I had been looking for an acoustic for a while and when I picked it up and strummed a few chords I was blown away. It was, at the time, Martins lowest priced model that had a solid top and was made in USA. I have a Martin DCM that is about 15 years old. Martins are considered darker in tone with prominent Lows, and Gibsons are known for being “thumpy” - not so much ring, and the harmonic overtones are more focused on the fundamental note you are actually fretting (Taylors and Martins have more complex overtones) - but those are broad, sweeping over-generalizations that can be really incorrect for a specific model or guitar… Most makes have a reputation for a certain type of sound - Taylors are considered Modern Voiced, with an emphasis on bright, ringy highs and prominent Mids. You really have to be prepared to play a bunch and figure out what works for you. It’s about 7/8 size, and unfortunately the neck’s width at the nut is about proportional (why can’t it be a standard 1 3/4'?!) but it is a great guitar for the money. We really are in a Golden Age of guitar value - a $1,300 Gibson J-35 or Taylor 410 are great-playing guitars.įor lower-priced guitars, I have a Taylor GS-Mini as my travel, beater no-guilt guitar. Within that context, new Martins, Gibsons, Taylors, and many others besides the Big 3 can be considered. If you are considering getting a guitar that can be considered excellent, you are likely going to be spending a bit, e.g., more than $1,000.

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