Goodall, Collings or Martin?

[GeetarGoul]

I love em all and want one of each. Any general thoughts?

If you had to own and use just one acoustic listed above, which one? Which model and why?


I wish I had more $$$.

[brianf]

I almost bought a Martin last week but when I got to the shop it was gone (000-28) I never let the dealer know I was that interested so he did not hold it for me. Since blew the money elsewhere.

My thinking was if I will only own 1 Acoustic it has to be a Martin.

Saying that, I have not played many other acoustics other than Gibsons or Martins so some of the other brands may be even better.

Guys like Nelson and Hank will know the answers.

brianf

[Gazza]

They all are very nice. I happen to prefer Martin and Goodall over Collings and really between Goodall and Martin it's a toss up.Personally my martins suit me just fine and probably the only reason I don't own a goodall is because they are to pricey.I hate to throw another factor inot the equation but what about Huss and Dalton those are some nice guitars.

[Gazza]

Chuck, remember when I and you A/b'd the Goodall and the Martin how much clearer the Goodall was? Martins are kind of muddy but I dig 'em.I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a Goodall TED someday.

[hank]

all are excellent, it's gotta be your call.

me? If I could ONLY have one it would be a Martin D18 GE. See thread of same topic. I am a bluegrasser, but it's balanced and covers all angles............ for me.

good luck!

[brianf]

Oh Yeah;

Gazza will know as well! Sorry Gazza:lol .

brianf

[Gazza]

Me? I'm an idiot!;)

[GeetarGoul]

Martin D18 GE, played one last night and it is a great geetz.

I have generally found the collings to do the martin sound and feel better than Martin themselves.

Goodalls have their own shapes and sounds and construction.

Those martin style dreadnaughts are sonic canons! Almost too much bass.

[Gazza]

I like my D35 as my #1.

[Mike Hansen]

I think it's hard to beat Collings for just about anything, although you can't go wrong with any of the three.

How's that for helpful?:lol

[GeetarGoul]

Someday it'll be a dreadnaught too for as well I assume. ;)

[Mr. Papa]

I played a Gallagher once that I thought was GREAT. But, the best two acoustics I've ever played were Martins--a Brazillian '68 D-35, and an '69 O-16NY. Totally different guitars, but both sang to me.

I don't think I've played a good new production Martin yet in a Guitar Center--maybe it's the acoustics of their rooms, but they always sound clunky and dead or too thin. However, they have some great ones at Appalachian Bluegrass in MD.

[Dwell]

I prefer Bourgeois and Collings to Martin. Martin still makes some great guitars, but they make an awful lot of average to clunker guitars. Bourgeois and Collings only make great to incredible guitars. Of the two, I prefer Bourgeois. Not much more than a comparable Martin, but you get so much more.

[hank]

Dwell, both B and C are making great guitars, no doubt. I believe Martin's high-end stuff equals B/C at a cheaper cost. All are excellent, imho.

[UfoPilot]

Huss and Dalton. period end of story. Best guitar I have EVER heard.

[JrGtr42]

I have a pair of Martins (D18 and HD38) and am extremely happy with them. Whem i was looking for what became the HD28, I played tons of guitars, including what I could find of Rosewood dreadnaught boutiques, including Bougeois, Collings, and a few other small builders, plus Taylor and Larrivee.
I found the Martin to be very consistant acroos the line, for all the HD28s I played,m they all sounded very similar. Since I was going direct, and couldn;t play the actual guitar I was going home with, I felt far more comfortable with that one than the others.
one of the Bougeois I saw was an incredible instrument, another was blah...
For the money, I went Martin.
All of them are by and large fine guitars, but I'd say play as many as you can, decide by feel and tone, not by name.
my own $.02.

[hank]

Right, they all make some great guitars. No "blanket" statements as to who absolutely makes the best.

Four years after this thread started I maintain two fine Martins, a new/used 1994 Collings D-2H, an a couple of Jimmy Edmonds' custom guitars. No complaints here ...... other than lack of talent. :roll

[Rockabilly69]

I love my 3 martin guitars, but I have to say that the frets on my new (less than a year old) EC00028 seem to be wearing quite fast, and there are blems on the neck that shouldn't be in a $3000.00 guitar. But when I went looking around for a suitable replacement guitar for my SP00016TR, the EC was the only guitar that I could go out and play without too much adjustment on my part. The tone was there from day one. And as for comparing Martins to the Collings, Huss and Daltons, and other smaller builders, you have to compare to the same price point, not the entry level Martins (Other than the 00015-slothead models as I 've heard more than one of them that smokes many pricier guitars).


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/rockabilly69/trio.jpg

[gakees]

To be honest, I'm only familiar with Gibson, Martin and Taylor. I've played a Collings once and really loved it but I don't think that qualifies my opinion. But I do love the Martin tone. My Taylor came around about 3 - 4 years ago tonewise and I really enjoy the way it sounds. My older brother has a really great Gibson acoustic from the '70's that sounds really nice also. But there's something really distinctive about a Martin.

[Huckleberry]

I looked for over a year. Short of boutique instruments built by a one-legged dwarf in a cave (that you can only order via smoke signals), I must have played everything out there (as far as the bigger brand names).


Martin Martin Martin.

I'll say it again:

Martin Martin Martin

[Rockabilly69]

I hear ya Huckleberry!

Dan

[hanknc]

Old Martins for me. But that's just me. :bh

[SteveGaines]

It seems that most guitars, good acoustic guitar are TRYING to copy THE OLD MARTINS...Collings makes a GREAT guitar...If I couldn't have an "OLD MARTIN" then I would have a Collings...another thing is WHAT KIND OF MUSIC ARE YOU GOING TO BE PLAYING?....Had a buddy who always thought his "Gibson Acoustic was on par with my Martin" ...Until I convinced him to TAKE it to a bluegrass jam session...Mandolins, Fiddles, Banjo's, Upright Bass, THE MARTIN WILL CUT THROUGH THE MIX....That "G" run will be heard...For Bluegrass music ..IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN A MARTIN?...