The Dark Side of Brand Loyalty | Should You Remain Loyal to One Brand? 

Up next: Talkin' Trucks with Cooper and Chris

I play a Korean made Carvin Jumbo Acoustic. I bought it because I loved the tone and playability. No one knows what it is. I am not a good player but getting better. I love this guitar but I am now beginning to shop for an additional acoustic. Many brands to research.

Thanks for this discussion. On the rapid-fire "Ask Bob" episode of Taylor Guitars Primetime, we learn that Bob Taylor and Larry Breedlove worked together designing guitars, and Terry Myers of Special Projects took three years off to help Larry Breedlove set up the Breedlove Guitars operation. It's a small world, working cooperatively. That's my world!

Well, I have a Taylor GS Mini, Little Martin, and a PRS Parlor guitar. Like em all.

guitar stores hate me for this cause i have zero brand loyalty, basically when I want to buy a guitar I go alright everything under x amount of dollar I'm gonna try that so I spent like 4 hours in the shop sometimes just playing all sorts of guitar.

I'm a fan of and feel a certain emotional loyalty with certain brands because I like their fundamental sound (and general quality) characteristics, e.g. Martin and Santa Cruz. That's the reason why I would not claim to have a strong loyalty e.g. with Taylor and its different direction regarding sound. But I still own great Taylors, mainly Koa guitars which I love and appreciate both in terms of sound and handling. In short: I totally agree with what you are saying in the video.

I’m vert impressed with Blueridge guitars, I don’t hear many people talking about them. I play a Taylor.

Very insightful. I am a new subscriber and have been learning so much from you both . Appreciate these videos

This is a Great Video. If you go around Guitar stores you can find sellers trying to sell you a guitar based on it's brand, instead of tell you do few accords on the guitar and see how it sounds, and how it's feels in your hands.

Great video. Not just about instruments, but matters of life in general. Thanks guys!

Excellent presentation. I always watch your information and grow accordingly. thank you.

Brand loyalty: 1 good/great sound 2 that I can play 3 that sounds great with my singing voice 4 that I can afford and 5 can plug in if needed. ACOUSTIC! I have Airline (Harmony) Gibson, Martin, Taylor, to Washburn & more. Different sizes, tone woods, 12 & 14 frets, depending on what I or the audience wants to hear. These come with a trust in the sales staff like Chris at Alamo.

Really enjoyed the video. I own lots of different brands and try to value the instrument based on its own merit and sound. To that end, I have Gibson and Fender as the bulk of my collection with Gretsch mixed in for good measure. There are always crap slingers who take joy in ragging on what others prefer, enjoy, or can afford. These guitarists do much harm to the community that they claim to want to be apart. As I heard another youtuber say “Sometimes guitarist do more damage to guitar than anyone else”. We need to be more civil, but that challenge seems to seep into everything “in these challenging times”. Perhaps we all need to grow up.

Good video 💯 I think brand loyalty is pretty bad for newer players but fine for players that have seen other guitars and just became dedicated to one. I remember when I wanted to buy my first guitar I really wanted something made in the USA but couldn’t afford any I liked but I found a brand called seagull making great guitars in Canada. Got myself a mahogany S6. Solid mahogany top, 3 layer laminate back and sides. Once I was more experienced and had more money I got myself a Martin GPCRSG all solid wood. My next guitar will most likely be a Yamaha all solid. I love all the brands they all make their own style and sound so it’s always best to experiment ✊🏽👍🏽

Extra points for the Yu-Gi-Oh life points meter lmao

Really good video talk guys. It should always be about tone, feel, how a guitar sings to you personally. There are so many great luthiers out there, particularly when you pull yourself past the big builders. I have 2 Taylor's and a Gibson, great guitars, but I am really looking forward to try Lowden and Mcilroy guitars in the not too distant future.

I'm loyal to quality guitars that punch way above their weight class, and don't charge for the "Martin", "Gibson", and "Taylor" name brand on the headstock. I'm a fan boy of hand voiced tops, and none of the big brands mentioned above do this, even in their respective "custom shops". I'll take me a sweet Yamaha LL56 over a Martin D45 all day long, and have enough money leftover to buy its little brother, the LS56...I'll take'em both! Lol! I'm not "loyal" to Yamaha, but it's guitars like this (Yairi, Larrivee, Santa Cruz, Boucher, Collings, etc) that keep me seriously questioning why I would pay so much more for (what I consider) a "lesser" instrument, just because it's a more "recognized" or "legacy" brand? Love your content, guys! I've been subbed and watching y'all for years. Peace. 🐰💙🇺🇲🎸🎶🤝✌️

There are a lot of good smaller companies out there to consider. I've always been a Martin fan and have a D28 that I love but with all the well known brands you are also paying a lot for that logo alone. I decided to buy a Furch guitar a few months ago after seeing consistently good reviews for them. They are a small Czech company that started building hand made guitars during the Cold War. Wow, I was seriously impressed with the quality at half the price of a Martin and for my next guitar I will definitely look a bit wider than the usual well known brands before buying.

I do own two Taylors, but my wish list includes a Martin, a seagull, and a Gibson. There’s basically two reasons I went with Taylor first: the models I got (a BT2 and a 414CE-R) spoke to me in sound and feel, and they checked the boxes I had in mind when buying those particular guitars. The other thing is they really have an eye on sustainability, which is something I don’t really hear other companies talk about that much. All in all, in the end it’s still up to the desired tone and the playing style that makes you go for a particular model. They all have their advantages and their “flaws” (I’m putting that in quotation marks cause this is a very subjective thing to say; everyone will find something else bad about any guitar), and honestly, that’s just how it’s supposed to be. Thank you for the guitar (and truck) talk, Chris & Cooper!

I'm loving these type of videos

I saved up and had the money to buy a Taylor. I got bored one day and went to my local music store and picked up a few guitars to mess around. The moment I picked up a Washburn comfort series, I knew it was the one. The sound was amazing and it feels like home to play. I'll still buy a Taylor eventually, but I don't feel like I "need" to.

well said guys i like your videos you helped me to decide and buy a martin gpc 11e

Hello friends of Alamo Music, really an interesting report. I am totally new to the guitar. So I listened to a lot of sound examples and stayed with two guitars. My heart beats for the Fender American Professional and the Taylor 210ce Plus. Yes, I think that you are loyal to your preferred brands.

Loyalty to Jeep products but for guitars I own Martin and Taylor acoustics , and a Gretsch electric Love your channel. Wish your store was closer.

I would love to hear from you how you see a good sounding laminated guitar vs. a good sounding all-solid guitar.

Great video. I used to be heavily into photography, and the Canon vs Nikon rivalry is huge. To the point that photogs loyal to one brand would fight online with supporters of the other brand. Same thing with guitars. I'm in the Takamine group and there are quite a few Taylor Haters there. I think it's human nature that we end up adopting brands we like and treating them like sports teams. The human species is very tribal and it comes out here too. I love Takamine, have just bought a 3rd one. I appreciate their story and history. I think their axes have good value. But I don't hate other brands, except in a good-natured sense. Interbrand ribbing can be fun.:)

Very good video!! And very appropriate. How about a video covering ideas/designs that didn't quite work out (like robotic tuners... ;-) )

Aggressive loyalty is a response produced by insecure people protecting their ego. You see the same blind bs in sports, politics, and anything “team” oriented. Being on a team defines some people and those people have to reinforce the idea that they’ve joined the right team. It’s sad and closes the door to any perspective but their own.

Funny. I just saw this. You published this a couple of weeks after purchased my first ever Taylor after resisting them forever. I have since become a fanboy for reasons discussed elsewhere in this thread. I love Taylor’s sound, their quality and workmanship, and their corporate ethos. So, while I won’t say I’ll never buy another brand, I’d look at them first, and so far, that’s proven to be an expensive habit.

Great converstion. I love the way my Martins have sounded and the authenticity of the company. I love the consistent dependability and playability of my Taylor, I love the heritage and manmade soul (inconsistency’) of my Gibson acoustic. I bought Strats because they sound great in the hands of Eric or Stevie but never played them ‘cause that’s not my ability. I could buy a modest house with what I have spent and lost on guitars in 35 years and the education has been this. Desire is more powerful than satisfaction. When I’m too tired or not in the mood they have all dissappointed. Not the guitars fault. But when your in the zone with whatever your playing it’s magical. Chees Chris and Cooper you tell it how it is. 👍

I grew up dreaming of owning a Martin D-28. One day I wandered into a guitar shop and fell in love with a Taylor. Bought it (with my wife's blessing even though we were REALLY shopping for a refrigerator). :-D It was the first of four Taylors now in our house (150e, 214ce, Koa mini bass, and K24ceBE)--for a while I was on fire for Taylor and only Taylor. But at your suggestion, Chris, I checked out Furch, and I have a Blue OMc-CM now. Each of these guitars makes me happy for a different reason, satisfies a different sound need. I think someday I'll own a Martin mahogany dreadnought and maybe a Furch Yellow Master's Choice (or Taylor 514ce with a cedar top) after I've saved up for 'em. My point is...my brand loyalties contain multitudes--they expand whenever I have a good reason--like a guitar that plays great. The exploration is FUN. So, thanks for the nudge!

I used to be a hardcore ESP/LTD Eclipse and Taylor fan. Wouldn't want anything besides them. Now my most played guitars are an Ibanez Artstar semi-hollow and a Cordoba Mini. But to be honest about acoustics... Taylor just speaks to me. They have so many models that just beg me to own them.

The episode about your trucks will be released next, right?🤣 I have different brands for different sounds/styles. I wasn't focussed on getting a certain brand but rather a certain style of guitar. So I have a 2009 Gibson Songwriter which I absolutely adore. Early last year I decided to check out some smaller, bluesier sounding guitars and ended up with a Martin 0017, which I also absolutely love to play. As for electric guitars, I've played a Les Paul before but the music I'm currently playing is aided more by a Tele sound.

I love Martins, but also have a Taylor and a baby Collings, all beautiful guitars and different in their own way.

Thank you for doing this! I'm emotionally biased toward all the acoustic makers whom you'd mentioned, plus others. I honor their people, had corresponded with some, written some up for Acoustic Guitar magazine and honor what they produce. I'm grateful for their success and longevity. Thankfully, I've not experienced the downside of brand loyalty. I think, you name it, the last 10, 20+ years have been the golden age of guitars and it only keeps getting goldener and goldener 😂 😆. Good and great guitars just keep getting better and less expensive. Choice is unbelievably vast. Asymmetric bodies, tops and bracing refinements, sound ports, parabolic strings, creativity marches on and on. For the 3rd time in two years, I played over 200 guitars at NYC biggest and most respected dealers. First time I bought a Yamaha FS800 because I want to cut my own sound ports. I was not positively biased towards Yamaha at all. That changed bigly with YFS800's ridiculous value. But all three times, I'd headed out to finally buy that Martin that I'd never owned. I've owned Taylors, antique Washburns, 3 Collings, a Brooklyn-made Gretch, Guilds, Gruhn, Breedlove, cedar, myrtle, mahogany, a hand full of boutique and customs. I never did pull the Martin trigger. Last demo outing I played a mint opened-box $479 Yamaha AC1R among 50 others. It blew everything else away. Also, it confirmed just how much I like rosewood. It was so good, I didn't even want to hear the 3 or the AC5R, fearing they may be too exquisite. My $$$$ Collings were just too exquisite for me. This AC1R is just crazy good. I'd put it up against plenty of $2k & $3k+ guitars. Yamaha sent 20 of their master luthiers to their Chinese factories and it really shows. Brand fans should stay open-minded and curious. There's just way too much good guitar out there to experience. Thanky

I've had several guitars but really like Martin and Taylor for specific reasons. However I REALLY like Eastman, but it really seems like an uphill struggle to find any a dealer or even find the one you'd like in stock, if you're willing to order on line. I think they have customer loyalty already, they just need to have more dealers out there.

Oh I have two Eastman's 2 Alvarez Yairi Martin O18 and others all well picked

Great discussion. For me, I grew up lower-middle class so Gibson and Fender were out of reach. I did respect the big companies and noticed what the professionals played. I am not a brand loyalist. I prefer to be called a fan. My first guitar was just a no-name knock off of a strat and the second was a Silvertone version of a Gibson semi-hollow electric. I bought a second hand Fender Telecaster that was my only guitar for about 15 years. It served me well. I played a friend's Gibson Les Paul and could not afford a new one. I found a Hamer version of the Gibson LP that sounded just as good for a fraction of the price. I had that about 18 years. Served me well. I had a Cort 12 string acoustic for 20 years - my main guitar. It sounded just as good as the Fender and Gibson sitting next to it in the store and the price was right. I wasn't too familiar with Taylor but a video review by you sold me and I bought one from Alamo. The sound was great and the price was right. I am a Taylor fan now.

As a musician, I'm obsessed with sounds. I play acoustic guitars more than any other instruments, but as far as being loyal to a brand, that would really hinder my ability to have the variety in tones I enjoy. I'm much more likely to purchase two $800 acoustics that I love the sound and playability of, than a $1600 Taylor or Martin because of the brand. I own jumbo body sizes, 12-fret and parlor sizes, and different ones in between. I have guitars made of rosewood, koa, sapele, mahogany, myrtle, walnut, and others. Each sound/tone and the way each guitar plays can strike a different creative streak for me and cause me to write songs that fit better with a certain guitar. I've got guitars I paid a couple hundred dollars for at pawn shops that I wouldn't ever be willing to sell because of their tones and the way they play.. I look at them as being nearly impossible to replace. None of that changes my love for my Martin, Taylor, Breedlove, or any of the higher priced acoustics either. I've always thought more musicians should be critical about sound quality over a company who isn't sponsoring or personally supporting them.

I was told at a young age that Martin guitars were the Holy grail of guitars. I spent many hours in music stores playing a wide range of guitars but every time I played a Martin that sound, I loved that sound. I always loved history and that was another thing that steered me toward Matin Guitars Their long History. Now That I'm Retired and can say Been There Done That. I'm more than willing play and purchase another Brand.

When I first started playing guitar I thought Gibson les Paul's and 335's were what I wanted so I bought a epiphone dot I thought I was happy until I picked up a strat in a music store and it was instant love and bought it on the spot.now it is my #1 guitar and to this day and I am loyal to fender. The reason I became a fender fan is just how it felt the neck to me was perfect and easier for me to play. The body melted into me. And after playing sing li e coils for so long now my ear changed to were I now prefer that tone to humbucker tones

Loyalty is reflected in quality... tradition is a big factor but if we have a limit on how much we have to spend

Speakng of HD, the other HD company was snuffed at by its fan base for modernizing its motorcycles, which it absolutely needed to do to bring their lineup into this day and age. Now, they have some of the most distinctive motorcycles on the road while finally having caught up with the times.

I am a Fender guy as far as electric guitars are concerned (may be because I started with a good Stratocaster). I finally got an acoustic guitar this year. I really could not get used to an old dreadnought I had and I spent at least three months trying different acoustic guitars (renting, trying in stores and buying). I really wanted to like a smaller Martin or a Taylor (tried many) but I ended up happily owning a very cheap Fender CC-60S. I liked it the most.

So I am late to this conversation but I am a brand and store loyal guy. There are many different reasons why and you hit on a lot most of it. One thing to consider, when talking about the brands where everything is 2k+...I suggest people buy what they want and trust. Hears why, I have purchased guitars, firearms, calibers, etc...where I am not happy with these great products and I have to usually sell and buy what I should have purchased to begin with. Not that they were not great...just mentally i never was able to connect to it. I have lost thousands over the years that has engrained this concept in me. However, once I get what I want I don't mind purchasing other brands BUT I almost always sells to purchase the brand I know and love. I do own Taylor, EBMM, and Fender. Though I have owned D28, D35s. Played others but none to my ear can beat my Taylor. So have sold and put the money in other items. I believe if you don't buy what you want and trust, you will end up spending more to get it anyway. Also for those comparing, make sure it's apples to apples. A D-35 compared to a Taylor 114ce...is not a fair comparison.

I have many guitars and I am a novice, and so everytime I pick up a guitar it is like a sound that I want to achieve, I am a huge Yamaha fan because of the LS series. I was brought up in a time where in school Japanese business model was to embarrassed by western civilization. But I have a Taylor 912ce and it is my favorite as a voiced guitar and what i just pick up to write music, I have just bout a Gibson Hummingbird Studio to see if will work for what I am trying to achieve. I do not own a Martin because I have thought it pigeon hole me into a Country sound which is not a direction that I wanted to go. We will see I just really enjoy that music gives me an outlet to express myself, take care and be safe.

Owners clubs certainly promote brand loyalty. I own a Martin, a Yamaha, a Washburn, a Breedlove, and a Fender. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I love them all, they are different but I’m inLove with my Yamaha AC5R.

I was a Taylor fan until I got myself a Martin. My take is it doesn't matter what name it says on the headstock as long as the tone is what I like and it inspired me to play it more often.

Speaking for myself, I am primarily a Martin gal when it comes to acoustic guitars. My loyalty for that brand has one reason. Sound. Certain models have THAT sound that I crave, however there are other Martins I wouldn’t give a plug nickel for. I recently discovered the Taylor GT line, and I’m hooked! Started with the GT Urban Ash, and a week later I traded up to the GT811e. It has that rosewood/spruce sound that I love. I try to be open minded, however I am sometimes guilty of thinking ahead of time that nothing will give me the sound that I love but a Martin. I have proven myself wrong - again! I’m SO glad Taylor’s genius guitar designer Andy Powers has come up with such a fun-playing great-sounding small guitar that sounds big! Still, if I were going to play bluegrass, I would not choose a Taylor. Martin and Santa Cruz would be two of my choices for a Dreadnaught. As with any products, whether it be guitars, cars, trucks, electronics, etc. folks need to be open-minded, otherwise they are missing out on some great stuff out there. It has been my observation that folks who are fiercely brand loyal and closed-minded about a product are usually closed-minded about everything. Too bad for them! I say explore the options.

“Stop fighting over… ‘whose guitar neck is longer’…” A+ innuendo, sir. The family history and guitar hero reasons are true, for me at least. Literally no one in my family played electric guitar. I had no reason to prefer one or the other. Brian May is my favorite guitar player of all time. My number one guitar? My BMG Special from Brian May Guitars. Luckily, there’s no big rivalry between BMG and another brand. So you won’t see me shouting into the void like the never ending Fender vs. Gibson debate. I also like Ibanez even though I’m not a shredder because the Mikro is the best value 3/4 size and I sure do love my short scales. 24 inches and under, please.

It's purely coincidental that I stumbled upon this video today. One day after purchasing my first Martin guitar. My new 000-15sm is absolutely wonderful. Can't put it down. I also own 4 Taylors, a 714ce Cedar top, a322 e 12 fret, a GT 811 e and a GS mini e Koa plus, a Takamine P3NY and a Seagull Artist Concert Hall (as well as a couple of Telecasters). I've always wanted a Martin, but a Dreadnaught is not for me. This all mahogany triple 0 12 fret is perfect.. I'm loving this new Martin, and it only took me 35 years to find it!

I agree brand loyalty can be a bit silly at times, if it plays well enjoy it, simple as. I have a Martin 000-15M and a Gibson Les Paul but my buddys Maton and Charvel guitars blow my mind when when I play them, they are just tools to make good music at the end of the day 👌🍻

I've owned so many brands, really no loyalty here. I agree, there are so many wonderful guitar makers. I do like to try different wood combinations and love the tonal variations. I also have a CF guitar that I also really like. Have owned Mcpherson, Taylor, Gibson, Furch, Emerald, Guild, Breedlove, Bedell....but I think my current interest is back to Taylor Grand Pacific....currently no Taylors in my collection.

I suppose I was brand loyal, always thought I like to get a Martin one day, mainly it what majority of my family played once they upgraded to higher quality guitar. Now watching many of your videos and I am at point I can upgrade to higher quality guitar I am looking at Taylor too.

In acoustic steel string and six string guitars I have only had three Martins, including an entry level Dreadnaught, a D35 and a Dreadnaught Junior. I watch and listen to your demos on your channel and I have to agree with you Chris andCooper that Taylor also make many lovely sounding guitars. At my age of life I am unlikely to purchase another guitar, but who really knows, but if I were I would also demo a Taylor. At my age my acoustic guitar heroes generally played Martins, as at that time Taylor didn’t have the history and pedigree that it is accumulating today. I’m sure young people starting out to select their first acoustic guitar would equally consider the offerings of all the major brands.

My very first guitar was a 64 Harmony Rocket 3 pu red sunburst. Then it got into my head I wanted a solid body so I got an Epiphone but never bonded with it. Then a 67 Gretsch Country Gentleman. Then best one of all was a 66 Epiphone Casino , it was the feel and sound of the P90's and the guitar itself. I was never a solid body fan until SRV came along , never looked at a Strat reminded me of surf music then I picked one up and knew what the attraction was. In the early 60's I had a Gibson J160E and a 12 string and the Casino and a Fender Bandmaster all I needed. This was the day all guitars came with a nice case. Now days I have three Strats that I built by hand because a good one is to expensive . I am not brand loyal. I have 5 acoustics all are different brands yet I am parcel to parlor size and 4 of the 5 are parlor. None are high end 3 have solid tops . I had an Epiphone EL-00 pro and liked it fine liked the 12 " radius and 24 3/4" scale but decided the Ibanez AC-340 000 was more to my liking sold the EL-00. The only dread was the J160E and like the round shoulder. Now if I still had the Casino because I still prefer thin line hollow body above any solid body built. And the J160E and a good 000 and a parlor I'd be happy. At 74 I haven't played any electrics in years or used the 2 tube amps I built after selling many. I am happy with the 5 acoustics I have. Each one has it's sound and feel and do well finger picking and at times using a pick.

Interesting video with some informative points. Me personally, my taste vary in certain brands and it's because of the sound that I like to have in my guitar playing. I have always (and will continue) to play Martin, Gibson and Guilds (as far as acoustic goes) because of the big punchy tone response. Lately, I have been playing alot of HEADWAY guitars which are phenomenal. Taylor guitars have good workmanship but they don't have the tone response that suit my playing style.

As a recording and giging musician (33 years) and even a multi instrumentalist, I love to collect all kinds and brands of guitars. I have good examples of models from competing brands and some of them are vintage, some brand new. They are tools. You need different tools! Peace! My acoustic toolbox: Martin: 1945 OO-18, 2005 DM-12 Taylor: 1986 412, 1996 Baby Taylor, 2020 322-CE 12 Fret Gibson: 1950 L-50, 2009 Blues king. Yamaha CG182S Nylon... Also Gretsch, Fender, Epiphone, Dobro... diversity! Sound pallet!

I have a Martin J-40 and Fender Tele, Jazzmaster and P-Bass. All are great. It's funny that I am negative on Taylor only because I don't like their pick-guard. Silly but true. They do sound good.

I tend to like Guild (acoustic and electric) and Gretsch guitars, both due to feel and sound. Primarily a rhythm guitarist, so being able to fit within the blend without really jumping out is what works for me. I use both acoustic and electric 12 strings, and it is hard to beat a Guild acoustic 12 string for sound and playability, though I like my larvae for finger picking. And both Guild and Gretsch make outstanding electric 12 strings.

Very informative and educational video. I liked it very much!

Well said! Btw, My Alamo hoodie arrived!

My buddy got a high end Taylor that the bridge just popped up on and I play a 80 year old Martin that is still going strong. The finish is bad but nothing is broke after 80 years

Rick Beato did this same exact topic a few months ago, even had the same name I believe.

I have brand loyalty to Gibson and Fender because my heroes played them when I was growing up. I guess I'm old school.

Great video. I've got a few older acoustics. And a couple newer Taylor's and even a new epiphone. Had a beautiful Martin that my drunk friend put a hole through . Each brand makes good guitars. Each brand makes guitars i don't like. I'm currently paying a luthier to restore my 1976 Ibanez Concord Model 698. It was my first guitar and it sounded great but a family member wrecked it and I haven't seen it for past 15 years til i got it back this year. I've spent about 750 so far on restoration. People say why waste that much money on an Ibanez. But it's not about the brand.i want this thing to be a family item to pass along. I like them all if they sound good.

I'm brand loyal to the main US brands, not necessarily to one brand specifically. The problem where I find myself is that I romanticise the brands from a historical stand-point. I end up with a budget for a guitar, and I always find myself leaning more towards the classics like Gibson/Fender, and refuse to explore different, and potentially better options. I'm a sucker for the American heritage of these brands, particularly as a brit.

Wanted to buy a Taylor, walked into the store and fell in love with Martin. Still love the look of a 714ce, but ultimately I like Martins more (so far). However, I think it is purely a personal preference. If a friend got a Taylor I'd be so excited to try it.

For acoustic guitars I have no brand loyalty, I play anything that feels and sounds good to me. For electric guitars, ESP and G&L are my favorites, plus anything with a good P90 lol.

I'm a Ford guy AND a Fender guy also! Woof!

I love Martin. Their mellow bass sound. Also love ovations and Ibanez. And of course a strat and Paul

Look in my guitar room...Gibsons, Fenders, Gretsches, Taylors, Martins (including a GPC16e whose purchase was inspired by Chris’ review) Ovation, Yamaha and Alvarez Yari. I guess I’m just loyal to guitars🤷🏻‍♂️

This will be a long post, but please bear with me, and learn something from my experiences as a lifetime musician and (former) Martin guitar snob. I think this is the perfect place to share my experiences as they are in keeping with the subject of this video. When I shop for a guitar the first thing I do is plug in some good in-ear monitors and watch/listen to RU-vid videos put up by great players demonstrating the particular brands/models I'm considering looking into purchasing. For me, a very discriminating musician, THE most important properties of a musical instrument are TONE, TONE, AND TONE. This property is followed by intonation (not the same as "tone") and playability. Some of the video demos are horribly EQ'd and sound like 💩. I don't discard that guitar/brand from consideration just because the video sound quality was poor. I just look for other videos. Alamo Music Center's Chris McKee brings some of the best demos to the viewer. He plays in a way that is very musical and which shows off the instrument's best qualities and TONE. All said, once I have found and listened to many videos of the guitars I'm considering, I often stumble across a completely different instrument brand and model which catches my attention and interest. This adds to the mix of my search. The final step in my search is to go out and play as many instruments of the same brand and model as possible before purchasing. Instruments can vary greatly from one to the next within a brand and model. I have always been a Martin gal. This has to do with the TONE of the Martin and not the name on the headstock. I don't care what the brand name is. TONE IS KING for me. If the tone isn't there, the instrument doesn't come home with me. Period. It doesn't even make the first cut. By comparison with Martins, Taylors have always sounded "anemic" to me -- until Andy Powers re-vamped the bracing to what he called the "Advanced Performance" bracing, and the routing around the top to help it vibrate more freely. That woke those guitars right up. It gave them a much richer, fuller and vibrant tone. The quality, ergonomics and intonation (not the same as "tone") of Taylor guitars are second to none, so I am continuously searching for that Taylor which will steal my ear - and heart. Recently my guitar needs have changed due to deterioration of my hands from arthritis, so I have been on the search for a guitar my fingers will thank me for. Some Taylors play like butter, but because my ear is used to that full-bodied lush Martin tone, I've have a hard time liking other brands including Taylors -- until I recently discovered the "Advanced Performance" (X) braced 812ce 12-fret! I have found a huge difference between Taylor's now-extinct X-braced guitars and the new so-called "V-Class" braced instruments. BTW, Taylor...are you trying to make a guitar model designation sound like it is the "Mercedes" of guitars?" 😁 My ear -- and many other players' ears, as expressed in comments on YT video demos of Taylors -- tell me that the V-bracing has emasculated the tone of the guitar taking the rich low end and fullness away. As a result, my search for that great sounding X-braced Taylor has become more difficult. Once I finally get that X-braced Taylor 812ce 12-fret Deluxe which I was lucky enough to find, I will become a Taylor fan...but only for certain X-braced models, and none of the V-braced models. In fact, the difference is SO extreme, if I happen to see a Taylor model I might be interested in, the first thing I look for is what kind of bracing it has. Taylor makes some of the most gorgeous guitars I've ever seen. But again, it is all about the TONE my ears search for. Funny thing happened the other day. I was looking for a small scale "couch guitar" --worry about getting the occasional scratch or ding.able The moral of my stories to all you guitar shoppers out there is this: Be sure to keep a very open mind -- and ears -- when it comes to searching for that instrument of your dreams. You might just find it where you least expect it! I forgot to mention that I also own a great Santa Cruz! So you see...I really DO have an open mind when it comes to guitar brands. Again...it is all about TONE!

Dan Crary plated Mossman Great Plains Guitar & Taylors Guitars. Tony Rice played Martin D-28 & Santa Cruz Tony Rice Dreadnought . I had Mossman Great Plains Guitar & Dan Crary signature Taylor Guitar & 910ec sadly i had to sell them for rent back in 2005. Now I have a P.W.Crump lll Long Scale Irish Cittern & I'm getting another Irish Long Scale Irish Cittern biult by Nyberg Instruments. One day I'll buy another Taylor and maybe a Santa Cruz Tony Rice Dreadnought

I agree wholeheartedly

I used to just play Martin for years then I tried my friends 814ce Taylor wow now I’m a Taylor man with my 714ce

I've been looking at Taylors more. I Did run across 1 Martin the other day. Not bad but the Taylor comparison just sounded better. I like Martins too but everytime recently playing one the just don't have the lower bass punch I want

I'm Gibson on electric guitars. Martin Taylor for acoustics but im thinking downgrading Taylor to 3rd place on my acoustic loyalty and moving Gibson to 2nd place behind Martin. I can't jive with Fenders because of the feel. Love their sound though. Only thing I don't own aside from what I just stated is a Gibson acoustic and a Fender. Unless it's a 50s Esquire I probably will never own a Fender

In the electric department I'm almost pathologically partial to Gretsch although I can recognize the strengths and the appeal of any decent brand. My acoustic brand loyalties aren't nearly as entrenched, which is funny because I've played acoustic much more than electric. I do prefer smaller body sizes over the dreadnought or jumbo types, and most of the guitars I wind up taking home seem to be fairly close kin to Taylors (e.g. Breedlove). I won't badmouth Martin; they're quality guitars with a serious history, but for the most part I just don't click with 'em. Been eyeballing Guild lately, though--acoustics AND electrics.

My first real guitar was a '54 D-28. I always strung it with medium or heavy gauge because that's what my hero did. Some time passed and a gigging musician friend of mine had her guitar stolen, so I sucked it up and gave it to her. Later

I’ve thought for a long time, brands play us for suckers, play us against one another. I have a Takamine, another fellow I know says it’s junk, he likes Ibanez , I bought my oldest grandson a Ibanez, I like what I like and dislike what I dislike. I’m not a fan of the shape of a Les Paul, but like the sound, not sure about the Fender special custom FMT H H, .When I bought my Tak, I was trying guitars with a friend, he tried a Taylor first then I handed him the Tak, after he had played them, I said the Tak sounded better to me, he agreed, he didn’t buy either, the next day I bought the Tak, it was $1000.00 less, after 15 years I Still love it, play it almost everyday, best purchase I ever made! Buy what you like

I am a fan of Martin. But I like and have owned alot of other guitars. I want to buy a Martin D16E, what gage stings are on the one you demoed, and do you have one with rosewood in stock?

When I buy a guitar, I remain loyal to my ears and feel.

I’ve never understood this subject...I only judge an instrument once I get a chance to play it. In saying that, just because I may not enjoy an instrument doesn’t make it bad. Instruments are purely subjective. Peace guys ❤️✌️

Good discussion! Thank you! Brand loyalty: Yes, for bicycles. I ride a Moulton bike and will probably never buy any other brand. As for guitars: no. But there are tendencies: As I am more interested in fingerpicking, I would probably not buy a classic Martin guitar such as a D28 unless my style changes. Just recently I had the chance to test some of the smaller body shapes that Martin offers, but then the shop owner came around with a thirty or forty year old small body Guild. It was ragged, top was dark and ugly and full of scratches, ugly yellowish nut. But the sound was terrific and so much better. Although, in the end I did not buy it because it felt like robbing a dead person's body. Are Martin guitars overrated?

Iam Loyal to maton guitars.plugged in they are a great with excellent pickup systems.but if I had the money I would love to own a Gibson hummingbird or j200 someday.

I have a cheap Washburn in grand auditorium shape that plays nicely. I would like to have a Taylor, but I do not mind having a Cort or even Harley Benton. I also like the fat and deep tone of dreadnought but I do not like the way it plays when I sit down. I had Washburn and Walden dread. From Martin-ish guitars, 000 or OM is somethinh I would like to try. As long as it plays and sounds good, it is good.

I thought you guy’s would have had more guitars on location? I’m not sure if this is right but it feels as if years ago you could order a custom B.C. rich from you guys? Is there any plans to carry more brands?

I love music and guitars it doesn’t matter what it says on the headstock to me. If it sounds great I’m in. I want more left handed guitars. That’s the problem for me. They don’t make a lefty in the brand I’m interested in. When I see it hear it I immediately look to see if it’s made for a lefty.

i'm a Taylor shill - i'm a San Diegan...so it's natural for me to favor the locals. i have 2 Taylors, and am working on a third. i also hope to one day get a Carvin/Kiesel. however, i will surely buy a Martin and play the hell out of it :)

Ok, I confess that I’m basically a Martin guy. I have four of them. It’s kind of been a family thing like you have mentioned. But I also have a Furch and a Sigma and I love both of them as well. I have not yet considered buying a Taylor because I find their sound in general to be a little too “bright” for my taste. Also (and let me know if anyone else has this opinion because I can’t get past it) I don’t think plastic knobs belong anywhere on a beautiful work of art that I consider most high end guitars to be, including Taylor. Perhaps someone could help me change my thoughts on this? By the way, my best friend is a Taylor only guy and he would probably appreciate if someone could get me over my “hang up”. Thanks guys for another wonderful and thought provoking video!

Well I went from Fender to Martin to Yamaha. Not because any of them was bad. I loved them all. I Just upgraded to something better, and a little more expensive. With cars I had Buick Honda Lexus and others and that was more with what met my needs at the time. I love competition, I want the maker to know they have to bring their A game to keep me as a customer, their name alone will not do it, not even the instrument alone. It's also price features durability looks quality workmanship and customer service can I talk to an actual human. You really know a lot about a company when things go bad and what they do to make them right. And then you have family tradition resale reputation reviews or lack thereof.

I think having more than one brand gives you a lot of possibilities. I have a small collection of acoustic guitars. I play the guitar that turns me on at the moment. Why have guitars that all sound the same? I only wish I could afford more and different guitars.

It’s gotta be the same part of the brain as politics; people just feel so aligned and they tie brand loyalty to something on a deeper level. It’s more than just a model to them; it’s a part of their identity.

I own an Epiphone Dr 212 and a Peavey Composer, What do you think of these brands?

I believe there is no person who is too loyal to only one brand.

Which PRS do you own?

ALERT! LONG POST! SORRY. I cannot see a single reason for brand loyalty (with the exception of AMC, of course). I happen to love Martin guitars, but that is because I have loved each one I have played. However. Martin have, IMO, done some terrible things in order to get market, most notably HPL and their 'merchandise' (which I bought for love of the brand, but of terrible quality). Equally, I happen to hate Taylors because I have never enjoyed one I played (interestingly, I got completely trolled for saying this on another forum, despite saying 'it's a matter of personal taste'), but Taylor have done some excellent innovations, most notably their next generation neck system - it's not original, but they have really made it work. Normally, I have no interest in Gibson really, but one of the best guitars I ever played was a Gibson Southern Jumbo. Here in the UK, Lowdens are famous, but I hate them because I never played one I enjoyed, but my best has had one for over 20 years and it will be pried from his dead hands (but not by me!). I have also bought numerous single handed builder guitars. I'm left handed and so my experience of hand-made guitars started early, but also means that my exposure to playing guitars is much more limited. If I want to compare, say, 10 different Martins in a day, there is one shop it the UK where I can do that. If I want to compare 10 different Taylors or Gibsons, there are NONE. Accordingly, as a lefty you have to be prepared to take a risk (unless you want and can afford to play Martins your whole life), which is why, although I have preferences but no loyalty. If people want to argue on forums about which brand is better, good luck to them. Waste of picking time. In passing, wood preservation by Taylor (and, indeed, Martin) is maningless virtue signalling disguising difficulties with supply chain. The amount of rare woods used in making guitars accounts for a tiny amount of wood use. The order of magnitude runs roughly like this: Land clearance for housing and agriculture; firewood; laminates for mass produced furniture; solid wood for mass produced furniture, solid wood for high quality furniture (long pause) laminates for mass produced factory guitars (long pause) solid woods for mass prouduced factory guitars (long pause) solid woods for boutique factories.

I too am a diehard Fender guy!

Recent I was looking for an Martin 0-18 (or 00 if not available) - and than i compared with other 0 - Models in the Store. Well... I left with an Sigma S00R-45vs - It is the better guitar (even made in China, even less than half of the price, even if it isn't a Martin) in feel, tone, artwork and dimensions (prefer full scale ).