Waterloo WL14X vs Martin CEO7 Guitar Demo 

That Waterloo tone just speaks to my soul. I want one of these as soon as I can sneak one in the house. You are my favourite youtube guitar guy and I watch them all

I own a CEO-7, and agree with you that the tone is very versatile and you can play a wide variety of styles on it. It sounds terrific finger picked, flat picked, and strummed it has an amazingly full, deep voice for it's size. It's like it's saying, "Yeah, I'm little, but my daddy was a dreadnought."

I was considering both of these guitars so I thank you for the comparison. What stands out to me is although they both sound great in distinctly different ways, the sound that the Martin gets is incredible for it's dimensions. I see a lot of guitars, the Waterloo included, that are said to "sound similar to an older Gibson". Several high end manufacturers and custom builders have produced very fine instruments of that size and if they sound great it's ultimately said that they "sound like an old Gibson". But the CEO-7 doesn't sound like an old Gibson. It has an amazing sound with such a full range and complexity, as well as depth and harmony, that it is in a class of it's own. I think the highest praise for the CEO-7, to me, is that I have never heard another high end small guitar reviewed that had the reviewer or comment section state that the guitar sounded like a CE0-7. Truly it's a masterful creation and one of a kind...

I'll confess I steal the licks you do when showcasing guitars. Always catchy and they feel like an exercise. Thanks for the video!

Great comparison. I love both and agree with your ending assessment. I'd love to have one of each. That dry Gibson thump is an addicting sound. that CEO-7 is so rich and versatile. Hard choice to only have just one.

Tim, I agree with your assessment. For the Martin, there's a definite articulation and I could more readily discern the sound of individual notes and at times even hear the pick clicking against the strings. The waterloo is warm and everything sounded blended together in this mass of woody goodness. It reminded me of a seasoned cedar topped guitar. My first reaction was, "I would use the Martin for lead work if I was in the studio." It's easy to imagine the Martin applied to different genres of music, but the Waterloo seems suited for only certain types.

That ceo7 is like the j45 of small bodies, it just does so much well. Both are fine instruments; thanks for the comparison!

First off, both are incredible instruments and very deserving of the praise they receive. The Waterloo sounds exactly like what I expect from this type of guitar...very dry, woody, authentic, vintage sounding small body acoustic (old Gibson small body). The Martin, however, to me, sounds lush, exotic and hypnotic, not at all what I would expect from this size instrument. Adirondack top no doubt the contributing factor. I would agree to the versatility being given to the Martin. From the first notes it was clear this is not an ordinary small body guitar, it may look like the old Gibson L style, but that is where it begins and ends. The Waterloo exudes charm and a sense of nostalgia, where the Martin displays a sense of robust depth and power. Again, just my opinion and regardless,,,a player cannot go wrong with either guitar, but certainly different animals to be sure.

Hey Tim! Great work as always! First, both are beautiful looking and sounding guitars. I haven't had a chance to play either of them. Your analysis and comments in the end are spot on. Couldn't agree more. Thank you for everything you do. Keep up the fantastic work! Always a joy to watch. Cheers!

Just wanted to say I just picked up the guitar again after not playing in quite a while. I started watching your videos and learning some new songs. Your videos are awesome and you’re a great guitar player! Thanks for all your help keep it up 👍🏻

Wow, what a great comparison. I was truly shocked at the difference between the two. Your closing comments were exactly what I was thinking while watching it, being I primarily play dreadnoughts, that is not the sound I think of when looking at smaller bodied guitars. Therefore, I would go with waterloo even though I really enjoyed the tone of the Martin.

I closed my eyes on all the licks and found myself gravitating to the Loo on almost every comparison. Hard choice for sure but I am sold on the Waterloo. This was so helpful! Thanks Tim, for such a professional channel.

I agree with the reviewer . The Martin has that Martin sound and the Waterloo one all its own. I have seen some threads that the CEO7 has had some binding failure issues. The Waterloo’s are not readily available yet from the plague period. Wonder when Martin will introduce an 0018 and 00018 modern deluxe?

I have a CEO7 ordered at my local music store lands here in Eastern Canada in March 2022, hopefully it fits in well with my other two Martins. Great comparison BTW!

Great compare Tim, thanks! I agree with your summation.

Both so nice, I'm partial to the Martin because of the Adirondack top and I just love Martin I never heard of Waterloo so thank you for introducing me to them. Dude your reach is phenomenal. Thank you for your excellent playing and picking.

Both guitars sound pretty special I'd love to have them both!

Hey Tim. I have a full body Martin CEO. Interesting comparison. I will admit my guitar doesn't quite ring like your Waterloo in your Man of constant Sorrow clip but I'm still happy with it. Cheers.

Thanks Tim. Clearly, these two guitars have radically distinct sounds. And that's cool. That's one of the endearing qualities about the Waterloo -- it really doesn't sound like anything else currently available. I don't know if this is the same as your take, but to me the Waterloo just sounded more "bluesy", great for finger picking, or leads.

Great comparison! CEO-7 has been a dream of mine for years and I’m finally getting one this month:) is that first song your playing, regular tuning?

for me CEO7 is a master in its class

Both beautiful guitars, ur playing is incredible !! I own a CEO 7 & have very pleased with it . Thank you

Great video, thanks! I've owned a WL-14x since 2017 and very much enjoy it. I also own a 2019 000-18. As with the CEO-7, the 000-18 is a very versatile instrument, it sounds good playing just about anything. However the WL-14 has a unique voice, and it is outstanding for what it seems to have been designed to do.

I have the CEO7 and out of curiosity I bought a Sigma version of the L00.I wanted to compare solid woods with laminates and both have the same body size,unsurprisingly they sound very different.I'm not saying the Sigma sounds bad,it just has a different voice and doesn't have the wide tonal pallet of the Martin but is still a useful instrument but weighs a lot more................................................

Really enjoyed your playing! I expected these guitars to sound less different than they do, given this Waterloo is one of the x braced. But x brace or ladder, that Waterloo still sounds like a Waterloo. Those CEO-7s are shockingly fantastic tho

Thank you Tim! Great work as always. I've owned the ceo7, didn't care for gloss or the tuners but sounded great. I believe I would prefer the Waterloo. I have a new 0-18 and a 0028. I

After going through at least 50 guitars over the years my Waterloo now feels like the first "real" guitar, what i was looking for for all of those years.

Perfect assessment my friend. I have a Martin M-36 and arrived at the same conclusion. The Waterloo makes a sound that justifies another guitar :) grabbing one tomorrow

For being such similar guitars, the difference in the sound is stunning. Completely different animals, I personally prefer the CEO-7 but I just happen to like the low end growl of a Martin.

Wow, this demo is SO helpful. Thank you, Tim! I'm in the market for a 00, primarily for playing acoustic blues and delta blues fingerstyle. I am surprised by how different these guitars sound. Both x-braced, both built to emulate early 20th century instruments...but way different sound. The Waterloo sounds much drier and open to my ears. The Martin seems to have some compression in the bass frequency, to my ears. Net effect is that the Martin sounds more modern to me, and the Waterloo sounds more like an old Folkway recording. BUUUUT...the insane marketplace for guitars right now makes the Waterloo twice as expensive as the Martin, so my decision is highly impacted by price. :)

I could listen to that Martin all day....

Thanks for making this! I loved the piece at 2:37. Martins always have that lovely full response with overtones and endless sustain. The Waterloo has a vintage voice that is more midrangey, dry and percussive with fewer overtones. The Waterloo (and the Kalamazoo/Gibson L-OO) it’s based on is more what I’m looking for from this style of guitar. I still want to try a vintage Martin 00-17 though. This was very helpful!

Thank you for an excellent comparison. Your final comments are spot on. The Martin would certainly be the one to go for insofar as versatility is concerned and you wanted the Martin sound. However, the Waterloo has that restrained woodier tonal quality that makes it an excellent troubadour's instrument as it complements the human voice so well. So, it's horses for courses.

Thanks for a great demo and comparison. These are to lovely sounding guitars - albeit with very different tones. To me, the Martin comes across as being richer, whereas the Waterloo sounds more vibrant, with a somewhat 'woody' sound. As a former resident of Waterlooville (Southern England, UK) I'd go for the Waterloo - but not just for that reason, but because I love the dry, clear and woody tone of the Waterloo.

They both sound amazing. The Waterloo sounds like an old guitar, though. There’s a pleasant “deadness” to the sound where the Martin has the new guitar “zing”. Depending on the type of music you’re playing, either one could be the right choice.

I thank you for this excellent review of two fine games. I just "discovered" you and I am a new subscriber. The Waterloo does some things amazingly well and better than the Martin, but the Martin does so much more. If I needed a perfect guitar for a song or a set I could justify the Waterloo. My needs have changed. I have the golden era D18 and I love the sound but I think the CEO 7 could replace it as my shoulder is not what it was when I bought the D18GE. If I sold it, I could probably acquire two guitars. I know that if I could sneak it in it would stand out in the crowd, so that will not work. Thanks again.

I own and play a ceo7 but I want that Waterloo sound too! Such a beautiful midrange. I have a Gibson Songwriter deluxe that projects the mids in a similar way but requires a bit more effort being a heavy dreadnaught.

Great Video Tim, the internet really needed this one. I think a lot of people will find this helpful. If I could only have one, I’d probably take the Martin…but I’d still love a Waterloo too 🤣🤣

I agree with your assessment. The Waterloo sounds woody like a Gibson 50's LG2. My choice would still be the Martin for versatility. (and looks) :-)

Both sound great. The WL is a little brighter with more mid-range definition. The martin is dark, complex and smokey. Both are winners. I would have to play both in person to really decide.

Thanks for making this video. I currently own two acoustics: a WL-12 and a Collings OM2H. I like both of them a lot, but the CEO-7 is like if you took the sound of both of them and combined them into one. When I have some expenses coming up, I might just sell both of my guitars and pick up a CEO-7, just to see if it satisfies my requirements :)

I'd give anything to one day be able to play the kind of music you do in this comparison so well. Really nice. The Waterloo sounds better overall to me, but I love the fact that Martin guitars always have a warmer, lower kind of sound to them. Most guitars sound too bright for my tastes, particularly when they have new strings. I'd love to own a Martin one day.

Nice comparison and nice playing! I liked the sound of both but think if you were playing the blues it’d sound better on the Waterloo and if you were playing Bluegrass it’d sound better on the Martin.

Beautiful demonstration. Glad I found your channel. But I'm confused. Wasn't the Waterloo built to pay homage to Stella (ladder bracing, sparse cosmetics)? And the CEO7 as CF Martin IV's take on the Gibson L-00?

Last winter i finally convinced myself that i needed a small body, the ceo 7 was in the top of my wish list. I was not impressed with it when i tried one. I was expecting more sound from an adirondack top. I ended up with a L00 acacia and am very happy with it.

Hi Tim great video and comparison. I have a CEO-7 and I am loving that Waterloo sound. What is the neck shape on the Waterloo?

Love my ceo-7!! But that Waterloo sounds great too!! Out of all your sweet guitars, which acoustic is your favorite Tim??

You ever consider the Martin 00l-17? It’s a few years old and not in production anymore but I think it was truly Martin’s best competition with the Waterloo. There’s a used one at Guitar Center I’m STRONGLY considering rn

If you prefer the vintage dry woody tone, the martin 000-17 series achieves it for about half of what either of these cost. It's wasn't my cup of tea, but the one I had was very similar to a Waterloo.

Recently got the CEO 7 from Sweetwater. Couldn't find a Waterloo 14X anywhere. But that's ok, the CEO 7 is incredible.

I gotta have that Martin. The Waterloo sounds magnificent as well but the CEO 7 has a darkness that fits my swampy BS better. Great pickin’ for the demos.

Is the second song played an original piece of that a song? It’s a beautiful tune and would love to know and try to learn it

The first strum goes to the Martin. So does the second. Much more refined sound. It’s ok to sound like a depression era guitar, just not at that price.

That CEO-7. Has a pickup! Is it the LR Baggs Anthem?

I once had a CEO-7 and a Waterloo. If I was to buy one back, it would be the CEO-7, simply because it was far more versatile than the Waterloo.

I don't know if it's an illusion caused by a slightly scooped mid-range, but bass notes on the Martin sound more pronounced & solid to me. That's enough for me to prefer it - although the Waterloo's open midrange has its charm, too

Oh no is the binding on the Martin coming loose? I had that problem with my OM28 too. :(

Both sound amazing. I think the Waterloo sounds more vintage and like and old Gibson. Martin has more complexity for sure. I'd sure take both!

Both sound great...probably has a lot to do with your playing, but I lean toward the Martin.

I have a ceo7 and the two things I don’t like is the neck width at the 14 th fret and the wide string spacing at the saddle / bridge which is wider then my EC OOO28. Is the Waterloo the same? I’m thinking about building my own with a Gibson J45 neck and string spacing adjusting for scale length and probably put a compound radius fretboard on it and a pyramid bridge. Then sell the CEO 7 and L-00.

Thank you for the comparison. Martin is, as usual, top of the class. Money put in the bank. You can't go wrong. But I think Waterloo has more personality, in particular if you play fingerstyle blues

I would take either but the Waterloo sounds a bit better to me because it has a more midrange and trebly sound which I prefer and the Martin sounds more bassy but great so owning either one is a win win.

This comparison sealed the deal. CEO7 it is.

Im trying to figure out why the WL sounds louder or brighter than the M? What would the Collings model be?

How’s the action of CEO-7? Is it as playable as the Taylor guitars?

Both of these guitars sound fantastic. Waterloo for male vocal accompaniment Martin for female vocal accompaniment So buy both!

Martin ceo7 for me the backs an sides are mahogany an the top is Adirondack spruce top excellent combination in my opinion thanks for all your videos Tim 👍🏾

silly question Tim I'm just really starting my guitar journey, are these progressions anywhere? I'd like learn these this

its so hard to choose between these 2. and i cant find either locally to try. which one sounds like a little j45, with that growl and honk, blended sounding chord strums? do either sound boxy or small than the other? thank you so much for this comparison .

I'm a Martin person, but the Waterloo sounds more well rounded and I've never heard of Waterloo guitars until right now: Saturday morning, March 18, 2023 in Downtown, San Diego California!!! House of Blues down the street. Waiting for next atmospheric river to hit. ⛈⛈💦💦💦

The depth sound of CEO 7 got me.!

Could you do a tutorial on goodbye yesterday?

The Martin sounds better but the Waterloo sounds more interesting. If that even makes sense. Write music with the Waterloo and record with the Martin.

Whats the riff at 1:48 called?? From what song? :)

The martin is a little too Smokey in my honest opinion whereas the Waterloo has a dry crisp like autumn leaves to it. Definitely the Waterloo, hands down

Well done! I favor the Martin, although I wouldn’t be disappointed if I had the Waterloo. To me, the Martin has a richer tone.

Wow! Apparently I need a CEO-7.

Waterloo for me it has the dry woody high lonesome sound not boxy sounding at all

Wow the Waterloo has that sound

To my surprise the Waterloo sounded clearer and more transparent, without losing warmth. Even though the Martin has Adirondack and should have sounded brighter.

great stuff! the waTERLOO sounded cheap...tubby....plinky...the martin was incredible! complex warm versatile!!

Wonderful...

The Waterloo has more clear bass.. I'm a Martin and Gibson only fan... But, hey that Waterloo sounds really really good..

The ceo sound stuffed with socks somehow, or like the microphone is covered. Weird!

Sounding old….to some guitars…I got 30 plus year old USA guild rosewood spruce ( my son said it sounded like piano which I got,a solid wood euro-made piano) my first when I arrived here in CA …happened to stumbled on GC in San Hose lol…know nothing about American -built guitars but Yamaha in the US Naval base(Philippines Olongapo City)commissary shop where my father had worked…btw I may pick up (this month)ceo, om28 or om 21

I own both. I will say the value proposition of the Waterloos are long gone…the CEO-7 can be had for around $2K and you’ll be hard pressed to find a Waterloo for less than $3K. That’s double what I paid a few years ago and getting into used Collings territory….just ridiculous. Tonally I will say that I can imagine a guy like Robert Johnson doing his thing on a Waterloo vice the Martin and that is kind of cool.

Main difference to my ears is the boomy low end on the waterloo and its a little clearer on the high end too, both very nice but feel free to send on the waterloo to me anythime 😂

Why does waterloo look like plywood

seems to my ear that the Waterloo responds better to a flat pick and the CEO7 responds better to finger picking

For me, there's more note definition and punch from the Waterloo. The Martin has more bass, is more high fidelity, and chimey. The Martin is more versatile for sure, but the Waterloo has more personality.

waterloo wins bigtime. fuller sound but still clear. really beautiful. the martin sounds kind of hollow and tinny in comparison. waterloo has just the right mid frequencies it seems

Waterloo!!

The Martin is definitely a low & lonesome sound..... More effective for finger style playing.

I’m glad I’m not finicky about neck feelings…

Waterloo but they're both nice guitars 🎸

Waterloo for the win.

The Waterloo sounds brighter.

The first chord made me throw my J-45 out the window…

CEO-7 sounds like a Martin. The other one doesn’t. Nuff said - if you want a bright guitar - lots out there, but live in person - Can’t beat the Martin sound

Martin sounded muffled