New Martin

[brianf]

Well after a year of promissing myself a new acoustic I'm going to get one this month.

I was always set on the 000-28. But now I'm thinking a cutaway would be nice.

As I go through the Martin web site I notice that almost all the cut away models have onboard electronics. Why is this???

I can see the electronics coming in handy a couple of times a year but I would not need it that often.

Do they affect the tone at all when not in use? I see that huge equalizer sitting there and think that it would kill tone.

(Not that Martin would ever build a guitar that sounded poor).

Any thoughts folks???

Thanks in advance.

brianf:brianf

[hank]

I wouldn't personally worry about the control equipment robbing tone that much. If you don't need internal amplification, don't get it.

I'd determine what type of tone I wanted first. I'm a HUGE dreadnaught guy. All of my acoustics at the moment are dreads. However, I had a marvelous 12-fret 000-15S, all mahogany, ladder bracing that was incredible. My son has it now.

Anyway, I love forward-shifted X-bracing, styled after the '30's Martin dreads. 000-wise, I love the Eric Clapton because of the traditional bracing.

Ladder bracing is a completely different deal. Some sound good to me and some sound very thin. I believe I like the smaller-bodied ladder-braced better than the large body ladder-braced Martins.

There, I just realized this whole response is confusing as hell.

hank

[lyles]

Yeah, What Hank said. :D

Actually brianf even though I liked the 000-28 you were looking and after playing it today and really liking the tone, I think I'd have to recommend that you go for a cutaway. Not that there is a big need to play above the 12th or 14th fret but it is nice to have the option and I don't think that there is any loss in tone from the electronics; in fact that also gives you a whole range of other options.

hmmm, a Martin 000-28 run through distortion, delay and phase shifter.... Wow how would that sound? :lol :lol :lol :lol

[brianf]

Hi Hank; Long time no talk. I guess since I will only have 1 acoustic, I'm trying to find the one guitar that will do it all. I'm stumped.

Lyles, the 7 and 8 series Taylors were out on display when I went back tonight for my lesson. Holy Shit!!! Real nice. Go back tomorrow and check them out.


My open G lesson went well. Got all the shapes down now. we also worked on the first 30 seconds or so of "Don't Stop".

Talk tomorrow.

brianf