Martin's (Hd-28) for worship

[dylanheeg]

The type of guitar doesnt have much to do with the plugged in sound....get the guitar you liked un plugged....the plugged in sound has to do with the pickup, and other effects you are using, not the guitar itself...

Ie, a taylor with a fishman matrix will pretty much sound the same as a martin with a fishman matrix....

and a Taylor with the Expression system would sound just like a Martin with (hypothetically) the Expression system.....

some will probably tell you other wise but i simply don't agree based on my experiences....

bottom line, if you like the HD28 unplugged, then by all means get that guitar.

[leeplaysblues]

Originally Posted by redfive

For those who are playing with Martin's what aftermarket pickups are you using? I've seen one person say the Thinline II's. I'm looking for something that I don't have to spend 20-30 minutes dialing in the sound. More plug and play type arrangement.

I am currently using a LR Baggs Active IBeam and an active element.

I prefer these to K&K in a worship setting for 2 reasons;

The volume control allows me to turn down at my guitar in quite/no playing periods. The active system also has that extra bit of headroom t rough a DI to the desk.

Secondly, The K&K is fine solo but can be more prone to feedback in a band setting in a larger bodied guitar like the HD28. Especially with a bass and drums. This may be a problem without an anti feedback facility.

As for dealers, speak to Jon at My Favorite Guitars; top discount without asking, and great service. They will also fit the pickup for you.

[jonlee]

honestly, if it's for worship, it shouldn't matter what it says on the headstock... that's my opinion though. doesn't mean you shouldn't have nice things.

[Hodges_Guitars]

How about a little bit of very true humor?

I was on a missions trip, rebuilding a church that had got destroyed in a hurricane in the dominican republic a few years ago. When it came time for the church service, one of the locals showed up with a no-name 6 string guitars that had one string on it...the A string. Another church member had an instrument that looked like 2 one pound coffee cans soldered end to end and then shot with a shotgun. He played this with what looked like an afro rake comb with long metal teeth on it. The sound he got was much like a snare drum.

It was one of the best praise and worship services I have ever been a part of, with those 2 instruments being the only musical instruments there besides all of our voices.

I'm glad I was able to be a part of that service. I gave me a whole new perspective on praise services when I got back home.

[zacz]

You'll get many pickup opinions, but I prefer a UST for full band "worship" environments. I use the D-TAR Wavelength and it is one of the best I've heard. Some soundhole pickups are worth looking at too because it's virtually impossible to make them feedback and you get a little "fatter" sound than you would with most UST's.

Some will say soundhole pickups sound a little more "electric", but if you're playing primarily with a band, the acoustic tone will get covered up a bit anyways. Ultimately, IMO, you want your acoustic to have a pleasant tone that still has power to cut through the mix if needed.

Often times I EQ my acoustic differently depending on if I'm playing with a band or by myself. If I'm playing by myself I want the most full natural acoustic sound I can come up with. With a band, I usually notch out some of the low mids and maybe add a litttle more highs. This seems to leave room for the other instruments and vocals to be added in without "muddying" up the mix.

Honestly, I think any decent guitar with a quality pickup could be fine choice for leading worship. It's the heart of the guy playing that makes all the difference.

[zb0430]

Originally Posted by zacz

You'll get many pickup opinions, but I prefer a UST for full band "worship" environments. I use the D-TAR Wavelength and it is one of the best I've heard. Some soundhole pickups are worth looking at too because it's virtually impossible to make them feedback and you get a little "fatter" sound than you would with most UST's.

Some will say soundhole pickups sound a little more "electric", but if you're playing primarily with a band, the acoustic tone will get covered up a bit anyways. Ultimately, IMO, you want your acoustic to have a pleasant tone that still has power to cut through the mix if needed.

Often times I EQ my acoustic differently depending on if I'm playing with a band or by myself. If I'm playing by myself I want the most full natural acoustic sound I can come up with. With a band, I usually notch out some of the low mids and maybe add a litttle more highs. This seems to leave room for the other instruments and vocals to be added in without "muddying" up the mix.

Honestly, I think any decent guitar with a quality pickup could be fine choice for leading worship. It's the heart of the guy playing that makes all the difference.

Thoroughly agreed... Well put.

[bryankimsey]

I would not worship a Martin or any other guitar. That falls under "false idols".

Personally, once I'm plugged in, I'd rather play a comfortable guitar and for me, that means an OM. Most of the time with a D, I end up rolling off the lows anyway, so why not just go ahead and start with a more balanced guitar?

For pickups and such, I'm a big fan of K&K.

What I personally use for plugging in is an OM with a K&K Mini-western. If I want a more natural sound (although the K&K is pretty good!), I rig up a mic and use the pup as the base sound, then step up to the mic for the "natural" boost. That keeps it all simple. IME, a guitar that sounds good acoustically may be too resonant for good amplified sound (notice all the great guitars stuffed with foam and feedback busters?).

Nevertheless, if an HD-28 is what you've got or want, it'll work fine. I used mine for years and years.

[jackstrat]

Since Jesus plays Taylors, I figure all Christian musicians play Taylors.

[beegee]

I'm wondering why the type of guitar makes a difference for "worship"? I play my 1976 HD-28 in church through the pulpit mike. I didn't hear any thunderous voice from Heaven or get zapped by lightning bolts for using a Martin in church....

[claptonwannabe]

Originally Posted by jackstrat

Since Jesus plays Taylors, I figure all Christian musicians play Taylors.

Hmmm. Don't know about that. But if you read the label on the Martin you will find that it came from Nazareth-

[CBarclay]

My only guitar is a 2001 D-18VS with a K&K mini in it that I play through a K&K Pure XLR preamp directly to the board every Sunday in our worship service. I play usually with a bass, piano, another guitar, light percussion (not a set), and a few voices. I always get people telling me how much they like the sound of my guitar compared to the others (many different brands & pickups) because it's a warm and full guitar that is appropriate to the music being played (some have said it's 'refreshing to hear the wood of the guitar opposed to the strings and pickup'). I strum, fingerpick, solo instrumental - I'm not an amazing musician, just consistant and can do what is needed. We do various styles including comtemporary worship, old time hymns, funk, folk blues, ethnic.
I searched for a long time and had a Martin OM-16GT for a while and really liked the comfort (as Bryan mentions above) and tone but found that it did not have enough 'head room' for me. So I sold it and invested in this guitar and am really happy I did. I almost bought a Taylor FOR THE PICKUP but decided it was an unwise move that I would probably regret since the tone I was looking for was elseware.
Let us know how the search goes.
Chris

[CBarclay]

I forgot to add that I bought my pickup and preamp from Shoreline Music and have had great experience with them and great prices too.

[robwil]

Our youth band in church employs a Taylor, and it sounds good, but when "Longevity", our adult band plays, it's Martin all the way, D18, D28, Authentic; we aren't picky. I've also been known to stroke a Guild F212 or a PRS custom 24 when the tune calls for it. It's all a joyfull noise!

Bob

[redfive]

Originally Posted by leeplaysblues

I am currently using a LR Baggs Active IBeam and an active element.

I prefer these to K&K in a worship setting for 2 reasons;

The volume control allows me to turn down at my guitar in quite/no playing periods. The active system also has that extra bit of headroom t rough a DI to the desk.

Secondly, The K&K is fine solo but can be more prone to feedback in a band setting in a larger bodied guitar like the HD28. Especially with a bass and drums. This may be a problem without an anti feedback facility.

As for dealers, speak to Jon at My Favorite Guitars; top discount without asking, and great service. They will also fit the pickup for you.

Lee,

I called Jon up, and he recommended the K&K with the preamp. Forgive my utter ignorance in relations to pups, but how would the preamp fit in if our normal hookup is a DI box.

[Talentless]

To answer the above, it would give you the control over your tone and allow you to set the levels this side of the board, including cutting the signal.

With the balanced XLR you may not need a DI and can plug directly into the board. ( I say this as a fellow player has a preamp (not a K&K) but can't get the output levels low enough without using an additional DI.

How did you find John Garon? I personally trust him to be honest and knowledgable, and inexpensive!

Anyway, any noise you make would be like a Kindergarden kid on a rattle compared to the heavenly chorus of angels..As a parent watching their 3 year old on a triangle He is looking at your heart not your DI box. We have to get away from the commercialised view of worship.

So try chill out, relax and enjoy this moment of getting your guitar, what Jon suggested will work as well as any combination mentioned here, probably better. Enjoy your HD35 and give thanks for being able to play such a guitar unlike 99% of the worlds population to whom that perviously mentioned tin can and wire makes joyous music.