Buc McMaster Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Yes, the Dove was not getting much play time at all and I've never been one to hang on to a thing just because it has some kind of cool factor........if it ain't useful it ain't hanging' around. While the long scale was certainly playable, when compared to the short scale of the Hummingbird, the Dove was a bit uncomfortable to play. Perhaps it's an aging of the hands and digits thing, but rather than just letting it sit around here in the case I thought it best to turn it into something I would use. So the Martin 00-18V experiment was not fruitful. Short scale, yes, but the wide string spacing at the bridge was a deal breaker for me..........so.........now this J-45 Vintage has come home with me. Nice. Terrified red spruce top, hide glue here and there, banner headstock.......cool. Took the saddle down just a bit and strung it with Masterbuilt 80/20 lights. Boom! All is right with the world once more............. Here it is alongside my Collings concert ukulele which I retrieved from Jimmy's place.......been on consignment for six months or so, no takers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Beauty Buc. Sweet and simple. It'll fit your style well. Plays quieter and 'smaller', more intimate. Now you have to find the right strings. Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 Wonderful sounding little 00, but it seems this too is an error in judgement. The string spacing at the bridge is freaking w-i-d-e and it seriously messes with the pick placement muscle memory I have had for so long. And so, tomorrow I will return to the shop and take them up on the deal we hammered out for a 2016 J-45 Vintage that was stellar. Thought I might like something different, but in the end it's short scale Gibson mahogany for me...............just can't fight it. Sorry for the false alarm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Figured you'd been up to something 'cause you'd been pretty quiet lately😒 Looks good! That was quick! Editing post to let ya know I read yours above. 😮 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Uh oh! Old dogs can't learn....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Ha.. I'm almost happy for you! But I'll be happier to hear you with that J45 Vintage. The one I played over a year back broke my heart. Life is short. Enjoy them buddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Nice, congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 ... The string spacing at the bridge is freaking w-i-d-e and it seriously messes with the pick placement muscle memory I have had for so long. ... Sorry for the false alarm. Too bad, a really nice little guitar. I can handle most spacing differences, but when it comes to songs with a lot of picking, large differences can be a problem. No need to apologize for good guitar porn. . B) Hope that 2016 J-45 Vintage works out for you. Looking forward to your report. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 .....And so, tomorrow I will return to the shop and take them up on the deal we hammered out for a 2016 J-45 Vintage that was stellar. Thought I might like something different, but in the end it's short scale Gibson mahogany for me...............just can't fight it. Sorry for the false alarm. Haha, good to hear how that turned out! J-45's still on my bucket list. But I guess I'm new enough to guitar that I don't have that long-time muscle memory, so I can fumble around just as well on a variety of string arrangements, especially playing 12s alot, and that F50R is a touch more than long-scale at 25.625... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 That Martin looks sweet! But I understand a J45's ability to capture a heart. I will never release mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Interesting selection. I do love the 00 Martin models, especially in mahogany. I do miss my old 00-15. Im sure this will be a nice little addition, great sofa guitar. And ... why did the Dove have the fly away .. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Think I hear cute Ginger Bell cry. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Scale and string spacing - hmmm.... Must ponder, ponder, ponder.... 😒 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 I'm glad you realized you needed to change direction while the Martin was still 'new' and could be returned. The similarities between the H'Bird and the j45 will obviously help. I'm at the point where I don't relish dealing with differences in size, spacing, etc. I tend to grab my J45 and H'Bird way more often than my SJ200. Which creates 'conflict' because I love the sound of the Jumbo as much as the other two. I guess one solution would be to get rid of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Still pondering - string spacing makes sense; size and scale, not yet...😒 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 - bump for the J-45 - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 now im real confused, so did you get the J-45 or the Martin after ditching the Dove ...or both ?? ok, got it now ...sometimes its best to read the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trans Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Congrats Buc! love the coloration burst In a word? how does she sound? Trans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpicker Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Now what we need is to hear your smooth vocal tones drifting out over the sound of that 45. J45s are unbeatable in my book. Rb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Vey nice, congrats! If anything like to 2016 Hummingbird Vintage, must be light as a feather? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Yes, the Dove was not getting much play time at all and I've never been one to hang on to a thing just because it has some kind of cool factor........if it ain't useful it ain't hanging' around. While the long scale was certainly playable, when compared to the short scale of the Hummingbird, the Dove was a bit uncomfortable to play. Perhaps it's an aging of the hands and digits thing, but rather than just letting it sit around here in the case I thought it best to turn it into something I could and would use. So the Martin 00-18V experiment was not fruitful. Short scale, yes, but the wide string spacing at the bridge was a deal breaker for me..........so.........now this J-45 Vintage has come home with me. Nice. Terrified red spice top, hide glue here and there, banner headstock.......cool. Took the saddle down just a bit and strung it with Masterbuilt 80/20 lights. Boom! All is right with the world once more............. Here it is alongside my Collings concert ukulele which I retrieved from Jimmy's place.......been on consignment for six months or so, no takers. First, congratulations! Being a 100% fingerpicker, the new Martin 00-18 nut and neck are fairly good but still a bit skinny bridge spacing wise for getting into it like a large V neck vintage L-00 or my Cargill or Lowden fingerstyle expresses with 2 3/8" space at the bridge! Or the much loved or hated on forums Martin OM18V (I love mine) - the forums are full of "I bought the OM18V because it sounded so great but now my hand hurts so bad!" All the more for us fingerpickers! So if you like it Buc, it probably means I wouldn't...... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 To eliminate any confusion (for my part as well as yours!)........ I traded the Dove for a Martin 00-18V, a nice little instrument but unsuitable for what I do. Realizing the error of my ways, I returned the Martin in exchange for a Gibson J-45 Vintage. It is very much like the Hummingbird, being spruce-over-mahogany, but the Adirondack top does make a difference. The 45 has more clarity and note separation, while the sitka-topped Hummingbird is warmer and smoother sounding. I would say the 45 is a bit lighter in weight and a little louder in volume, but that might be just perception due to the clarity. Once again, the strings are all high in the nut and will require some file work but beyond that, it's all good. I have come to expect any new guitar will need to be tweaked to feel exactly right for a particular player. I really like the "all business" look of a J-45.........no frills at all, just guitar. A nice contrast to the gaudy Hummingbird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 nice looking 45 there, can't be many lefty 45 Vintage models out there. Excited to hear it in your Sunday Cup-o-Coffee song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scriv58 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 one more lefty j45 vintage here- great guitar, southpaw set it up perfectly for my touch congrats on the new guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete'67 Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Enjoy the J-45 Vintage. What a great guitar. Mine was nice sounding from the beginning but still continues opening up which I was not expecting. It's a joy to pick it up each day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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