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Post by Rambler on Jun 24, 2015 18:32:35 GMT
I mainly play classical, so have a lovely handmade nylon string that just oozes Segovia-type warmth. For several years I've been casually looking for a steel string acoustic that will give me some of that 'warmth'. I've had Norman, Faith, Taylor, Recording King and finally a Martin 000X1 that I've had for 7 years now. The Martin has more fundamental, less harmonic. The other end of the spectrum was the Taylor 214 which was all harmonic, very little fundamental to my ears. This video of Julian Lage playing a Waterloo (new Collings 'depression-era' line) is closer to the tone in my head: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoLK4Gq3wMASo after all, perhaps it's a smaller bodied guitar is what I'm looking for. I'm not a big strummer, so perhaps I've been previously barking up the wrong tree. There's no way I can stretch to £1999, so the Waterloo is out of the question, but if I sell one of my electrics and my Martin (which unfortunately is has been badly damaged and repaired twice) I could stretch to £1000. But this isn't a 'what should I buy' thread - I'd like to know your experiences/journey in the steel-string world... |
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Post by uburoibob on Jun 28, 2015 21:48:31 GMT
Well, it all started with a classical I put steel strings on back in 1966. After that, it was a used 1966 Ovation Balladeer. In the late 70s, I got an Ovation Balladeer cutaway with a pickup, and sold my Balladeer acoustic. After that, a Gibson J-180 Everly Brothers in the late 80s. That turned into a Gibson J-45 in 1990. I had that straight up to about 2000, when I got a Steve Klein M-43 Oval Hole. Had that until 2008, when I traded it on a Martin D-45. In 2009, I added a Huss and Dalton 00, but traded that last Christmas on a Martin 00-42K Robbie Robertson. I sold the D-45 in 2014. That doesn't include my archtops, which are/were a 1954 Epiphone Triumph, a 1939 Super 400, a 1940 L-5, a 1957 L-7, another 1957 L-7, and four Steve Andersens - Oval Hole, Electric Archie, Little Archie and an Emerald City Reserve. I still own the last two archtops and the 00-42K.
I think that's all of them!
Bob
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Post by Rambler on Jun 29, 2015 5:02:24 GMT
Great, thanks ubirobob I presume that the D-42k is the best of the bunch then? It's funny, I see those pearly Martins and automatically think they're not going to sound as good, but they clearly do.
I have limited experience with Gibsons - how would you describe a J-45 sound-wise, compared to a Martin D?
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Post by uburoibob on Jul 11, 2015 21:45:55 GMT
The J-45 had a more pronounced midrange than most Martins I have played. It sounded like Norwegian Wood.
The 00-42 K is a super warm little guitar with a ferocious sound. I had wanted a fancy 00 since I saw Joan Baez play about a decade ago. The D-45 literally sounded like Neil Young's guitar. The Everly Brothers had the least personality. The Huss and Dalton was great, but had a 1 7/8 nut which made it just a tad wide for me, but still quite playable. But the 00-42k just really got me - especially after chasing a guitar like that for over a decade and rejecting some beautiful newer and vintage guitars. It really does come down to the actual instrument!
Bob
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Post by Rambler on Jul 27, 2015 7:45:24 GMT
Thanks uburoibob - sorry I've been off-board for so long! I didn't realise you had written that last reply. I have only played on one Gibson acoustic - an Emmylou Harris signature model and it sounded pretty dead to me. Less sustain than I would associate with a Martin.
I forgot to mention - I had a Martin 000M for a while, which is a spruce top/mahogany laminate 000. It had a really characterful sound…I was bowled over by that, but it had virtually no 'headroom', meaning when you strummed it, it would actually distort. I guess those Waterloos are similar, and that's probably the trade off for this kind of sensitivity.
I've noticed Bill F played a Martin 000-15 for a while, I think around the Ghost Town era? I think he plays a Collings now though...
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Post by uburoibob on Jul 30, 2015 15:41:02 GMT
Around the time of Good Dog, Happy Man, Bill was using a Steve Klein flattop with a round soundhole. He got his at almost the same exact time I got mine, which was a coincidence. So, I know he used that for awhile on recordings. For me, it was the best recording acoustic I ever had. Just amazing. But I was my only one and a very expensive guitar to be my only acoustic. I kind of wish that I'd never sold it, though.
Bill sold his a few years ago to a friend of mine in Kentucky. I was considering buying it, but have been in consolidation mode for some time. I am more than happy with my little 00-42K right now.
My new Yanuziello should be done next week... gettin' dizzy!
Bob
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