A very brief trip to Nashville

[Aahzz]

Ended up with a couple hours in Nashville yesterday, so of course I took advantage and hit up Gruhn and Carter Vintage. Got to play some stuff I've never been able to play around the Cincinnati area, and quite enjoyed it. Gruhn has more Martins than I've ever seen in one place! Also, lots of other stuff.

I got to play Collings, Martin, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, Lowden, Oregon Breedlove...some notes

Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 - nice, deep, very full and dry sound. Played really well.

Collings D1AV - I was expecting more wow factor. Don't get me wrong, it was very nice, but I now really understand why I've heard people say that Eastmans sound a lot like Collings, because it sounded a whole lot like my E6D-TC, at 4 times the price. I didn't get to play them side by side, since I didn't have my Eastman with me, but the vibe was very similar.

Lowden The Old Lady - quite possibly the loudest acoustic I have ever played, and chock full of overtones. Sounded utterly amazing, but would so not be the right guitar to accompany my singing, which is my primary style.

Martin D-28 Satin - Sounded surprisingly dull - I expected to like it, and I just didn't. Also, I don't care for the satin amberburst in person.

Martin D-18 Standard - had to play something as a control, since I didn't have any of mine with me. I'm a sucker for Sitka over Mahogany, and it didn't disappoint.

Santa Cruz Dread - not recalling the model, because I hated the neck instantly.

Bourgeois - played a couple, a slope and something smaller - sounded good but I hated the neck.

Oregon Breedlove - GA-ish in size, sounded nice but didn't wow me.

At the end of the day, I prefer my Guild D-40E to any of them except the Lowden, which isn't for me. Runner up would be the D-18 Standard.

 

[bodia]

Sounds like time we’ll spent!

 

[Going Modal]

There is practically NO beating a D-18 in my book. Every single one of them I've ever played has been stellar.

And yet, do I have one? No. Travesty, right? But I do have a 000-18 that had been displayed at NAMM, and which I just happen to think is also one of the best-sounding acoustic guitars I've ever played, so...

 

[andy474x]

Nice!

Went to Carter’s once and liked it… amazing amount of inventory. Should have looked harder at some vintage amps, they had a good selection. Didn’t hit Gruhn, and still kick myself!

Actually on a layover to Southern Cali for a wedding that we’re making a week of, might try to get to Music Store Live, they’ve got a Magnatone Super 59 and Friedman Smallbox I’d like to get my hands on. We don’t get such things in West Michigan!

 

[cbieberstein]

I have had similar experiences visiting a guitar shop in Austin, and I have managed to compare different models. I remember trying out a bunch of high-end guitars and finding that some didn't live up to the hype for me, either. For instance, I played a few Martins and was surprised that some models did not have the character I expected.If you are looking for a great place to unwind after such a trip, check out a hotel resort in Branson, Missouri. I stayed there recently and had a fantastic time. The ambiance was relaxing, and the facilities were top-notch. Click here for more info on the place, it's definitely worth a visit.

 

[László]

I have had similar experiences visiting a guitar shop in Austin, and I have managed to compare different models. I remember trying out a bunch of high-end guitars and finding that some didn't live up to the hype for me, either.

I think you and AAhzz did the 100% right thing to play what interested you before making decisions about the tone of the instruments.

As you mention, there's a lot of hype around instrument choices.

On the other hand, it's also true that there are plenty of differences between builders and guitar models, and with acoustics especially, there are gems and dogs just due to the variances in wood, even with identical builds.

It's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, and it's impossible to do that without hearing the guitars.

As an aside, I find that what often makes an expensive instrument worth the additional dough isn't what I'd normally do checking out a guitar in a store; it's what I can do with the guitar after living with it for a while and learning its nuance. That seems especially true with acoustics, where even the mic I decide to record with can have an effect on the tone of the recorded track in my sessions for the TV ads.

So I kinda have to imagine that, and there's some guesswork involved. Sometimes I've been right. Sometimes not.