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Chad76

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Posts posted by Chad76

  1. 9 minutes ago, sbpark said:

     

    As already mentioned, the 15 Series are USA made in Nazareth. They’re also exceptional guitars and sound amazing. I’ve owned several 15 Series Martins including a couple 000-15m, a custom 00-15m and played my fair share of 000-15sm and D-15m models.  Seriously great sounding guitars, and I hesitate saying, “great guitars for the money”, because they’re just great guitars regardless of the price. Only reason I don’t own them anymore is because I just prefer dreads, and own 2 Martin dreads (D-35, D-18) and 2 Gibson’s (J45, AJ), and not in the Market for any more guitars. If I was in the market for another guitar though, it would be a 000-15m.  They’re that good.

    Yep agree no doubt. The 000-15m is on my short list. However it was mentioned as not a “competitor” to the J15 because it’s more of a specialty item (ie, not a Spruce top dread). 

  2. 4 minutes ago, FZ Fan said:

    Yes.  They are great guitars. I want to get another one.  Or a Guild D-15. Still trying to talk the wife into that one. Prolly a no go since I just got the D-35.

    No disagreement there they are great. I do remember now they are made in US, my bad on that. I must have been thinking of the Road Series or something. I nearly bought the OM in the series recently. Will probably get one eventually. My main point was just that  it’s not a good comparison to a J15, etc, because of the unique aspect of being all mahogany. 

  3. On 4/23/2019 at 8:21 PM, drathbun said:

     

    I'd agree with that J15 comparison with the 317e.

    I disagree completely. The only similarity these two guitars have is the slope shoulder style and the price. Nothing else. 

    And the J15 (mine being $400 less than the 317) is really in a completely different class. I’m not a fan of Sapele at all. It looks, feels and sounds like a laminate guitar to me. The J15 is Walnut and the tonal complexities are waaaaaay off the chart as compared to the 317. 

    The 317 is a great guitar but the person looking for a Gibson really of any kind I doubt would be happy with the 317. 

  4. On 4/21/2019 at 1:17 PM, Bozz said:

    A really nice set of Rosewood on that one. Congrats!

     

    I wonder what the folks at Gibson are thinking now that Taylor has veered head-on into their lane?

    Nah. The X17 series are nothing like any Gibson (besides the slope shoulder look) or Martin. Completely unique. They are really nice but I don’t care for them. 

  5. On 5/9/2019 at 12:44 PM, Leonard McCoy said:

    I dislike Waverleys on anything Gibson. It's a Martin thing. Will always be.

    I dunno man, with the Waverlys and Gibson’s both being made in Bozeman, seems like a perfect match to me. 

  6. 10 hours ago, FZ Fan said:

    What about the D-15?  And you say your a Martin guy.

    LOL yes I am. I don’t consider the D15 a “Martin”. It’s made in Mexico not Nazareth PA. Might not be a huge deal for some but it is for a “Martin guy”. 

    Also, the 15s are all mahogany (top included)  which is cool and all but is again an apples to oranges comparison. Really more of a specialty item. 

  7. On 5/20/2019 at 11:54 AM, kidblast said:

     

    non coated strings with my hands are ok for about a 6 to 8 weeks.. then it's time..

     

    Coated, I can get 4 months easy.

    My experience has been the opposite with coated strings. 

    I change my strings about once a month, regardless of what I’m using because I like the freshness of the sound.  And I play a lot so they need it. 

  8. I’ve also purchased from Bob Colosi. Have a couple sets of bone pins and I bought a matching strap button for my Martin D18. Great stuff. 

    I was surprised that my J15 came with bone pins. I still replaced them with a Colosi set I had that had abalone inlays, just for looks. But agree on the nut/saddle upgrades. 

    As for strings I cannot stand Elixirs. Don’t like how they feel or sound and what tone they do have seems to die after about 3 days. I use Martin PB 12 or 13s on basically everything. Although I would like to try the Santa Cruz Parabolic tension strings on the J15. I tried them on the D18 but they were too mellow for that guitar (an already very mellow toned 1968 model). 

  9. On 1/31/2019 at 3:25 AM, IanHenry said:

     

    I thought the J-15 had been axed, at least I haven't found it on their new website. There's very little difference between a J-15 and a J-45 Studio so there wouldn't be a lot of point in making both.

     

     

     

    Ian

    I disagree. They look very similar but are worlds apart tone wise. The 45 studio is a slim body and, to my ears, lacks depth and bottom end. The J15 growls and has better feel, clarity, twang and low end. 

    Disclaimer: I don’t normally enjoy the sound of slim bodied acoustics. 

  10. Interesting. Im wondering where you get your numbers?  The 2019 J-15 retails for $1749. 1899 (I believe) if you want the darker (not natural) walnut burst. You said it retails for 1340.99?  

    I have an illness of going online and into guitar shops to looks at guitars and I’ve browsed and played probably hundreds of guitars most of which are Martins Taylor’s and Gibson’s.  What I’ve found is that Gibson’s are the best priced (generally speaking) guitars out there.  Martin doesn’t make a guitar that compares to the J-15 at 1700 bucks.  The closest thing they’d have is probably the standard D18 (completely different woods, just comparing quality and price) and it’s around 2500. 

    By the way Gibson’s are my second favorite guitar. I’m a Martin guy 100% but I love love love my J15.

    The other thing to think about is there is more to it than inflation. The cost of doing business is way higher (probably exponential beyond inflation rate) today than it was in 35.  And this goes beyond guitars. My dad bought a new 69 Camaro (in 1969) for around 2500.  I think it’d set you back about 50k today.

    First post, new to the forum. Howdy. 

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