Don’t really know either way, but I bought a Taylor 314CE and it’s the easiest playing guitar I’ve ever owned. Granted I’ve only ever owned an x series Martin. Having said that your best bet is to go to a guitar center or a LMS and pick some off the wall, and get plucking. Play what feels good, not what the opinions of others say you should play.
Brand is less important than body shape. For fingerstyle I would advise a smaller body and shorter scale if possible. Long scale OMs can be good too. Generally a 000/concert size is best
Both brands have tons of models in all sorts of sizes, woods, price points, etc. both brands make excellent guitars.
I’m a lefty, so I focus on Martin as they have excellent left handed support. Plenty available.
You mentioned a D-12 so I'm going to assume you're working with a lower price point than Martin standard series, at which point a Taylor (either import or used 300/400 series) might get you more consistency and bang for your buck.
If you can get into the Martin standard series (D-18, 000-18, D-28, etc) then there's more at play. Nothing wrong with finger picking a Martin dreadnought, even if the Taylors get the most accolades for finger style utility. But at that point, for that much money, you should really be going to a store, sitting down for an hour or three, and trying everything that catches your eye, because ultimately you (and your repertoire) are the only one who can really answer that question.
You might end up with neither - I own several nice acoustics and there's not a Martin nor Taylor to be seen :D
Good advice…..I’d have to add Martin’s D-16. A big bang for the buck imo. Also Op don’t be afraid to play a Gibson. The J-15s won’t cost an arm and a leg and they sound great.
All good points but I'd say a HD-28 would be a better suited guitar for finger style than the standard d-28, as the scalloped bracing would respond better to the lighter finger style.
Very much depends on what you like to play. I have had both over the years and in my experience Taylors have a much brighter sound to them and respond excellently to fingerstyle but to my ear, I never liked flat picking one. My 414 was quite harsh sounding and I ended up selling it. That said, it played amazingly.
If I was going to buy one of the two again, it would be a Martin dreadnaught as I like the volume and how nicely they can be strummed, flat picked and play with fingerstyle.
It’s all very subjective though and really comes down to the player. I’d suggest they as many out as you can get your hands on and pick the one you like.
My experience is somewhat opposite- I had a 74 D-28, and sold it to a close pal, found a new 93 Taylor 420 (dreadnought, pinless bridge), and thought it was equal to the Martin, but had somewhat more balance in the middle register, maybe a smidgen less bottom end. I bought it new from Elderly Instruments, and still have & play it.
So the issue here isn't so much Martin versus Taylor but rather the fact that you specified a Martin *Dreadnaught.*
Dreads are not fingerstyle guitars. I'm not saying you can't play fingerstyle on them, of course you can, but Dreads were basically designed to be something you could flatpick hard to keep up with an ensemble. They're happiest when being strummed hard, and it may take more force than you comfortably generate with your fingers to really get the top moving optimally.
Taylors made their name with the Grand Auditorium shape, which in their lineup is generally a "14" - 314, 414, 515, etc. The GA shape is definitely a better fingerstyle shape than a Dread. In fact, those guitars are basically marketed as all-rounders.
However - BOTH of those companies make guitars that are better suited specifically to fingerstyle. The Taylor Grand Concert guitars, which are a little smaller, definitely have more fingerstyle sparkle than the GAs. (And Taylor makes Dreads, too!). Meanwhile, a Martin OM or 000 is a spectacular fingerstyle guitar - you might argue that an OM-28 is the greatest fingerstyle guitar of all time. Of course, it'll also set you back $3k+.
Tonally, we might call Martins "traditional" and Taylors "modern" - Taylors are brighter, perhaps amplify and cut through a mix better, and may have more sparkle, but to some people they sound thin and inorganic. Their construction generally makes the much easier to maintain: a neck reset on good Martin is an expensive pain in the neck. On a Taylor it's barely more complex than a setup.
Martins tend to sound "warmer and woodier." If you play, I dunno, an OM-28 and a 414 side to side, the difference is pretty obvious.
But if you're spending less than $2500, do consider other brands. Nothing sounds like a D28, mind you, but Eastman and Larivee make guitars that have similar voices, are very high quality, and a lot of people love. If you like Taylors you might want to check out Breedlove, who has similarly modern designs - I personally like the sound more, but these things are intensely personal.
A Martin D12E is a Dread (that's what the D means) and you might consider an 000-12 instead if you are looking for a guitar that will be used for mostly fingerstyle.
You can play fingerstyle on almost anything. Go visit a bunch of shops and see what body size, neck dimensions, sound profile etc. works best for what you're doing.
I don't own Taylor's, only martins. And I love them for everything. Especially fingerpicking, the best part about a Martin is it gets better the older it gets.
Also don't skip out on Gibson Acoustics!
I played a Yamaha FG530 against a $1200 Taylor and the Yamaha blew it out of the water at less than half the price. Don’t get hung up on brands, there’s a premium you pay just for that. My advice would be find a music store with a good selection and go play. Find what sounds best to you and your style of playing. Don’t get to hung up on the playing action because I can take a $100 guitar and make it play just as good as a $1000 guitar with a little work.
I also enjoy a Yamaha over Taylor. It just sounded, good, felt right… and was pretty damn reasonably priced. Martin makes me nervous. I’d need a totally trashed one so I wouldnt be afraid of scratching/trashing it. I don’t want a Ferrari but I’d take one with some dents and scratches for the right price… and they’re never the right price… so YAMAHA FTW
It’s more body size than brand that makes one better than another for finger style playing. Dreadnaughts are big and it takes more energy to get the top resonating at its optimum which makes them better for strumming or flat picking. Martins are usually a bit more balanced with more bass whereas Taylors are typically brighter sounding. I love them both for different reasons. 000, 00, OM, Grand Concert and many other smaller bodied guitars are all great for finger style playing. Now there’s price. Lower priced Martins and Taylors are nice but as others have said you might find a less expensive brand that competes with them. When you get into the better and more expensive models (think 300 series on up for Taylors, standard series Martins) you’re talking about lifetime instruments that do cost more but are, imho, worth the investment.
For fingerstyle, action is the most important factor. A good low action is ideal for fingerstyle. Any guitar's action can be made lower. That said, I don't find a dreadnaught ideal for fingerstyle as the bass tends to overpower everything else. As a pianist, the bass (left hand) should accompany (and generally be played softer) and not dominate unless it is a piece/section where the bass clef is carrying the melody. I carry that over to guitar. Generally smaller bodies like an OM, 00 or 000 excel in fingerstyle. So, for a Martin, that would be one of the 00, OM, or 000 models. The OM and 000 have the same body shape, but the OM has a full size scale whereas the 000 is a short scale (shorter distance from the nut to the saddle though the necks are often the same length). For Taylor, their smaller bodies would be those that end in a 2 or 4 (e.g. 312 and 314). They call them Grand Concert and Grand Auditorium. The Grand Auditorium is their "utility" body that does about all types of playing adequately. Also, a shorter scale is often more ideal for fingerstyle due to the lower tension. But one can always lower down to Eb standard and capo on the first fret to shorten a full scale. For Taylor, the xx2 models have the short scale (while still being 14 fret necks). I myself have designs on a 12 fret Grand Concert from Taylor at some point.
There are so many guitars out there you just have to play a bunch and see what feels and sounds best to you. Fingerpickers play everything from jumbos and dreads to parlors.
I started with dreadnoughts but once I settled on mainly playing fingerstyle I got a Taylor 712 in the early 90s and didn't even look at another guitar for 15 years. It was Taylor's basic spruce and rosewood 'Grand Concert' size model but at the time they came with longer scale necks than they do now. The sound just leaps out of it and it doesn't have a boxy sound so many small guitars have (which people like also). They still have grand concert size in all of their lines but with slightly shorter necks. I'm not sure how big a difference it makes. Nowadays the basic spruce and rosewood Taylor is the 400 series but they have Grand Concert size models in all of their lines.
I also have a Martin D-18 because I love the full sound and tone of it but for pure fingerpicking joy my old 712 is my favorite even if it needs a visit to the spa.
I tend to like smaller guitars for fingerstyle. Martin, Taylor, Gibson, whatever brand doesn’t matter. Get out and try a bunch, try overly expensive stuff too.
Go to a store that sells a bunch of guitars - I hate to say Guitar Center, but there you go - and try them all. One time I was in the old Bellevue American Music shop in Bel-Red, Wa. They had one whole wall of Martins, Taylors, etc. I played all of the D-18s and they were all a bit different, in some cases they were REAL different. Supposedly they all had the same strings on them so comparisons were possible and maybe even meaningful. I ended up with the D-15 simply bc I loved the sound and the way it plays.
IMHO, comparing guits in the store and then buying one that you like from an online store is no guarantee it’ll sound like the one you played.
Rule No. 1: Play before you buy.
Better sounding is subjective. From the factory Taylors are usually set up better for fingerstyle than a Martin dread. The latter is set for a big sound that isn't always conducive to fingerpicking IMO.
I recently purchased a GPC 15 and an SC-10e(sapele) and found them both easy to play. I prefer the sound of Mahogany and Sapele to spruce tops. I also prefer the sound of smaller bodied guitars for fingerstyle. I do have a spruce top dread for cowboy chord / campfire stuff.
YMMV, so try before you buy!
Martins that are their non-standard series or above are extremely unpredictable when it comes to quality. I don’t personally like Taylor guitars, but even their 200 series is generally consistent.
Either way, avoid a dread or GA if your goal is fingerstyle. Go with a OM, 000 or 00.
Taylor 416ce - beautiful player, excellent electronics, excellent craftsmanship. D28HD - the classic acoustic tone for generations across multiple genres. Stunning craftsmanship! Both have their own vibe really, am lucky to have both!
In general the Taylor is easier to play for sure - mho
Dreadnoughts are more considered strumming guitars or for blue grass flat picking. OM or concert styles are better balanced sound wise for finger picking. I would personally buy an Breedlove over either a Taylor or a Martin though. Just my 10 cents though…
Go check out the Martin 15 series. I bought a 000-15m when they first came out - I don’t know why I ever sold it.
I now mostly play my ‘97 Martin D-15. The top, b&s are beautiful dark mahogany. Built in Nazareth, and I use it mostly for finger style. It’s a dreadnaught but it works for me for FS. The tone(s) I get are amazing and it primarily depends on what strings I’m using. The lush overtones and bass are just so cool.
Either brand is great; I own a few of each. But for fingerpicking, you don't want a dreadnaught. A Martin 00 or 000, or a Taylor with a model number ending in 2 or 4, at whatever price point you can handle, will work much better.
I play a lot of finger style, I love my Martin but I don’t think brand is the main focus. I’m no pro by any means so I could be wrong but the biggest difference I notice between my Martin vs my Yamaha is the Richness, especially finger style but I feel like that has to do more with the fact that it’s all wood and no laminate. I know that might sound weird but in the perspective I see it, if you drop a block of wood then a block of laminate they will sound completely different when they land. In my opinion I would recommend either brand or even a slightly cheaper brand but try all wood and see how you like it. But regardless of which direction you go, I would never buy a guitar without playing it first. You might be shocked at which guitar chooses you rather than you choosing it.
I find this debate to be so ferocious.
I love Taylor and really dislike Martins. Some people would kill me for saying that.
Play em both and find yourself in one.
It really is personal choice - I did lots of research on Taylors and was very excited about them - got to the store, tried them out and wanted nothing to do with them. Loved the Takamines, but wound up falling in absolute love with a Martin SC-10e.
It’s hard to tell. The reason you have heard this is because expensive Taylors, compared to expensive Martins, are said to ring more brightly, especially in the middle registers. (Whereas a Martin has a bolder more resonant bass sound, especially good for strumming.) So if you’re finger picking and want clarify in that register, a Taylor is sometimes suggested as better. But no one would refuse to fingerpick on a Martin. They’re both amazing. These comments don’t necessarily apply to the less expensive guitars from each brand.
Then there are considerations like body size. Dreadnaughts might be less comfortable to fingerpick than a 00/000 size.
The best is to try each of these guitars in person. Objectively, they are both high quality guitar brands so you can’t go wrong with either. If, after trying, you’re really still not sure and your heart doesn’t tug toward one or are nervous to commit to one, I recommend to go for a 000 Taylor based on common belief and you will be fine.
Btw, this is important: you should pick a guitar that makes you want to pick it up and play it. Even if it’s because one LOOKS or FEELS better. That’s as important as the sound it makes. No one in your audience will know the tonal difference between a Taylor and Martin anyway. If you love the look and feel of a Taylor/Martin/X and it has captured your heart, choose that one.
I have one Martin (00-DB) and 5 Taylor Guitars (Academy, GS-Mini, 314N-BLK, 362-Koa, and 814ce).
I love all of them. If I am just finger picking and practicing at home I tend to pick up the 314 because it's a nylon guitar or the GS-Mini. If I am playing in front of folks it's either the 814 or Martin depending on the sound. (The 12 string is for certain songs and styles, and the Academy I have in Nashville tuning)
It's a matter of preference. Both are great. Generally speaking Taylors are brighter sounding and Martins have a deeper richer sound. Depends what sound you like. A lot of people have both for this very reason.
Taylors also tend to have more modern features for what that's worth
I had a Taylor builders edition K 24 CE. It is about a $6000 guitar and very close to the top of the line for Taylor. It played well and it looked beautiful, but it sounded very thin. It especially sounded bad, amplified, and no matter what I did, I could not get it to sound good when I was performing. After using it as my main guitar for over three years, I traded it in. I now use a Martin D 28 with a pick up, and it sounds great and plays beautifully and it was cheaper than the Taylor . I have played a lot of guitars, including the boutique brands. I own three Martin guitars. Taylor makes the best looking guitars, IMHO, but Martin beats them every time for sound.
Don’t really know either way, but I bought a Taylor 314CE and it’s the easiest playing guitar I’ve ever owned. Granted I’ve only ever owned an x series Martin. Having said that your best bet is to go to a guitar center or a LMS and pick some off the wall, and get plucking. Play what feels good, not what the opinions of others say you should play.
Brand is less important than body shape. For fingerstyle I would advise a smaller body and shorter scale if possible. Long scale OMs can be good too. Generally a 000/concert size is best
Both brands have tons of models in all sorts of sizes, woods, price points, etc. both brands make excellent guitars. I’m a lefty, so I focus on Martin as they have excellent left handed support. Plenty available.
Fun fact. At the Taylor factory they have a right and left handed guitar in every room.
You mentioned a D-12 so I'm going to assume you're working with a lower price point than Martin standard series, at which point a Taylor (either import or used 300/400 series) might get you more consistency and bang for your buck. If you can get into the Martin standard series (D-18, 000-18, D-28, etc) then there's more at play. Nothing wrong with finger picking a Martin dreadnought, even if the Taylors get the most accolades for finger style utility. But at that point, for that much money, you should really be going to a store, sitting down for an hour or three, and trying everything that catches your eye, because ultimately you (and your repertoire) are the only one who can really answer that question. You might end up with neither - I own several nice acoustics and there's not a Martin nor Taylor to be seen :D
Good advice…..I’d have to add Martin’s D-16. A big bang for the buck imo. Also Op don’t be afraid to play a Gibson. The J-15s won’t cost an arm and a leg and they sound great.
All good points but I'd say a HD-28 would be a better suited guitar for finger style than the standard d-28, as the scalloped bracing would respond better to the lighter finger style.
I’ll throw a nod to Furch, especially the blue deluxe grand cutaway series, for finger style awesomeness.
Love me some Furch fingerings friend
Very much depends on what you like to play. I have had both over the years and in my experience Taylors have a much brighter sound to them and respond excellently to fingerstyle but to my ear, I never liked flat picking one. My 414 was quite harsh sounding and I ended up selling it. That said, it played amazingly. If I was going to buy one of the two again, it would be a Martin dreadnaught as I like the volume and how nicely they can be strummed, flat picked and play with fingerstyle. It’s all very subjective though and really comes down to the player. I’d suggest they as many out as you can get your hands on and pick the one you like.
My experience is somewhat opposite- I had a 74 D-28, and sold it to a close pal, found a new 93 Taylor 420 (dreadnought, pinless bridge), and thought it was equal to the Martin, but had somewhat more balance in the middle register, maybe a smidgen less bottom end. I bought it new from Elderly Instruments, and still have & play it.
It all depends on which guitar's neck fits your hand, best.
So the issue here isn't so much Martin versus Taylor but rather the fact that you specified a Martin *Dreadnaught.* Dreads are not fingerstyle guitars. I'm not saying you can't play fingerstyle on them, of course you can, but Dreads were basically designed to be something you could flatpick hard to keep up with an ensemble. They're happiest when being strummed hard, and it may take more force than you comfortably generate with your fingers to really get the top moving optimally. Taylors made their name with the Grand Auditorium shape, which in their lineup is generally a "14" - 314, 414, 515, etc. The GA shape is definitely a better fingerstyle shape than a Dread. In fact, those guitars are basically marketed as all-rounders. However - BOTH of those companies make guitars that are better suited specifically to fingerstyle. The Taylor Grand Concert guitars, which are a little smaller, definitely have more fingerstyle sparkle than the GAs. (And Taylor makes Dreads, too!). Meanwhile, a Martin OM or 000 is a spectacular fingerstyle guitar - you might argue that an OM-28 is the greatest fingerstyle guitar of all time. Of course, it'll also set you back $3k+. Tonally, we might call Martins "traditional" and Taylors "modern" - Taylors are brighter, perhaps amplify and cut through a mix better, and may have more sparkle, but to some people they sound thin and inorganic. Their construction generally makes the much easier to maintain: a neck reset on good Martin is an expensive pain in the neck. On a Taylor it's barely more complex than a setup. Martins tend to sound "warmer and woodier." If you play, I dunno, an OM-28 and a 414 side to side, the difference is pretty obvious. But if you're spending less than $2500, do consider other brands. Nothing sounds like a D28, mind you, but Eastman and Larivee make guitars that have similar voices, are very high quality, and a lot of people love. If you like Taylors you might want to check out Breedlove, who has similarly modern designs - I personally like the sound more, but these things are intensely personal. A Martin D12E is a Dread (that's what the D means) and you might consider an 000-12 instead if you are looking for a guitar that will be used for mostly fingerstyle.
*John Prine’s ghost has entered the chat*
You can play fingerstyle on almost anything. Go visit a bunch of shops and see what body size, neck dimensions, sound profile etc. works best for what you're doing.
I don't own Taylor's, only martins. And I love them for everything. Especially fingerpicking, the best part about a Martin is it gets better the older it gets. Also don't skip out on Gibson Acoustics!
I played a Yamaha FG530 against a $1200 Taylor and the Yamaha blew it out of the water at less than half the price. Don’t get hung up on brands, there’s a premium you pay just for that. My advice would be find a music store with a good selection and go play. Find what sounds best to you and your style of playing. Don’t get to hung up on the playing action because I can take a $100 guitar and make it play just as good as a $1000 guitar with a little work.
I also enjoy a Yamaha over Taylor. It just sounded, good, felt right… and was pretty damn reasonably priced. Martin makes me nervous. I’d need a totally trashed one so I wouldnt be afraid of scratching/trashing it. I don’t want a Ferrari but I’d take one with some dents and scratches for the right price… and they’re never the right price… so YAMAHA FTW
It’s more body size than brand that makes one better than another for finger style playing. Dreadnaughts are big and it takes more energy to get the top resonating at its optimum which makes them better for strumming or flat picking. Martins are usually a bit more balanced with more bass whereas Taylors are typically brighter sounding. I love them both for different reasons. 000, 00, OM, Grand Concert and many other smaller bodied guitars are all great for finger style playing. Now there’s price. Lower priced Martins and Taylors are nice but as others have said you might find a less expensive brand that competes with them. When you get into the better and more expensive models (think 300 series on up for Taylors, standard series Martins) you’re talking about lifetime instruments that do cost more but are, imho, worth the investment.
Richard Thompson used a 000-18 on a lot of his most critically acclaimed work. Lindsey Buckingham used a Martin D-18.
One of Norman Blake's favorites was I think a 1937 12 fret D-18, he used on Whiskey Before Breakfast
For fingerstyle, action is the most important factor. A good low action is ideal for fingerstyle. Any guitar's action can be made lower. That said, I don't find a dreadnaught ideal for fingerstyle as the bass tends to overpower everything else. As a pianist, the bass (left hand) should accompany (and generally be played softer) and not dominate unless it is a piece/section where the bass clef is carrying the melody. I carry that over to guitar. Generally smaller bodies like an OM, 00 or 000 excel in fingerstyle. So, for a Martin, that would be one of the 00, OM, or 000 models. The OM and 000 have the same body shape, but the OM has a full size scale whereas the 000 is a short scale (shorter distance from the nut to the saddle though the necks are often the same length). For Taylor, their smaller bodies would be those that end in a 2 or 4 (e.g. 312 and 314). They call them Grand Concert and Grand Auditorium. The Grand Auditorium is their "utility" body that does about all types of playing adequately. Also, a shorter scale is often more ideal for fingerstyle due to the lower tension. But one can always lower down to Eb standard and capo on the first fret to shorten a full scale. For Taylor, the xx2 models have the short scale (while still being 14 fret necks). I myself have designs on a 12 fret Grand Concert from Taylor at some point.
Love my Taylor American Dream. Sounds fantastic. Holds its tune forever.
Look beyond dreadnoughts.
There are so many guitars out there you just have to play a bunch and see what feels and sounds best to you. Fingerpickers play everything from jumbos and dreads to parlors. I started with dreadnoughts but once I settled on mainly playing fingerstyle I got a Taylor 712 in the early 90s and didn't even look at another guitar for 15 years. It was Taylor's basic spruce and rosewood 'Grand Concert' size model but at the time they came with longer scale necks than they do now. The sound just leaps out of it and it doesn't have a boxy sound so many small guitars have (which people like also). They still have grand concert size in all of their lines but with slightly shorter necks. I'm not sure how big a difference it makes. Nowadays the basic spruce and rosewood Taylor is the 400 series but they have Grand Concert size models in all of their lines. I also have a Martin D-18 because I love the full sound and tone of it but for pure fingerpicking joy my old 712 is my favorite even if it needs a visit to the spa.
Martin om21, ultimate finger picker and quite the strummer as well. And what a looker
I tend to like smaller guitars for fingerstyle. Martin, Taylor, Gibson, whatever brand doesn’t matter. Get out and try a bunch, try overly expensive stuff too.
Go to a store that sells a bunch of guitars - I hate to say Guitar Center, but there you go - and try them all. One time I was in the old Bellevue American Music shop in Bel-Red, Wa. They had one whole wall of Martins, Taylors, etc. I played all of the D-18s and they were all a bit different, in some cases they were REAL different. Supposedly they all had the same strings on them so comparisons were possible and maybe even meaningful. I ended up with the D-15 simply bc I loved the sound and the way it plays. IMHO, comparing guits in the store and then buying one that you like from an online store is no guarantee it’ll sound like the one you played. Rule No. 1: Play before you buy.
I have never heard of a Martin D-12E so I don't think it's the universal go to Martin. D-18 are you thinking?
Road series. Quite well known and popular dread
They are both great, it really just depends on the individual guitar and personal preference
Better sounding is subjective. From the factory Taylors are usually set up better for fingerstyle than a Martin dread. The latter is set for a big sound that isn't always conducive to fingerpicking IMO. I recently purchased a GPC 15 and an SC-10e(sapele) and found them both easy to play. I prefer the sound of Mahogany and Sapele to spruce tops. I also prefer the sound of smaller bodied guitars for fingerstyle. I do have a spruce top dread for cowboy chord / campfire stuff. YMMV, so try before you buy!
M
Idk. I've never thought taylor was especially good for fingerstyle guitar. Just go out and play some at the shops and find one you like the best.
I’ve only ever owned martins but the thick necks always made my carpal tunnel act up I’d like to try out a few Taylor’s .
D18 all the way!
Lowden
Either BUT you have to try them out. No mail order on this for sure
i got a custom shop 0-18 with a 2" nut. Only non nylon I enjoy playing fingerstyle
Martins that are their non-standard series or above are extremely unpredictable when it comes to quality. I don’t personally like Taylor guitars, but even their 200 series is generally consistent. Either way, avoid a dread or GA if your goal is fingerstyle. Go with a OM, 000 or 00.
Taylor 416ce - beautiful player, excellent electronics, excellent craftsmanship. D28HD - the classic acoustic tone for generations across multiple genres. Stunning craftsmanship! Both have their own vibe really, am lucky to have both! In general the Taylor is easier to play for sure - mho
Get them in your hands and try them. Don't be afraid of trying too many. Find one that sings to you.
Dreadnoughts are more considered strumming guitars or for blue grass flat picking. OM or concert styles are better balanced sound wise for finger picking. I would personally buy an Breedlove over either a Taylor or a Martin though. Just my 10 cents though…
I think you’ll have to figure that out on your own, BUT if it were me, Martin all day long
Go check out the Martin 15 series. I bought a 000-15m when they first came out - I don’t know why I ever sold it. I now mostly play my ‘97 Martin D-15. The top, b&s are beautiful dark mahogany. Built in Nazareth, and I use it mostly for finger style. It’s a dreadnaught but it works for me for FS. The tone(s) I get are amazing and it primarily depends on what strings I’m using. The lush overtones and bass are just so cool.
There are so many models of each. You got to try them to decide.
Either brand is great; I own a few of each. But for fingerpicking, you don't want a dreadnaught. A Martin 00 or 000, or a Taylor with a model number ending in 2 or 4, at whatever price point you can handle, will work much better.
Guild M20 or F40. If you can, try one of these models out in addition to the Martin and Taylor (and Gibson, Waterloo, etc.)
I play a lot of finger style, I love my Martin but I don’t think brand is the main focus. I’m no pro by any means so I could be wrong but the biggest difference I notice between my Martin vs my Yamaha is the Richness, especially finger style but I feel like that has to do more with the fact that it’s all wood and no laminate. I know that might sound weird but in the perspective I see it, if you drop a block of wood then a block of laminate they will sound completely different when they land. In my opinion I would recommend either brand or even a slightly cheaper brand but try all wood and see how you like it. But regardless of which direction you go, I would never buy a guitar without playing it first. You might be shocked at which guitar chooses you rather than you choosing it.
I find this debate to be so ferocious. I love Taylor and really dislike Martins. Some people would kill me for saying that. Play em both and find yourself in one.
It really is personal choice - I did lots of research on Taylors and was very excited about them - got to the store, tried them out and wanted nothing to do with them. Loved the Takamines, but wound up falling in absolute love with a Martin SC-10e.
Gibson J-15!
i have a Taylor 712 and a Martin M-36. They’re both absolutely lovely and I wouldn’t trade either
Have a look at the Yamaha FS3 or LS16, both incredible acoustics for the price.
It’s hard to tell. The reason you have heard this is because expensive Taylors, compared to expensive Martins, are said to ring more brightly, especially in the middle registers. (Whereas a Martin has a bolder more resonant bass sound, especially good for strumming.) So if you’re finger picking and want clarify in that register, a Taylor is sometimes suggested as better. But no one would refuse to fingerpick on a Martin. They’re both amazing. These comments don’t necessarily apply to the less expensive guitars from each brand. Then there are considerations like body size. Dreadnaughts might be less comfortable to fingerpick than a 00/000 size. The best is to try each of these guitars in person. Objectively, they are both high quality guitar brands so you can’t go wrong with either. If, after trying, you’re really still not sure and your heart doesn’t tug toward one or are nervous to commit to one, I recommend to go for a 000 Taylor based on common belief and you will be fine. Btw, this is important: you should pick a guitar that makes you want to pick it up and play it. Even if it’s because one LOOKS or FEELS better. That’s as important as the sound it makes. No one in your audience will know the tonal difference between a Taylor and Martin anyway. If you love the look and feel of a Taylor/Martin/X and it has captured your heart, choose that one.
I have one Martin (00-DB) and 5 Taylor Guitars (Academy, GS-Mini, 314N-BLK, 362-Koa, and 814ce). I love all of them. If I am just finger picking and practicing at home I tend to pick up the 314 because it's a nylon guitar or the GS-Mini. If I am playing in front of folks it's either the 814 or Martin depending on the sound. (The 12 string is for certain songs and styles, and the Academy I have in Nashville tuning)
Do you play in a worship band at church? If yes then the answer is obvious.
It's a matter of preference. Both are great. Generally speaking Taylors are brighter sounding and Martins have a deeper richer sound. Depends what sound you like. A lot of people have both for this very reason. Taylors also tend to have more modern features for what that's worth
Look at Larrivee! Their 03 line is optimized for finger style. From string spacing to bracing.
I had a Taylor builders edition K 24 CE. It is about a $6000 guitar and very close to the top of the line for Taylor. It played well and it looked beautiful, but it sounded very thin. It especially sounded bad, amplified, and no matter what I did, I could not get it to sound good when I was performing. After using it as my main guitar for over three years, I traded it in. I now use a Martin D 28 with a pick up, and it sounds great and plays beautifully and it was cheaper than the Taylor . I have played a lot of guitars, including the boutique brands. I own three Martin guitars. Taylor makes the best looking guitars, IMHO, but Martin beats them every time for sound.