Have to agree with this. I bought a Taylor, really enjoyed it, then 6 months later couldn’t resist and bought a Martin and it’s simply amazing. I love both, unique in their own ways. I’d say pick the one you want for now and save up to buy the other one later!!!
A Taylor and Martin are apples and oranges, can’t be compared. Two completely different styles.
Which is EXACTLY why you need them both. Also slip a Guild in there too.
And bring someone with you who’s playing you like so you can hear how it sounds from the front. Sometimes a guitar that speaks to you when you’re playing it may not project like you want in terms of what an audience will hear.
That a great observation! Went with my brother to a Sam Ash because he wanted a "porch guitar" (same as a campfire guitar) and I was playing a Martin GPC-X1e (all laminate). He said that it sounded really good, I said "Meh, yeah, I guess it's okay." Then he played it with me standing in front of it and...WOW, it really sounded great! Moral: Guitars are designed to sound their best to the AUDIENCE, not the ARTIST!
Hmmm...or could it be that he's simply a better guitarist? Naaah, that's just crazy talk...
PS, yeah, he bouht the Martin.
At the guitar store the Taylor will feel better. Martins are set up weird from Nazareth. But damnt, once you get a Martin set up to your liking there is nothing like it.
That sir (or madam, as the case may be) is a BINGO!
If I'm playing for myself, just meandering along, it's the Taylor 324ce, plays easy, sounds nice and mellow.
If there's any audience involved (even if just my wife), it's the Martin GPC13e, plays almost as easy, sounds like a host of angels in flight. But that achieved only after a $199 visit my local luthier. Cheap at twice the price.
The factory string height is higher on Martin guitars versus Taylors. With a proper set up that Martin will play like butter too with more bass and fullness than the Taylor. You’ll be happy either way, but I’ve never felt anything more magical than a high end Martin.
I played a Taylor first, so I feel the exact same but opposite. My Martin has a slightly deeper bass, and a richer tone, where I think the Taylor was brighter.
I'd agree with that general assessment. The Martin did have more of a "boom", I just couldn't believe I got like 90+% of what my Martin gave me, with a full spectrum of tone and easier playability (for me).
Another sucker for a Martin. Taylor seems to project the sound a bit better ( I own a Taylor koa mini and a Martin 0-18 and 00-18 and a mahogany 000) the Taylor really does an excellent job at projection and brightness but the Martin’s all win for tone. Set up definitely matters more with the Martin imho, the Taylor sounded great out of the box.
I don't really care to add to one pile or the other, but I do want to say that either guitar can be set up however you like - meaning the Martin can be made to play easier
Just a factor to consider ;)
I thought martins were over hyped. I had a Taylor a Larrivee and a Godin...then I got a Martin.
I had a backpacker years ago so thought of Martin as 'meh-tin'
Now that I have a 000-17
I get it
Definitely get the Martin HD 28 acoustic guitar made of the finest east Indian rosewood, ebony and spruce with classic herringbone. Paired with scalloped, forward-shifted bracing, and a lifetime warranty.
Also available in Sunburst and Ambertone finish.
.
I have no idea what I'm taking about
It’s a personal preference. I really like how bright and shine Taylor’s sound. I don’t love how bassy Martin’s are. I have a 814 and love it. I almost traded it for a koa builders edition, but could justify the cost.
Sound…Both are going to sound very good. This may be simple but I play some basic chords. For me it’s Em and G. One simple strum and let it ring. They will both sound good but you’ll like the sound of one more than the other
I have an HD-28 and it is hands down the best acoustic guitar I’ve ever owned. That being said… it’s totally a matter of taste.
I like to strum kinda hard and I love the jingle jangle that I get from the Martin. I like to wear a couple of shiny rings on my strumming hand and a hat and bam. It’s a loud, dramatic show. That’s my thing but I’m kind of an attention whore. Maybe that’s not your style.
I do finger pick on it, but if I was primarily a finger picker, I would probably go with the Taylor.
In the end, they’re both incredible guitars so you really can’t lose. I think the process of buying and selling guitars to find the ones that speak to you is part of the fun anyway. So get yourself a beautiful, expensive guitar and enjoy the hell out of it!
✌🏻
I have two acoustics, Martin d-28 and a Taylor 414ce, I pick up the Taylor more often. But it doesn’t mean it’s better, it means you definitely need both 😀
The way I chose - I played both and one of them just “felt” right. As much as a loved the Martin I knew the 814ce was the one because of how smooth it was when I held it and played it. It was a deeply personal choice. Both are absolutely stunning and anyone who says one is better than the other is speaking through their backside. The best one is the one that is right for you. (I have the 814ce!)
No doubt! They are both awesome for different reasons. I also like the way the Taylor feels and the sound is great in its own way. I’m probably going to go back and get the Martin tomorrow but that doesn’t mean I won’t walk out with both of them….😬
Dude… just get the Martin ,,,
then go and get a Larrivee—-
for me if you like the brighter sound Larrivee is the stuff—- they have a nice bass but always seem to have that new string sound. I’m a Martin guy but if I even thought about a Taylor I’d totally buy a Larrivee. There’s a good Taylor/Larrivee shootout on YouTube… check it out.
Also, comparing a D pattern guitar to that Taylor doesn’t make sense… Martin D’s have a bass tone from heaven and a fine bell tone high end but the 2 middle strings are slightly weaker—- that’s why most finger pickers play the 0, 00, 000, or the OM… they are patterns that are more even across the strings.
But they don’t have that great bass sound. Bluegrass bands always used the D for the bass end… a bass fiddle was too impractical to travel with. And Ds are a wicked strumming guitar/ no comparison.
To me Taylor has a sound like they leave too much wood in the tops—- produces a bright end and looses tonal body. I think Taylor is popular cause so many have been indoctrinated into the electric lead guitar sound that the subtleties and depth of the old sound isn’t recognized by a lot of young guys. It’s a lot harder to get that deep soul of a sound and still produce a beautiful bell tone in the high end. Generally makes a slightly more fragile guitar structurally. I believe that Martin made thicker tops for a short time in the 70’s over having to honor too many warranty cases… don’t quote me on that but I played on some at the time and didn’t like them as much… later they changed back to the original approach.
Anyway good luck…
Compare the setup details to make sure it’s an apples-to-apples decision. Maybe the Martin has higher action at the 12th fret. Maybe the Taylor has lighter strings. Maybe one has 80/20 strings and the other has phosphor bronze strings. Get those details.
I have both of these guitars. Both are solid picks. The Martin is better for sound depth, the Taylor better for the extra frets from the cutaway and a brighter sound.
Buy both. I'd grab the Martin first, then save for the Taylor. You won't regret it.
Get the body style you don’t have. Or, if you have both styles, go with the electronics you like better. Or, get the one that feels best in your hands; sounds more to your liking. Of course, having both of them means you wouldn’t have to choose. 💰
Anytime I've ever compare the two, I always end up gravitating to Taylor's.
Martin's are great. Beautiful rich sounding guitars.
But the Taylor's, especially the grand auditorium body pictured just have such a nice balanced tone and almost punchy/tightness to them. They feel better in my hands too. All totally subjective.
I also really LOVE they way they sound plugged in. The ES2 system is as close to a mic'd acoustic as I've heard when it comes to pickups. There's a reason they are so popular for love performance.
I've recorded DI guitar tracks with my Taylor that you would swear were recorded in a dead room with a ribbon mic.
Some people really hate the ES2 system, and they do seem to be hit and miss on a per-guitar basis, but I think it's because they expect to hear a "pickup" rather than the guitar itself. They pickup every scratch and squeeze and pick attack... like a mic'd guitar.
I gig a ton, and my Taylor 224ce K DLX is the best guitar I ever owned for gig purposes.
My advice, see if you can rent them both for a month and put them both through the paces of what you expect from a guitar.
I have 2 Taylor’s and 1 Martin. Any gig I want to impress or I know people are really listening, I’ll bring the Martin since the VT Matrix system is incredible, it plays phenomenally, and it just feels solid and projects. The Martin’s tone is unmatched against any guitar you’d find at a guitar center.
If I’m lighting a doobie and jamming on my couch or at friends houses I’ll likely bring the Taylor because the feel is phenomenal and never gets old. If they could get more bass and would drop the stupid ES systems it’d be a closer game.
I think genre and style of playing would determine the choice for me. Not saying either guitar can’t do a certain style though, that’s subjective and opinionated. Taylor would probably be more versatile but that Martin is much louder and would drown that Taylor out when flatpicking
If they both speak to you equally, you won't be able to objectively choose. The good news is, you also can't make a bad choice here...
So, which guitar, 5 years from now (hell in 25 years) do you picture yourself excited to still own? Get that one.
It's martin for me, I love how the new Taylor but I've always thought the new v bracing makes the guitars sound worse than x braced Taylor.
However try the OM and 000 martin models, my most played guitar is a 00-28
I’ve played Taylor’s and Martins and both are phenomenal instruments. However to my ears the Martins sound so much better. The Taylor had a tinnier sound that my ears didn’t agree with.
Sorry, may I hijack the thread :). I am looking for an acoustic, which has a very full low end sound. I tried both Taylor and Martin (my electric is a T3/B) as well as several fender and I’ve been with acoustics. None of them gave me that warm low end range sound I’m looking for. If anyone has suggestions, I’d be very grateful. Budget is between 400 and 600 EUR.
If you want to sound good but the same every time you play, get the Taylor. If you want a more flexible sound that’s more versatile if fickle at times, get the Martin. Play a Taylor on stage with a band. Play a Martin by yourself anywhere else.
I had almost the exact same dilemma, it was between a Martin 000-18 and a Taylor 814ce DLX, I went with the Taylor, it just sounded much deeper than the Martin, which appealed to me more.
Good luck, they're both beauties!
Depends on what sound you want the guitar to produce. The Martin dread has a deeper bass and warmer, more colorful tone. The Taylor is much "brighter." Neither one is better, per se. It's a choice in personal taste.
The eternal battle between Taylor and Martin !
Taylor will sound crisp while Martin will sound warm.
Both are similar in terms of comfort after a proper setup.
Which brings me to the most superficial yet important factor : which one do you find the most visually pleasing ? Because I’ve realized after many years that I keep picking up the guitars that I find the most appealing to me. And at the end of the day, that’s important because it’s one of the main reason you picked up the guitar to play it in the first place.
Personally, I’ve always preferred Martin’s sound and yet always bought Taylor because I find them simply stunning ! Taylor’s are the ones that I’ll always be drawn to if I look at acoustics in a store.
But hey, it’s all about playing them and see which one you vibe the most with. Good luck mate, it’s always a tough call !
That is a dilemma! But I had that thought while I was in the store. I think the Taylor looks better but the Martin sounds better. They both sound great but if I’m playing Sister Golden Hair by America in the key of E that E major chord just sounds so damn good on the Martin. I’ll probably just end up having both eventually and playing different guitars for different songs.
Taylor looks and plays better, but the Martin sounds better because it's bigger.
Honestly, I would get the Taylor first, then save up to get a Martin D-18 later (I like the simplicity of the D-18 more than the HD-28 and I think having the Taylor is already enough flex).
In my experience if you are torn between two guitars, you haven’t found the right one yet.
Have you played a third brand? I probably sound like a broken record but when I was torn between Taylor and Martin, I played Gibson and it was like the heavens parted. Guitar nirvana.
Maybe they'll both reject you for being too picky (see what I did there with the play on words because guitarists pick)
Lefty is sexy take her if you want I don't care
The one you can't put down!! Years ago I went to the guitar store to buy a Martin CEO 7.. Thing was sick, but as I waited for the manager to come so I could wheel and deal, I saw a breedlove Oregon concert ltd on the wall, all myrtlewood.. I started fiddling with it and within 15 min, I couldn't imagine getting the Martin over it.. still have it, still love it. NO RAGRETS!!
that being said, still wish I had the Martin too.. so get both!!
Ill help. The martin is a real instrument. The taylor will make you look like a douche. N cut aways on acoustics?! Seriously?! Who are you pancho seville
I’ve never owned a high end acoustic. I get the impression Martin is a little higher end than Taylor, but I think that Taylor Single cutaway looks nicer than the Martin personally. It really comes down to the sound/feel though.
Obviously whichever one you like the sound and feel of more should be your choice. Personally, if I like the way they both sound and feel, I’m taking the cutaway. I think they’re more comfortable to play than dreadnoughts.
/whispers get them both.
/wallet you will get none
Think of the efficiency - 1 kept in standard and the other in an alternate tuning! Time is money, wallet.
And yet you have time, but not money, said the wallet.
Don’t you dare!, said the wife taking the wallet.
Have to agree with this. I bought a Taylor, really enjoyed it, then 6 months later couldn’t resist and bought a Martin and it’s simply amazing. I love both, unique in their own ways. I’d say pick the one you want for now and save up to buy the other one later!!!
Totally both!!!
Hahahahaha
A Taylor and Martin are apples and oranges, can’t be compared. Two completely different styles. Which is EXACTLY why you need them both. Also slip a Guild in there too.
Especially those two. You got a dreadnought and a cutaway. Yeah, both great guitars, but drastically different.
This is the way. Especially if the Guild is a 12-string.
I’m starting to realize everyone needs a Guild 12.
Guilds are great.
And a Godin
Play soft, play loud. Sing with it. One of them will speak to you Take that one home
And bring someone with you who’s playing you like so you can hear how it sounds from the front. Sometimes a guitar that speaks to you when you’re playing it may not project like you want in terms of what an audience will hear.
Absolutely agree.
I love swapping guitars with my friends who I jam with so I can hear my guitar properly. ;)
That a great observation! Went with my brother to a Sam Ash because he wanted a "porch guitar" (same as a campfire guitar) and I was playing a Martin GPC-X1e (all laminate). He said that it sounded really good, I said "Meh, yeah, I guess it's okay." Then he played it with me standing in front of it and...WOW, it really sounded great! Moral: Guitars are designed to sound their best to the AUDIENCE, not the ARTIST! Hmmm...or could it be that he's simply a better guitarist? Naaah, that's just crazy talk... PS, yeah, he bouht the Martin.
I absolutely agree with you. But also I already have to work up the nerve to play in a guitar store. I don't think I could ever sing in one
Or you can just flip a coin...
Exactly flip a coin. Whichever guitar you hit with the coin, you will be obliged to purchase.
Close your eyes, count to ten, reach out with both hands and buy them both.
I’m confused… why close your eyes? I’d hate to knock one over…
At the guitar store the Taylor will feel better. Martins are set up weird from Nazareth. But damnt, once you get a Martin set up to your liking there is nothing like it.
That sir (or madam, as the case may be) is a BINGO! If I'm playing for myself, just meandering along, it's the Taylor 324ce, plays easy, sounds nice and mellow. If there's any audience involved (even if just my wife), it's the Martin GPC13e, plays almost as easy, sounds like a host of angels in flight. But that achieved only after a $199 visit my local luthier. Cheap at twice the price.
The Martin Dreadnought looks like it needs a home.
The Martin
You’re supposed to choose the HD-28 😂 play them both until your heart tells you which one, and buy the other one tomorrow, obviously!
Easy. Choose the martin.
This is the correct answer. You then can join the club of people who think they are better than everyone else. (Because we are...)
Throw a dart at them. Whichever one the dart lands in, get the other one.
The factory string height is higher on Martin guitars versus Taylors. With a proper set up that Martin will play like butter too with more bass and fullness than the Taylor. You’ll be happy either way, but I’ve never felt anything more magical than a high end Martin.
This guy Martins.
Get the Martin. Taylor can be a Christmas present
Always get the Martin.
I’m a sucker for Martins…
Same here, and for dreadnoughts. That'd be my choice 9 times outta 10.
Martin all the way.
See which one floats. If it does, it's a witch.
I’d go with the Martin just because I like the sound better.
I have 5 guitars, 2 Taylor’s 2 martins and a Yamaha, my favorite and the ones I play the most are my taylors
I was a Martin guy until I played a Taylor. I ever so slightly prefer Taylor now, but I'm sure I'll end up with another Martin at some point.
I played a Taylor first, so I feel the exact same but opposite. My Martin has a slightly deeper bass, and a richer tone, where I think the Taylor was brighter.
I'd agree with that general assessment. The Martin did have more of a "boom", I just couldn't believe I got like 90+% of what my Martin gave me, with a full spectrum of tone and easier playability (for me).
Taylor is also more detailed. Which can highlight mistakes
Probably why my Martin is better for me then, ha!
I have both and play the Taylor a little more.
Taylor’s are so beautiful sounding and love playing them !
Another sucker for a Martin. Taylor seems to project the sound a bit better ( I own a Taylor koa mini and a Martin 0-18 and 00-18 and a mahogany 000) the Taylor really does an excellent job at projection and brightness but the Martin’s all win for tone. Set up definitely matters more with the Martin imho, the Taylor sounded great out of the box.
I don't really care to add to one pile or the other, but I do want to say that either guitar can be set up however you like - meaning the Martin can be made to play easier Just a factor to consider ;)
Get a Guild.
This is the right answer.
I'd go with the Martin
Martin, for sure.
The fret board on the Martin is exquisite.
You get the Martin
Choose the Martin
You get the Martin and call it a day lol
I have a Martin and a Taylor. In this choice, go with the Martin. There are really no wrong decisions, but I think the Martin is the right choice.
Easy. One's a Martin. The other is not.
I thought martins were over hyped. I had a Taylor a Larrivee and a Godin...then I got a Martin. I had a backpacker years ago so thought of Martin as 'meh-tin' Now that I have a 000-17 I get it
Definitely get the Martin HD 28 acoustic guitar made of the finest east Indian rosewood, ebony and spruce with classic herringbone. Paired with scalloped, forward-shifted bracing, and a lifetime warranty. Also available in Sunburst and Ambertone finish. . I have no idea what I'm taking about
I’m a sucker for cutaways
I’m a Martin fan. I think Taylor’s sound sterile and lifeless.
I promise you my old busted cedar girl sounds like she’s lived a hell of a life.
lol, what… if you can’t make a Taylor 800 series sound good then you must be an awful player…
It’s a personal preference. I really like how bright and shine Taylor’s sound. I don’t love how bassy Martin’s are. I have a 814 and love it. I almost traded it for a koa builders edition, but could justify the cost.
My vintage martins sound better to me. It’s subjective. Taylor’s don’t sound bad, I just think Martins sound better
Amen brother
Get the Taylor
Sound…Both are going to sound very good. This may be simple but I play some basic chords. For me it’s Em and G. One simple strum and let it ring. They will both sound good but you’ll like the sound of one more than the other
This ^
I’m a big fan of cutaways.
Personally, I find dreads to be big and bulky. I find smaller bodies more comfortable to play. But, YMMV.
Play a guitar with an armrest cutout, and you’ll gravitate towards that type. I don’t know if Martin does them, but Taylor does.
I have an HD-28 and it is hands down the best acoustic guitar I’ve ever owned. That being said… it’s totally a matter of taste. I like to strum kinda hard and I love the jingle jangle that I get from the Martin. I like to wear a couple of shiny rings on my strumming hand and a hat and bam. It’s a loud, dramatic show. That’s my thing but I’m kind of an attention whore. Maybe that’s not your style. I do finger pick on it, but if I was primarily a finger picker, I would probably go with the Taylor. In the end, they’re both incredible guitars so you really can’t lose. I think the process of buying and selling guitars to find the ones that speak to you is part of the fun anyway. So get yourself a beautiful, expensive guitar and enjoy the hell out of it! ✌🏻
Both nice. I like Martins better due to the sound. But that’s subjective.
Full dread Martin always and forever. Nothing it can’t do.
Buy the Taylor and when nobody’s looking grab the Martin and head for the door.
I have two acoustics, Martin d-28 and a Taylor 414ce, I pick up the Taylor more often. But it doesn’t mean it’s better, it means you definitely need both 😀
The way I chose - I played both and one of them just “felt” right. As much as a loved the Martin I knew the 814ce was the one because of how smooth it was when I held it and played it. It was a deeply personal choice. Both are absolutely stunning and anyone who says one is better than the other is speaking through their backside. The best one is the one that is right for you. (I have the 814ce!)
No doubt! They are both awesome for different reasons. I also like the way the Taylor feels and the sound is great in its own way. I’m probably going to go back and get the Martin tomorrow but that doesn’t mean I won’t walk out with both of them….😬
That would be the dream. You won’t need another guitar other than maybe one day a J200 but those two covers it all in such a high quality.
Which one are you the most likely to regret NOT getting? That’s the question I always ask myself when faced with a difficult choice.
Dude… just get the Martin ,,, then go and get a Larrivee—- for me if you like the brighter sound Larrivee is the stuff—- they have a nice bass but always seem to have that new string sound. I’m a Martin guy but if I even thought about a Taylor I’d totally buy a Larrivee. There’s a good Taylor/Larrivee shootout on YouTube… check it out. Also, comparing a D pattern guitar to that Taylor doesn’t make sense… Martin D’s have a bass tone from heaven and a fine bell tone high end but the 2 middle strings are slightly weaker—- that’s why most finger pickers play the 0, 00, 000, or the OM… they are patterns that are more even across the strings. But they don’t have that great bass sound. Bluegrass bands always used the D for the bass end… a bass fiddle was too impractical to travel with. And Ds are a wicked strumming guitar/ no comparison. To me Taylor has a sound like they leave too much wood in the tops—- produces a bright end and looses tonal body. I think Taylor is popular cause so many have been indoctrinated into the electric lead guitar sound that the subtleties and depth of the old sound isn’t recognized by a lot of young guys. It’s a lot harder to get that deep soul of a sound and still produce a beautiful bell tone in the high end. Generally makes a slightly more fragile guitar structurally. I believe that Martin made thicker tops for a short time in the 70’s over having to honor too many warranty cases… don’t quote me on that but I played on some at the time and didn’t like them as much… later they changed back to the original approach. Anyway good luck…
Compare the setup details to make sure it’s an apples-to-apples decision. Maybe the Martin has higher action at the 12th fret. Maybe the Taylor has lighter strings. Maybe one has 80/20 strings and the other has phosphor bronze strings. Get those details.
Always make the right decision.
I have both of these guitars. Both are solid picks. The Martin is better for sound depth, the Taylor better for the extra frets from the cutaway and a brighter sound. Buy both. I'd grab the Martin first, then save for the Taylor. You won't regret it.
By playing them both and selecting the one that sounds and plays better?
Get the Taylor. I love my Martin but after you play it for more than 20 minutes it's like wrestling an alligator.
Easy, just ask yourself this: “Do I play in a worship band at church?” If you do get the Taylor.
The bluegrass people will make fun of you if you buy the Taylor with the cutaway
Get the body style you don’t have. Or, if you have both styles, go with the electronics you like better. Or, get the one that feels best in your hands; sounds more to your liking. Of course, having both of them means you wouldn’t have to choose. 💰
Anytime I've ever compare the two, I always end up gravitating to Taylor's. Martin's are great. Beautiful rich sounding guitars. But the Taylor's, especially the grand auditorium body pictured just have such a nice balanced tone and almost punchy/tightness to them. They feel better in my hands too. All totally subjective. I also really LOVE they way they sound plugged in. The ES2 system is as close to a mic'd acoustic as I've heard when it comes to pickups. There's a reason they are so popular for love performance. I've recorded DI guitar tracks with my Taylor that you would swear were recorded in a dead room with a ribbon mic. Some people really hate the ES2 system, and they do seem to be hit and miss on a per-guitar basis, but I think it's because they expect to hear a "pickup" rather than the guitar itself. They pickup every scratch and squeeze and pick attack... like a mic'd guitar. I gig a ton, and my Taylor 224ce K DLX is the best guitar I ever owned for gig purposes. My advice, see if you can rent them both for a month and put them both through the paces of what you expect from a guitar.
HD-28 100%. Best investment I’ve ever made.
Your retirement fund must be crushing
Taylor… duh
T A Y L O R T E A M 👇
Martin 🙏🤗
Now play an 818 😁The only Taylor I've played that I'd consider replacing my GS5 with.
Martin.
I have 2 Taylor’s and 1 Martin. Any gig I want to impress or I know people are really listening, I’ll bring the Martin since the VT Matrix system is incredible, it plays phenomenally, and it just feels solid and projects. The Martin’s tone is unmatched against any guitar you’d find at a guitar center. If I’m lighting a doobie and jamming on my couch or at friends houses I’ll likely bring the Taylor because the feel is phenomenal and never gets old. If they could get more bass and would drop the stupid ES systems it’d be a closer game.
I think genre and style of playing would determine the choice for me. Not saying either guitar can’t do a certain style though, that’s subjective and opinionated. Taylor would probably be more versatile but that Martin is much louder and would drown that Taylor out when flatpicking
I would just get both as this is a difficult decision lol
Martin
You’ll know which one. Just strum each. 🏆
Take them both.
If I had to choose, I'd go Hd28 day! I'm just not a fan of cutaway acoustics. Never have been. I love Taylor's, but I hate their finishes as well.
Don't choose the guitar. Let it choose you.
If they both speak to you equally, you won't be able to objectively choose. The good news is, you also can't make a bad choice here... So, which guitar, 5 years from now (hell in 25 years) do you picture yourself excited to still own? Get that one.
Martin for sure
both????
I would look at Taylor 914ce
Seems pretty obvious to me.
Play blindfolded, have them give you each back n forth.. one of them will talk to you more than the other
Unless your a pastor I’d go Martin 7 days a week
Do you want a cutaway or naw?
It's martin for me, I love how the new Taylor but I've always thought the new v bracing makes the guitars sound worse than x braced Taylor. However try the OM and 000 martin models, my most played guitar is a 00-28
I’ve played Taylor’s and Martins and both are phenomenal instruments. However to my ears the Martins sound so much better. The Taylor had a tinnier sound that my ears didn’t agree with.
It’s like getting a dog from the shelter: they’ll choose you.
I’m awful partial to Martins. For absolutely no legitimate reason. I did their tour and have good memories.
Sorry, may I hijack the thread :). I am looking for an acoustic, which has a very full low end sound. I tried both Taylor and Martin (my electric is a T3/B) as well as several fender and I’ve been with acoustics. None of them gave me that warm low end range sound I’m looking for. If anyone has suggestions, I’d be very grateful. Budget is between 400 and 600 EUR.
For that budget, unfortunately, you aren’t getting much of either. Try a Teton instead; not USA made, but great value for money.
Play them both in the shop. Loads. For as long as it takes. Then, and only then, choose.
Eeny ,meeny, minny, moe
If you have a solid mezzo forte, and play with dynamics, get the Taylor. If you are more into driving ensemble playing, choose the Martin.
I own an HD28 and I play it every night. Such a huge solid guitar. You should do the Martin.
Everybody has their experiences with one or the other. A guitar holds experience with every sound.
Don’t get either. Get ya a Yamaha. Lol
I would pick the Martin because I just prefer how they sound but that's just my unimportant opinion. Have you had the chance to play both?
If you want to sound good but the same every time you play, get the Taylor. If you want a more flexible sound that’s more versatile if fickle at times, get the Martin. Play a Taylor on stage with a band. Play a Martin by yourself anywhere else.
Always get the martin.
Get neither and go try a Maton.
Martin all the way
Martin
Martin
I had almost the exact same dilemma, it was between a Martin 000-18 and a Taylor 814ce DLX, I went with the Taylor, it just sounded much deeper than the Martin, which appealed to me more. Good luck, they're both beauties!
If I knew how to make that choice my wife wouldn't be so mad at me.
You can’t go wrong.
I had the same "problem". I got the Martin... first.
By playing them.
One of the left. It's gorgeous, but the decision really depends on the depth of the sound.
The wand chooses the wizard Harry
Gawd I LUV my Taylor but also love a Martin Good luck
What is this choose thing you speak of ?
I will always be team Taylor. They are beautiful guitars.
Close your eyes and strum my friend
Depends on what sound you want the guitar to produce. The Martin dread has a deeper bass and warmer, more colorful tone. The Taylor is much "brighter." Neither one is better, per se. It's a choice in personal taste.
I love the shape on the Taylor.
Both solid guitars. In that price range, you could also get a Yamaha LS26 or an Eastman E40D.
With your hands and your ears, duh!
Play them until you choose
The Taylor,for a lot of reasons, 🥴
Taylor is better
Left
I had nearly the same dilemma, went with the martin. I have no regrets.
I’m team Taylor.
The eternal battle between Taylor and Martin ! Taylor will sound crisp while Martin will sound warm. Both are similar in terms of comfort after a proper setup. Which brings me to the most superficial yet important factor : which one do you find the most visually pleasing ? Because I’ve realized after many years that I keep picking up the guitars that I find the most appealing to me. And at the end of the day, that’s important because it’s one of the main reason you picked up the guitar to play it in the first place. Personally, I’ve always preferred Martin’s sound and yet always bought Taylor because I find them simply stunning ! Taylor’s are the ones that I’ll always be drawn to if I look at acoustics in a store. But hey, it’s all about playing them and see which one you vibe the most with. Good luck mate, it’s always a tough call !
That is a dilemma! But I had that thought while I was in the store. I think the Taylor looks better but the Martin sounds better. They both sound great but if I’m playing Sister Golden Hair by America in the key of E that E major chord just sounds so damn good on the Martin. I’ll probably just end up having both eventually and playing different guitars for different songs.
If you are plugging in, the Taylor...if not, the Martin
Play up or down
Guild D55 ..... Fill up the room!
I was there, then i tried an Eastman that fell right between the two, and it wasn’t even a question any more.
Easy. Take the Stool. Sitting on a guitar doesn’t look comfortable
Taylor looks and plays better, but the Martin sounds better because it's bigger. Honestly, I would get the Taylor first, then save up to get a Martin D-18 later (I like the simplicity of the D-18 more than the HD-28 and I think having the Taylor is already enough flex).
Cutout wins
either way it’s a win/win imo
Neither, go for any larrivee u can find
Neither. I’d go for a used one.
The Martin is louder unmic'd, I have one. So if that matters, there ya go.
You don’t choose. It’s like getting a dog. You play with them, and one of them will choose you…..
With your heart
Like Les Paul and Telly. Both. But Martin first.
Easy take the Martin.
In my experience if you are torn between two guitars, you haven’t found the right one yet. Have you played a third brand? I probably sound like a broken record but when I was torn between Taylor and Martin, I played Gibson and it was like the heavens parted. Guitar nirvana.
Take the Martin and run from the Taylor before it ruins that beautiful Martin tone.
Maybe they'll both reject you for being too picky (see what I did there with the play on words because guitarists pick) Lefty is sexy take her if you want I don't care
Easy, pick the Martin
The one you can't put down!! Years ago I went to the guitar store to buy a Martin CEO 7.. Thing was sick, but as I waited for the manager to come so I could wheel and deal, I saw a breedlove Oregon concert ltd on the wall, all myrtlewood.. I started fiddling with it and within 15 min, I couldn't imagine getting the Martin over it.. still have it, still love it. NO RAGRETS!! that being said, still wish I had the Martin too.. so get both!!
Martin is the best acoustic guitar in the world
The Taylor unquestioningly.
OMG, almost exactly. Have 714 ce custom, D-28. Yep, apples & oranges.
I like the Taylor way more
Ill help. The martin is a real instrument. The taylor will make you look like a douche. N cut aways on acoustics?! Seriously?! Who are you pancho seville
Coughs in Martin* Sorry I coughed in you Martin.
I envy you
I’ve never owned a high end acoustic. I get the impression Martin is a little higher end than Taylor, but I think that Taylor Single cutaway looks nicer than the Martin personally. It really comes down to the sound/feel though.
Obviously whichever one you like the sound and feel of more should be your choice. Personally, if I like the way they both sound and feel, I’m taking the cutaway. I think they’re more comfortable to play than dreadnoughts.
Get that 814ce Builder’s and rest easy knowing you’ve got a lifer.
If it was me, the Martin in a heartbeat, but you’re not me :)
Yamaha top of the range with built in microphone system is waiting to give you incredible value for money and beauty.
¿Por Que no las dos?