quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
Sounds like you did it right, Rigby. Now where are the pictures?

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
They said they had a brand new one in a box in the back and asked if I wanted it instead of the one that had been hanging on the wall forever getting scuffed up. I said sure, but let me play it first.

The grain on the top wasn't as tight and straight and the guitar sounded completely dead. Exact same model - not top-of-the-line, but certainly not a cheap one - from one of the premiere acoustic makers.

I took the scuffed up wall hanger home. It happens to have a pickguard, but that wasn't a deciding factor and I'd be just as happy if it didn't.

At the time I wished it had matte back and sides rather than gloss, but the finish has grown on me.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
I have to wonder ,
Out of 75 trained or Professional musicians ,
How many of them could listen to two , $3000.00 guitars

Or two $1,500.00 guitars, for that matter,

And discern between the instruments that do or don't have pick guards.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
I have to wonder ,
Out of 75 trained or Professional musicians ,
How many of them could listen to two , $3000.00 guitars

Or two $1,500.00 guitars, for that matter,

And discern between the instruments that do or don't have pick guards.

Other differences, in total, make more difference than a pick guard or lack of one. But the pick guard is a factor.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
They said they had a brand new one in a box in the back and asked if I wanted it instead of the one that had been hanging on the wall forever getting scuffed up. I said sure, but let me play it first.

The grain on the top wasn't as tight and straight and the guitar sounded completely dead. Exact same model - not top-of-the-line, but certainly not a cheap one - from one of the premiere acoustic makers.

I took the scuffed up wall hanger home. It happens to have a pickguard, but that wasn't a deciding factor and I'd be just as happy if it didn't.

At the time I wished it had matte back and sides rather than gloss, but the finish has grown on me.

Is that a D-28?

Sucks they kept it in the box like that as acoustics do need some time and playing to "open up." I know some guys don't totally believe in this but it does appear to be generally accepted that an acoustic guitar will get louder and deeper over time and playing.

But general thought is that if an acoustic is a dog at the shop, the potential is limited. I bought my D-28 back in 2004 sight unseen and it has opened up wonderfully.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:

It's not a D-28, but it is somewhat similar. It's from a special run Guitar Center got Martin to do for them. I had to look it up, the model was called MMV (because the production run was in 2005 I guess?), and I misremembered the price, it was about $1500. Solid sitka spruce top, solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, real ebony fretboard (a lot of acoustic guitars - even some surprisingly expensive ones - are using a phenolic resin substitute now).

It has fewer cosmetic touches (the binding, purfling, rosette, etc., are simpler - which is fine with me, I like a pretty piece of wood but don't care much about inlay), it uses the top bracing and neck joint from the less expensive Martins, and it has no electronics at all, not even an under-saddle piezo.

I'm not a professional musician, I don't need to plug it in, so I was just as happy not to have the electronics, and it sounds really, REALLY good. The harmonic richness of the tone of the guitar makes me smile every time I play it.

I really did spend hours playing every guitar on the wall that was even remotely within an amount of money I was willing to spend, and liked that specific guitar the best by a significant margin (I believe the D-28 was somewhat beyond that, and the D-18 was a stretch and I didn't like it as much).

That was 10+ years ago. Today, I'd probably just buy a D-28. (Or maybe go stupid overboard and buy something like a Lowden). I'm happy with my guitar, though.