#1
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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. |
#2
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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
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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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#4
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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
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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. |
#6
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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. |
#7
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For Pros
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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#8
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Quote:
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#9
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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
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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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Jim Dogs Welcome......People Tolerated! |
#11
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#12
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Quote:
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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1974 Aria 9400 2011 Eastman E20om 2013 Taylor 514e FLTD 2015 Martin D-28A 1937 2016 Taylor 458e-r |