Who is your favorite builder?

[smurph1]

I've had at least 3 Taylors and enjoyed them all, but I'm a Martin guy. Sometime, Good Lord willing, I'm going to get another D-18. Shoulda kept that one. LOL

Originally Posted by Tico

This gives the appearance of keeping the Gibson name chaste and pure and only making guitars in the USA, well ... at least to those who don't look behind the curtain.

Well, they do only make Gibson guitars in the USA. What "curtain" are they hiding behind, exactly? The fact they one company owns two different brands, and makes some models under both names? That's hardly deceptive.

Originally Posted by Tico

Someone might even respect Martin and Taylor more for their more-honest marketing strategies.
At least they aren't pulling the wool over anyone's eyes.

Again, I fail to see the deception or dishonesty, but then I'm not looking for material for the weekly Gibson coal-raking that goes on here.

[baimo]

For me it is Michael Millard. I like Frogs on the headstock and he probably he has a better understanding of how different woods and shapes make guitars sound a certain way than the CEO's of those big companies. He also shaves every neck himself and I love his necks. Oh and his guitars sound really nice.

[drexler]

Collings first, Gibson close second.

[bitraker]

Martin_accept no substitutes

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by Tico

About that 'proud' Gibson logo on the headstock ...

Gibson is also doing what Martin and Taylor do, building guitars in less-expensive countries.
Instead of putting Gibson on the headstock they just bought rights to put Epiphone there, and even call the Epi models Les Paul, SG etc.
This gives the appearance of keeping the Gibson name chaste and pure and only making guitars in the USA, well ... at least to those who don't look behind the curtain.

Someone might even respect Martin and Taylor more for their more-honest marketing strategies.
At least they aren't pulling the wool over anyone's eyes.

It's true Epiphone is owned by Gibson. However, buying an Indonesian built all solid wood Epiphone Masterbuilt is entirely different from an all solid wood Mexican built C.F. Martin Road Series. Here's why:

1.) C.F. Martin's factory in Mexico is not a subsidiary of C.F. Martin, it is under control of C.F. Martin. Epiphone is it's own company that happens to be owned by Gibson. Epiphone has it's own chain of command and executives. I can see how this could be seen in favor of Martin depending on perspective. It would if the quality in the Mexican built Martin guitars was there, but it's really hit and miss. The Dread Jr. is a great innovative guitar. Designed in the USA, built in Mexico. It's the only guitar Martin builds in Mexico that I've liked. Taylor builds in Mexico too, but Taylor value has never come from their historical brand, because their brand doesn't have history like Martin's does. So to put the Taylor brand name on a guitar built in Mexico is also different for me than to put the C.F. Martin name on a guitar made in Mexico. Bob Taylor also strategically built his factory in Mexico to be near his USA factory in California. They run a very tight ship between the two facilities. But not even Taylor is taking all solid wood models formerly built in the USA and resurrecting them in Mexico. Only C.F. Martin is doing that.

2.) Epiphone has it's own bottom line/budget, Epiphone has it's own luthiers. Epiphone has it's own patents and designs. Being owned by Gibson gives it the advantage of having exclusive license to certain trademark designs and names but there's always a significant differences between the Epiphone brand version of a Gibson guitar.

3.) Distinguished designs: go visit a local Guitar Center and play an Epiphone AJ45ME then play a Gibson J-45 Standard. Play am Epiphone Hummingbird Pro then play an American built Hummingbird. The body depth is different, the headstock slightly different, the nut width is different, the finish, tuners, etc... They are licensed copies. Some very good licensed copies, also some very good all solid wood original designs.

4.) Putting a high-end brand on a value product. Italian motor company Fiat owns Dodge/Chrysler, they also own Maserati and Ferrari. What Martin is doing with the X series made in Mexico would be a bit like Fiat taking the $30,000 Dodge Charger and re-branding it the Ferrari Charger. Since the Ferarri brand would be accessible at an entry price of $30,000 (with sacrificed material/quality of course) the Ferrari brand would be devalued if they did this (Ferrari would be furious, and Dodge probably very happy since they would sell millions of Chargers on brand association alone). How would that scenario make Ferrari owners feel? Most old school Ferrari owners would likely care less. A newer generation would likely see it as devalued.

If you look at the guitars Martin produces in Mexico you see Martin is actually bringing some older models back to life that were once built in the USA. For example, the Martin 000RS1 is a solid Sapele version of the 000-15m. In fact Martin produced this exact guitar in Nazareth, PA. In the early 2000's there was no 000-15m, it was just called the 000-15. Made in the USA and retailed for about $100 more than what the 000RS1 goes for now. In the Martin catalog it listed it as "solid Sapele or Mahogany" they didn't distinguish between the two... The point is Martin has taken a few models that were once produced in the US, give then new names and transitioned production to Mexico. That is very different than what Epiphone is doing.

Guitars coming from Martin's factory in Mexico devalue the brand. I'm not saying that as derogatory statement (although I can't see anything positive coming from it from an integrity stand point), just a matter of fact as the entry price for owning a Martin has been devalued thanks to NAFTA and Martin's decision to use their high-end brand on bargain product. To you personally it may not have devalued the brand, but in the market place it certainly has been devalued. Martin knew using their high-end brand would move more guitars, they had budget copies in the market for decades under the Sigma brand. They decided to devalue the high-end brand name for profits. It makes good business sense, but it lacks integrity. How many long time lovers really care? I doubt very many do... I've owned a D28 (90s model forget which year), early 2000's 000-15 and current own a 1976 D76. I played a 2016 HD28V several months ago that I still have dreams about owning. I love Martin guitars, but when it comes to being an iconic company in one of the last industries where Made in the USA means something, there is integrity sacrificed when you build a product in a foreign country and put your American made brand name on it. If Company A is selling out their brand name like this and Company B isn't, I think Company B deserves some recondition.

[Earl49]

1. Rainsong
2. Blackbird
3. Taylor

There are plenty of fine brands out there, and lots of stellar boutique builders. But if you go through my house, these are the brands you will find. I am getting heavily into carbon fiber guitars, despite my love for wood.

[devellis]

I think I'll walk around this mine field.

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by Earl49

1. Rainsong
2. Blackbird
3. Taylor

There are plenty of fine brands out there, and lots of stellar boutique builders. But if you go through my house, these are the brands you will find. I am getting heavily into carbon fiber guitars, despite my love for wood.

Rainsong is an interesting choice for #1. What do you like most about your Rainsong?

[Earl49]

It plays like butter with great action and a comfy neck, has a loud crystal clear tone, and is virtually maintenance free. Since they all come out of the same mold (literally) they are remarkably consistent. I could confidently order one from a remote seller like Ted at LA Guitar Sales. What more can you ask for?

The WS-1000 is the one guitar that would get rescued on the way out of a burning house (once the wife and pets are safe) in part because it lives on a wall hanger in the living room, handier than guitars living in cases in the closet for humidity control. I would cry over losing the koa Taylor's and the others, but I would be OK if the Rainsong WS-1000 were the only guitar I could own for the rest of my days.

[flaggerphil]

Taylor.....

[Toby Walker]

Huss and Dalton, hands down.

Unlike the guitars that are mass produced by the big factories, you won't find a dud among them. Several highly esteemed luthiers produce no more that 250 guitars a year out of their Staunton, VA shop and their attention to build, playability and tone is considered by many in the business as the yardstick to be measured by. Even their moderately priced Crossroad series are incredible.

[buddyhu]

"Who is your favorite guitar builder (big or boutique) and describe for someone new to guitar what you love about the company and their guitars? I want to hear stories! "

I like Collings and I like Goodalls; they are just terrific sounding guitars that are quite consistent from one guitar to the next. I don't "love" any company....I'm funny that way.

I'm not much of a storyteller.....

[Misifus]

First, Kinscherff
Second, Froggy Bottom (Michael Millard)

[BGS]

Factory: Martin, hands down.

Mid boutique:
-Modern - Goodall
-Traditional - Bourgeois

Single-luther:
-Modern - Bashkin
-Traditional - Dudenbostel or Borges (tough call)

Overall, I'd probably go with Goodall. It's very, very hard to beat a good one, and almost all of them are good.