|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 22, 2021 20:50:40 GMT -5
I've had lots of bad luck with acoustics through my time, a lot being the fault of neglect while living in a late 1800's farmhouse in Michigan. Back in 2013 before bailing from the state to Florida I bought the D17M after toiling with another delicious Martin, the 000-15M. I've played a number of the 000-15M's that were OK, but this particular one at Motor City Guitar was really good. Then I spied this new dread behind the glass case and tried it, and holy moly, it played fantastic and what a cannon. Gloss sitka top with a mahogany toner, not exactly a typical Martin. During my 7 years in Florida I used it sparingly on recordings and it never failed me.
Today I cautiously pulled it out of the case for the first time in months and had fears because of the flaky winter months, gas heat, 2 days of power failure and abnormal temps, and...
Just as fantastic as when I bought it. Phew.
I do still think about that 000-15M though.
|
|
|
|
Post by LTB on Mar 23, 2021 3:17:43 GMT -5
Glad your guitars weathered the storm with no damage
|
|
|
|
Post by funkykikuchiyo on Mar 23, 2021 9:19:50 GMT -5
Excellent!
The delta for wood movement varies from piece to piece even within a species and region. Some do move less, and some move slower.
Where you're keeping it could help, too. When I lived in the northeast, keeping a guitar in a cooler place away from the woodstove meant it didn't dry out nearly as fast. If you had the guitar out in your main living space and opened the case often, you might have had some uncomfortable news!
What was with the farm house in Michigan? A lot of the old farm houses in the northeast had dirt basements and usually stone or slate foundations, and they actually would get SUPER humid in the winter because the heating upstairs would draw up the moisture like a giant wick humidifier. The windows would always be super steamy in the old homes I'd visit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 23, 2021 9:46:32 GMT -5
What was with the farm house in Michigan? Basically, dry in the winter, humid in the summer. My mancave was in an upstairs room with no heat. The original "heat" was a decorative round grate in the floor that allowed air in from the living room below. I controlled temperature with a window air unit and an oil filled space heater. I keep the guitar in it's case and use "Humidipaks". |
|
|
|
Post by funkykikuchiyo on Mar 23, 2021 10:00:34 GMT -5
Oooh, you didn't mention the humidipaks! Those are handy. If it is crazy dry you'll go through 'em like toilet paper in a pandemic, but they sure do work well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 23, 2021 10:11:26 GMT -5
Yes, that was the case in Michigan. Rock hard in no time. Here and in Florida soft forever. Have more on order as I'm not sure how viable the existing ones are regardless of how soft they are.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim D. on Mar 24, 2021 8:24:33 GMT -5
What is the consensus of opinion regarding tuning down to E flat for example if not using an acoustic for several months? I have never had an issue-and keep my guitars in cases with very stable whole house humidity control. I also typically use 12s which are fairly light, and the guitars were set up for them soon after purchase. I have a Martin and a Yari. If I had a Taylor (not that I don’t appreciate them) I would be more concerned as they tend to be more sensitive to movement and Taylor recommends very specific storage considerations.
|
|
|
|
Post by funkykikuchiyo on Mar 24, 2021 8:46:14 GMT -5
What is the consensus of opinion regarding tuning down to E flat for example if not using an acoustic for several months? I've seen hundreds of acoustic guitars trashed in a variety of ways, and I've never once seen one and said "this wouldn't have been a problem if they'd tuned down half a step!" That said, it couldn't hurt. String tension can compound other issues. If the guitar gets too warm, it would be better if it didn't have string tension to keep glue joints from creeping, but it would be best if it didn't get too warm to begin with. If the guitar has a bridge that is starting to come up and it needs to stay in storage it might be a good idea, since when bridges pull loose entirely they sometimes take pieces of the finish or the top with it. |
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 24, 2021 9:53:36 GMT -5
Oddly enough, when I pulled my D17M out of the case for the first time in months it was tuned down nearly half a step. I don't recall doing that so it must have done it on it's own, it's that good, lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim D. on Mar 24, 2021 17:31:53 GMT -5
Always an informative group here, and great dialogue. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 26, 2021 17:52:05 GMT -5
Here it is in all of its chocolatey goodness  |
|
|
|
Post by LTB on Mar 28, 2021 14:33:10 GMT -5
Here it is in all of its chocolatey goodness I like that one! Pretty guitar. Is it mahogany or spruce top? |
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 28, 2021 14:41:19 GMT -5
Spruce top with a "mahogany toner" finish.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ragtop on Mar 28, 2021 16:16:22 GMT -5
Is that what the "M" stands for?
Cool guitar, btw.
|
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 28, 2021 17:18:11 GMT -5
Yeah, Sitka top hog back and sides. I think the fretboard is Morado. I think this model was short-lived.
|
|
|
|
Post by budg on Mar 28, 2021 17:24:47 GMT -5
Nice guitar. I bought my D18 in 2013 and all I’ve done is tweak the truss rod. The action has been 7/64 at the 12th fret since I bought it. It hasn’t moved at all. Glad yours is stable.
|
|
|
|
Post by LTB on Mar 29, 2021 0:51:39 GMT -5
Yeah, Sitka top hog back and sides. I think the fretboard is Morado. I think this model was short-lived. Too bad, that makes it even more special then! Great looking |
|
|
|
Post by hushnel on Mar 31, 2021 13:07:14 GMT -5
In 2006 I purchased a 000 15S, based on the 00-15 that ambushed me at a Sam Ash earlier that year. I’m happy with the stability of these mahogany guitars. They are exposed to North Central Florida seasons. I have a couple window air conditioners that get used on the hottest days, heat is the fireplace and the woodstove in the kitchen, since 2012. Both are perfect. I like mahogany it seems a very stable wood.
The 00-15 is my favorite, it sounds the way I like and has just gotten better over time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Apr 1, 2021 9:33:52 GMT -5
The 00-15 is my favorite, it sounds the way I like and has just gotten better over time. The guitar I play the most is still the little Yamaha you recommended a couple of years ago. I don't know if I got a good one or they're just that well made. I replaced the nut, saddle and end pins just because and it's a fine little parlor. |
|
|
|
Post by hushnel on Apr 1, 2021 11:42:22 GMT -5
Oh yeah that Yamaha CSF1M gets a lot of play time. The Martin is great but it doesn’t get as much use as the Yamaha. Besides the great tone of the Yamaha, it’s just so much easier to grab and play. The parlor size of the Yamaha is more comfortable. The Yamaha goes with me all the time, it can get kicked around more, were the 0015 stays at home mostly in it’s case. It’s actually third in line behind the Yamaha and the Cremona classical, in the amount of playtime it gets.
Both of these guitars ambushed me, when I wasn’t actually looking for another instrument. The Yamaha grabbed me the same way that the 0015 did but at a much lower price point, makes it a better kick around guitar.
4 weeks touring the southwest this spring, camping, 13 days at the Rendezvous, banging around the house, always leaning up against living room furniture, it’s the Yamaha. I do have the 00-15 out of it’s case next to me currently, it needs a new set of strings. The Cremona classical is out too. The Yamaha is in a guitar stand in my bedroom. For the money the Yamaha rules. It slipped my mind but I just remembered that the Yamaha has a transducer in it too.
All things considered I’d probably let the Martin go before the Yamaha.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 2, 2021 12:03:38 GMT -5
All things considered I’d probably let the Martin go before the Yamaha. With guitar sales being what they are right now (supply and demand) you could probably sell the Martin for whatever you paid for it! People are spending their gub'ment checks like crazy. I've sold four guitars in the last week (on Reverb). Wild times. |
|
|
|
Post by jefe46 on Apr 5, 2021 16:39:21 GMT -5
My first guitar was a 1939 00-17 purchased for $4 (four dollars) in 1961.
I have owned 15 Martins new and used (I will never own another new one due to 5 of 8 purchased from 2000-2011 having catastrophic problems.
3 of them were custom, all were high dollar. Martin did not handle the problems professionally. 2 customs were destroyed by Martin (without my permission) as unrepairable. Both were expensive customs and neither was played.. not even a strum. They lost one of them and didn't find it for 11 months and me without the money or the guitar. They made a replacement which was the wrong guitar and so it goes.
After a year and a half of this BS we parted company.
If you find a good one, hang on to it.
I currently have a rare 2015 00-18 V (discontinued model) with highly flamed mahogany backs and sides and a 1997 0000-1.. one of 370.
This is the second of those I have owned.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Apr 8, 2021 8:23:53 GMT -5
My two best acoustics, a Gibson J-45 and a Martin 00028EC are very stable and both will stay in tune for months at a time. I keep a big humidifier going in the winter due to very low humidifier here in Kansas, a semi-arid climate. I have never had to make adjustment on either guitar. I also have a nice Yamaha AC3R that is virtually indestructible.
|
|
drifter
Halfnote
somewhere on the lost highway
Posts: 57
Formerly Known As: Deacon Blues formerly known as drifter
|
Post by drifter on Apr 13, 2021 18:09:08 GMT -5
I keep wet sponges inside perforated plastic bags. Heat is from a wood stove in the same room. My three acoustics survived just fine. Even the Taylor.
When I acquired my 1970 Guild D-35 it had a sunken top and a bridge that was pulling up. I had the bridge repaired and with humidification the top has slowly began to come back around. It will never be perfect, but I can live with it.
|
|
