I actually own both of these guitars with the only difference that my 000-17 is Whiskey Sunset and I agree with your assessment with a couple of minor differences. I bought my 000-17 in 2019 and have gigged it extensively (well over 100 shows) and it is one of my favorite guitars to play. That being said, I never could get the sound I wanted out of the Fishman pickup so after about a year or so I pulled it and started trying other options including a Baggs M80 and an Anthem SL. The pickup I finally landed on is a JJB Prestige 330 and I’m very happy with my amplified sound at this point. Another thing I didn’t like were the Golden Age tuners. After about a year the became really stiff and difficult to operate so I replaced them with a set of antique finish Gotoh SE700 open back tuners and they are awesome. I love this guitar now and it’s not going anywhere. The Taylor AD12e-SB is much more ready to go straight out of the box and is beautiful. The finish feels much more durable and the slightly shorter scale makes it easier to handle 4 hour marathon gigs. The ES2 pickup required a lot of adjustment at the bridge to tame the overly sparkly highs but once dialed in, it sounds great and is extremely versatile. This is another guitar that is going to be living with me and playing gigs for a really long time. Hope this helps.
Interesting comparison. Both sound great mic'd and awful plugged in. I usually prefer the rich, mellow sound of Martins over the crisp, bright Taylor sound but these two were really close. The Taylor seemed to project better and had a very nice, well-balanced sound. While I love Monels on an all mahogany guitar I'm not sure I wouldn't prefer some nice 80/20's on the Martin given it's spruce top. In the looks department it's all Taylor IMO due to the black finish on the Martin. Not a fan of that since I prefer to see the grain of the wood. Great comparison as usual Chris, thanks.
Fully agree. I straight up hated how both guitars sounded when we heard the line input. Maybe messing with EQ would fix things? Both sounded pretty great acoustically, though I slightly prefer the brighter sounds from Taylor (pretty much every Taylor over Martin, but this one was pretty close).
Great comparison. For those who prefer the sunburst top and natural back of the Taylor, check out the Whiskey Sunset version of the Martin. (I have the slope shoulder).
I also have the slope shoulder DSS-17 in whiskey sunset. It's my #1 acoustic. I put Martin bronze strings on it and sounds a lot better in my opinion. My came with a soft case but don't mind since these were the first builds
Great A-B comparison! I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen from you. It made it easy to compare/contrast the two instruments with the pieces fresh in my mind. I liked the ES2 system better than the Fishman because it sounded more clear and brighter to me. I’m biased in that, though, since I own a 314ce. And this is the first time I’ve heard Monel strings that I know of. So, because of their characteristics and/or the the mahogany vs walnut, the Taylor sounded more clear, more articulate, and brighter to my ears. Even though that difference was difficult to discern in your fingerstyle section. So for my $2k, the Taylor would come home with me.
Chris, thank you for the video. I owned a 00017, and really liked it. And yes it came with a hard case. I sold it because I was CONVINCED I needed rosewood instead of mahogany. Silly me. I should have NOT sold it. I’ve tried the monel and use it on my 0015M. I love the look of the Taylor and case is superior . I’ve always preferred the Martin sound over the Taylor. But, I think I will need to add this Taylor to my collection and keep it for a while to really learn its sound. Thank you again. This is a great video. I recently ordered a guitar from your shop and your videos inspired me to do so.
The Martin 17 series made a whole lot more sense to me when I realized that they were (with their available finishes, slight build, and sloped shoulders) intended to play in the same lane as Collings’ Waterloo series of guitars, which themselves were heavily inspired by the Kalamazoo series of guitars made by Gibson. Having played the Martin but not the Taylor, I actually expected that the Taylor would have had more presence than it did. Even with the Monels, the Martin seemed to strike a great balance between being strummed and fingerpicked.
Both are such great guitars. I own a 000-17e and love it. The open pore "roughness" of the body and neck might bother some, but I do think it helps add more depth and resonance to the tone. Very full and loud for the guitar's size. And I do love Retro strings on a mahogany body. Thanks, Chris.
I had had Martins for a some time, lower end ones, and I sold the last one I had to get an upgrade; unfortunately, I could not find many options where I live, and so I had to look at the Taylors because I found many more options from Taylor. I ended up buying an AD27e Mahogany, which is in that same price range. I had been meaning to get a mahogany one for some time and I found that one with an authorized Taylor dealer here in Monterrey Mexico. I just loved it, and it has that same bag because it belongs to the American Dream series. Great video, by the way. Thanks for sharing it!
When it comes to esthetics, the Martin is hard to beat imho, but that’s a matter of taste more than anything else. I just love black acoustics. What I would choose really depends on what I’d be searching for. You called these guitars ‘affordable’, but to most people 2k is still a whole lot of money. I’m lucky enough to own a handful of really great guitars. Either one of these two guitars would serve as a backup guitar, or as a guitar that I would buy to play in a drop tuning (heavier strings and tune it to C standard or C# standard). So I would absolutely take the Martin. BUT… even though I’ve never been a fan of Taylor guitars, while I love Martins, in this case I absolutely preferred the acoustic sound of the Taylor. I actually believed it sounded substantially better. So if I was to buy my first quality built acoustic and 2k is about the maximum amount of money I could spend, I’d take the Taylor, I’m surprised to find myself saying. Then again, Steve Earle plays the Martin 000-17e Black Smoke nowadays. And what’s good enough for Steve Earle is good enough for me. 😬
I have a D-18 & a D-28, and a 414ce, so I like both brands. As compared here, the Taylor sounded best to me. I would have chosen different strings and a different pickup for the Martin though.
I'm not a fan of the internal pickups on an acoustic guitar - something sounds really bad to my ear when playing any volume on the bass strings and especially on the low E. The soft fingerpicking sounded fine on both. The Martin sounded a little more balanced, while the Taylor had a little extra sparkle. Both sound good but, I would pick the Taylor on looks. I'm a sucker for the burst.
I would take the Taylor because I already have a Martin. Although that Martin does not have that Martin sound? As to the situation with recording the Martin: I had a similar problem in the pit with my Martin D10E. The sound guy complained about the string noise and how "Hot" it sounded. I use a Fender Acoustisonic 30. We used the "line out" to the house board. We were able to get it dialed in. I use Martin strings and they are a bit noisy when changing chords up and down the neck. I also used a different approach to chord changes which also helped. Great vid.
I’ll start by saying I’m a happy Taylor owner so I come into this with some bias. I’m little more than a real beginner at guitar so really it might come down to which I found easier to play. Based on looks though it would be the Taylor. I wasn’t sure about that pick guard the first time I saw it but it has grown on me and I love the burst finish
Another useful comparison. This one’s a mixed gig bag. Liked the laid back vibe of the Martin, but the Taylor was excellent for fingerstyle. Do prefer the ES2, which has a sound closer to that of the mic, which is better overall.
The Taylor! I like the sound and the esthetic better. I would take the aerocase over even a hard case. I have two of them. They’re superior to any case I’ve seen. I live an hour from the Taylor factory. They’re service center is very good. I’ve taken a guitar there for a setup. They did a very good job and there was no charge. I don’t know that any other guitar company’s service can compare.
While the Taylor is a great looking and sounding guitar. I was really liking the Martin 000-17's sound. Personally I like the Whiskey Sunset the best. And it would really sound wonderful with the LR Baggs Anthem overall. I am not enthralled with the Taylor system. The Taylor sounded better w/ mic. I like the Martin 16/17 series(I have a 2011 D-16GTL, loaded with a LR Baggs Lyric) And would like more reviews on these series of guitars. This was a great comparison,though I think the Whiskey Sunset with an Anthem would be the bomb! Thank you so very much for your wonderful presentation.
It would be useful if you can say what were they each like to play? Also say that on each of your reviews. The sound is one thing, but lots of other thoughts to...how do the tuners work, whats the intonation like etc.
Both are nice sounding .. The martin sounds a little louder but I love the crisp sound of the Taylor, with the longer sustained ring ... I would take the Taylor 👍👍
While the virgin ES2 preamp is not perfect, it is far better than Martin’s Fishman. Would love to see Martin put some development into a solid, proprietary pickup/preamp system. Otherwise, they need to go the L.R. Baggs route.
Like Chris said, you can chose a variety of different pickups, including the LR Baggs Anthem. However, I do believe you need to custom order them if you want that. I can’t find anything about needing to add a premium for another pickup, but I’m not sure. And it’s not ideal anyway. I mean, it’s cool that they give you the option, but if you can only get that option by ordering the guitar (and I’m not sure if this is the case - maybe the music store made that choice for you) from the Martin factory via your local music store, you’ll never get the chance to try out and play what you pay for before you actually get it, but it’ll also take months before you finally get the guitar you want. I ordered a Martin 00-15m on the seventh of January 2022 and it arrived in late September last year (!!!). Now, this was still during covid and yes, they had a gigantic backorder they had to deal with. And then there’s the fact that I live in the Netherlands, Europe. And then there’s this stupid situation where the big stores will be helped first, so because I ordered my guitar at a relatively small store I had to wait even longer. So if you live in the US you probably won’t have to wait as long as I did, but still… I’d buy one without a pickup and then have one installed later by a good luthier. Depending on the pickup of choice it probably won’t cost you a lot more.
I have both the 214 dlx and this ad12. If you’re looking for that smaller parlor size go with the Gibson l00. I tried to save a thousand bucks and got the ad12. It’s not equal to the L00. Overall the 214 is a great guitar. I found that the whole Mexican made and American made thing is foolish. The Mexican made to me so far have been superior. It’s like the only reason American made is double price is because of government red tape and very poor workmanship. Fender is similar. American made means nothing anymore.
I'm a Taylor guy but to my ears I prefer the Martin here. The look on that Taylor is awesome but the Martin also have the whiskey sunset version. tough choice.
I like them both, but I hate the truss rod cover on the Taylor. You buy a 2K guitar and it comes with a plastic truss rod cover. Although I found out when I bought my Taylor you can call them and they have all sorts of wood covers in stock for about 10 bucks. They don't have them on the website, but they are available if you call. I'd also like to see these compared to the Yamaha FS5 or FS3 for that matter.
My 00017 came with a hard case, real nice, no pickup because I’m putting LRbaggs m80? Three yrs ago maybe, but I have a hard case, I have the black one because it has a great bluesy sound, but I also have a Taylor 717 ;)
I played the Taylor at Elderly Inst in Michigan. It played and sounded great. I almost bought it. But for $2k, burst finish of the body looked really cheap. Also, I did not plug it in, and the ES2 systems can be difficult. Some people like them, but others hate them....lots of horror stories about the tone. I was not willing to take the chance, as this would have been a regularly gigging guitar.
Great guitars, great review, great playin'... I've been contemplating the 000-17 for a while - that is, the Whiskey Sunset version w/o internal pickup... maybe you've pushed me over the edge now 😀I've never liked the sound of an internal pickup of any guitar I've heard so far. I frankly don't understand why anyone would drill holes in their expensive acoustic guitar, glue some ugly electronics in just so that it sounds like any $200 guitar with a pickup - different strokes for different folks, I guess 😀 (that being said, I think the Taylor pickup sounds way better than the Martin one) The Taylor seems to be more balanced and sweeter, the Martin - I think - is more edgy and has a more distinguishable character. Maybe the Taylor is more versatile, but the Martin will surely add some spice to the music... just some thoughts... 🙂
When you compare guitars I can generally tell which one excites you the most based on your playing. I haven't met a Martin gigbag yet that I thought was any good, and compared to the Taylor Aerocase its a no brainer. In this video I liked the Taylor sound and look. When Taylor started using the tiger stripe pickguard I didn't like it because it reminds me of Gibson and Eastman but its growing on me on some Taylors but I still prefer the Taylor tortoise pickguard or none. Definitely don't like the Taylor black pickguards.
The Taylor sounded better to my ear. The Martin sounded muddy. I however am not a fan of the ES2 pickup. Wish I could buy the taylor with an LR Baggs Anthem from factory.
I suspected you used a flat EQ on the Taylor’s EQ. Good comparison! I prefer the Taylor, I’ve learned to tame the ES2 (and do believe it’s more reflective of the tonewoods), and you’re right about Aerocase.
@@karlcountry2363: So what pickup(s) do you use now and in what way did it improve the sound? It’s a serious question, because I have a handful of great guitars and eventually I want to use all of them in a live concert setting. At this moment I have a J-45 with an LR Baggs piëzo pickup with just a volume control (the standard appointment for J-45’s in 2011). I hate the sound of it. I also have a D-28 and I decided to go for the best pickup for acoustics, according to many, many great guitar players, the LR Baggs Anthem. I use that guitar all the time, because it DOES sound much better than the other one, but I still hate it. I’ve tried IR’s and all sorts of pedals and eq’s, but I just can’t get a sound that actually sounds like my guitar, or even the sound of any decent acoustic. I just keep hoping the IR thing will become better and better within 12 to 24 months. But I can’t wait for that. I want a good acoustic sound for all my guitars and using mics isn’t an option (because of volume issues, other instruments, etcetera). So I’m just curious to know what you came up with to get a better sound. At least better than the standard Taylor pickup. Are you willing to share this? Thanks in advance!
@@mariodriessen9740 the k&k trinity is the best I’ve come up with . Second best is the anthem as you mentioned. I agree none of these sound as good as putting a microphone in front of the sound hole but that’s not possible in a stage setting. It’s the shrill I hear and also the sound of the pick on the strings that turn me against the Taylor pickup. Which is a shame because I really liked the 417. I didn’t want to pull the pickup out because I was afraid it would mess the saddle up because of the screws. Sorry if it sounded like I was attacking you. Still upset about return the most beautiful guitar I have ever held.
@@karlcountry2363 : O I never felt you were attacking me (or the OP). I was genuinely interested in your findings when it comes to acoustic guitar pickups. I’m glad you took the time to answer. Thanks for that. I appreciate it! I never really tried the K&K, but I know of a second hand guitar nearby that has one in it. And I have the same guitar, so I’m interested to try out that guitar with the K&K. 😊👍
As someone who only ever owned a $200 Yamaha acoustic guitar with the world's worst piezo pickup, these guitars sound surprisingly good plugged in. Not perfect, but usable in a live setting, but I agree that the Taylor sounded better. Add on an IR box and some reverb, you're good to go. :D
I think the Taylor is better looking but the Martin sounds much better. I didn't like the voice of either one plugged in. Thanks Chris for this comparison video. My Goldilocks guitar is a Martin 000-28 with a K+K passive pickup.
honestly, not for 2k...i know that esp. martin has absolutely crazy prices for their guitars ( i love my 2019 d28, bought right before the huge price increase..), but with taxes you end up north of 2k, and there are other manufacturers building great and maybe better sounding and looking guitars... the undeniable mojo of a martin is starting imho with the d 18 upwards, i am not informed very well about a taylor, but i think it's a comparable situation... so, thx for the video, but some marketing folks seem to have forgotten what the average person earns, an absolute no for both, no bang for the buck... but, it is only me, if folks love them, perfect...😇😄
The Taylor sounded like a classic Taylor. Clear, and projected. The Martin, sounded more like a Taylor than a Martin. I have the Martin 00015M Streetmaster and its about the same size with no Pickup. Its so light it feels delicate which it is, but no more so than other heavy guitars. Maybe it was those Monel Strings, but I didn't think the Martin sounded Martin like. The 00015M is one of my favorite guitars for it's ease of play, Martin sound, and sooo light. (and it's cheaper). If I had to take one, it would be the Taylor. I think the Martin SC-13e has the same "Taylor like" sound at about the same price. One Taylor clone in the Martin lineup is enough - for me.
Skipped ahead to the sound part.. Wow.! Off the bat, Martin sounds like an om compared to the thin jangly sound of the Taylor. Though I’m not a fan of either brand. Thanks ..will now, watch the rest of the video..
I think I’d take the Taylor if it had binding for 2k, should have binding on body. Neck is fine. Especially if I had to have one of those pickups or the other. Maybe the Martin but without that Fishman pickup. Martin with a K&K! 😂
I compared them myself and bought the Taylor. Not much between them but to my ears the Taylor had the edge - also got a good deal on price which may have influenced me! Both to me better sounding guitars than the Gibson L-00 - and without a sticky nitro neck. Why Gibson why?
I'm a huge fan of most Martin guitars' sound and I really like the aesthetics of the black 17, but in my opinion the Taylor just smashes this comparison. It just sounds so much nicer than this particular Martin to me. Very surprising.
Martin sounds better to my ears...I have a 1997 Taylor 814ce and after playing it for years I am ready for a different tone. It will be either Martin ooo 28ec, ooo-16 streetmaster or something like this. Just my 2 cents worth. Peace.
Taylor sounds really good, but I am just burnt out on Taylors. There is too many! Considering the amount of stock they require a dealer to carry, double done and out. I will carry my 714ce to the grave, but it will be the only Taylor. Semper Fi
Those Monel strings sound dead to me . I had them on my MARTIN DSS17 and removed them right away. I didn’t like the tuners that Martin chose which were hard to turn. Another strike against Martin is their gig bag is just ok, whereas Taylor’s is outstanding. I would pick the ES2 over the Fishman preamp too. So for me Taylor wins. Besides I am a sucker for a beautiful sunburst finish.
Wow _ to my ears the Marti was fuller and more nuanced on the microphone bur when comparing the internal pickup it was completely flipped around the other way with the Taylor easily winning and the .Martin sounding tinny and embarrassingly weak. And full disclosure I have owned a Taylor aa my main acoustic for over 20 years
Classic story, the acoustic, woody, Martin sound just edges out the Taylor sound but i still end up picking taylors because as a gigging musician , taylor's stock plugged in sound beats the shit out fishman.
Then buy the Martin without a pickup and install the best sounding pickup you can find. I don’t like the Fishman either. Then again, all acoustic guitar pickups suck. Even the best of them.
@@mariodriessen9740 I'm a broke kinda guy, so "nice" aftermarket pickups are out of the question. and I travel and gig a ton. I was mostly referring to the lower end of their price spectrum. First dilema was picking between a bt1e and an lx1e. acoustically, martin wins, but that fishman was fucked. picked the taylor. same thing happened when I chose between a DJR and a GS Mini. Missed out on an all solid wood guy there but I needed something sturdy anyway. that GS Mini has been with me for a while now, and that ratty little shit still sings like a siren when I plug it in. I love that It sounds natural and airy, almost like how it sounds unplugged.
@@nicoursos900 : Get it! I have been lucky in the last two years. I’m old and I gathered a lot of cool stuff over the years. Recently I sold a few old electrics and that gave me the opportunity to buy a couple of very good acoustics. I’ve played a lot with a band when I was still playing electrics only. Before one of those gigs I saw the guitarist of another band taking out his Martin. I didn’t know anything about acoustic guitars back then, but I knew that Martin was an expensive brand. I assumed his guitar was one of those. I didn’t even know about Martin producing cheap Mexican ‘ready to go’ models. So this guy educated me a little on that and he told me that he always kept the expensive ones home and he played the cheap models, because nobody really can tell the difference anyway. And he was right! We would play in huge party tents for 1,000 to 5,000 people who just wanted to get drunk and party through the night. I don’t play that stuff anymore. It’s all relatively serious now and I do want my acoustics to sound good. I’m sure you’ve heard of IR’s for acoustic guitars. I tried one of the cheapest ones I could find, the NUX Optima Air. I just tried some stock settings. I didn’t like the majority of them, but it did have a couple of presets that actually made my guitar sound like a mic’d acoustic. It was relatively cheap. I haven’t bought it (yet), but I do think this will be the future of amplifying acoustics onstage. And I also think that it won’t take long before we will see new products coming out that will make your guitar sound like any acoustic guitar you want. I mean, these pedals already exist, but they’re not good enough yet. I’ll give it a year. I’m sorry for the long story. I guess I just like to talk about gear. 🥴
I prefer the acoustic sound of the Martin, but don't like the open-spore finish or the penguin look. Both guitars would sound better with a K&K Pure Mini or Baggs Hifi. Easier to install and, for the Taylor, better looking (no external knobs, no behind-the-saddle pickups visible - and only six holes to drill in the bridge!).
@@j.jonahgameson7992: I just love black acoustics. Especially with a white pickguard. But life would be easy AND boring if we all liked the same things. 😊
Pre-watch-guess: Chris is gonna say they're both great guitars for different types of players and that there really isn't a "clear winner" Which, to be fair, is true, but where's the drama
Toss up, as is the Taylor. With the whiskey finish likely the Martin. Penguin look is awful in my opinion. Plugged in, neither. A Martin X sounds as good. Again my opinion, mic is only way to increase the volume of a good acoustic. Plugged in they all sound like a cheap electric guitar. That's how it sounds to my ear.
Im going with the Taylor i just have never been a Martin fan and i have Martin and Gibson but Taylor is my favorite.Ive owned a lot of Martin guitars and they just didn't have the playability and sound out of twelve different Martin guitars i only kept a 1980 Martin D-28 thats the only Martin guitar i ever actually loved.But my Taylors and Gibsons are much more my choice.
Does anyone else think this Andy powers at taylor is overrated at there price point there guitars are not the best and this c class and v class bracing is no more than a marketing trick u would urge any taylor fan try a faith guitar at there price point they can't be beat every model all solid wood there faith mars is a astonishing guitar 1100 quid new 500 second hand its up there with guitars at 3 grand its that good
@@pepmasters-999 In this demo, I would go with the Taylor as I think for the price, it's a better designed guitar. Overall, I pefer the sound and look of Martins and Gibsons.
You are easily my favorite TH-cam personality. Humble, talented and knowledgeable. Alamo is lucky to have you!
I actually own both of these guitars with the only difference that my 000-17 is Whiskey Sunset and I agree with your assessment with a couple of minor differences. I bought my 000-17 in 2019 and have gigged it extensively (well over 100 shows) and it is one of my favorite guitars to play. That being said, I never could get the sound I wanted out of the Fishman pickup so after about a year or so I pulled it and started trying other options including a Baggs M80 and an Anthem SL. The pickup I finally landed on is a JJB Prestige 330 and I’m very happy with my amplified sound at this point. Another thing I didn’t like were the Golden Age tuners. After about a year the became really stiff and difficult to operate so I replaced them with a set of antique finish Gotoh SE700 open back tuners and they are awesome. I love this guitar now and it’s not going anywhere. The Taylor AD12e-SB is much more ready to go straight out of the box and is beautiful. The finish feels much more durable and the slightly shorter scale makes it easier to handle 4 hour marathon gigs. The ES2 pickup required a lot of adjustment at the bridge to tame the overly sparkly highs but once dialed in, it sounds great and is extremely versatile. This is another guitar that is going to be living with me and playing gigs for a really long time. Hope this helps.
If you had such a need, which guitar would you keep from these two. Just curious.
Well done Cris video. See you soon when I pick up the Taylor 814ce Builders Edition. Also, thank you for the amazing customer service at Alamo Music.
Interesting comparison. Both sound great mic'd and awful plugged in. I usually prefer the rich, mellow sound of Martins over the crisp, bright Taylor sound but these two were really close. The Taylor seemed to project better and had a very nice, well-balanced sound. While I love Monels on an all mahogany guitar I'm not sure I wouldn't prefer some nice 80/20's on the Martin given it's spruce top. In the looks department it's all Taylor IMO due to the black finish on the Martin. Not a fan of that since I prefer to see the grain of the wood. Great comparison as usual Chris, thanks.
Fully agree. I straight up hated how both guitars sounded when we heard the line input. Maybe messing with EQ would fix things? Both sounded pretty great acoustically, though I slightly prefer the brighter sounds from Taylor (pretty much every Taylor over Martin, but this one was pretty close).
Great comparison. For those who prefer the sunburst top and natural back of the Taylor, check out the Whiskey Sunset version of the Martin. (I have the slope shoulder).
I also have the slope shoulder DSS-17 in whiskey sunset. It's my #1 acoustic. I put Martin bronze strings on it and sounds a lot better in my opinion. My came with a soft case but don't mind since these were the first builds
Great A-B comparison! I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen from you. It made it easy to compare/contrast the two instruments with the pieces fresh in my mind. I liked the ES2 system better than the Fishman because it sounded more clear and brighter to me. I’m biased in that, though, since I own a 314ce.
And this is the first time I’ve heard Monel strings that I know of. So, because of their characteristics and/or the the mahogany vs walnut, the Taylor sounded more clear, more articulate, and brighter to my ears. Even though that difference was difficult to discern in your fingerstyle section. So for my $2k, the Taylor would come home with me.
Chris, thank you for the video. I owned a 00017, and really liked it. And yes it came with a hard case. I sold it because I was CONVINCED I needed rosewood instead of mahogany. Silly me. I should have NOT sold it. I’ve tried the monel and use it on my 0015M.
I love the look of the Taylor and case is superior . I’ve always preferred the Martin sound over the Taylor. But, I think I will need to add this Taylor to my collection and keep it for a while to really learn its sound.
Thank you again. This is a great video. I recently ordered a guitar from your shop and your videos inspired me to do so.
The Martin 17 series made a whole lot more sense to me when I realized that they were (with their available finishes, slight build, and sloped shoulders) intended to play in the same lane as Collings’ Waterloo series of guitars, which themselves were heavily inspired by the Kalamazoo series of guitars made by Gibson. Having played the Martin but not the Taylor, I actually expected that the Taylor would have had more presence than it did. Even with the Monels, the Martin seemed to strike a great balance between being strummed and fingerpicked.
You literally made no sense there trying to sound like you know what you are talking about for absolutely no apparent reason whatsoever.
Both are such great guitars. I own a 000-17e and love it. The open pore "roughness" of the body and neck might bother some, but I do think it helps add more depth and resonance to the tone. Very full and loud for the guitar's size. And I do love Retro strings on a mahogany body. Thanks, Chris.
Owned the Martin 00-LE Whisky Sunset since 2017. Will never sell it . Awesome guitar.🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
How much you want for it ?
@@lukecarvill7721👀
I had had Martins for a some time, lower end ones, and I sold the last one I had to get an upgrade; unfortunately, I could not find many options where I live, and so I had to look at the Taylors because I found many more options from Taylor. I ended up buying an AD27e Mahogany, which is in that same price range. I had been meaning to get a mahogany one for some time and I found that one with an authorized Taylor dealer here in Monterrey Mexico. I just loved it, and it has that same bag because it belongs to the American Dream series. Great video, by the way. Thanks for sharing it!
Very well done comparison!
When it comes to esthetics, the Martin is hard to beat imho, but that’s a matter of taste more than anything else. I just love black acoustics.
What I would choose really depends on what I’d be searching for. You called these guitars ‘affordable’, but to most people 2k is still a whole lot of money. I’m lucky enough to own a handful of really great guitars. Either one of these two guitars would serve as a backup guitar, or as a guitar that I would buy to play in a drop tuning (heavier strings and tune it to C standard or C# standard). So I would absolutely take the Martin.
BUT… even though I’ve never been a fan of Taylor guitars, while I love Martins, in this case I absolutely preferred the acoustic sound of the Taylor. I actually believed it sounded substantially better. So if I was to buy my first quality built acoustic and 2k is about the maximum amount of money I could spend, I’d take the Taylor, I’m surprised to find myself saying.
Then again, Steve Earle plays the Martin 000-17e Black Smoke nowadays. And what’s good enough for Steve Earle is good enough for me. 😬
I have a D-18 & a D-28, and a 414ce, so I like both brands. As compared here, the Taylor sounded best to me. I would have chosen different strings and a different pickup for the Martin though.
I'm not a fan of the internal pickups on an acoustic guitar - something sounds really bad to my ear when playing any volume on the bass strings and especially on the low E. The soft fingerpicking sounded fine on both. The Martin sounded a little more balanced, while the Taylor had a little extra sparkle. Both sound good but, I would pick the Taylor on looks. I'm a sucker for the burst.
Been wanting a black acoustic 🤔
They both sound great but I wouldn’t trade my Furch Vintage 2 OM-CR for either of them.
Would like the Martin Black smoke 00-LE if I can find one. Both Whisky Sunset and Smoke 00 -LE are discontinues. UGH......☹
I would take the Taylor because I already have a Martin. Although that Martin does not have that Martin sound?
As to the situation with recording the Martin: I had a similar problem in the pit with my Martin D10E. The sound guy complained about the string noise and how "Hot" it sounded. I use a Fender Acoustisonic 30. We used the "line out" to the house board. We were able to get it dialed in. I use Martin strings and they are a bit noisy when changing chords up and down the neck. I also used a different approach to chord changes which also helped. Great vid.
Nice picking, Chris!
I’ll start by saying I’m a happy Taylor owner so I come into this with some bias. I’m little more than a real beginner at guitar so really it might come down to which I found easier to play. Based on looks though it would be the Taylor. I wasn’t sure about that pick guard the first time I saw it but it has grown on me and I love the burst finish
Another useful comparison. This one’s a mixed gig bag. Liked the laid back vibe of the Martin, but the Taylor was excellent for fingerstyle. Do prefer the ES2, which has a sound closer to that of the mic, which is better overall.
The Taylor! I like the sound and the esthetic better. I would take the aerocase over even a hard case. I have two of them. They’re superior to any case I’ve seen. I live an hour from the Taylor factory. They’re service center is very good. I’ve taken a guitar there for a setup. They did a very good job and there was no charge. I don’t know that any other guitar company’s service can compare.
While the Taylor is a great looking and sounding guitar. I was really liking the Martin 000-17's sound. Personally I like the Whiskey Sunset the best. And it would really sound wonderful with the LR Baggs Anthem overall. I am not enthralled with the Taylor system. The Taylor sounded better w/ mic. I like the Martin 16/17 series(I have a 2011 D-16GTL, loaded with a LR Baggs Lyric) And would like more reviews on these series of guitars. This was a great comparison,though I think the Whiskey Sunset with an Anthem would be the bomb! Thank you so very much for your wonderful presentation.
It would be useful if you can say what were they each like to play? Also say that on each of your reviews. The sound is one thing, but lots of other thoughts to...how do the tuners work, whats the intonation like etc.
The Taylor would go home with me. Andy Powers is a genius in the know how of building great guitars and getting the best sound out of them!😀👍
Are you for real faith guitars at half the price kill any Andy power guitar and larrivee are also so much better value
Both are nice sounding .. The martin sounds a little louder but I love the crisp sound of the Taylor, with the longer sustained ring ... I would take the Taylor 👍👍
It was a almost a toss up for me until you went line in, then the Taylor definitely sounded better to my ears. Both are beautiful guitars.
Hard to decide..............like the sound of both.🎸🎸🎸
I really enjoy your reviews. My choice is the Taylor.
While the virgin ES2 preamp is not perfect, it is far better than Martin’s Fishman. Would love to see Martin put some development into a solid, proprietary pickup/preamp system. Otherwise, they need to go the L.R. Baggs route.
Like Chris said, you can chose a variety of different pickups, including the LR Baggs Anthem. However, I do believe you need to custom order them if you want that. I can’t find anything about needing to add a premium for another pickup, but I’m not sure. And it’s not ideal anyway. I mean, it’s cool that they give you the option, but if you can only get that option by ordering the guitar (and I’m not sure if this is the case - maybe the music store made that choice for you) from the Martin factory via your local music store, you’ll never get the chance to try out and play what you pay for before you actually get it, but it’ll also take months before you finally get the guitar you want.
I ordered a Martin 00-15m on the seventh of January 2022 and it arrived in late September last year (!!!).
Now, this was still during covid and yes, they had a gigantic backorder they had to deal with. And then there’s the fact that I live in the Netherlands, Europe. And then there’s this stupid situation where the big stores will be helped first, so because I ordered my guitar at a relatively small store I had to wait even longer.
So if you live in the US you probably won’t have to wait as long as I did, but still…
I’d buy one without a pickup and then have one installed later by a good luthier. Depending on the pickup of choice it probably won’t cost you a lot more.
Great review … I have small hands and would like to know if the Martin or Taylor would be better for me
For me, I’d be going with the Martin in the whiskey sunset finish. Although both guitars sounded very good.
I think the Taylor for me, between the ad12 and a 214 deluxe. Pulling the trigger soon. I now play a Taylor academy 10 and think it’s great.
I have both the 214 dlx and this ad12. If you’re looking for that smaller parlor size go with the Gibson l00. I tried to save a thousand bucks and got the ad12. It’s not equal to the L00. Overall the 214 is a great guitar. I found that the whole Mexican made and American made thing is foolish. The Mexican made to me so far have been superior. It’s like the only reason American made is double price is because of government red tape and very poor workmanship. Fender is similar. American made means nothing anymore.
00-15m is my fav
Maybe not an issue, but I wonder about the durability or hardness of the “secondary” tone woods used on the Taylor.
I'm a Taylor guy but to my ears I prefer the Martin here. The look on that Taylor is awesome but the Martin also have the whiskey sunset version. tough choice.
I like them both, but I hate the truss rod cover on the Taylor. You buy a 2K guitar and it comes with a plastic truss rod cover. Although I found out when I bought my Taylor you can call them and they have all sorts of wood covers in stock for about 10 bucks. They don't have them on the website, but they are available if you call. I'd also like to see these compared to the Yamaha FS5 or FS3 for that matter.
I prefer the ascetics and sound of the Taylor that would be the one going home with me if I had 2g😊
My 00017 came with a hard case, real nice, no pickup because I’m putting LRbaggs m80?
Three yrs ago maybe, but I have a hard case, I have the black one because it has a great bluesy sound, but I also have a Taylor 717 ;)
There is good reason Taylor has done as well as it has against the competition, they sound and play better.
I played the Taylor at Elderly Inst in Michigan. It played and sounded great. I almost bought it. But for $2k, burst finish of the body looked really cheap. Also, I did not plug it in, and the ES2 systems can be difficult. Some people like them, but others hate them....lots of horror stories about the tone. I was not willing to take the chance, as this would have been a regularly gigging guitar.
Martin all the way. I love the mahogany bark. Screams old school blues
The Martin Gig Bag is a guitar crusher waiting to happen.
Great guitars, great review, great playin'...
I've been contemplating the 000-17 for a while - that is, the Whiskey Sunset version w/o internal pickup... maybe you've pushed me over the edge now 😀I've never liked the sound of an internal pickup of any guitar I've heard so far. I frankly don't understand why anyone would drill holes in their expensive acoustic guitar, glue some ugly electronics in just so that it sounds like any $200 guitar with a pickup - different strokes for different folks, I guess 😀 (that being said, I think the Taylor pickup sounds way better than the Martin one)
The Taylor seems to be more balanced and sweeter, the Martin - I think - is more edgy and has a more distinguishable character. Maybe the Taylor is more versatile, but the Martin will surely add some spice to the music... just some thoughts... 🙂
When you compare guitars I can generally tell which one excites you the most based on your playing. I haven't met a Martin gigbag yet that I thought was any good, and compared to the Taylor Aerocase its a no brainer. In this video I liked the Taylor sound and look. When Taylor started using the tiger stripe pickguard I didn't like it because it reminds me of Gibson and Eastman but its growing on me on some Taylors but I still prefer the Taylor tortoise pickguard or none. Definitely don't like the Taylor black pickguards.
I like the Martin microphone sound but the Taylor plugged in. An LR Baggs Anthem in the Martin would give it a better sound plugged.
The Taylor sounded better to my ear. The Martin sounded muddy. I however am not a fan of the ES2 pickup. Wish I could buy the taylor with an LR Baggs Anthem from factory.
I suspected you used a flat EQ on the Taylor’s EQ. Good comparison! I prefer the Taylor, I’ve learned to tame the ES2 (and do believe it’s more reflective of the tonewoods), and you’re right about Aerocase.
Love Taylor’s but to my ear the es2 is not good. Retuned my 417 because of that stinking pickup.
@@karlcountry2363: So what pickup(s) do you use now and in what way did it improve the sound?
It’s a serious question, because I have a handful of great guitars and eventually I want to use all of them in a live concert setting. At this moment I have a J-45 with an LR Baggs piëzo pickup with just a volume control (the standard appointment for J-45’s in 2011). I hate the sound of it. I also have a D-28 and I decided to go for the best pickup for acoustics, according to many, many great guitar players, the LR Baggs Anthem. I use that guitar all the time, because it DOES sound much better than the other one, but I still hate it. I’ve tried IR’s and all sorts of pedals and eq’s, but I just can’t get a sound that actually sounds like my guitar, or even the sound of any decent acoustic.
I just keep hoping the IR thing will become better and better within 12 to 24 months. But I can’t wait for that. I want a good acoustic sound for all my guitars and using mics isn’t an option (because of volume issues, other instruments, etcetera).
So I’m just curious to know what you came up with to get a better sound. At least better than the standard Taylor pickup. Are you willing to share this?
Thanks in advance!
@@mariodriessen9740 the k&k trinity is the best I’ve come up with . Second best is the anthem as you mentioned. I agree none of these sound as good as putting a microphone in front of the sound hole but that’s not possible in a stage setting. It’s the shrill I hear and also the sound of the pick on the strings that turn me against the Taylor pickup. Which is a shame because I really liked the 417. I didn’t want to pull the pickup out because I was afraid it would mess the saddle up because of the screws. Sorry if it sounded like I was attacking you. Still upset about return the most beautiful guitar I have ever held.
@@karlcountry2363 : O I never felt you were attacking me (or the OP). I was genuinely interested in your findings when it comes to acoustic guitar pickups. I’m glad you took the time to answer. Thanks for that. I appreciate it!
I never really tried the K&K, but I know of a second hand guitar nearby that has one in it. And I have the same guitar, so I’m interested to try out that guitar with the K&K. 😊👍
@@mariodriessen9740make sure to try the trinity with the mic blend. It’s a game changer.
As someone who only ever owned a $200 Yamaha acoustic guitar with the world's worst piezo pickup, these guitars sound surprisingly good plugged in. Not perfect, but usable in a live setting, but I agree that the Taylor sounded better. Add on an IR box and some reverb, you're good to go. :D
Been wanting a small body Taylor. My mind is being read again
000-15sm. stat.
I think the Taylor is better looking but the Martin sounds much better. I didn't like the voice of either one plugged in. Thanks Chris for this comparison video. My Goldilocks guitar is a Martin 000-28 with a K+K passive pickup.
I’d like to see a 000-17 vs a 000-15m. Hear the difference between the spruce/mahogany vs all mahogany
Which one has the thinner neck?
Love the Martin battery access at the tailpiece. Nice , useful AX. Not a fan of the Taylor ES electronics.
Taylor battery access is in the exact same location
What song is the fingerstyle slow one?
which one sounds the loudest and brightest ?
honestly, not for 2k...i know that esp. martin has absolutely crazy prices for their guitars ( i love my 2019 d28, bought right before the huge price increase..), but with taxes you end up north of 2k, and there are other manufacturers building great and maybe better sounding and looking guitars...
the undeniable mojo of a martin is starting imho with the d 18 upwards, i am not informed very well about a taylor, but i think it's a comparable situation...
so, thx for the video, but some marketing folks seem to have forgotten what the average person earns, an absolute no for both, no bang for the buck...
but, it is only me, if folks love them, perfect...😇😄
The Taylor sounded like a classic Taylor. Clear, and projected. The Martin, sounded more like a Taylor than a Martin. I have the Martin 00015M Streetmaster and its about the same size with no Pickup. Its so light it feels delicate which it is, but no more so than other heavy guitars. Maybe it was those Monel Strings, but I didn't think the Martin sounded Martin like. The 00015M is one of my favorite guitars for it's ease of play, Martin sound, and sooo light. (and it's cheaper). If I had to take one, it would be the Taylor. I think the Martin SC-13e has the same "Taylor like" sound at about the same price. One Taylor clone in the Martin lineup is enough - for me.
I prefer the Martin. I’ve owned both a Taylor and a Martin. I still have the Martin due to its warmer, woody, deeper voice.
I love my Taylor GS Mini, so I’d probably go with the brand I know, Taylor.
Mic’d, I prefer the Martin quite a bit. I do think the Taylor’s pickup sounded better than the Martin.
Skipped ahead to the sound part.. Wow.! Off the bat, Martin sounds like an om compared to the thin jangly sound of the Taylor. Though I’m not a fan of either brand. Thanks ..will now, watch the rest of the video..
Something wrong with the line input... on both guitars!
I think I’d take the Taylor if it had binding for 2k, should have binding on body. Neck is fine. Especially if I had to have one of those pickups or the other. Maybe the Martin but without that Fishman pickup. Martin with a K&K! 😂
I compared them myself and bought the Taylor. Not much between them but to my ears the Taylor had the edge - also got a good deal on price which may have influenced me! Both to me better sounding guitars than the Gibson L-00 - and without a sticky nitro neck. Why Gibson why?
Oh look... a PANDA guitar !
It shoud be Martin vs Taylor 😮😮😮
I'm a huge fan of most Martin guitars' sound and I really like the aesthetics of the black 17, but in my opinion the Taylor just smashes this comparison. It just sounds so much nicer than this particular Martin to me. Very surprising.
I would go with the Taylor
Smoked eucalyptus? How does it smell?
It can't. It hasn't got a nose.
Martin sounds better to my ears...I have a 1997 Taylor 814ce and after playing it for years I am ready for a different tone. It will be either Martin ooo 28ec, ooo-16 streetmaster or something like this. Just my 2 cents worth. Peace.
Taylor for sure
Taylor sounds really good, but I am just burnt out on Taylors. There is too many! Considering the amount of stock they require a dealer to carry, double done and out.
I will carry my 714ce to the grave, but it will be the only Taylor.
Semper Fi
Put a Larrivee in the mix. Stat.
Those Monel strings sound dead to me . I had them on my MARTIN DSS17 and removed them right away. I didn’t like the tuners that Martin chose which were hard to turn. Another strike against Martin is their gig bag is just ok, whereas Taylor’s is outstanding. I would pick the ES2 over the Fishman preamp too. So for me Taylor wins. Besides I am a sucker for a beautiful sunburst finish.
I wanted to like the Taylor more but... I'd go with the Martin here.
Wow _ to my ears the Marti was fuller and more nuanced on the microphone bur when comparing the internal pickup it was completely flipped around the other way with the Taylor easily winning and the .Martin sounding tinny and embarrassingly weak. And full disclosure I have owned a Taylor aa my main acoustic for over 20 years
Big fan of the channel. But Chris, you need a new demo jam, man.
Disagree. He's letting us compare all guitars over the same course.
I like the finish of Taylor.
Classic story, the acoustic, woody, Martin sound just edges out the Taylor sound but i still end up picking taylors because as a gigging musician , taylor's stock plugged in sound beats the shit out fishman.
Then buy the Martin without a pickup and install the best sounding pickup you can find.
I don’t like the Fishman either. Then again, all acoustic guitar pickups suck. Even the best of them.
@@mariodriessen9740 I'm a broke kinda guy, so "nice" aftermarket pickups are out of the question. and I travel and gig a ton. I was mostly referring to the lower end of their price spectrum. First dilema was picking between a bt1e and an lx1e. acoustically, martin wins, but that fishman was fucked. picked the taylor. same thing happened when I chose between a DJR and a GS Mini. Missed out on an all solid wood guy there but I needed something sturdy anyway. that GS Mini has been with me for a while now, and that ratty little shit still sings like a siren when I plug it in. I love that It sounds natural and airy, almost like how it sounds unplugged.
@@nicoursos900 : Get it! I have been lucky in the last two years. I’m old and I gathered a lot of cool stuff over the years. Recently I sold a few old electrics and that gave me the opportunity to buy a couple of very good acoustics.
I’ve played a lot with a band when I was still playing electrics only. Before one of those gigs I saw the guitarist of another band taking out his Martin. I didn’t know anything about acoustic guitars back then, but I knew that Martin was an expensive brand. I assumed his guitar was one of those. I didn’t even know about Martin producing cheap Mexican ‘ready to go’ models. So this guy educated me a little on that and he told me that he always kept the expensive ones home and he played the cheap models, because nobody really can tell the difference anyway. And he was right! We would play in huge party tents for 1,000 to 5,000 people who just wanted to get drunk and party through the night.
I don’t play that stuff anymore. It’s all relatively serious now and I do want my acoustics to sound good.
I’m sure you’ve heard of IR’s for acoustic guitars. I tried one of the cheapest ones I could find, the NUX Optima Air. I just tried some stock settings. I didn’t like the majority of them, but it did have a couple of presets that actually made my guitar sound like a mic’d acoustic. It was relatively cheap. I haven’t bought it (yet), but I do think this will be the future of amplifying acoustics onstage. And I also think that it won’t take long before we will see new products coming out that will make your guitar sound like any acoustic guitar you want. I mean, these pedals already exist, but they’re not good enough yet. I’ll give it a year.
I’m sorry for the long story. I guess I just like to talk about gear. 🥴
I prefer the acoustic sound of the Martin, but don't like the open-spore finish or the penguin look. Both guitars would sound better with a K&K Pure Mini or Baggs Hifi. Easier to install and, for the Taylor, better looking (no external knobs, no behind-the-saddle pickups visible - and only six holes to drill in the bridge!).
i like the penguin aesthetic, kinda gives off a johnny cash vibe
@@j.jonahgameson7992: I just love black acoustics. Especially with a white pickguard.
But life would be easy AND boring if we all liked the same things. 😊
I would never pay $2000 for an open-spore finish. It's like holding a piece of firewood!
its difficult to compare the acoustic sound, with all that switching to the pickup. I dont hear a difference between the two
Pre-watch-guess: Chris is gonna say they're both great guitars for different types of players and that there really isn't a "clear winner"
Which, to be fair, is true, but where's the drama
Furch OM-CM or OM-SW better value than both
$2000? Affordable?!
Definitely prefer the Martin.
But I generally don’t like the Taylor tone.
Toss up, as is the Taylor. With the whiskey finish likely the Martin. Penguin look is awful in my opinion. Plugged in, neither. A Martin X sounds as good. Again my opinion, mic is only way to increase the volume of a good acoustic. Plugged in they all sound like a cheap electric guitar. That's how it sounds to my ear.
Im going with the Taylor i just have never been a Martin fan and i have Martin and Gibson but Taylor is my favorite.Ive owned a lot of Martin guitars and they just didn't have the playability and sound out of twelve different Martin guitars i only kept a 1980 Martin D-28 thats the only Martin guitar i ever actually loved.But my Taylors and Gibsons are much more my choice.
Hard to choose. Probably Taylor.
Martin for sound all day long. The burst looks nicer to me. I don't care much for the satin finishes on guitars, so I will not be purchasing either.
Taylor sounds more articulate and crisp. Martin sounds dull…
Does anyone else think this Andy powers at taylor is overrated at there price point there guitars are not the best and this c class and v class bracing is no more than a marketing trick u would urge any taylor fan try a faith guitar at there price point they can't be beat every model all solid wood there faith mars is a astonishing guitar 1100 quid new 500 second hand its up there with guitars at 3 grand its that good
Martin wins my money
Martin sounds better
I just bought a Taylor used for 1,400…
Martin. Taylor isn’t even second best to me
Both pickups sounded dreadful : (
Reveal binding looks like trash.
Agreed! Either have real binding or no binding.
But you like it?
@@pepmasters-999 In this demo, I would go with the Taylor as I think for the price, it's a better designed guitar. Overall, I pefer the sound and look of Martins and Gibsons.