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Martin Custom Shop or Martin EC? Thoughts?


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@papamark, shared a NGD post over in the News from the Gathering thread a few weeks ago, his new Martin Custom Shop.   A gorgeous guitar and I told him that I was looking at something very similar and I still am.  I had posted here about looking at a new PRS Santana but thought more about it and I am, for the present,  fairly well set on electrics (don't tell my wife this!) and realize that my most pressing need is for a nice acoustic.  So I am back to looking at that Martin 000 Custom shop.  Here it is front and back.  It is for sale at a local shop here in Omaha.

Martin Custom Shop

IMG_20190608_141107373.jpg.ea05c8022ebfe77682ba1a194bf1bcbb.jpg

But, I was looking at electics (PRS, of course) at the only PRS dealer here in town, actually across the river in Council Bluffs.  I know.  If I need an acoustic what am I doing looking at elecric guitars?  I can't help myself.  And saw this used Martin, a 000-18 EC.  A signature Eric Clapton.  A beautiful guitar as well and it plays beautifully.  They both do.  The used EC is about the same price as the new Custom Shop.  The EC is "pre-owned" but you wouldn't know it.  It is mint.

IMG_20190622_144549804_NoPrice.jpg.7a772f20f2b581c965a2f674c74c03e5.jpg

I am  torn.  I am a huge Clapton fan and the first to admit I am possibly swayed by the name factor.  But the couple reviews I've read about the guitar were glowing. 

And the burst, and especially the back, on the Custom Shop are so gorgeous!  Gawd, I'm torn!

So you Martin fans help me out!  What do you think?  I know I will be happy with either one.  If anything, maybe the EC is speaking to me ever so slightly more 😉  But is there anything I am missing in the decision process?

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Tone, comfort  and playability are the most important considerations in buying an acoustic. As a woodworker, I am always attracted to the glories of the wood as well, but sometimes the least adorned are the best sounding. Even identical models can have tonal variances. I am less impressed with signature choices, though I too have lusted somewhat at times over a PRS Santana styles myself. Fortunately I too have plenty of electric options and can tame the the GAS beast in me....for the moment.

Greg

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That is a tricky decision.

I am not a Martin owner or expert but I can offer you a really daft way to see if you have a real preference lurking in the back of your mind. Get two small pieces of paper and write the guitar model names, one on each piece, and then put the two bits of paper in a bag and randomly draw one out. Now tell yourself that you must buy the guitar on that bit of paper. If you are disappointed by the choice then but the other one. If not buy the one on the paper.

Of course if you really are on the fence it will not help 🤔

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I have a PRS Santana really nice guitar. I also have two Martins, a D16RGT and an HD28 both excellent guitars but with a little difference between the two in tone and feel. I would recommend spending a little time playing them both, one will speak out to you which you prefer.

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Agree with Mgood1

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Have to agree with MGood1. Also, I'm seeing two different guitars in the custom shop front and back pics. One is a cutaway, the other isn't. 

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Easy make a E chord and strum. One will be full and one will sound like it's in a box. The fullest one is it . Good Luck

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19 hours ago, MGood1 said:

I have a PRS Santana really nice guitar. I also have two Martins, a D16RGT and an HD28 both excellent guitars but with a little difference between the two in tone and feel. I would recommend spending a little time playing them both, one will speak out to you which you prefer.

Thanks @MGood1.  (For responding both here and the other forum.  You know which one😉).  The Santana is on the "back burner" for now.  When (If?) I go back to electric shopping I think it is going to be between a PRS Special Semi-Hollowbody or a PRS McCarty 594.  I love the versatility , with the 3 pick-up system, of the SSH and love the tone of the 594.  But that is a completely different thread.

I am going to go back and play them both some more, if they're not sold, next week. Hopefully I can make a decision.

15 hours ago, Mike Hoodenpyle said:

Have to agree with MGood1. Also, I'm seeing two different guitars in the custom shop front and back pics. One is a cutaway, the other isn't. 

Great catch @Mike Hoodenpyle!  I need to go back and look at my photos and see what I did.🤔  There was also a Martin CEO that I somewhat considered.  Maybe one of these images is of that.

7 hours ago, Blue Dog said:

Easy make a E chord and strum. One will be full and one will sound like it's in a box. The fullest one is it . Good Luck

Going to do that next week

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Don't forget to take your tuner. Good Luck

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@matonanjin Every Martin Clapton model that I have played has sounded great. Also - I don't know much about Martins - are their signature models made in their custom shop? I do believe that they use better wood on all their signature models.

Good luck with these guitars Ron. Let us know what you decide to do!

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On 7/12/2019 at 5:01 PM, Dave White said:

Let us know what you decide to do!

I nver did let you know what I decided to do.  What I did was nothing and I waited too long!!!😡 

I decided on the Clapton and a couple days after starting this thread went back to the guitar store.  As I pulled up FedEx was leaving.  I walked in the store and the owner said to me, "I probably know why you are here and FedEx just left with that  Martin EC.  I sold it on Reverb."

So I am back to shopping. 

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A common affliction... analysis  paralysis 😉... oh well there will be others...🎸

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It's hard to pry the money from our hands sometimes.

Why am I looking at a Martin HD-28e when my $600 Simon and Patrick does me fine,  and I could probably get away with a $40 Walmart special 

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All things happen for a reason Ron. Here's a chance to score. On Reverb for a cool $5300.

Henk

image.thumb.png.4bec2024d8ef3d6da8e8a24d55f870c4.png

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11 hours ago, matonanjin said:

I nver did let you know what I decided to do.  What I did was nothing and I waited too long!!!😡 

I decided on the Clapton and a couple days after starting this thread went back to the guitar store.  As I pulled up FedEx was leaving.  I walked in the store and the owner said to me, "I probably know why you are here and FedEx just left with that  Martin EC.  I sold it on Reverb."

So I am back to shopping. 

There are many fish in the sea - something great will turn up!

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5 hours ago, Oldjock said:

All things happen for a reason Ron. Here's a chance to score. On Reverb for a cool $5300.

Henk

Henk,

Can it get any better than a McCarty 594?  An a semi-hollow to boot?!?!?!?

I don't think so. 

After the acoustic the next one is either going to be a 594 or a Semi-hollow Special.  But I had better keep focused for now!

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I have several Martins and always wanted a Clapton. I've played good ones, great ones and ones that were just ok. Martin just raised their prices so thats an issue too.  I do love the short scale on it and have an 000-18. The clapton is rosewood and is numbered 000-28EC. Those that have them love them.

I went custom shop OM28 and love it. The custom shop is a step above the standard or signature models. The new OM28 modern deluxe is something to look at too. Check the unofficial Martin forum site for some excellent deals on used Martins. I got my custom shop there and it was mint. It did come from MyFavorite Guitars and you can call Jon and he will help you out and talk you thru them. He knows how to design a custom shop model and probably has several in stock.

 There was a clapton one for sale in the martin forum and at Nazfest . message me and i will put you in touch with the person who has it. Im sure you could beat the deal on the one from the shop that got away. lHe got a sinker 0000--18 and is selling it. Its a sunburst one in great shape.

 

Tom

 

 

 

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While 'm just as drawn to these beautiful instruments as anyone, I try to remind myself to focus on being a better guitarist and musician. A good guitarist can make even an average instrument sound good.

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38 minutes ago, NeilES335 said:

While 'm just as drawn to these beautiful instruments as anyone, I try to remind myself to focus on being a better guitarist and musician. A good guitarist can make even an average instrument sound good.

Oh Sure!?!?  And I suppose the next thing you're going to say is that I should practice more!  🙄😡  Sheez!

 

Truth be told?  I could much more wisely invest my time in practicing rather than shopping.  And the real time culprit for me is forums!  Not just here but a bunch of other ones.  PRS, Gear page, My Les Paul, etc.  Soooooooo much time wasted.

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