[annoying_2001]

hi,

just wondering if buying a high end martin would be better for a taylor of the same price (so say i have $1000-american-to spend) would it be worth it to buy a better martin, or an "average" (if "average" taylors exsist....lol) taylor?

i've played many martins in guitar stores, and i think they always feel kinda tough, granted it's because they're brand new guitars and have never been worked in, and after time they would be worked in.

i've always been a fan of taylors, but i'm lookin into martins, to maybe "test the waters."

thanks in advance.

sorry to put this but....
i'm not looking for any comments on other guitars, i know everyone has their favorites and the guitars they always recommend for people, but i'm not interested in those right now (maybe later.....hahaha). however, i do respect your opinion.

[pimp_vince]

well granted you're only spending a grand, you'll be limited to say a D-18 and the taylor 3 and 4 series.

i'd say get a nice 412, or 414 taylor, but do play as many guitars as you can. it's the only way to pick what's best.

[annoying_2001]

the $1000 was just an example, it'll be more than a grand.

[airdog4125]

Taylors have cheap neck joints. From what I've seen, they don't use a dovetail joint, they bolt it in. Als I love the 12th fret markers they use on their 100 series. A nice pair of screws right in the middle of the neck. Very tasleful. Martins, I don't like because of thier wierd necks. It feels like it's diging into your hand.
i can't say I really have a problem with martin sound or construction, so I'd go with a nice D-18 or 28, should run you right about 12 or 1300.

[evileye]

Obviously Martin VS Taylor is all a matter of opinion. But if you want to buy a high end Martin such as a D28, something really decent you might be better off to buy a vintage instrument from the 1970's or so, or maybe just a well looked after second hand instrument that is only a few years old. Your instrument wont depreciate as much then - most high end guitars depreciate (sometimes by half) once you take it out of the store then start to appreciate again. Your best to buy an instrument that was made in 1998 or near this year, then you avoid any depreciation.

[adds]

Taylors have cheap neck joints.  From what I've seen, they don't use a dovetail joint, they bolt it in.  Als I love the 12th fret markers they use on their 100 series.  A nice pair of screws right in the middle of the neck.  Very tasleful.  Martins, I don't like because of thier wierd necks.  It feels like it's diging into your hand. 
i can't say I really have a problem with martin sound or construction, so I'd go with a nice D-18 or 28, should run you right about 12 or 1300.

I dont like the bolt on neck either.It just doesnt seem right on an acoustic.MInd you taylors are a plesure to re-fret unlike guitars with the traditional slopeing dovetail joint.

[eetdrinkanbmerry]

I would definitly try to steer towards a 4 series taylor, 414's are the best looking if you don't neccisarily want to look like everyone else and have a dreadnought. I have a friend who has a '99 414 and he loves it, just keep restringing it with elexirs and you'll be golden.

[airdog4125]

Taylors have cheap neck joints.  From what I've seen, they don't use a dovetail joint, they bolt it in.  Als I love the 12th fret markers they use on their 100 series.  A nice pair of screws right in the middle of the neck.  Very tasleful.  Martins, I don't like because of thier wierd necks.  It feels like it's diging into your hand. 
i can't say I really have a problem with martin sound or construction, so I'd go with a nice D-18 or 28, should run you right about 12 or 1300.

I dont like the bolt on neck either.It just doesnt seem right on an acoustic.MInd you taylors are a plesure to re-fret unlike guitars with the traditional slopeing dovetail joint.

It seems like the bolt on neck wouldn't be as secure. I do love their tone, but I'm not sure I could ever get one because their neck joint is so cheap. The make amazing acoustics, then get cheap at the last minute. Couldn't they just do a dovetail joint?

[adds]

Taylors have cheap neck joints.  From what I've seen, they don't use a dovetail joint, they bolt it in.  Als I love the 12th fret markers they use on their 100 series.  A nice pair of screws right in the middle of the neck.  Very tasleful.  Martins, I don't like because of thier wierd necks.  It feels like it's diging into your hand. 
i can't say I really have a problem with martin sound or construction, so I'd go with a nice D-18 or 28, should run you right about 12 or 1300.

I dont like the bolt on neck either.It just doesnt seem right on an acoustic.MInd you taylors are a plesure to re-fret unlike guitars with the traditional slopeing dovetail joint.

It seems like the bolt on neck wouldn't be as secure. I do love their tone, but I'm not sure I could ever get one because their neck joint is so cheap. The make amazing acoustics, then get cheap at the last minute. Couldn't they just do a dovetail joint?

I dont know why they dont use the dovetail joint.I guess they have there reasons.They have there advantages.Easyier to get fixed if it gets broken for one.Easyier to re-fret.Its debatable that there not as stron.There quite secure in there once thats bolted in its not going anywhere the same as a dove tail aint.I think its a matter of preference really.I dont like it myself id sooner not have it on any guitar really.They still play and sound great i just dont like the look.The same as i dont like the fact santa cruz use ply wood end blocks either.

[panndder]

Taylors have cheap neck joints.  From what I've seen, they don't use a dovetail joint, they bolt it in.  Als I love the 12th fret markers they use on their 100 series.  A nice pair of screws right in the middle of the neck.  Very tasleful.  Martins, I don't like because of thier wierd necks.  It feels like it's diging into your hand. 
i can't say I really have a problem with martin sound or construction, so I'd go with a nice D-18 or 28, should run you right about 12 or 1300.

I dont like the bolt on neck either.It just doesnt seem right on an acoustic.MInd you taylors are a plesure to re-fret unlike guitars with the traditional slopeing dovetail joint.

It seems like the bolt on neck wouldn't be as secure. I do love their tone, but I'm not sure I could ever get one because their neck joint is so cheap. The make amazing acoustics, then get cheap at the last minute. Couldn't they just do a dovetail joint?

I dont know why they dont use the dovetail joint.I guess they have there reasons.They have there advantages.Easyier to get fixed if it gets broken for one.Easyier to re-fret.Its debatable that there not as stron.There quite secure in there once thats bolted in its not going anywhere the same as a dove tail aint.I think its a matter of preference really.I dont like it myself id sooner not have it on any guitar really.They still play and sound great i just dont like the look.The same as i dont like the fact santa cruz use ply wood end blocks either.

The neck technology Taylor invented and patented is one of the reasons I bought my 414. It is stronger on the head (the grain is going with the wood) and it can easily be removed for maitence by a Luthier or someone expierenced...Instead of a dovetail joint needing to be removed by steaming it off (a long and tedious process) which gets very expensive when paying someone to do it.

Also, with Taylor's necks I can get the action much lower yet playing easily than with a traditional neck.

It is stronger, and plays better, I don't see any disadvantages

[evileye]

Is this the joint your talking about? If what the above poster said is true, I dont see any problems with it. It's not that obtrusive!

[airdog4125]

It's a taylor, so I'm sure it uses the bolt-on. I've played quite a few taylors, just never got one. I'm very weary of the (seemingly) cheap neck joint. I like work to go into every part of a guitar, It just dosn't seem quite right to me. I'll go gibson.

[evileye]

It's a taylor, so I'm sure it uses the bolt-on.  I've played quite a few taylors, just never got one.  I'm very weary of the (seemingly) cheap neck joint.  I like work to go into every part of a guitar, It just dosn't seem quite right to me.  I'll go gibson.

And you'l never look back.

[adds]

Is this the joint your talking about? If what the above poster said is true, I dont see any problems with it. It's not that obtrusive!

Thats a traditiolal dove tail joint.Its a comlete bastards to fit i can tell you that.It can be obstructive when it come to working on it.Fretting is much ieasier with a bolt of as you can just take it off .It makes it easier for doing those last few frets thats for sure.

Thats a nice guitar by the was i love the figure.Is it yours?

[will7920]

If you are willing to spend $1500-$2000 I would say get the Martin, because the Martins in that price range are totally in a league of their own.

I have my heart set on this one, left handed, of course.

[adds]

If you are willing to spend $1500-$2000 I would say get the Martin, because the Martins in that price range are totally in a league of their own.

I have my heart set on this one, left handed, of course.

Seems nice though i dont like the fact they have used a mortise and tenon neck joint and they have used ply wood blocks and they have failed to put purfling on the back.Thats what i call cutting corners.Other than that seems ok.Wouldnt buy it myself though.

[evileye]

Is this the joint your talking about? If what the above poster said is true, I dont see any problems with it. It's not that obtrusive!

Thats a traditiolal dove tail joint.Its a comlete bastards to fit i can tell you that.It can be obstructive when it come to working on it.Fretting is much ieasier with a bolt of as you can just take it off .It makes it easier for doing those last few frets thats for sure.

Thats a nice guitar by the was i love the figure.Is it yours?

Nah - it's like mine allright, but the flame in mine is a darker colour. Actually i'm pretty sure that's a misleading picture, i've noticed in pictures of my one the flame looked like that in the picture. In real life it's a much nicer colour alltogeather.

And about the bolt on necks - how would I recignise a bolt on neck on an acoustic...?

[adds]

There theres a few picturs here.By the way that figure on that guitar is quilted not flamed.Your guitar probly has some sort of colour in there if its darker thats just a natral mapal guitar.From what i remember on your pics its got like an ambery coloured back and sides.That will be a like colour put into the finish.

http://www.frets.com...nt/99joint.html

[evileye]

Yeah, it's an amber colour allright. Quilted, i'll have to remember that one, i'm terrible with terminoligy heheee...
And those bolt on necks, do they usually have a small plate that covers where the bolt is?