Help needed from the guitarists out there

[hammer]

My son, who primarily plays acoustic blues, just had his old Martin which he treasured, stolen out of his truck yesterday when he ran up to the apartment of a band mate who he was giving a ride to practice (locked truck smash and grab in less than 60 seconds). As a young carpenter in his day-job he hasn't anywhere near the funds he needs to replace it with something comparable so I'm currently looking at what I might purchase for him as an early birthday gift.  At this point in my life, price isn't that much of a deal. I just want to get him something with which he will be happy and allow him to continue to develop as a musician.  It took a good while to find the Martin he had stolen as many of the used Martin's he played while looking just did not sound that good for the prices that were being asked.


I'd be open to any suggestions of the direction I might head in attempting to find him a replacement as I know next to nothing about acoustic guitars.

[lbpesq]

Brian, it's a difficult question to answer without any idea of a budget.  If we're talking about the "big boys", I would put Martin and Taylor at the top of the list.  I assume you know about Martin.  Taylor makes wonderful guitars that tend to be easy players - the closest action to an electric I've found on an acoustic guitar.  You son learned an expensive lesson the hard way, NEVER leave your instrument in your vehicle, unattended.

Bill, tgo

[jalevinemd]

Also bear in mind that those two names come at a price. The cheapest solid wood Martin lists at around $1000. And while it is a Martin, I don't know what you're getting at that 'entry level.' The cheapest solid wood Taylor comes in at around $1200. I'd definitely look into other companies as well, unless you're set on another Martin. I played an absolutely beautiful Breedlove dreadnought - handmade in Bend Oregon - that was going for $1699. A wonderful guitar in every respect. Seagull has very nice solid wood construction models that start under $700, I believe. Then of course at the other end of the spectrum are Santa Cruz and Huss & Dalton who craft beautiful instruments.

Good luck with your search.

[gtrguy]

I have a Eastman (not Eastwood) Potomac (copy of a Martin D28) that sounds great, has a solid spruce top, etc. They don't cost that much used.

[StephenR]

Is your son going to have input into which guitar to purchase as a replacement or is the gift going to be a surprise? IMO acoustic guitars need to be played before buying and each player is going to find things they like or dislike about a certain make/model even from guitar to guitar. Your son discovered that with the Martins he tried before buying the one that got stolen. There are a lot of nice acoustic guitars on the market but I think it would be hard to pick one out for someone else.

What model and year was the Martin that was stolen? Since he treasured the one he had it may be best to start by looking for a replacement and then modifying the search based on availability and price.

Think it is really nice that you are willing to help your son replace his guitar... good luck in the search!

[hammer]

Thanks for the input.


The top of my budget is around $3,000.  What I'm attempting to do is narrow down what's available locally (new and used) that my son can go and play.  He will definitely be making the final decision. The reason I'm asking for assistance and some good options as to brands to look over and listen to is that when he purchased the guitar that was stolen all he wanted to do was look at Martins. Nothing else interested him. Then when he went out and played with others, he started to notice that there were a number of other acoustics out there that sounded as good if not better than his Martin (some of which would have cost him a lot less).


 

[hammer]

He lost a D-18 I think it was a mid-80s model but not sure as to exact date.

[edwardofhuncote]

Brian, a mid-80's D-18 won't be too difficult or expensive to replace. Here is a great place to look, or to post a WTB Ad. It's a very cool little community of musicians, very much like this place.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&query=category&category=Guitars&results_format=headlines

And that story pretty-well pist me off. I very much hope you catch the thief. 

I'll keep an eye out for a good ol' D-18 down my way here too.

~Gregory (who adores Martin guitars, and deeply loathes a thief)

[cozmik_cowboy]

As Bill said, Martin & Taylor are the first names that come to most people; the best way I've heard the difference described is that with Martin you hear the wood more & with Taylor you hear the strings more.
And Gregory's right, mid-'80s D-18s are not rare, and you should be able to find a decent one well within your budget.  But please, don't let him limit his search.  Yes, play M & T, but don't forget Gibson & Guild, as well.  Santa Cruz makes marvelous instruments, but you'd need used to come in under $3K.  Larrivée is a little further down the price scale, but I've played a goodly number of them - dread, 000, jumbo, parlor, 6-string, 12-string, rosewood, mahogany - and every one's been absolutely magical!
While we all want beat the lowlife who caused this dilemma about the face with a Teisco Del Rey, let the search be an adventure.  And I wouldn't only play dreads, either; there are great sounds in other shapes.
But tell me you're buying me an acoustic of my choice and I'll probably go with a Martin M-36; tonal balance of a 000 with most of the volume of a D. (Also acceptable but harder to find: M-38, M-30 Jorma Kaukoken. M-42 David Bromberg)

[lidon2001]

My .02.   Recently, I was down in the Keys and a gentleman playing solo at Sloppy Joe's had a Taylor 614 and it sounded great through the sound system.  Then my buddy picked one up, a few years old with 3 piece back, and it too sounds great both acoustic and amplified.  "But it's maple..."   Yes, it is, and sounds fantastic. 

[edwardofhuncote]

Acoustic Blues is wide open for guitar sounds... gosh. It really will come down to a particular guitar's voice speaking to you, which kinda' knocks out classifieds.

Martin Dreadnoughts (as much as I love them) probably would not be my first choice for that music. Like Coz said, for Martins, listen to M-bodies, which are like a deep-body 000, or an OM, which is a D-scale guitar with a 000 body... that second combination in my opinion is a killer guitar for acoustic blues.

My Cousin plays a Gibson L-00, and a J-45 alternately for acoustic blues. (that really is his wheelhouse, and has been for 40 years)

I certainly wouldn't rule out some of the smaller independent builders too. There's some fantastic guitars being made anymore, and that's really made the factory guys step their game up too. Sucks that you're shopping for this reason, but if there is a silver lining this is it.

On the other hand... it's dang hard to beat a good 'ol D-18. Happy hunting.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Like Coz said, for Martins, listen to M-bodies, which are like a deep-body 000, or an OM, which is a D-scale guitar with a 000 body... that second combination in my opinion is a killer guitar for acoustic blues.

Pardon my beg to differment, but the M isn't a deep-body 000; it has the same depth (and shape) as a 000, but with the width of a dread.  And yes, OM's are quite nice for acoustic blues.  But the M fingerpicks as well as the 000/OMs, strums almost as well as the D, and flatpicks as well as any of them (did I mention I like them?)

Peter

[lbpesq]

I believe it was 1994.  I was visiting New York and went to 48th Street with $2K in my pocket to hunt Martins.  I spent the better part of two afternoons playing only Martins at every shop on the street.  New and used.  D-18s, D-28s, D-35s.  Each had it's own feel, some I connected with, some I didn't.  I finally settled on a new D-35 at Rudy's.  I asked the sales guy if he thought that was anything else I should try playing.  He took a Taylor 810 off the wall.  It felt "right" immediately.  After 20 minutes of playing, I changed my mind about the D-35 and bought the Taylor for $100 more than the Martin.  The morale of the story is that guitars are like women, (or men, as the case may be).  No one is right for everyone, and you have to try them out yourself to find the right one.   Hit some stores, keep an eye on craigslist, and keep trying them out and the "right one" will find him.

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

Like Coz said, for Martins, listen to M-bodies, which are like a deep-body 000, or an OM, which is a D-scale guitar with a 000 body... that second combination in my opinion is a killer guitar for acoustic blues.

Pardon my beg to differment, but the M isn't a deep-body 000; it has the same depth (and shape) as a 000, but with the width of a dread.  And yes, OM's are quite nice for acoustic blues.  But the M fingerpicks as well as the 000/OMs, strums almost as well as the D, and flatpicks as well as any of them...

Thanks for the correction Coz... you're right, and now I can't remember which model it was I was thinking about. The short-lived J body maybe? I know there's a deep-body 000 in there somewhere!   I'm more of a 12-fret 00 type.

(Sorry for the ramble Brian, I think Peter and I graduated from the same school for guitar nerds... he just paid more attention than I did one day!)

[David Houck]

I likes this one: