Martin Rep Diane Ponzio

[ducktrapper]

Went to see Martin rep Diane Ponzio last night at the local music store and got plenty of cool swag. Flashy catalogues, hat, t-shirt and name tag holder. Other than that it was a lot of propaganda. I love Martins and have a nice one but I wanted to ask how Larrivee can sell 8K guitars for 3K but since she was such a nice lady, I didn't have the heart. Apparently, it's all about traditional building style, the wood and especially the dove tail joint. Noooooo? That's how they can sell you a nice sounding plywood guitar with real counter top materials for a mere $600.00 and a black one for $1,100.00 (except they have mortise and tenon joints). Hey but it's not plywood, it's HPL and it's made from genuine Martin dust! How much does the CF Martin logo cost on those HPL babies? 

In all seriosity, I was really impressed with the new Martins with the Fishman Aura pickup system. Wow! 

[Danny]

   A friend dropped off a 000 Martin last week to have it setup lower on the action. It was a HPL back and sides with a solid spruce top and a Spanish cedar neck. It sounded horrible and almost cut your fingers to play it.

   But after lowering the action and a new set of high quality strings it was a different guitar. I was surprised at the tone and big sound. She was so happy when she got it back and said it never sounded so good, even when it was new. I was real happy with her reaction.
   It is clear to me that the only thing this guitar really had over other low end models was the headstock logo. A Recording King 000 in solid woods could be had for the same price. I'd take the R.K. any day over a HPL. But they are durable.

                             Still it did have a nice sound and it plays so easy now with no effort to fret a chord.

[hadden]

I played a nice sounding OM-18 a couple weeks ago (I think that was what it was). Surprising as a strummer. The Martin Dred sound I've never understood. Like a slow dumb gassy mule.

[ducktrapper]

The Martin Dred sound I've never understood. Like a slow dumb gassy mule.

You're kidding right? 

[Danny]

   That does sound like some kinda Joke.

[ducktrapper]

Well ... my D-35 sounds like a big, airy, warm, chimey ... race horse.    

[hadden]

You're kidding right? 

Only slightly.

[carruth]

My 1972 D28 was built like a truck, and you needed truck driver hands to get around that big neck. It sounded OK. Not a patch on my DO3 on playability or sound, and I got two other Larrivees for the price I sold the D28 for. To be fair, I have played other D28s  that were much better than my one.

[ducktrapper]

My 1972 D28 was built like a truck, and you needed truck driver hands to get around that big neck. It sounded OK. Not a patch on my DO3 on playability or sound, and I got two other Larrivees for the price I sold the D28 for. To be fair, I have played other D28s  that were much better than my one.

I've played a lot of very nice Martins and a lot of very nice Larrivees. Dreads are my favourite guitars and, kudos to where they belong, they were invented by Martin. My two favourite dreads are my 1975 D-35 and my 2001 D-05. One rosewood and one mahogany. Have no need for another. While they make very nice guitars, my only beef with Martin is pricing. 1K for plywood? 8K for some inlay? 60K for Brazilian rosewood? Really??? 

[carruth]

I'm with you Ducktrapper. My thoughts exactly.

[ducktrapper]

I'm with you Ducktrapper. My thoughts exactly.

[hadden]

I'm just not a Dread fan generally and pretty much across the board with guitar companies, mid sized to smaller bodies are better as instruments than what comes out of their D, other than wall of sound strumming.For me the typical D-28 is an exaggeration of what I don't like about the D sound, and I don't understand why it is used as a reference other than it has a history in music culture. It's part of why Rosewood has a higher status in the guitar world than it should.

[ducktrapper]

I'm just not a Dread fan generally and pretty much across the board with guitar companies, mid sized to smaller bodies are better as instruments than what comes out of their D, other than wall of sound strumming.For me the typical D-28 is an exaggeration of what I don't like about the D sound, and I don't understand why it is used as a reference other than it has a history in music culture. It's part of why Rosewood has a higher status in the guitar world than it should.

Fair enough although to be fairer the typical D-28 of today may not be the typical D-28 of days gone by. Authentic anyone? Anyway, I have a weakness for mahogany guitars too and I have smaller body guitars, as well including two Larrivee L's, a OOO and an OM. In fact, I appear to have guitars coming out the wazoo but to me (and probably many others), I have to admit that image being nearly all important in the world of guitar players, a dread just looks like a guitar should look. For me, there's no way around that.      

[Caleb]

I like Martins (don't own one, never have) and have no problem with their pricing.  They are in business to make dollar bills (like everyone else) so I'm not surprised that they are doing it.  The reason they charge so much is simple: they can.  Why does Lynn Dudenbostel get $20k+ for a mandolin? Because he can. Same goes for Steve Gilchrist in Oz, and lots of other builders.  None of these people are breaking laws or doing anything morally/ethically wrong. They are simply making money, and making a lot of people happy in the process.   It's simple in my mind: if I think something is overblown in price, or if I cannot afford it, I don't get it. Common sense.

Saying all that, I love the Martin dread sound. It defined a lot of the old country sounds I adore. My D-03BW has plenty of low end but cannot growl like an old Martin.  But it's one of the best all-around guitars I've ever played and I don't plan to part with it. I also prefer a Larrivee because not everyone owns one. Road less travelled, etc.

Anyway, Martin is an old American company built upon the old American Dream. May they live long and prosper.

[rockstar_not]

I like Martins (don't own one, never have) and have no problem with their pricing.  They are in business to make dollar bills (like everyone else) so I'm not surprised that they are doing it.  The reason they charge so much is simple: they can.  Why does Lynn Dudenbostel get $20k+ for a mandolin? Because he can. Same goes for Steve Gilchrist in Oz, and lots of other builders.  None of these people are breaking laws or doing anything morally/ethically wrong. They are simply making money, and making a lot of people happy in the process.   It's simple in my mind: if I think something is overblown in price, or if I cannot afford it, I don't get it. Common sense.

Saying all that, I love the Martin dread sound. It defined a lot of the old country sounds I adore. My D-03BW has plenty of low end but cannot growl like an old Martin.  But it's one of the best all-around guitars I've ever played and I don't plan to part with it. I also prefer a Larrivee because not everyone owns one. Road less travelled, etc.

Anyway, Martin is an old American company built upon the old American Dream. May they live long and prosper.

Agreed - with the exception that I don't have a Martin.  Almost bought one of the HPL guitars though, but the local luthier introduced me to Larrivée.  I always had a penchant for more modern takes on tradition.  I had an Applause, partially because I thought the bowl idea was cool.  I shopped the X-series from Martin (their Formica guitars) because it made sense to me that they could use a much thinner material if it was HPL than solid wood, and perhaps that might resonate more freely.  I also shopped Garrison guitars because of that glass reinforced nylon frame idea they had - until I picked one up and it felt like a Les Paul compared to a Strat weight-wise; heavy sucker!

When I strummed the first dulcet tones on an OM-03 that luthier handed to me, my eyes were opened. (ended up ordering an L-03 instead).

But I say hats off to Martin no matter.  Same for Harley Davidson.  I see Martin as the Harley Davidson of the acoustic guitar world.

[ducktrapper]

I like Martins (don't own one, never have) and have no problem with their pricing.  They are in business to make dollar bills (like everyone else) so I'm not surprised that they are doing it.  The reason they charge so much is simple: they can.  Why does Lynn Dudenbostel get $20k+ for a mandolin? Because he can. Same goes for Steve Gilchrist in Oz, and lots of other builders.  None of these people are breaking laws or doing anything morally/ethically wrong. They are simply making money, and making a lot of people happy in the process.   It's simple in my mind: if I think something is overblown in price, or if I cannot afford it, I don't get it. Common sense.

Saying all that, I love the Martin dread sound. It defined a lot of the old country sounds I adore. My D-03BW has plenty of low end but cannot growl like an old Martin.  But it's one of the best all-around guitars I've ever played and I don't plan to part with it. I also prefer a Larrivee because not everyone owns one. Road less travelled, etc.

Anyway, Martin is an old American company built upon the old American Dream. May they live long and prosper.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a communist or anything. I agree they can and will ... just not likely with me. I also agree that I don't want a guitar like everyone else's which is why I've played a Larrivee for 38 years. . 

[sawdustdave]

My Martin is a JC16WE, which was, when I bought it, a used guitar. Now, I find I have the original care and watering paperwork, with the registration filled out by the store as though I bought it new. It's light - surprisingly light, to me. And I love the sound and the feel of her. But I don't think I will buy another Martin. The modern version of the Jumbos I've seen just aren't right, somehow. And I'm a woodworking hobbyist, I believe in wood. Can't do HPL.

And, my Larrivee is my goto guit anyway. So the next guitar I buy will be some sort of larry, I'm sure.

[carruth]

Harley Davidson and Martin guitars?  So what motorbike is a Larrivee? My money is on a Ducati......because they both sound wonderful and are well built from the very best materials.

[Danny]

Harley Davidson and Martin guitars?  So what motorbike is a Larrivee? My money is on a Ducati......because they both sound wonderful and are well built from the very best materials.

BMW

[ducktrapper]

That gives me the opportunity to quote from my favourite song about motorcycles ...

Said Red Molly to James that's a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like
Said James to Red Molly, my hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Boxhill they did ride



However, since we're talking about what were originally Canadian guitars maybe they should be compared to Mirage, a Canadian made bike.