Guild before I bought.
Live on a small budget, but I found a secondhand Höfner 12-string from the seventies. It is going somewhere. Now learning to play better. And the real hobby is doing the repairs myself. Glueing a bridge. Breaking a scary crack in a headstock, and glueing it. And removing the finish of cheap guitars, looking for the wood. Bit of linseed oil often is enough finish. And you hear it resonating different, such nitro lacquers sound bright, when you sand it away, you get another sound. That sort of things is what I like. Then it is great, seeing what choices the best manufacturers make. Thanks!
I liked the Martin tone better. You did a mahogany guild video not long back between an all mahogany guild dreadnought and a guild om. The om sounded better. Love these videos. Just bought a ps14 ce sinker red wood and macassar ebony. Yum yum. 😍🎸😍Dean 🇬🇧
Seems like the Martin is the best "strummer" sound, although the Guild is also a great strummer with a different quality that I don't like as much for strumming. Maybe the Guild is a middle ground there. The Taylor strikes me as a better fingerstyle sound (clearer individual notes).
The Taylor was by far the best balanced, great definition across the board.. it would be my choice, the Martin got a bit muddy and doesn't seem to like being picked hard.. the Guild? I would pass..nice guitar but not in it's league here.. l see Fender on your shirt but not one in your hand here. I would have liked to seen the Fender Newporter ($799) Classic solid mahogany guitar, it's a beauty. Just yesterday l bought a Martin D16e ovangkol.. it's an amazing finger picker but not enough bass to be a great Strummer.. but what a gorgeous tone being picked!
The Martin really shined in the Finger Picking Section. So warm. It made me feel something when I listened to it. Neither Taylor nor the Guild did that for me.
His smirk after playing the Martin for the first time should tell you everything you need to know. I own the Martin and am currently getting into writing and recording and I absolutely love that guitar. My brother bought a Yamaha mahogany guitar and thought it sounded better than mine until I brought mine back home and he could play them both back to back. He immediately took back his comment. LOL
I would have thought the Martin as I have played that model. But in this video I preferred the Taylor. Guild good for money but sounds cheap to me compared.
The Guild seemed to combine the piercing high end of the Taylor with the gooey warmth of the Martin. Great guitar. I still do prefer that Martin sound though. Taylor's are just not my preference.
@@cooloutacuntil you show me a waveform confirming what you’re trying to say, it’s what you hear vs what I hear. Don’t come in here proclaiming the right answer as if you’re on some higher plain of existence. Idiot.
I think the Guild is a nice guitar for the money but… I own a M120. It’s well made, and is more of a parlor guitar. Nice feel and looks but my 0015 blows it away in so many ways. Of course it’s a little bigger. I love the sound and feel of the D15. I had one for a long time but sold it when my shoulder went bad. Definitely my preference, but I haven’t played the Taylor AD, which looks a little smaller, and something I need to try. I agree with Chris that Sapele sounds different. I don’t like Martin’s 000 road series with Sapele compared to their 00015. Thank you for another great video
I’m with Cooper about the heavy poly finish on the Guild. It sounds good, but has a “tighter”, more restrained sound. If I simply wanted a beautiful guitar to hang on my wall, it would be the Guild. However, that’s never the priority for a musical instrument. That being said, I really like the appearance of the Taylor as compared to the very plain Martin. It has a more finished look and sounds great. I agree with the comment about the Martin having a muddier sound, but I still liked it best - probably affected but my pro-Martin bias.
Man! I really wanted to love the Guild, but it seems to lack that warmness that i was hoping for. Definitely would go with the Martin. Taylors are always too bright for my liking, but maybe it’s because they come with elixirs
What mic is it you're using to capture these so well? Lovely Irish-sounding wistful melody at mid video, and played with feeling. There's never enough of that. Sends me back to finish my recording this morning.
I had a Martin D15M and never really liked it. I think it was a lemon as far as it's tone. I tried alot of different strings and nothing seemed to work out for me. I ended up selling it and got a Yamaha FG3. I've since played about 4 different D15M guitars at a few different guitar stores and every one of them are way better than the one I owned. Kind of bummed about that. But my Yamaha is a phenomenal guitar. 😎
Really, I thought the Guild compared pretty well, but you guys are right there and I'm listening to some cheap computer speakers. The understated look of the Martin makes it more attractive to me. I've read other reviews that dinged the nut width, though. I wonder if I could get used to it. I have big hands.
Nice discussion guys...here's the thing...African Mahogany, all classified as or can be Sapele, Utile or Sipo and are not true mahogany's and are promoted as mahogany by Guild and other Chinese and Asian builders. They are all sourced from there and much cheaper. The woods come from Cameroon, Ghana, The Ivory Coast, and the Congo primarily. They are actually a class of redwoods, much denser than true South/ Central American Mahogany used on the Martins. These woods will also not age the same as the Martin due to their denseness. While I agree the Guild is a great guitar for the money, I would suggest saving up for the Martin which will hold or appreciate in value. The Guild will be worth about $350.00 or less in the end, if you care to upgrade in the future. Frills are for showboating. As others have said here the Taylor is unthinkable and unworthy for me to even comment on, since I have played several, they are just wanting a slice of the pie. My friend has a D-120 about 8 years old, just not much there and sounds the same as always. It's really heavy too, but tough! BTW, I can only feel at home on a 1 11/16" nut width, since it has been the standard for many, many years.
I am a single, retired, disabled old guy with a single income. I'm just getting back into playing after over around 50 years. So I'm starting from scratch, and finding I'm in love with the sound of mahogany. So I find myself looking into Orangewood, and the Yamaha FG 850. I'm torn between all the options.
I would really like to see the artists play the guitars behind a sheet where no one knew which guitar they were playing by site but only sound mix it up and see what happens and we'll see about you experts what you really think see if you could even guess the guitar they were playing:-) now that would be fun and precisely interesting do it let's rock on
I liked both the Taylor and the Martin for different reasons. The Taylor had great clarity, but the Martin had a really nice tone. It could just be that particular guitar, but I really like the look of the Taylor too. The Guild sounded dull. It reminded me of my carbon fiber guitar.
I'm a Guild fan but I'd have to rate VERY close between the Taylor and Martin as #1...but Martin first if cornered. The Guild is definitely a bang for the -yuan- dollar though.
Forget the trim stuff. The Martin wins on tone. In the mid and low tones it has far more clarity and subtlety overall and crisp highs. The Taylor a close second. The Guild is flat and dull in the mid and low frequencies to my ear but it is definitely not a cigar box either and is clearly usable as intended. Get the best you can to meet your needs as long as you don't starve your dog to do it. I have a 1963 Epiphone (Kalamazoo made) Cabellero, all mahogany. Their copy of the Gibson LGO. Got it as a basket case from a neighbor who found it in a trash can and rebuilt it with a new bridge, tuners and other repairs. I play it more than my other 5 American made acoustics combined. Added a Fishman single coil sound hole PUP and play out with it at local open mics. She is the only guitar I have named, I call her Angel as her voice motivated me to learn Willies "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground". She is very light and resonant and projects a clean bright tone. Great behind a deeper voice range.
I really dislike the Martin, just like I did when I bought my first Guild. The Taylor sounded closer to the Guild to my ears. The Guild still wins for me. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to get the money for another Guild.
From your assessment:1. Poly-gloss diminishes the sound compared to nitro/satin gloss. 2. Built in the USA makes everything better. My thoughts: If the Guild has high quality woods on top, back and sides, and you thereafter sand it so that the wood can vibrate more freely - does it have to be built in the USA to be good? After all, you guys said it was a guitar built out of premium woods... Next: Why would Guild make a guitar with poly-gloss when they could get by it about a fraction of the price using less, and by that have a guitar that sounds and feels as good as the Martin or Taylor? Guess it has something to do with the inner works but Guild is not a 'whoever' in the business and shoudl know what they are doing. What's all this about. Appreciate any thoughts...
Would you be able to review the all mahogany Guild D-1212 12-String? All mahogany 12 strings are rare and I have my eye on this model. Love your channel!
I much prefer the understated look of the Martin to the high gloss of the Guild. The aesthetics of the Martin pull me in. I do not need flash. The so called plainness is a kind of pure aesthetic of its own. The Martin is like an old mountain grove church and the Taylor is a start-up mega church. The Guild a storefront, come-to-Jesus, church with eleven people in the congregation. Martin runs away with it again. It does not have to try hard to be on top. It just has to start singing and everybody present shuts up and listens. All that said, they are each one, Really beautiful sounding guitars. 3 beauties in their own right. I own expensive and inexpensive guitars and I go to each fr different things. One-off my favorites is my 20 + year old all mahogany all solid wood Tacoma Chief C1C guitar it has aged so well. When I play it it makes me think of a beautiful woman with a stunning voice singing longingly about the days her innocence when she was a virgin girl. Weird right but that’s what I feel.
I actually weirdly prefer satin finish over gloss finish. That matte look gives the guitar a crafty, handmade appearance whereas the gloss looks plasticky.
For the money I would go for the guild and remove the poly in favor of a thin satin. They all sound good though. The Martin was my favorite but I too do not want the narrower nut. I had the Martin triple-o 15 but it had to go back twice for defects and after I got it sorted out I sold it. I bought an inexpensive PRS mahogany (poly) and stripped it and I really love to play it. I wiped it down with a very thin satin Poly finish. It's so thin it's like open pore. I will say the dreadnoughts do sound better and now I want one of those. Thanks!👍
I thought the Martin sounded crisper with more volume; the Guild sounded muted, less volume; and the Taylor was in between the two.(As a side note, one of my guitars is a 2015 Martin D15M and it is my main gig guitar for my folk and Americana. I also only play 1 & 11/16 - LOL - no wrong answers, just each to their own.) Nice comparison.
A $60 guitar on Amazon? Wow, that's 50% inflation since the review! I agree with Chris on nut width, that 44mm is a big difference from 1-11/16" in feel (1.73" v. 1.69"). I like the sound of an open pore finish, yet the D-120 tones sound more blended as recorded with the mic, due to the gloss finish.
Taylor in my opinion is out of the running from the first note . It just sounded tinny to my ear. The comparison then comes down to the sound you prefer between the Guild and the Martin. I prefer the more mellow full sound of the Martin but that Guild definitely is a contender and at a lower price point is worth looking at if you are in the market for a Mahogany guitar but don’t have funds to buy a Martin
Should have used the Guild D20 for a better comparison. I tried both the Martin and the Guild in a side by side comparison, and the Martin didn’t come close in my opinion, and I bought the Guild. I own a Martin and LOVE IT, but as far as an all mahogany ax, Guild D20 is the one.
The Taylor definitely has a wider sonic palette. The Martin has a very cohesive sound. The Guild is overmatched because of it being the laminate cheaper one. That's a tough one. Fingerstyle or solo the Taylor. The Martin if I was in a band and wanted it to hit a pocket.
I think the Martin definitely wins out here, but I think that’s because martin’s characteristic airy tone compliments solid mahogany so we’ll. I don’t like a shimmery sound out of solid mahogany because it sounds thin. I played the d 120 yesterday and it sounds good but just like something is lacking. It just sounds like the strings. The Taylor sounded better than the guild but I think the Martin sounded best.
Why doesn't Martin offer their standard nut width (1.68") AND offer a slightly wider nut width (1.75")?? That way customers can pick exactly their preference.. Not too much to ask for when your paying over $1600 for a guitar. And Martin would probably sell more guitars too..
The Guild and Taylor sound REALLY similar (at least in this video). The martin is a bit different. Seems like a fatter mid-range on the Martin than the other two. I Love mahogany guitars though so I would take all 3 ...LOL
They sound different to me in the video, the Guild was the more articifial sounding. No hate on Guild, I used to have a OM140ce, it was a very nice guitar for the price. Sold it because I needed the money at the time, now I've recently bought a Taylor GS mini Mahogany. Something I've noticed with the Taylor, that none of my previous guitars had, is how the body resonates, you can definitely feel it, so unlike what some people say, I think this big brand is worth it, even in its entry level guitars.
The Martin kills it The Guild is ok but take the "appointments" off and sell it for tree fiddy and its a deal I dont look at guitars - I play them ( I have had 3 15 series guitars over the years and they are awesome) And - I prefer a Martin without binding , as much as I love Martin guitars, their binding glue sucks!!!
@@markeverson5849really? because to me it sound like a metallic tinny twangy carbon fiber guitar. Im a bass head and usually love martin. But the Taylor Made the Martin sound muffled in this comparison.
