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  #1  
Old 11-10-2016, 10:04 PM
pandaroo pandaroo is offline
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Default Martin DR Centennial??

On paper specs looks good for the price - Adirondack VTS top, forward shifted scalloped X brace. Indian rosewood back and sides.

Aside from the lesser cosmetics, from a tonal quality standpoint, can it rival the higher series? Is this like a HD28E without the bling & electronics but with Adi VTS top? Whu i say this is because the HD28E also has forward shifted scalloped X bracing.

If you have one or played one, kindly share your thoughts.
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  #2  
Old 11-11-2016, 07:33 AM
F512 F512 is offline
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Haven't tried one myself, but I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on these as well. From specs it looks like it would be the best player in it's price range.
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  #3  
Old 11-11-2016, 07:51 AM
capefisherman capefisherman is offline
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Bought one, tried it for a couple days and found it to be dull and lifeless in tone and sent it back. Nice features overall but a bit low-rent with the satin finish. I realize it would cost more with gloss however. Also, on this particular example the VTS process had kind of "stained" (for lack of better word) a very dark and wide stripe down the top. I could have perhaps lived with the cosmetic issues if the sound was good, and perhaps it would be in a few years, but at least this one was a total dog. No offense to dogs! Just one person's experience with one example; I'm sure there must be better examples of this model.
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Old 11-11-2016, 11:55 PM
pandaroo pandaroo is offline
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Sorry to hear that it didn't live up to its specs. Thanks for the feedback.
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  #5  
Old 11-12-2016, 07:11 AM
SongwriterFan SongwriterFan is offline
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I played one at a local store recently.

I thought it was a terrific instrument.

I've already got many Martin dreadnoughts, really prefer 00-12 frets, and don't care for the satin finish . . . otherwise I would've bought one.

If you want a great sounding Martin dreadnaought, want an extremely low price, and don't mind a LOT less "bling" (I suppose gloss counts as bling, right?), then this guitar is definitely something you should check out.
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Old 11-12-2016, 07:26 AM
SongwriterFan SongwriterFan is offline
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Of the online videos I could find, this one sounds the most like the way I remember it sounding:

[youtube]KrhPRDf2lBA[/quote]

But even THAT doesn't really come close to what I remember. It sounded better than that to me.

It was, however, a bit more 'articulate' than how I'd describe most Martins. A little more 'dry' and 'transparent'. A bit hard to describe, really.


This is the exact guitar that I played:



Oddly, though, that one doesn't sound nearly as close to what I remember it sounding like . . . . even though it's the EXACT guitar.

I think some of it has to do with how you hit the strings. One of the other salesmen played it for me (very hard), and I didn't care for the sound that much. But when *I* played it (I don't hit the strings very hard), I loved it.


Here's a third video sample:



Again, not really how I remember it sounding.


Maybe the guys at Acoustic Letter will get one to play soon. I think their videos (and DreamGuitars) come closer to capturing the real sound than most of the videos on YouTube.
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  #7  
Old 12-14-2016, 02:02 AM
waterloo11 waterloo11 is offline
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After several months, I've come to the conclusion that it's my favorite guitar.. It's apparently not for novices, but I personally found it to be sensitive, yet sublime when fingerpicking and strumming.. Like a Steinway, in the wrong hands, can sound mediocre because of it's extreme acuity, but you don't make one guitar every hundred years for Nickelback fans.. The satin finish seems a welcome distraction from people who can't respect a fine instrument.. It's not pretty enough for Luddites, and will damage with abuse.. Much like Stradivarius.. Please don't buy this.. I want as many I can acquire.. =)
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Old 12-14-2016, 05:27 AM
user222 user222 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waterloo11 View Post
After several months, I've come to the conclusion that it's my favorite guitar.. It's apparently not for novices, but I personally found it to be sensitive, yet sublime when fingerpicking and strumming.. Like a Steinway, in the wrong hands, can sound mediocre because of it's extreme acuity, but you don't make one guitar every hundred years for Nickelback fans.. The satin finish seems a welcome distraction from people who can't respect a fine instrument.. It's not pretty enough for Luddites, and will damage with abuse.. Much like Stradivarius.. Please don't buy this.. I want as many I can acquire.. =)
Inspiring field report. My left handed version is taking shape in the factory as we speak. As a Luddite, I'm quite chuffed with the simple accoutrements of the DR-C, my only fear is that Martin will start making guitars with robots.
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Old 12-14-2016, 11:20 PM
waterloo11 waterloo11 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by user222 View Post
Inspiring field report. My left handed version is taking shape in the factory as we speak. As a Luddite, I'm quite chuffed with the simple accoutrements of the DR-C, my only fear is that Martin will start making guitars with robots.
haha Um, I hate to break it to you... =) It's the only reason we can afford these bad boys at such a low price point.. Right, HAL? HAL? Open the pod bay doors, HAL... HAL?!
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  #10  
Old 12-15-2016, 07:04 AM
llew llew is online now
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After an initial thread I bought one. I think it's a great guitar but it won't be for everyone. It can't keep up with my HD-28V but not much can? (IMHO) But it is minimalistic and suits my needs. It has a bit different voice to me with the satin finish. And the fact that it's fairly inexpensive lends itself to being played in places where I might not take that HD-28V? Set up is spot on and plays great. If you have interest in one I say try it. It may or may not be for you but we can't say for sure. Best of luck!
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  #11  
Old 12-15-2016, 08:04 AM
Cibby Cibby is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pandaroo View Post
On paper specs looks good for the price - Adirondack VTS top, forward shifted scalloped X brace. Indian rosewood back and sides.

Aside from the lesser cosmetics, from a tonal quality standpoint, can it rival the higher series? Is this like a HD28E without the bling & electronics but with Adi VTS top? Whu i say this is because the HD28E also has forward shifted scalloped X bracing.

If you have one or played one, kindly share your thoughts.
I bought the first one Jon at My Favorite Guitars got in. I love mine! Before I bought it I drove 70 miles to a Martin dealer and played a D28,HD28 and HD 35. They all sounded good but decided to go on Jon's review of the DR Centennial . I have a D18 post 2012 model so I wanted a rosewood back and side dread. I also really wanted an Adirondack spruce top. The VTS was just a bonus . I emailed Martin about the bracing which they said was the same as the post 2012 D18. I've had the Centennial for a couple months now and it has become the favorite of my 2 Martin's . I do a lot of flatpicking and it is perfect for me. The bass is deep the high end is so nice and it has a great balance and volume it's also great for bluegrass rhythm . I also play a little fingerstyle I'm not real good at it but the Centennial is very nice lightly picked to. I've tried not only SP lifespan strings but SP bluegrass in 80/20 bronze, Elixir phosphor bronze and 80/20 nano's, Tony Rice Retro's and they all sound good. For the price compared to the other Martin's I tried I felt like the Centennial is a steal. It just seems for the sound and workmanship and what you get with this model it should be priced at least where the D28 is. Although I'm happy I saved $300 to $400. Yes I think the DR Centennial is a excellent Martin dread.
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  #12  
Old 12-15-2016, 08:47 AM
werkout52 werkout52 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SongwriterFan View Post
Of the online videos I could find, this one sounds the most like the way I remember it sounding:

[youtube]KrhPRDf2lBA
But even THAT doesn't really come close to what I remember. It sounded better than that to me.

It was, however, a bit more 'articulate' than how I'd describe most Martins. A little more 'dry' and 'transparent'. A bit hard to describe, really.


This is the exact guitar that I played:



Oddly, though, that one doesn't sound nearly as close to what I remember it sounding like . . . . even though it's the EXACT guitar.

I think some of it has to do with how you hit the strings. One of the other salesmen played it for me (very hard), and I didn't care for the sound that much. But when *I* played it (I don't hit the strings very hard), I loved it.


Here's a third video sample:



Again, not really how I remember it sounding.


Maybe the guys at Acoustic Letter will get one to play soon. I think their videos (and DreamGuitars) come closer to capturing the real sound than most of the videos on YouTube.[/QUOTE]


Now you can compare the DR Centennial to a 1937 Authentic
For the money I'm impressed
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