Need Help in buying a dave mathew's style guitar

whereismypick · Post by **whereismypick** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 12:30 am

Well i've been playing for a few years now - pretty much all dave stuff -and i've finally saved up a couple thousand in cash by tutoring kids and entering data into computers. I've also spent the last couple years hitting up any and all guitar stores to find the perfect guitar to last me through the years and to hopefully serve as a form of therapy while i attempt to enter the real work force. Anyway i've looked at as many dave guitars as i could such as the Hd28, the Hd28V, the 714ce the 914ce as well as the m32 lakewood and what i've found appears to be an ongoing battle between Taylor and Martin. I know personal choice is what it all comes to, but i'm curious what people think has the best sound. Personally i think the HD28 has the best tone or the Hd28V, but getting electronics put in it such as a fishman stereo blender that gives you all the controls on the side seems to be too expensive and Martin said it would take 10 months to have it done at the factory. On the other hand Taylors have the benefit of being this all in wonder guitar, but lack the tone that the full body martin has. Can anyone help me out of this confusing mess i've put myself into. I've also tried several cutaway martins with electronics but the tone just isn't the same. The 914ce i believe is around 4000 so that's out of my league.
thanks

-Mike

so we wrestle with a painful love, i should not think that we are special. So i learn from all the stories told, movies books and on the boulevard.

firedancer86 · Post by **firedancer86** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 12:37 am

I payed $2,100 for my 2003 Taylor 814ces...wait awhile and get a revoiced Taylor dread...they are supposed to make up for anything Martin has on the low end, giving it the bass that some seem to think is lacking in current Talyor models...I love the sound of my 814...if you are interested, I have a few mp3s of it...of course they do it absolutely no justice...it sounds gorgeous unplugged...

http://www.cadenzaspell.com/thedreamingtree.mp3

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 12:44 am

dude i have one word - cocobolo... custom order an 800 series with cocobolo back/sides... my favorite tonewood

ericwormann · Post by **ericwormann** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 12:58 am

go with the martin. I personally don't like taylors as much. THey sound too boxy to me and everyone i know that played taylors was too heavy a strummer for me. But anyway, yeah my vote goes for the martin.

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 1:01 am

what exactly does boxy mean? ive heard people say it but i never really got what it meant...

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 1:09 am

i'm not sure but i just ordered a custom shop 614ce with corrugated cardboard b/s....rosewood binding...

firedancer86 · Post by **firedancer86** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 1:43 am

Jay wrote:i'm not sure but i just ordered a custom shop 614ce with corrugated cardboard b/s....rosewood binding...

sweet...

along with pizza inlays?

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 1:59 am

lol, the few on the boards who know what thats about

DaveKenneysBand · Post by **DaveKenneysBand** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 2:23 am

I was at Harry's Guitar Shop (best place in Raleigh) and I was playing a Taylor and I fell in love with it, but my Dad has an HF-35 that sounds really good too. I would say that it is a tie between the two i'm just in love with both of them. I'll go find out wht Taylor I was playing tomorrow. I remember it was around 3000 though so that might be a barrier.

Corona5k1635 · Post by **Corona5k1635** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 2:35 am

yo
answer shane's question! what does it mean if it sounds boxy????

dave

--oh yeah. and did you know that taylor uses a patented method to make their guitars which involves the use of wood which they age themselves .. so then when the guitar is put out for sale the wood is already sounding like its mad old which is why the tone is so damn sweet sounding. then once the guitar actually *gets* old for real, there is suppossedly no sound that is better.
just something i found out.
but anyway..my vote goes for the Martin. I love the volume and balls of a Martin. Especially for dave matthews stuff.

hd28v · Post by **hd28v** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:33 am

I am going to have a biased opinion, owning a HD-28V but they rock. The sound just keeps getting better on mine after 7 months of owning it. I dont know anything about electronics but I probably would stay clear of buing one with electronics from martin. Better to add on after awhile I would think. I should post some pictures of the V on here when I get time.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:17 am

firedancer86 wrote: sweet...

along with pizza inlays?

you know it! they're actually pretty expensive because of the woods used. koa for the crust, maple for the cheese, really dark cedar for the pepperoni. it's a piece of work.

you just have to be careful because the cardboard can be a little soft. but man, when it opens up...mmm....

swift360 · Post by **swift360** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 1:37 pm

ya know.. iwas just reading this post, and i thought, i wonder what it would be like to have a guitar that costs more than my car... lol.. i mean, i just bought a $200 Ibanez A/E and that was almost too expensive for me.. lol. just be proud that you guys (and ladies) can afford somethin like that and always remember us little guys who look up to you all w/ unimaginable guitars...

one day tho.. after im famous for somethin (prolly not music) i will get an expensive guitar 8)

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 1:40 pm

Jay wrote:
firedancer86 wrote: sweet...

along with pizza inlays?
you know it! they're actually pretty expensive because of the woods used. koa for the crust, maple for the cheese, really dark cedar for the pepperoni. it's a piece of work.

you just have to be careful because the cardboard can be a little soft. but man, when it opens up...mmm....

i would have to go with bloodwood for pepperoni and some nice walnut for sausage

firedancer86 · Post by **firedancer86** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 3:59 pm

Jay, what is your handle over at the TGF?