Dread as your Only

[jklemm18]

What are your thoughts on a dread being your primary guitar. I mean for everything, strumming, flat picking and finger style. I want to downsize before the Pre War gets here which would leave me with a more than capable Eastman dread which I would say 90% of the population outside of the forum could live with . I don't know why I am so hesitant but may need a little insight from you dread lovers.

[llew]

Nothing wrong with using a dread for strumming, flat picking, and finger stye. I do it al the time. I own 12 guitars...11 are dreads. One OM...but it has an identity crisis and thinks it's a dread?!?

[L20A]

I have been a Dread only guy for years.
My Martin D-35 did everything that I needed.
As a back up, for 30 years, I also had a great Yamaha L-20A,
which is about the same size as a Dread.

Now that I'm 70 years old, a bit smaller guitar is getting to be more comfortable.

If I could only own one guitar though, it would still be a Dread and it would be my Martin D-35.

[Puddleglum]

I only have one acoustic guitar and it's a dread. They can do it all.

[brencat]

I have 5 guitars... all dreads. Don't play much if any fingerstyle, but any of them can handle that duty with aplomb if needed. Won't be going back to OMs ever again.

[KenL]

I had but one for 25 years, and it was an Alvarez dreadnought that I paid $150 for. I learned to fingerpick on it. And strum. And flatpick.

[jklemm18]

I think that is a draw back of all the information and shopping options at our fingertips. It takes away from just using the tools you have to your best ability instead of always second guessing. One of my favorites, John Prine did pretty well finger picking on a dread I suppose.

[RP]

Dreads can easily do it all in the right hands...

[phil0021]

I had a short scale 12 fret finger picking dream for 40 years. But then when the 1 3/4 nut came out on the D-28 i snatched one up in a hurry and will tell ya, this is the can-do anything guitar.

[Rev Roy]

I’ve been a dreads-only guy for years. I had a brief fling with small guitars - including a Taylor 812 & Martin CEO-7 - but I just couldn’t the bold tone I prefer from them. Dreads do everything I want wonderfully…though I’m not a fingerpicker so can’t help you there.

[llew]

Originally Posted by phil0021

I had a short scale 12 fret finger picking dream for 40 years. But then when the 1 3/4 nut came out on the D-28 i snatched one up in a hurry and will tell ya, this is the can-do anything guitar.

I agree...the new D-28 is a fine guitar for anything you care to throw at it.

[zoopeda]

Originally Posted by jklemm18

What are your thoughts on a dread being your primary guitar. I mean for everything, strumming, flat picking and finger style. I want to downsize before the Pre War gets here which would leave me with a more than capable Eastman dread which I would say 90% of the population outside of the forum could live with . I don't know why I am so hesitant but may need a little insight from you dread lovers.

If you’re definitely going all in on the OM-18 (which sounds like you are), I can’t imagine a better second guitar (for the playing styles you listed) than a dreadnought or jumbo.

[Neil K Walk]

I love my dread but hate how my body wraps around it now. I find my OM and jumbo to be more comfortable but they lack the growl of the dread.

[jklemm18]

Originally Posted by zoopeda

If you’re definitely going all in on the OM-18 (which sounds like you are), I can’t imagine a better second guitar (for the playing styles you listed) than a dreadnought or jumbo.

Yes, my build is based on a 32 OM-18 i found here: :https://www.folkwaymusic.com/museum/...rtin-om18-0415

I would need to sell a kidney for the real thing.

[CASD57]

I'm pretty much a Dread guy now... I have tried everything and the Dread just does it all...
I do have a Sire GA on Back order....But that's another story