As often the case, my first reply would be another question; where the stink are you ?
PLEASE, everyone, post the smallest of biogs so we have the vaguest idea where you are, and can answer these sort of questions more effectively.
"I'm on the shores of Cork", or, "Western Oregon", or "Nottingham" would be useful. And a vague idea of age, which might indicate a possible budget, though you did say not TOO expensive.
I was looking at Guild guitars recently, on ebay, and there seemed to be some nice ones available, shop/ or factory-soiled apparently, from the US, plus hard cases, for a very reasonable whack. I'm a great fan of the mahogany D25, have an old one myself, lots of bass and a reasonable treble with the mahogany soundboard, which tends to give a bright crisp acoustic.
Or, alternatively, take someone whose ideas you respect around all the shops available.
Really great quality, reasonable price, Blueridge. Either the dreadnaught or the 000 size. If there are two numbers in the model, as in BR-60 that means back and sides are laminated. If three, like BR-160 for example, all solid wood. You should pay less for the double digit ones.
That said, even the laminates sound great. They are Martin copies, only prettier, built in China, to Martin specs by, from what I understand, former US luthiers heading the building crews. The action and set up on every one I have played is perfect. They know what they are doing. You can always find them on ebay. Easier if in USA of course.
I keep one as a knockaround.... if someone steals it, I am not devastated. It saves my really good ones, and sounds as good as nearly any current Martin of the same size and shape, if not better. The solid wood Dread I got, the BR-160 was $475 with case, shipping and all. I think they are a bit higher now, it was bought four years ago, but still a bargain.
I play with a guitarist who has a Santa Cruz (OM? not sure). Lovely bright tone, projects very well--it's much louder than his Martin (D-28?). Not cheap, though.
Hey Irishnevins -- glad to see another satisfied Blueridge customer here! I've been enjoying my BR-60 for prit-near 20 years now.
But to address the question at hand here: I just don't think there's a great way to answer it fully or comprehensively. When you say "for Irish music," does that mean just backing tunes, or will you be doing songs as well? Would you be playing straight rhythm in standard tuning? Or would you be doing some flat-picking or finger-picking in a double-drop D or DADGAD?
More importantly, would this guitar be exclusively dedicated to Irish music, or might you be playing other genres on occasion? Country? Rock? Blues?
Maybe the best way to approach it is to ask, "What's the best guitar for _me_?"
As Iris and STS have both stated you can't go wrong with a Blueridge. I don't own a Blueridge but have played a bunch of guitars in their line and liked them all. That said - I would also seriously look into "Seagull" acoustic guitars. They are made in Canada and models at all price points starting at about $200 (US Dollars) and up to about $1500 (US Dollars). I own a "Seagull - Performer Cutaway" model that I'm very happy with it. I bought it because, much like Iris, I wanted a "Knock Around" or "backup" for my good guitar (a Martin.) The Seagull holds it's own with my Martin and just about anything else I've compared it to. Any of Seagull's offerings starting with their excellent "S6" series are winners and worth checking into if they are available to you. Here's a link to an online outlet:
Hey...STS.... it's unreal how many times people go on autopilot with my name and write IRISH! I think i will have to change it. The worst is when I am around the music ( a lot!) I keep turning around and saying "What" when people say "Irish". I was named for the flower not the nationality... but whatever! It always gets a laugh.
So the BRs.... they are good for anything. I know ragtime and blues players who bought them after trying mine. What makes them all around good is the neck sets and the setup, they play like butter, real easy on the fingers, each one I have tried. Good volume too. They are a classy instrument that would run over $2000 I think if built here.
Seen and played some nice Seagulls but the BRs have more depth and body and warmth I have found. They don't make any in the $200 range though I don't think... but you might find one used. Shipping to you from here may be a bit high priced though, but may be worth it.
Oh I can tell you some stories Ray! Like a check I couldn't even DEPOSIT! And they knew me at the bank, but there was that H there! I finally talked them into it. Unbelievable.
I totally understand, Iris, although with me it's my last name that people have been butchering the pronunciation of as long as I can remember... starting with my kindergarten teacher. I wont get into the ways I've seen people try to spell it, LOL!
I've heard good things about the Mitchells, too. I thought about getting one as a "beater" session guitar as I hate leaving my old Martin sitting around in a bar. Opinions, anyone?
"and sounds as good as nearly any current Martin of the same size and shape, if not better."
Hey Iris (h),
I agree Blueridge makes a fine guitar, especially for the price, but I disagree with you're statement above. Although taking a Martin "off the shelf" as it were is not like it was forty years ago, you can still find production models that have the famous Martin warmth, something I find missing in the Blueridges. Just my ears I suppose.
Murlach, as has been said, you won't go wrong with a Blueridge for the price.
There are so many good, well made, competitively-priced guitars available now, that I don't think there's such a thing as "The Best". You just want go the music shops and play as many as possible - but bring someone else along with a good ear, to hear how it sounds to people in front of the instrument. Good luck murlach.
Hi Ed.... your particular Martin is a particularly nice one... but how many did you try before deciding on it, in that same model? The last Martin I ever bought, it too was nice, an OM21. I tried eight in the store, made them put new strings on the ones I narrowed down to, to decide on one. I drove the poor guy crazy, but it's a costly investment and I know what I want in a guitar. Most of them had issues of some sort or sounded dull.
Also I know a few people that are authorized Martin repair people and they say the new ones not only don't sound like they used to, but the neck sets often are bad which means they hurt to play, have tuning issues etc. Also the necks warp way more than they used to, the bridges pull.... not that they mind, it keeps them working. Not all, and not most, they'd get a real bad name, but they feel too high a % are off in some way. My guitar building teacher especially was amazed by the quality of the BRs.
Anyway they are a lot cheaper, even for all solid and good wood. even the rosewood ones. I have had too many Martins in my lifetime and prefer the BRs except for certain particular Martins that have "it". If you want something great for not too much money though, BRs are a great choice, even with a laminate. It's more about the top, the bracing, for getting a great sound. Some even argue that the laminate back and sides give way more strength. I like the thought of solid wood honestly, just because, but I played quite a few of the laminates and there was not much difference. The solid wood I think will vibrate a bit better, but the main point is to let the top wood sing and they know how to get that. And the action is great on the many I have played, very easy.
They also have great inlay work if you care about cosmetics. Very nice looking!
The BR.... well I like it so much I sometimes worry about that too. Even though mine is a dreadnaught and I don't generally play them anymore due to shoulder problems, it's still good for certain purposes or going into NYC at night.
The Mitchells, never played one, just looked on www.musiciansfriend.com . they are a really honorable company you can trust. The have on I think all items, but you'd want to check, a 45 day return policy no questions asked. I have used this and they were great. They ought to have the wherewithall to ship to you for the most reasonable rate I imagine.
You can also email them for great tech advice and they may lead you to the right instrument. They have talked me through a lot of details on sound equipment and are very friendly and knowledgable.
I agree that one need sort through a few on the rack to find the warmth Martins were so famous for. I played near forty Martins, various models, in five or six different shops before finally deciding upon the guitar I have. Don't get me wrong most of the forty or so, and I mean overwhelmingly most, were fine sounding guitars. That said, as I was looking I also played many, many other guitars by many different makers. In my experience none of these sounded as warm as the majority of Martins I played.
I too know many Martin authorized luthiers, I'm only fifteen minutes from the Nazareth, PA factory and museum, and raised the question of production quality with them both when I was shopping for a guitar as well as currently. Although most will tell you today's line is not the same as forty years or more ago, the guitars are soundly built with no greater percentage of defects as you detail than any other mass maker of similar quality guitars. I can tell you my D-35 is a work horse and hasn't yet complained about the paces I put it through. All I've had to do is replace the first five frets, I'm such a first position player, and dress the balance once. The first five will need replacing again sometime soon I'm sure. That's just normal maintenance as I see it.
Have a great time in Matamoras. Knock 'em dead. I'd imagine there will be plenty of Jehile's tunes played that weekend. See you soon I hope.
The cheapest Seagull guitar in Belfast or indeed Ireland is about £400 or $800. The cheapest Martin is about £500 or $1,000 and it may not be very good.
When I was in New York I was playing a semi-acoustic Martin in a music shop which cost $700 or £350. When I asked why it was so cheap the owner said it was made in Mexico. That's probably the ones that are about £800, or $1,600 in Belfast.
Instruments, like most things, are a lot cheaper in the US of A.
I tell you Murlach, Matchett's, Yamaha 310, £90 is perfect for you.
Yes.. I agree Ed, most other makers (unless the small hand builders, who are amazing at times) don't sound as good as Martins overall, but I do think the BRs do measure up quite well. I think they are better than any Seagull I have played, and some of those are really nice too though.
I am as you know a spoiled guitar brat, and never found the perfect one until I built one for myself, then got hooked. Of course I am totally obsessive and over the top to start doing this! But it is really fun!
Thanks about Matamoras Festival, Linda and I are on some kind of lineup, as the only Irish act too, the Americana Roots Festival. We are on July 4th. I haven't a clue what to expect! Will you be there?
I have two Martins and I bought them both from the same store at different times. The store had fully stocked lines of Martin, Taylor, and Guild (pre-Fender). I played nearly every Martin just for the sake of playing them... most sounded great. What surprised me was that I preferred a D35 to the tried and true D28. I also have an OMC that is sweet. I played some none cutaway OM models that were fantastic right out of the box. My only complaint was is that some were tougher to play than others, but that has ALWAYS been the complaint with Martin Guitars. Some people feel that you sacrifice ease of playing for the "rich" sound of a Martin... not neccassarly true. Mine both played nice off the rack but I had them professionally set up any way. Anyway now that I said all this... all also say that better and best are purely subjective and a guitar is largely what you make of it, and good tone mostly comes from the fingers.
You Jersey guys know how to buy a Martin, yours is nice too Ray. You have to try every one in the store, make the poor salesperson have a nervous breakdown putting new strings on each so you can compare.... and make them think you are doing this for amusement and have no intention of buying anything.....then you find the best and you go for it!
I have done this too, and true a guitar is what you make of it. Who will sound better, a great player with a $150 laminate or a lousy player with a vintage Martin? Still, nice to have the best of both worlds.
I too find many Martins hard to handle, they come too high an action, but I was told that they and many others do that because they have to be ready for the roughest players, and not have them buzzing the guitar and getting complaints. So that is legit in its way. When you spend that much on something, the techs there should set it up for how you play.
I can't imagine buying a guitar and not having it set up to my preferences. Aye, Iris you are a bit compulsive about your guitar building. Truth be told, if you weren't the machines you turn out wouldn't be as brilliant as they are. I've decided upon an OM, it'll be Bil Mitchell's Pennsylvania Black Walnut model I'll be buying if ever I rustle up the dough. I suppose if I gave up just half the whiskey I'd get to the mark sooner.
No, unfortunately I will not be at Matamoras even though our little cottage is very near there. My schedule is pretty full in July but I can think of no others to represent the tradition better then you and Linda.
Hi Ed.... as you know I am very partial to Walnut.... made two of them already. The current will be Indian Rosewood, it's the litte 00 so I want the loudest most projective wood. I will continue to obsess more about building. I am three or four guitars ahead of myself, plans, ideas. I also have a harp on the agenda.... shall start with a kit. I had hopes to build one with Rick Kemper, but he's too far away and it would be weekend travel for six weeks or more.
I don't know your builder, but if he knows about walnut he's on the ball.
July will be Mayhem for us all.... esp. with Catskills Week coming up. Good Mayhem!
Iris as you know my preference is rosewood but Bil is working with local black walnut with brilliant grain so it projects well and is so very warm. I can't say that about most walnut guitars I've played. Maybe it's the trees around here or maybe my ears are genetically predisposed to rosewood. Who knows, I've leave that to the scientists to figure out.
Bil and his wife Sarah, who does the work on my current guitar, are right here in Riegelsville, PA.
Mine are black walnut.... what they do with the bracing is also very critical. So it's sometimes hard to say this wood is generally not good, but that one is... a good luthier can know how to work with any particular wood to bring out the best in it. They will also know how to thickness a wood just right, whether or not to scallop braces, etc. Your guy sounds very good. I'd love to meet him sometime.
Right now I am sort of apprenticing a bit with Tony DiDomenico, who wants to show me his ways, on this current guitar.... different from Frank F. a bit, and I do some finishing work for him in exchange sometimes.... and made his fiancee's engagement ring!
This is loads of fun, and I am not obsessive in the sense of driving myself, if I do one or two a year, slowly that is fine. It has to be relaxing and I need to be in the mood for it. it takes a good while.... slow and very careful, I have so much to learn! It's a very satisfying hobby, I really don't want to sell them, though people try to buy them all the time. I am at this point, being rather inexperienced, to sell them and have something fall apart! it hasn't happened to any of mine yet, but I do worry, and repair is a whole other art I don't have time to learn right now.
I started on a Yamaha, not the best sounding guitar, but very durable, dependable and relatively easy to play.
Moved up to a Martin, which has a beautiful sound and easy action, but is extremely tempermental and needs to be hidden away in its case with a humidifier to keep it from acting up.
Once got to play a Martin just like mine, but built in the 1940s, it was like I died and went to heaven, yet another step up the ladder toward guitar perfection.
My baby brother, who buys instruments for a chain of music stores, says that, for the money, Taylor makes the best guitars he sells these days.
But in the end, it is what you like the best, balanced against what you can afford, and there are many options available. Shop carefully, and get lots of advice from lots of friends.....
Of the less expensive guitars I would go for a Larrivee, if you can find one. I've played Blueridge and Yamahas, and I prefer the sound and feel of the Yamaha. To me, the Blueridges felt like the sound was muffled, maybe by a heavy finish, and the notes didn't jump out. Then again, i played a small sample.
The Best Guitar For Irish Music
The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Which guitar would be the best for accompanying irish music, but one that isn't to expensive....
murlach
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by murlach
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
As often the case, my first reply would be another question; where the stink are you ?
PLEASE, everyone, post the smallest of biogs so we have the vaguest idea where you are, and can answer these sort of questions more effectively.
"I'm on the shores of Cork", or, "Western Oregon", or "Nottingham" would be useful. And a vague idea of age, which might indicate a possible budget, though you did say not TOO expensive.
I was looking at Guild guitars recently, on ebay, and there seemed to be some nice ones available, shop/ or factory-soiled apparently, from the US, plus hard cases, for a very reasonable whack. I'm a great fan of the mahogany D25, have an old one myself, lots of bass and a reasonable treble with the mahogany soundboard, which tends to give a bright crisp acoustic.
Or, alternatively, take someone whose ideas you respect around all the shops available.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Really great quality, reasonable price, Blueridge. Either the dreadnaught or the 000 size. If there are two numbers in the model, as in BR-60 that means back and sides are laminated. If three, like BR-160 for example, all solid wood. You should pay less for the double digit ones.
That said, even the laminates sound great. They are Martin copies, only prettier, built in China, to Martin specs by, from what I understand, former US luthiers heading the building crews. The action and set up on every one I have played is perfect. They know what they are doing. You can always find them on ebay. Easier if in USA of course.
I keep one as a knockaround.... if someone steals it, I am not devastated. It saves my really good ones, and sounds as good as nearly any current Martin of the same size and shape, if not better. The solid wood Dread I got, the BR-160 was $475 with case, shipping and all. I think they are a bit higher now, it was bought four years ago, but still a bargain.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
i live in belfast
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by murlach
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
I play with a guitarist who has a Santa Cruz (OM? not sure). Lovely bright tone, projects very well--it's much louder than his Martin (D-28?). Not cheap, though.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by mickray
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
A flammable one.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Hey Irishnevins -- glad to see another satisfied Blueridge customer here! I've been enjoying my BR-60 for prit-near 20 years now.
But to address the question at hand here: I just don't think there's a great way to answer it fully or comprehensively. When you say "for Irish music," does that mean just backing tunes, or will you be doing songs as well? Would you be playing straight rhythm in standard tuning? Or would you be doing some flat-picking or finger-picking in a double-drop D or DADGAD?
More importantly, would this guitar be exclusively dedicated to Irish music, or might you be playing other genres on occasion? Country? Rock? Blues?
Maybe the best way to approach it is to ask, "What's the best guitar for _me_?"
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by sts
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
As Iris and STS have both stated you can't go wrong with a Blueridge. I don't own a Blueridge but have played a bunch of guitars in their line and liked them all. That said - I would also seriously look into "Seagull" acoustic guitars. They are made in Canada and models at all price points starting at about $200 (US Dollars) and up to about $1500 (US Dollars). I own a "Seagull - Performer Cutaway" model that I'm very happy with it. I bought it because, much like Iris, I wanted a "Knock Around" or "backup" for my good guitar (a Martin.) The Seagull holds it's own with my Martin and just about anything else I've compared it to. Any of Seagull's offerings starting with their excellent "S6" series are winners and worth checking into if they are available to you. Here's a link to an online outlet:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=Seagull&st=
Best of luck to you!
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by Raymond G
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Yamaha 310. Cost is £90 or $180.
That's all you need, and it has volume.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
That's in Matchett's by the way.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Hey...STS.... it's unreal how many times people go on autopilot with my name and write IRISH! I think i will have to change it. The worst is when I am around the music ( a lot!) I keep turning around and saying "What" when people say "Irish". I was named for the flower not the nationality... but whatever! It always gets a laugh.
So the BRs.... they are good for anything. I know ragtime and blues players who bought them after trying mine. What makes them all around good is the neck sets and the setup, they play like butter, real easy on the fingers, each one I have tried. Good volume too. They are a classy instrument that would run over $2000 I think if built here.
Seen and played some nice Seagulls but the BRs have more depth and body and warmth I have found. They don't make any in the $200 range though I don't think... but you might find one used. Shipping to you from here may be a bit high priced though, but may be worth it.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Irish Nevins... got a nice ring to it!
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by Raymond G
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Oh I can tell you some stories Ray! Like a check I couldn't even DEPOSIT! And they knew me at the bank, but there was that H there! I finally talked them into it. Unbelievable.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
I totally understand, Iris, although with me it's my last name that people have been butchering the pronunciation of as long as I can remember... starting with my kindergarten teacher. I wont get into the ways I've seen people try to spell it, LOL!
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by Raymond G
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
I've heard good things about the Mitchells, too. I thought about getting one as a "beater" session guitar as I hate leaving my old Martin sitting around in a bar. Opinions, anyone?
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by tomw
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
a stringless one
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by gooseinthenettles
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
"and sounds as good as nearly any current Martin of the same size and shape, if not better."
Hey Iris (h),
I agree Blueridge makes a fine guitar, especially for the price, but I disagree with you're statement above. Although taking a Martin "off the shelf" as it were is not like it was forty years ago, you can still find production models that have the famous Martin warmth, something I find missing in the Blueridges. Just my ears I suppose.
Murlach, as has been said, you won't go wrong with a Blueridge for the price.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by ejsant
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
There are so many good, well made, competitively-priced guitars available now, that I don't think there's such a thing as "The Best". You just want go the music shops and play as many as possible - but bring someone else along with a good ear, to hear how it sounds to people in front of the instrument. Good luck murlach.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by Ron P
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Does the title of this thread qualify for the Best Oxymoron competition?
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by maxF
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
I have had good experiences wth Seagull guitars.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by dickens metrognome
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Hi Ed.... your particular Martin is a particularly nice one... but how many did you try before deciding on it, in that same model? The last Martin I ever bought, it too was nice, an OM21. I tried eight in the store, made them put new strings on the ones I narrowed down to, to decide on one. I drove the poor guy crazy, but it's a costly investment and I know what I want in a guitar. Most of them had issues of some sort or sounded dull.
Also I know a few people that are authorized Martin repair people and they say the new ones not only don't sound like they used to, but the neck sets often are bad which means they hurt to play, have tuning issues etc. Also the necks warp way more than they used to, the bridges pull.... not that they mind, it keeps them working. Not all, and not most, they'd get a real bad name, but they feel too high a % are off in some way. My guitar building teacher especially was amazed by the quality of the BRs.
Anyway they are a lot cheaper, even for all solid and good wood. even the rosewood ones. I have had too many Martins in my lifetime and prefer the BRs except for certain particular Martins that have "it". If you want something great for not too much money though, BRs are a great choice, even with a laminate. It's more about the top, the bracing, for getting a great sound. Some even argue that the laminate back and sides give way more strength. I like the thought of solid wood honestly, just because, but I played quite a few of the laminates and there was not much difference. The solid wood I think will vibrate a bit better, but the main point is to let the top wood sing and they know how to get that. And the action is great on the many I have played, very easy.
They also have great inlay work if you care about cosmetics. Very nice looking!
The BR.... well I like it so much I sometimes worry about that too. Even though mine is a dreadnaught and I don't generally play them anymore due to shoulder problems, it's still good for certain purposes or going into NYC at night.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
The Mitchells, never played one, just looked on www.musiciansfriend.com . they are a really honorable company you can trust. The have on I think all items, but you'd want to check, a 45 day return policy no questions asked. I have used this and they were great. They ought to have the wherewithall to ship to you for the most reasonable rate I imagine.
You can also email them for great tech advice and they may lead you to the right instrument. They have talked me through a lot of details on sound equipment and are very friendly and knowledgable.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Hey Iris,
I agree that one need sort through a few on the rack to find the warmth Martins were so famous for. I played near forty Martins, various models, in five or six different shops before finally deciding upon the guitar I have. Don't get me wrong most of the forty or so, and I mean overwhelmingly most, were fine sounding guitars. That said, as I was looking I also played many, many other guitars by many different makers. In my experience none of these sounded as warm as the majority of Martins I played.
I too know many Martin authorized luthiers, I'm only fifteen minutes from the Nazareth, PA factory and museum, and raised the question of production quality with them both when I was shopping for a guitar as well as currently. Although most will tell you today's line is not the same as forty years or more ago, the guitars are soundly built with no greater percentage of defects as you detail than any other mass maker of similar quality guitars. I can tell you my D-35 is a work horse and hasn't yet complained about the paces I put it through. All I've had to do is replace the first five frets, I'm such a first position player, and dress the balance once. The first five will need replacing again sometime soon I'm sure. That's just normal maintenance as I see it.
Have a great time in Matamoras. Knock 'em dead. I'd imagine there will be plenty of Jehile's tunes played that weekend. See you soon I hope.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by ejsant
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
how do people rate vintage guitars?
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by dickens metrognome
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
The cheapest Seagull guitar in Belfast or indeed Ireland is about £400 or $800. The cheapest Martin is about £500 or $1,000 and it may not be very good.
When I was in New York I was playing a semi-acoustic Martin in a music shop which cost $700 or £350. When I asked why it was so cheap the owner said it was made in Mexico. That's probably the ones that are about £800, or $1,600 in Belfast.
Instruments, like most things, are a lot cheaper in the US of A.
I tell you Murlach, Matchett's, Yamaha 310, £90 is perfect for you.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Especially as it will not be your main instrument.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Yes.. I agree Ed, most other makers (unless the small hand builders, who are amazing at times) don't sound as good as Martins overall, but I do think the BRs do measure up quite well. I think they are better than any Seagull I have played, and some of those are really nice too though.
I am as you know a spoiled guitar brat, and never found the perfect one until I built one for myself, then got hooked. Of course I am totally obsessive and over the top to start doing this! But it is really fun!
Thanks about Matamoras Festival, Linda and I are on some kind of lineup, as the only Irish act too, the Americana Roots Festival. We are on July 4th. I haven't a clue what to expect! Will you be there?
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
I have two Martins and I bought them both from the same store at different times. The store had fully stocked lines of Martin, Taylor, and Guild (pre-Fender). I played nearly every Martin just for the sake of playing them... most sounded great. What surprised me was that I preferred a D35 to the tried and true D28. I also have an OMC that is sweet. I played some none cutaway OM models that were fantastic right out of the box. My only complaint was is that some were tougher to play than others, but that has ALWAYS been the complaint with Martin Guitars. Some people feel that you sacrifice ease of playing for the "rich" sound of a Martin... not neccassarly true. Mine both played nice off the rack but I had them professionally set up any way. Anyway now that I said all this... all also say that better and best are purely subjective and a guitar is largely what you make of it, and good tone mostly comes from the fingers.
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by Raymond G
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
You Jersey guys know how to buy a Martin, yours is nice too Ray. You have to try every one in the store, make the poor salesperson have a nervous breakdown putting new strings on each so you can compare.... and make them think you are doing this for amusement and have no intention of buying anything.....then you find the best and you go for it!
I have done this too, and true a guitar is what you make of it. Who will sound better, a great player with a $150 laminate or a lousy player with a vintage Martin? Still, nice to have the best of both worlds.
I too find many Martins hard to handle, they come too high an action, but I was told that they and many others do that because they have to be ready for the roughest players, and not have them buzzing the guitar and getting complaints. So that is legit in its way. When you spend that much on something, the techs there should set it up for how you play.
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
I can't imagine buying a guitar and not having it set up to my preferences. Aye, Iris you are a bit compulsive about your guitar building. Truth be told, if you weren't the machines you turn out wouldn't be as brilliant as they are. I've decided upon an OM, it'll be Bil Mitchell's Pennsylvania Black Walnut model I'll be buying if ever I rustle up the dough. I suppose if I gave up just half the whiskey I'd get to the mark sooner.
No, unfortunately I will not be at Matamoras even though our little cottage is very near there. My schedule is pretty full in July but I can think of no others to represent the tradition better then you and Linda.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by ejsant
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Hi Ed.... as you know I am very partial to Walnut.... made two of them already. The current will be Indian Rosewood, it's the litte 00 so I want the loudest most projective wood. I will continue to obsess more about building. I am three or four guitars ahead of myself, plans, ideas. I also have a harp on the agenda.... shall start with a kit. I had hopes to build one with Rick Kemper, but he's too far away and it would be weekend travel for six weeks or more.
I don't know your builder, but if he knows about walnut he's on the ball.
July will be Mayhem for us all.... esp. with Catskills Week coming up. Good Mayhem!
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Iris as you know my preference is rosewood but Bil is working with local black walnut with brilliant grain so it projects well and is so very warm. I can't say that about most walnut guitars I've played. Maybe it's the trees around here or maybe my ears are genetically predisposed to rosewood. Who knows, I've leave that to the scientists to figure out.
Bil and his wife Sarah, who does the work on my current guitar, are right here in Riegelsville, PA.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by ejsant
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Mine are black walnut.... what they do with the bracing is also very critical. So it's sometimes hard to say this wood is generally not good, but that one is... a good luthier can know how to work with any particular wood to bring out the best in it. They will also know how to thickness a wood just right, whether or not to scallop braces, etc. Your guy sounds very good. I'd love to meet him sometime.
Right now I am sort of apprenticing a bit with Tony DiDomenico, who wants to show me his ways, on this current guitar.... different from Frank F. a bit, and I do some finishing work for him in exchange sometimes.... and made his fiancee's engagement ring!
This is loads of fun, and I am not obsessive in the sense of driving myself, if I do one or two a year, slowly that is fine. It has to be relaxing and I need to be in the mood for it. it takes a good while.... slow and very careful, I have so much to learn! It's a very satisfying hobby, I really don't want to sell them, though people try to buy them all the time. I am at this point, being rather inexperienced, to sell them and have something fall apart! it hasn't happened to any of mine yet, but I do worry, and repair is a whole other art I don't have time to learn right now.
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
I started on a Yamaha, not the best sounding guitar, but very durable, dependable and relatively easy to play.
Moved up to a Martin, which has a beautiful sound and easy action, but is extremely tempermental and needs to be hidden away in its case with a humidifier to keep it from acting up.
Once got to play a Martin just like mine, but built in the 1940s, it was like I died and went to heaven, yet another step up the ladder toward guitar perfection.
My baby brother, who buys instruments for a chain of music stores, says that, for the money, Taylor makes the best guitars he sells these days.
But in the end, it is what you like the best, balanced against what you can afford, and there are many options available. Shop carefully, and get lots of advice from lots of friends.....
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Don't overlook the Breedloves.
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by Mad Baloney
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Apart from Al, did anyone read the original post.
Good and cheap. Yamaha 310.
# Posted on June 24th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Some of the older Yamahas, from the 60s or 70s have some real nice sound if you can find them.
# Posted on June 25th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: The Best Guitar For Irish Music
Of the less expensive guitars I would go for a Larrivee, if you can find one. I've played Blueridge and Yamahas, and I prefer the sound and feel of the Yamaha. To me, the Blueridges felt like the sound was muffled, maybe by a heavy finish, and the notes didn't jump out. Then again, i played a small sample.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Jmbu