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Post by bluzcat on Jan 3, 2021 13:46:48 GMT -5
Thanks Ragtop, they really got me this year.
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Peppy
Wholenote
Guitar gear guru at Milano Music Center
Posts: 180
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Post by Peppy on Jan 22, 2021 19:41:38 GMT -5
OM-28E. Just purchased two hours ago. Went into work on my day off and damn if it didn't cost me more than my paycheck! 😁 Okay, now add an almost-new D-18(E added) purchased three days ago. Freight damage and user damage. Great-sounding dread though. Prefer the tone over my OM. (I also have a 1930 2-17 but unplayable currently.) So, three Martins now. Hadn't had one to play until back in November with the OM-28E purchase. Took me long enough. Now making up for lost decades.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 13, 2021 17:33:53 GMT -5
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Post by Ragtop on Apr 14, 2021 5:24:18 GMT -5
I spotted a 000-28 Norman Blake today. Perfect guitar for me.
Missed it by 30 minutes, somebody else scooped it up.
Shouldn't have taken that nap. "You snooze, you lose" for real.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 14, 2021 11:49:20 GMT -5
I spotted a 000-28 Norman Blake today. Perfect guitar for me. Missed it by 30 minutes, somebody else scooped it up. Shouldn't have taken that nap. "You snooze, you lose" for real. That would have been a very nice catch! So sorry!
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 14, 2021 11:53:28 GMT -5
Just found a lefty 000-15M StreetMaster (listed on Reverb) and decided to go for it... All I know is I've been watching for a lefty one to pop up - pretty unlikely during Covid - and there it was! So tracking says it will be here Friday - we'll see. All that to say - this bumped the Eastman J-45 copy off my radar screen. I had literally sent an e-mail to Jerry at Jerry's Lefty Guitars telling him I wanted to buy his Eastman... but he was slow to reply, and I saw the Martin available on Reverb. When choosing between a USA made guitar and a Chinese made guitar for close to the same price (the Martin was cheaper, actually; about the same with tax), I'll *probably* choose the made in USA instrument every time...
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Post by Ragtop on Apr 16, 2021 9:58:00 GMT -5
mikey, I was interested in that Eastman E20 00 myself. Cool guitar, reasonable price.
But I got to looking into it, and was told it had a fairly slender neck.
Did you ever play one? Is that true about the neck?
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 16, 2021 14:42:19 GMT -5
mikey, I was interested in that Eastman E20 00 myself. Cool guitar, reasonable price. But I got to looking into it, and was told it had a fairly slender neck. Did you ever play one? Is that true about the neck? No, haven't had one "in hand". My 000-15 delivery got delayed - was supposed to be today. Now FedEx is saying tomorrow/Saturday, but I have them delivered to my place of business, and I didn't think they delivered to businesses on Saturdays. I'm confused...but I can sure be here tomorrow if it says it's "out for delivery".
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Post by Ragtop on Apr 24, 2021 9:32:37 GMT -5
I spotted a 000-28 Norman Blake today. Perfect guitar for me. Missed it by 30 minutes, somebody else scooped it up. Shouldn't have taken that nap. "You snooze, you lose" for real. That would have been a very nice catch! So sorry! Good news, long story. I found another! I was bummed that I missed the one on the UMGF, so I posted a "WTB" thread there. I've never done that before, and did not expect it to work. But after a few days I was contacted through the UMGF by a very nice guy in VA who had a Norman Blake that he was willing to sell. He sent some photos and I asked some questions, and he threw out a price that was more than reasonable, so I bought it. Made the mistake of "overnighting" a check to him via the barely-functioning-these-days USPS (don't get me started...) which took four days to get there, but it's out for delivery this morning. So I should have a NGD post sometime late next week. Funny thing, this one is nicer than the one I missed. And, speaking of the one I missed, the guy that beat me to that one on the UMGF saw my WTB ad and contacted me. He offered to sell that one to me for just $500 more than he paid for it. So thoughtful of him! That guitar, for which he paid $3000, is now on another site for just $4500. Right, good luck with that.
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Post by FlyonNylon on Apr 25, 2021 0:23:31 GMT -5
Congrats on the guitar! Norman is a local legend around here and I’m sure Martin nailed the sig model, although haven’t played one personally.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 25, 2021 21:04:28 GMT -5
Funny thing, this one is nicer than the one I missed. And, speaking of the one I missed, the guy that beat me to that one on the UMGF saw my WTB ad and contacted me. He offered to sell that one to me for just $500 more than he paid for it. So thoughtful of him! That guitar, for which he paid $3000, is now on another site for just $4500. Right, good luck with that. People are greedy, indeed. But in today's market, someone might buy it. Congrats on finding one...and so quickly! I've never played one, either, but on paper they "sound" pretty cool.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 25, 2021 21:07:29 GMT -5
I'm returning the 000-15M StreetMaster. Beautiful guitar, nice woods, sounds great.
But after about 5 minutes my hand starts to cramp up from the neck's tiny profile! 1 11/16" on a Modified Low Oval shape...and this one feels smaller than the DSS-15M StreetMaster I have, which is supposedly the same profile, but doesn't hurt my hand... Sad, because they are very nice guitars.
But, of course, that means I'm looking at something else! I see a lefty Martin M-36 calling my name - I just have to sell something first (which is listed on Reverb right now).
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Post by Leftee on Apr 25, 2021 21:49:42 GMT -5
I saw the Larrivee. 😉
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Post by Ragtop on Apr 26, 2021 5:05:10 GMT -5
mikey, I can't handle that MLO neck either, for the same reason. But Martin seems to think it's the way to go these days.
I was convinced that the only Martin neck for me was the Mod V with a 1 3/4" nut. But then I got my D-18SS, which has a Mod V neck with a 1 11/16" nut. Perfection!
But I can handle "chunky" too. This Norman Blake I've got coming has a 1 13/16" nut on a Mod V neck. I expect it will be much like my Eastman parlor, which I love.
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Post by FlyonNylon on Apr 27, 2021 14:58:46 GMT -5
Here's my 2019 D18. It usually stays in the studio so haven't done anything to it, no pickup or neck strap button. Not quite as comfortable as my Yamaha concert size guitar but man it loves to be played hard. Great projection, perfect intonation and rings like a bell, what more can you ask?
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 27, 2021 15:00:03 GMT -5
Looking forward to your hands on review, Ragtop.
That nut width sounds like what they use on the 00-17 1931 Authentic; wide with a soft V (and an ebony "truss rod").
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 27, 2021 15:01:41 GMT -5
Yep, that's the one. Did a price drop last night...then some guy tried to lowball me for $1K. >>sigh<<
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 30, 2021 11:28:45 GMT -5
Decided to find another "small" Martin (to go with my Jumbos and dreads...), so I have a new M-36 coming some time next week, hopefully it will arrive Tuesday or Wednesday. I've never had my hands on a lefty M-36, but the right-handed ones I've played (limited of course) have impressed me. Not a "small" guitar? Well, it has 000/OM thickness, with a 16" lower bout. But in hand, it will feel smaller than dreads and jumbos, without sacrificing much bass and volume. More info when it arrives... here's Martin's M-36 page.
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Post by hushnel on May 1, 2021 11:01:57 GMT -5
The only guitar I ever purchased sight unseen was from a guy on UMGF it was a Martin 000-15S. I was so impressed with the 0015 I purchased, I jumped on it. The guy who sold it said he had his Luthier set it up and “Boned”. As I was tuning it up I noticed something was very wrong with this instrument. I played it and it was horrible, anemic, bad tone. I started freaking out a bit, but decided to put it on the bench, pull the strings, clean it up. Etc. I was checking it out with the strings off and the bone just fell out of the saddle. I made a new one of bone. It’s a great sounding guitar. I was still kind of pissed when I called the guy up. I told him he misrepresented the condition, told him to find a new Luthier and offered to send it back to him if he returned my payment and pay for shipping. He declined my offer.
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Post by Lefty Rev on May 2, 2021 23:23:27 GMT -5
The 000-15S is a great guitar (I assume you're talking about the 12-fret slot head model). I got a new one at a great price, and regret letting it go; it was comfortable to play and had great volume, balance - and just, "character" - would have aged into a great sounding guitar, I think.
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Post by Ragtop on May 3, 2021 5:36:07 GMT -5
The Martin 000-28NB arrived a few days ago, and I've been playing the heck out of it. It has ancient strings on it and it needs a setup, but is otherwise in nice shape for a 15-year old guitar.
Handsome thing, 12-fret slothead with 3-on-a-plate engraved tuners with ivoroid tuner buttons. Adi top with vintage toner, nice EIR. Big fat neck and tall frets, which I love.
Tone? Yes, very "lush" is the only word that comes to mind. Plenty loud too. I'm going to put some new strings on it today. And I've been tweaking the neck over the course of a few days while it acclimates to the dry climate up here. It seems to get better, in terms of tone and playability, every day. I think I've got a keeper, and it's a nice addition to my downsized collection; I've now got one in swamp ash, one in mahogany, and this one in rosewood.
I found a new repairman, he's down in Salida, highly recommended. I talked to him on the phone about doing a setup and a K&K install. When I mentioned that I had a Norman Blake, he knew immediately what it was and said some good things. That's a good sign.
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Post by hushnel on May 4, 2021 9:28:40 GMT -5
One of the tuning machines failed on my 00015s, I replaced them with Waverley tuners. I plan on keeping this one, though I’d let it go before he 00-15.
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Post by Lefty Rev on May 6, 2021 9:05:23 GMT -5
New lefty Martin M-36... ...really, REALLY liking the tones from this guitar. Too lazy to post it all here ( and host pics somewhere), so here's a link to a quick review and pics...
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Post by Ragtop on May 6, 2021 9:41:10 GMT -5
That's a stunner, mikey, congrats!
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Post by Lefty Rev on May 13, 2021 11:19:15 GMT -5
Am I crazy? Just found a good deal on a nearly new (2021) Martin 000-18, so I bit. I've been wanting a short-scale Martin, and was going back and forth between an 18 and a 28 when this popped up. Fortunately, I really like mahogany guitars, so I think I'll get along with this just fine. Will arrive next week sometime (while I'm on vacation!). Update when it arrives... (... and yes, I will be selling a few more things as my Martin family grows...)
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Post by Leftee on May 13, 2021 11:20:46 GMT -5
Some day I should join this club.
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Post by Lefty Rev on May 15, 2021 23:56:26 GMT -5
Some day I should join this club. Agreed. As you get older (like some of us are...) an acoustic guitar becomes a great place to feed your soul.
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Post by Leftee on May 16, 2021 7:10:31 GMT -5
Some day I should join this club. Agreed. As you get older (like some of us are...) an acoustic guitar becomes a great place to feed your soul. And I hit the big 6-0 on the 24th.
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Post by Lefty Rev on May 18, 2021 17:30:21 GMT -5
Agreed. As you get older (like some of us are...) an acoustic guitar becomes a great place to feed your soul. And I hit the big 6-0 on the 24th. There you go - you're past due!
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Post by Lefty Rev on Jun 10, 2021 13:20:14 GMT -5
Interesting interview with Chris Martin IV about transitioning into retirement, some of his observations about music during the pandemic, and where Martin is headed in the future.
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