BigDawg007 Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I just did not find the Gibson I was looking for so I bought a tone Machine in the D-41 Special. It is so articulate. Bought it used in mint condition off Eddies Guitars via Reverb. I am enjoying comparing and contrasting my J-45 with the D-41 Special. There is an appreciable difference. I like the rosewood sound of the D-41 and the Mahog in the J-45. Both have excellent set ups and both are uniquely tone producers. I can hear and feel the difference. I really am happy with both guitars. I
duluthdan Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Nice ! There is something about having that long-scale Rosewood dread in the stable that really does it. I was just pounding out on the D-35 -
jimmyboy Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I would like to hear the comparison between AJ vs. D41 special.
MorrisrownSal Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Congrats! I own a Martin or two... But my stuff is lower end. How is this D41 Special different from a D28?
zombywoof Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Congrats. It s not possible to speak poorly of Martins so you are on pretty safe ground here.
blindboygrunt Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 My d35 and j45 are perfect partners. A Martin belongs as much as a Gibson does
Dave F Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 A very nice guitar. One of my top two favorites. They only produced them for a few years. Check out Jason Isbell. It's his go to guitar. Check out Acoustic Guitar issue #251 for November 2013
BigDawg007 Posted July 2, 2016 Author Posted July 2, 2016 Congrats! I own a Martin or two... But my stuff is lower end. How is this D41 Special different from a D28? This is a great question. The hallmark of the D-41 Special is the tone. It has a drop in bone saddle and its huge. The X bracing at 5/16 and its forward shifted 1 inch to the sound hole. This really projects the volume. The tone again is just superb. I played multiple D-28 and they are more mellow, less articulate, less note brilliance, atleast on the ones I played. The used HD-28 actually sounded better than the new ones. I'm no expert on Rosewood, but it seems like with many tone woods that it takes time to open up. Switching subjects, Now the D-35 has some booming bass, but it's nowhere as articulate as the D-41 Special. If you have a D-35, you can appreciate the forward shifted bracing. But my J-45 has so much bottom end that I didn't want something similiar to it, that is why I passed on the D-35. Martin does not make the Special anymore. It has the inlays like the highest end D-45 which is unreal. Great craftsmanship. I put Elixir Phosphur Bronze 80/20 and it may have a little too much sparkle. But I like it. It has a crisp resonance that is less mellow than my J-45. I switched back and forth and noticed more clarity in the D-41. I know the rosewood back and sides has a lot to do with the sweetness that embarks from the D-41 Special.
BigDawg007 Posted July 2, 2016 Author Posted July 2, 2016 I would like to hear the comparison between AJ vs. D41 special. I'm on vacation right now but if I can learn how to post an audio file, I'll do it. In the meantime, Jarvis from the Guitar Spa in Singapore does an excellent review of the D-41 Special. Mine is just like the one he is playing with the exception of the pick up. Also he put in a FMI ivory saddle which is a little bit too bright. My has bone and is still bright but more balanced. He has an anthem and mine has a high end K & K pick up that's great too. Here is a review of the more Popular D28 and HD-28 by Tony Polecastro.
bayoubengal1954 Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Congrats! I own a Martin or two... But my stuff is lower end. How is this D41 Special different from a D28? Sal, I'm far from a Martin expert, but I believe the 41 has a modified V neck, a different head stock logo, fancier fret markers (the 28 has dots) and fancier rosette. There may be other differences as well. A description I read says also that it has "vintage series upgrades such as scalloped braces and forward shifted X for ultimate tone and energy from the top". I'm sure it's got a great tone!
BigDawg007 Posted July 2, 2016 Author Posted July 2, 2016 A very nice guitar. One of my top two favorites. They only produced them for a few years. Check out Jason Isbell. It's his go to guitar. Check out Acoustic Guitar issue #251 for November 2013 I've watched Jason Isbell for a while and I saw a rig video he did a while back and he plays a D18. Which has Mahog back n sides. He's awesome and so creative. He got clean which he has been very open about and I'm happy for him. Very talented.
BigDawg007 Posted July 2, 2016 Author Posted July 2, 2016 Sal, I'm far from a Martin expert, but I believe the 41 has a modified V neck, a different head stock logo, fancier fret markers (the 28 has dots) and fancier rosette. There may be other differences as well. A description I read says also that it has "vintage series upgrades such as scalloped braces and forward shifted X for ultimate tone and energy from the top". I'm sure it's got a great tone! The D-41 Special has a volute at the back of the headstock but does not have a V profile neck. It has a very fast playing glossy slightly round neck. Similiar to my J-45
bayoubengal1954 Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 The D-41 Special has a volute at the back of the headstock but does not have a V profile neck. It has a very fast playing glossy slightly round neck. Similiar to my J-45 Oops, sorry, BD. I got that information from descriptions on the UMGF. Must have been inacurate.
EuroAussie Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Theres good reports on the AGF on this model while mixed for the D-41 standard. The thing i found on all 40 series Martins is a high end 'shimmer' which I find missing on the models below. Dont know where it comes from (abalone?) but i definitely hesr it. My J-40 has it in groves. Enjoy!
kelly campbell Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I am sure that is a great guitar, Martin guitars are very,very good...enjoy it and congratulations on the new addition.
jdd707 Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Great guitars, those D-41s ..... I love both of my Martins ..... congrats and good pickin'.
Dave F Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 My D-41 Special has the modified V shape as listed below.
bayoubengal1954 Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 My D-41 Special has the modified V shape as listed below. Thanks, Dave! At least I didn't imagine it! BD's must have a different neck.
Lars68 Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 I think the biggest differences affecting tone between the standard D-28 and the D-41 Special are that the latter has forward shifted bracing, which is also scalloped. Lars
BluesKing777 Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 I think the biggest differences affecting tone between the standard D-28 and the D-41 Special are that the latter has forward shifted bracing, which is also scalloped. Lars Like my HD28v with bling! Congratulations! BluesKing777.
Smurfbird Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 One of the things I love about this board is that its members can appreciate more than just "their" brand. We all love Gibsons, obviously, but we never look down on a nice Martin. Many of us own them. This is a major reason why I enjoy reading this board vs. the Martin boards. Too many of their fans won't even try a Gibson. Or if they do, many put them down without allowing for a bit of retraining the ear. Their loss -- and maybe a reason why vintage Gibsons are more affordable for the most part. Congrats on your D-41 Special. You can't go wrong!
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