Martin Vs. Taylor

[thesquall]

Which do you like better? I personally love the Martins...

[trim]

Originally posted by thesquall
Which do you like better? I personally love the Martins...

I like both guitar makers so much, but I had to choose Taylor because I own a couple...

410ce

Leo Kottke 12 string

both guitars are amazing and play so well...

[cubby]

Martins - both sound good out of the box but Martins sound only gets better with age. I have heard some complaint in recent years that Taylors do not age well. They start out bright and as the spruce ages and the resin hardens it only gets brighter.

[deafbox-]

Hmm, haven't seen that with the Taylors. I'm not a huge accoustic guy, but I've played my share. I'd go with the Martin's too

[lucky13sp]

i wouldn't buy an acoustic from either company, (unless it was a vintage martin D-28 that is!) i'd get a maton or a Takamine instead.
and apparently Taylor's age badly, is this so?

[PlasticSuperhro]

Martin...they've always just felt right and sounded amazing to me. I'll get one on day but my Ibanez PF6 is handling all my acoustics at the moment

[chris g]

Aging question aside, I've played both and like the look and feel of the Taylors better. Martin's just seem really old school to me, and there's nothing wrong with that, I just prefer the Taylor.

[conno182]

none of them


MATON ARE THE BRAND TO LIVE BY!!!!

[jamie.pope]

I've played both are prefered by FAR the Taylors.

Not sure why, tone was better and just fitted with me.

I wasn't at all keen on the Martins.

[rectified]

i played one at guitar center in fountain valley California i loved it so much. i wanted to buy it but i was on vacation and didn't have enough money :(

[G6add9]

Originally posted by PlasticSuperhro
Martin...they've always just felt right and sounded amazing to me. I'll get one on day but my Ibanez PF6 is handling all my acoustics at the moment I wish I knew Martin or Taylor. I am currently playing (and caretaking for) an Ibanez PF5BK that belongs to a friend that moved back to the midwest.

Maybe I should see if Taylor is hiring (employee discount?). I think they are in here in sunny San Diego.

[benfoust]

I think Martins are more for fingerpicked or folk music. Taylors also work well for fingerpicking, but have a brighter more lively sound. To me, the Martins sound a bit muffled. That is just my opinion, so take it as that. I know I'm probably going to get blasted by some Martin gurus;)

[slcrock]

ok let's see... in my humble opinion

i've only played on 1 martin ive ever liked.
oddly enough it was a used dreadnaught at a mars music...

taylors are very nice guitars just not my bag.

go gibson!!! i have a huumingbird, best acoustic i've ever played on..

check it out...
http://pic9.picturetrail.com:80/VOL280/1533549/2997489/38178435.jpg

[Sainte]

Taylor, easily.

I don't see how ANYONE could play a both, then not want a Taylor. Even the lower level Taylors (Big Babies, 110s) sound 10x better than even the most expensive D-X Martins. The ONLY martin I have ever played that I remotely liked was a 40 year old jewel a friend of mine has. I don't wanna play 10s of thousands of dollars for a 60s model or wait for 40 years for a Martin to sound anywhere NEAR as good as my Taylor.

As far as Taylor's not aging well, I assume you've never played an old Taylor. Granted they haven't been around as long as Martin, there are some "older" ones. :-P When you do, come back and apologize for misinforming everyone. ;) Koa, Walnut, Spruce, it doesn't matter, they still blow away Martins. Anyone ever heard the story about how Robert Taylor made a guitar out of a Pallet of pine wood? It sounded so good, Taylor sold 1,000 of them for $10,000 a peice!

Taylors > Martin 24/7/365

My $0.02

[cubby]

Originally posted by Sainte
Taylor, easily.

I don't see how ANYONE could play a both, then not want a Taylor. Even the lower level Taylors (Big Babies, 110s) sound 10x better than even the most expensive D-X Martins.

They sound 10x brighter but not 10x better IMO. I hate the tone of every Taylor I have ever tried. It seems to me that Taylor has made an acoustic that is designed to sound like a piezo instead the the other way around. A good acoustic should be able to cover a lot of ground and a variety of sounds - Taylor doesn't even come close.

[Sainte]

... Lol

No comment Cubby.

That's why they make them both I guess.

[benfoust]

If you don't mind me asking, what Taylors have you been playing on? IMO they have a well rounded sound with nice projection...especially when played unplugged.

[Sainte]

they sound just as awesome plugged in as well. :-P

The onboard preamp blows Martin electronics to h-e-double hockesticks and back.

(PS, I admit, when played with Elixers, Taylors are bright. That's why you use Earthwood or DRs)

[tak]

i have to say i like the sound of the taylors more, i dont actually own one but i play them (and the martins) every time i go to Guitar Center (every two weeks or so)...

[guidedbyechos]

I love the feel and the sound of the taylors, I dunno what it is the fretboard just feels so comfortable, to me it was like picking up a guitar I played for years.

[cubby]

Originally posted by benfoust
If you don't mind me asking, what Taylors have you been playing on? IMO they have a well rounded sound with nice projection...especially when played unplugged.

I have tryed out many types over the last several years at nicer stores than GC and have never liked the sound of any. For the price of a Taylor I could get a good Martin, Gibson, Guild or Tacoma and get a much better sound. Every Taylor I have ever played seemed designed to be bright and harsh. Piezos tend to be bright and harsh so I'm assuming that a lot of people have just become accustomed to that acoustic sound. I much prefer a richer sounding acoustic such as a J-45 or Martin 000-1.

[Sainte]

"I much prefer a richer sounding acoustic such as a J-45 or Martin 000-1."

hmmm... I would love to hear your definition of "rich"... maybe dull ;)

[cubby]

Originally posted by Sainte
"I much prefer a richer sounding acoustic such as a J-45 or Martin 000-1."

hmmm... I would love to hear your definition of "rich"... maybe dull ;)

rich adj. Magnificent; sumptuous; Pleasantly full and mellow: a rich tenor voice.

[flaw4perfection]

I'm more of a Martin man. Sue me. Or don't...

[Sainte]

Originally posted by cubby
rich adj. Magnificent; sumptuous; Pleasantly full and mellow: a rich tenor voice.

None of which describe any martin i've ever played. A dear friend of mine is a guitar tech at the Country Music Store in Texarkana, Tx. They have the most Martins in stock than any other store in the Southwest... and I've played them all.

[Sainte]

exept for the early 60s model.

[accord dude]

Martin my friends i have an HD-28 and i love it every time i play it it sounds better and better. I am in love with my guitar. ahh im holding the baby right now its awsome. the best sound ive ever heard from a guitar (other than a much older D-28). and it still smells sweet. ahh i love it. the action is just right and its awsome for my finger picking.

[sabookanee]

I have a Taylor Big Baby and I love it. It is very loud and BRIGHT. I think i prefer the more mellow, full Martin sound though. I always enjoy playing my dad's. I might get a Martin sometime so I can have both. Is it the Elixirs that make my Taylor so bright? If so, what strings should I try?

[slcrock]

**** em' both!!

Gibsons are boss mate!

[DRIVELIKEJEHU]

Originally posted by conno182
none of them


MATON ARE THE BRAND TO LIVE BY!!!!

i'd love to play a maton but as someone said in a post about "new maton models", they are hard to come by in the states.

[DRIVELIKEJEHU]

Originally posted by sabookanee
I have a Taylor Big Baby and I love it. It is very loud and BRIGHT. I think i prefer the more mellow, full Martin sound though. I always enjoy playing my dad's. I might get a Martin sometime so I can have both. Is it the Elixirs that make my Taylor so bright? If so, what strings should I try?

i have the elixers on my Martin, i like them a lot.. but only for my acoustic tho.

[Sainte]

Originally posted by sabookanee
I have a Taylor Big Baby and I love it. It is very loud and BRIGHT. I think i prefer the more mellow, full Martin sound though. I always enjoy playing my dad's. I might get a Martin sometime so I can have both. Is it the Elixirs that make my Taylor so bright? If so, what strings should I try?


Use DRs or Earthwoods.

[woog]

Until a week ago I'd have said Martin but
then I bought a Taylor 450 1997 12 string
on impulse. Kinda love at first sight. I really
like it. Plenty jangly good. I'll let you know
in 20 years how it ages. LOL