Look what followed me home yesterday!

[bluespckr]

To paraphrase the old schoolkid thing: "She loves me! She loves me LOTS! She loves me! She loves me LOTS!"

I had been eyeing this Martin D35 at my local GC for a while. I have a DC-16GTE Premium that I love, but wanted a full-bodied (no cutaway) , all acoustic (no electronics) dreadnaught for a while. I tried some D28s, but as good as they are, they didn't speak to me. But when I hit a couple of open chords on this D35, I was hooked.

So yesterday, my missus wanted to pop into a shoe store, and I begged off to go check out the acoustic room at Guitar Center. Another old dog was trying a different model of Martin, and the next thing you know the pair of us olde dudes started noodling around on some old blues thing. Great impromptu jam. He wound up buying the Martin he was airing out (to replace an aging Guild).

We must have been at it a while, when my better half walked in, sat down, and after a few minutes, said, "You know you want it -- get it for Christmas ... and here's some money towards it!" WOW! Even after 32-plus years, she still knows how to curl my toes!!!

So, the newest member of my guitar family is picture below. What a great guitar, in every way. I love the tonal balance and richness of that Martin sound on this guitar. It is absolutely gorgeous -- especially with that three-piece back. The neck is comfortable. The action is a bit higher than I'm used to, but that is a typical Martin thing. I know a Martin-authorized tech about 10 minutes from here who will take down the bridge saddle for me and tweak a few things to get it where I like it. But, it really isn't that bad just the way she is.

And my wife remains my biggest fan and supporter. I had lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend, starting with my best friend (my wife).

Enjoy ...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/bluespckr/Marty%20D35/D35-8.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/bluespckr/Marty%20D35/D35-10.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/bluespckr/Marty%20D35/D35-4.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/bluespckr/Marty%20D35/D35-1.jpg

[sliding-tom]

Let me be the first to congratulate on your new family member. Nice little story about it, too. I'm sure you'll always remember that day. It's good to have a wife like that - mine is just the same. Beautiful guitar! Now we need some pics of Mrs. bluespckr! :rflao

[RnB]

.. It is absolutely gorgeous -- especially with that three-piece back.

Congrats on the the D-35. Love those 3-piece backs! My first Martin in the 70's was a D-35, but I sold it when we bought a house a had a kid in 1981. Being the nostalgic type, I tried to relive it again a few years ago, and bought a HD-35, but I had to sell that one too when I discovered the nut width to be a little too tight for me fingers. However, I still get the "I Wanna D-35 Blues" everytime I see one.
Your wife sounds like a gem. I'm still waiting for mine of 26 years to curl my toes w/ a new Martin...

Enjoy the new one!
RB

[bluespckr]

Let me be the first to congratulate on your new family member. Nice little story about it, too. I'm sure you'll always remember that day. It's good to have a wife like that - mine is just the same. Beautiful guitar! Now we need some pics of Mrs. bluespckr! :rflao

You asked for it, you've got it. "Mrs. Bluespckr" (Nola) and our grand-daughter (Madison):

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/bluespckr/Nola-Madi-2Jan-06.jpg

[Eddie]

Congrats bro, you'll love it!!! I sure miss mine.

[Rockabilly69]

Great guitar, and great wife. Way to go Mrs Bluespckr! What a great X-mas present. You better spoil her in return.

Rockabilly69

[RICHIEB000]

That is a beatiful piece of art work ! Good luck with it and I am sure that you will treasure it and play it for a long long time. Congrats !:yay

[bluespckr]

Thanks everyone. I couldn't be more happy than I am with this guitar. It truly is a lifetime thing for me.

Man, this guitar sounds so ... BIG?! Great, full, well-balanced tone. I even opted to swap out the lights for medium strings (.013 - .056) today, and I am totally amazed at what a huge difference it made in the guitar's tone. If it sounded good to me before, it sounds like I unleashed the fully tonal beauty of this guitar by stepping up the gauge of strings. I have small hands and fingers, but the 12's didn't bother me at all (gave this a three-hour workout yesterday), so I figured I'd try going up. Glad I did. That is definitely the way to go with a D-35.

Again, thanks for the great comments about the guitar and "Mrs. Bluespckr".

[Eddie]

I did the same thing when I had my D-35 switching to 13s from 12s. After a while, the lights will feel funny! I keep lights on my OM-35 and mediums on my dreads.