I'll see your Martins and raise you a Collings....D1A. Same thing...15-20 minutes in and it's stunning how good it gets!
I got my first Dreadnought acoustic just a few years back. I got the Eastman E10ss/v. It's an all solid wood construction dreadnought guitar, and is a short scale (24.75). It does sound something like a Gibson J-45, but was less than half of the price. Honestly, a J-45 is a dream guitar for me.
Right!? I love dreadnoughts too, of all styles; with and without a cutaway, 6 or 12 string, rosewood or mahogany. And I agree, they are beast!
Acoustics aren't the same without the thump. What's your jumbo there? I have one "obligatory" OM size Stonebridge (aka Furch), it has a less common solid cedar top. But my real dreadnought beast is the Guild D-40 Traditional. The D'Angelico dreadnought cutaway gives me a solid rosewood back/sides and electronics, it's easier to play than the Guild but it doesn't have the same thump and resonance. And the vintage 1979 Yamaha is just kinda there. Sounds good, nice for its age, but can't handle heavy strumming like the others.
Ooooh! Very nice. There was one listed for sale over here the other day at the princely price of $1500AUD. If I didn’t have so many guitars, I might have been tempted to go and have a word with him. A Fender copy of a J series Gibson, but in Rosewood! I’ve got an F65 Rosewood/Spruce dread that’s a very nice guitar. I’m a bit of a fan of the F series Fenders. I think they’re well and truely undervalued.
I have to agree! There's something about the power in a good dread. A new Martin Custom Shop 18 style for me. Loads of articulation and sass on tap. Kind of like playing a tele.
As you play the molecules of the wood heat up which is why the sound gets better after a few minutes of playing. As the top vibrates the movement and friction resisting that movement heat up the molecules a bit.
I got a Martin OMJM years ago and that was my only acoustic for a long time. Then I stumbled on my Gibson J-45. I love that damn thing. Hardly play the Martin anymore which is a shame. Its a great guitar. Thinking of selling it actually. I'd love to find the right D-35. Those are a cross between a harp and a cannon. Love them!
I had a 20 year love affair with Gibson acoustics but I always hankered for a D35 because I’d grown up playing the Japanese lawsuit era copies. I finally got one last year, so along with my 62 Gibson Southern Jumbo, I think I’ve got all of the acoustics that I will ever need, (you would think…). But that really doesn’t explain why I’ve spent the last 12 months playing a $400 Fender Newporter! Neither of those glorious guitars can really be left on a stand even overnight at my place with 3 dogs roaming around so they tend to sit in their cases and only get dragged out occasionally to remind myself how bloody fortunate I am! What a life.
Stunning guitar there. Higher resolution would be most welcome. Trees make great outdoor guitar stands, don't they? They go on my 12 string. Wish they were not MIM. : / D'Addario EJ17 for the HD-28.
It's true. J-45's are killer guitars. Such a fun one to play. Hunt the right one down and play it in. You will NOT be sorry!
Collings are so good. The craftsmanship is second to none. Half the time I see one I'm afraid to pick it up. I wouldn't want to knick it or fall in love with it and buy it!
For all the tone they have they are incredibly rugged. I had a D2H and was at a coffee house jam. There was a small 2' high stage and we were gathered around it sorta. Some knucklehead decided to bring his P-Bass sans amp and sit in with us. He grabbed a chair and managed to get 3 of the 4 legs on the stage before sitting down. As he came falling backwards he swung the bass around and a tuning key struck the Collings on the side just below the neck junction. Sent me backwards! I was expecting to see a bunch of splinters when I finally looked down. All I saw was a nice dent the size and shape of the big ol' tuning key! When I got home I gave it a once over and found no wood damage. I drop filled the nitro with some lacquer thinner (It was more crushed) and the dent virtually disappeared! I used to work at a store as a photographer and saw dozens of Collings come through. I never saw one single blemish or issue on any of them. All stunningly perfect! Wish I could say that about other brands but....
i was playing an outdoor gig with my Collings D2HSB. It was on a stand during break and the wind blew it over. Landed face first on the stage. My first thought was what an idiot I was to a) be playing this guitar here in 90 degree 100% humidity windy weather and worse b) leaving it alone on a stand. Don’t know how but it was fine, not a scratch on it. I proceeded to drink a few beers before the next set. Collings guitars are very very special.
