CF Martin update

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CF Martin update

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Guest

CF Martin update

Hola

A quick visit to Madrid had its ups and downs. The ups were a visit to José Romero, undoubtedly one of the finest guitarreros in Spain: we went out for a great lunch of prawns and lobster. Plans to ring Ye Ye de Cádiz and go to see him in Torre Bermejas were changed when I saw a cartel announcing the first Spanish corrida of Morante de la Puebla. So we rushed out to the plaza of Vista Alegre and afterwards rushed back to catch the excellent midnight show in Casa Patas with Talegón de Córdoba.

The downs were the guitars I played. First was a 00016 Martin, which sounded dead, with the strings a quarter of an inch from the soundboard.

Then an Eric Clapton Martin, which sounded quite ordinary but had a price tag of 3700 euros. I might have paid 700 for it.

Then a Mexican Martin:one of the ugliest guitars I have seen, with a number of design and constructional defects. Still it sounded pretty much like the EC model.

Finally a Chinese Martin: a jumbo with the strange plasticky back and sides. It sounded like the others but not the sort of instrument I am looking for.

Didn´t get to play an OM but playing these 4 does not imbue me with confidence: 4 Martins, 4 duds

Sean

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 3 2008 0:41:22

ChiyoDad

Posts: 151
Joined: Jun. 30 2007
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: CF Martin update (in reply to Guest)

Sean,

See if you can find the Johnson Carolina JO-26 or JO-27 (mahogany or rosewood B/S). These have recently been rebadged at the Recording King RO-26 and RO-27. The Johnsons are on closeout and sell for $320-$400. The Recording King versions sell for $400-$460.

I actually tried a Johnson Petaluma JO-76 which is a rebadged JO-26. The unit I got had some problems but I still thought it was a rather good guitar for the $320 price tag (which included shipping). I would have accepted an exchange but I was thinking of getting the Recording King Contemporary version instead.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 3 2008 2:31:11

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: CF Martin update (in reply to Guest)

Sean,

You are used to Luthier build high end guitars. Maybe you should look out for a Luthier build steel string....
There are so many different steel strings. All depending on what you play. Pick or fingers, open tune like DADGAD, high or low tension strings. Just like you have nylos for flamenco, for classical for latin etc.

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 3 2008 8:28:25

n85ae

Posts: 877
Joined: Sep. 7 2006

RE: CF Martin update (in reply to Guest)

Ander's -

What a prejudicial comment! :) Martins are typically damned fine guitars. To find
a bunch of "Dud's" is pretty unusual. To the point that I'd ask if they were even
real Martins? Or if the strings were about five years old? Steel strings are
pretty dead if the strings are old. More so than typical nylon string guitars.

I own a Martin, and I have a friend that has three. I also used to live near
Elderly Instruments in Lansing Michigan which is a huge Martin dealer, they
are pretty darned consistently good guitars.

Regards,
Jeff

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 3 2008 16:41:25

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: CF Martin update (in reply to Guest)

quote:

Ander's -

What a prejudicial comment! :)

Jeff, why do find my comment to be prejudicial?

As I wrote in the original Martin post, I have tried a few very nice Martins and some not so nice. The good ones were some of the best steelstrings I´ve tried, but I still dont find the same touch as in a good luthier build instrument. Allow me to be like that. I´m in the end a luthier myself.
And please allow me to distinguish between handbuild and factory build or mabe better to call the first Luthier build? There´s a difference and for those of us who build its VERY important to say so. In marketing you use all kinds of blurry use of words. Nowadays everything is Artesan or ecological and its a complete misuse of words and a comple lack of respect towards the arteans and the ecological producers. I mean, the cheapest Alhambra is called artesan and you can buy an ecological car. Its absurd.
Martin and some other factorys are high end factorys, but they are still factorys.
I´m very glad you like your OM and I hope your dad will give it back to you soon.

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 3 2008 20:43:32

Rain

Posts: 475
Joined: Jul. 7 2005

RE: CF Martin update (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

What astounds me is the WHY certain people seek out a particular brand name, whether it be a Reyes a Martin or a Fender strat. I believe that people who are in the market for such guitars are buying not a guitar but the dream of being Vicente Eric Clapton or whomever they idolize. Eric Clapton's signature model is built by hand in Fenders Custom shop and trust me it is not what you and I would get if we were to buy his Fender Signature guitar.
And ask your selves why is it that Fender has a Custom Shop where guitars are handmade if a differance did not exist between what a guitar maker like Anders produces and what is made in a factory.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 4 2008 10:18:37

ChiyoDad

Posts: 151
Joined: Jun. 30 2007
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: CF Martin update (in reply to Rain)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rain

What astounds me is the WHY certain people seek out a particular brand name, whether it be a Reyes a Martin or a Fender strat. I believe that people who are in the market for such guitars are buying not a guitar but the dream of being Vicente Eric Clapton or whomever they idolize.

That can be true for artist signature models. Ever seen those "Hannah Montana" guitars?

Of course, going by a brand name is a quick way of narrowing the broad range of choices and (hopefully) increasing the odds that one will get a good guitar. Folks who've had a good experience with one brand are more likely to try it again.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 4 2008 12:27:23