Are Martin Guitars More Valuable Than Taylors? Vintage Value Discussion
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.พ. 2022
- Today we're talking about the two big ones in our store, Taylor and Martin, and how they differ when it comes to resale value. Take a listen and let us know your opinions!
SHOP TAYLOR: www.alamomusic.com/taylor-gui...
SHOP MARTIN: www.alamomusic.com/brands/Martin
BECOME AN INSIDER: / alamomusic
Shop Guitars - www.alamomusic.com/guitars/
Guitar Buyers Guide → bit.ly/2kssXsR
Interested in a different guitar? Talk to an expert here → bit.ly/findmyguitar
__________________________________________________________________
TH-cam: Pianos and Keyboards - bit.ly/YTpianos
♪ Contact us: www.alamomusic.com/contact
♩ Call toll-free: (844)251-1922
♬ Connect:
Twitter → / alamomusic
Instagram → / alamoguitarco
Facebook → / alamoguitar - เพลง
When Andy came to Taylor as the anointed one, I was on board. Now, not so much. My next and final guitar purchase will become an heirloom for my son, and there is no doubt that it will be a Martin.
Love the way you guys approach this third-rail issue. When lockdown opened up, I went to a nearby music store to buy a Martin, a lifetime dream of mine, and came home with a Taylor. My ears led the way, the Taylor sounded nicely jazzy to me, but my fretting hand quickly followed. The Martin was an HD-28E (LR Baggs) and the Taylor was a 614ce Builder’s Edition. I couldn’t really go wrong. Owning a Martin is still a dream, but on that day (actually, it was three days of comparisons with a Gibson J-45 thrown in), in that space, Taylor vibrated my strings in just the sweetest way.
I want a SJ200 aplain 1 3500 to the nicer 1s 5000/7000 Woza..I have a Taylor 110 414 willcut lmt ed..and a12string 562 ..just brought in aug
There’s plenty of room for both. I have 3 Taylors, the oldest, an 810 is from 2015. I have two Martins, a new HD28 and a 53 year old 000-18.
I've owned a Taylor 615 with an Englemann top since 1994. It is a beautiful guitar. Wonderful. Hands down best neck I've ever played.
I have Taylor, Fender and Ibanez acoustics and just bought my first Martin, D18 standard. I am absolutely blown away, what a guitar. Looking forward to many years playing it.
D-18s are such nice guitars!
Ive been playing a 1990s El Cajon Taylor for 30 years, yet my favorite instrument of all time for tone and playability is a $600 Martin X mexican made 12string guitar with plastic back and sides. I will keep that guitar forever.
Great discussion! Love listening to you guys!
Thanks for sharing guys! very interesting information and points of view. I always look forward to your new video content!!!
Great discussion, very much enjoyed the video!
I have a d28 Martin 1968 and it really sounds good
you guys are doing a really great job , i watch your videos almost everyday , keep posting more i wish you guys "all the best" , have a wonderful weekend my friend !!!!
I love you don’t stop rejecting me, it is me knocking at the door of your heart.
I agree with what you guys said re valuation of older Martins vs Taylors. Obviously as Martin was founded in 1833 and Taylor in the 1970’s there was only an opportunity for Martin to experience the “vintage” monicker.
I’ve got 3 Taylor acoustics and used to have a Martin D-28. One Taylor is a 2009 414 Ce Fall Ltd, a Taylor 514 Ce Mahogany and a Taylor GS mini. So which one do I absolutely love and play every day? The Taylor GS mini it is one great awesome instrument
I love your analyses and demos. This comparison was also quite interesting. As a lefty, I appreciate you showing the lefty Taylor.
I don't think it's fair to compare "vintage" guitars of any given era, but a comparison of contemporary used guitars is valid.
Fairly or not, Martin is always going to be considered "the" guitar in many minds. When I was trading away my 1978 Les Paul, Martin was really the only thing on my screen because I was looking for another "heirloom" guitar to replace it. I absolutely love my 0-18, it is the ultimate couch guitar!
Playing out, suddenly the picture is quite different. I see many people gigging with Taylors, Martins not so much. The point is, their values isn't just in what dollar figure can be placed on them...
I was recently in the market for either a Martin HD28 or Taylor 814. With an open mind I tried Gibson, Breedlove etc. but for me it was down to only two brands.
Tone is so subjective and both were fantastic in their own way. For me Taylor had a nicer neck and slightly lower action which I enjoyed. Aesthetic marks for the Taylor also were more to my liking. I walked out owning the 814 ce with no regrets!
In the end I purchased this guitar to play and enjoy, not preserve and pass along to the next owner. I felt the Taylor spoke to me and that’s what it’s all about unless you’re seriously into creating original recordings where a certain track sound is the only concern which is paramount. The Martin voicing was smooth and mellow across the entire range; the Taylor was more focused with note clarity being more pronounced from the mids to higher notes. Still she definitely has punch at the bottom, but the shape of GA vs dreadnaught along with body thickness drives that narrative.
I will be curious to experiment with different strings and tunings as my mood changes, perhaps start with a drop D and thicker strings “if” I want to mellow things out. I also believe the Taylor will season a bit over the years; would love to compare a 20 year old v braced Taylor to a vintage Martin someday 😎
Hopefully this helps a few folks which are on the fence as I was!! In the end there is no wrong choice between either a Taylor or Martin.
Best to all
Excellent guys👍and informational.
To me, the years 1998 to 2006 are the golden era of Taylor guitars. To my eyes and ears, guitars from those years have a quality in woods and a lushness in sound I am really drawn to!
As the owner of a '99 510, I sure hope you're right!
Both fantastic guitars. You can't go wrong with either-one. I have a 2020 Taylor 414ce-R and a 1995 Ovation Black Legend (I love em both). My advice: Pay attention to proper Humidification, care & maintenance. Great job with this guys. oNe LovE from NYC
i have a 1983 150th anniversary Martin D-41 and i love it ...
I had it setup with a bone bridge and nut - great action and intonation
the resonance is amazing.
i don't even take my D35 out of the case cause i play the 41 all the time
I don't buy because someone says it is "more valuable". I want a guitar I can play more comfortably and gravitate to playing... and having played both Martins and Taylors.... I will not even think twice... Taylor.
I think you hit on many of the reasons WHY MARTIN vintage instruments sell for more.
In my opinion, and I might be wrong, but as an older guy who is from the “baby boomer” generation (I hate that term”,) there is a SOUND Martin has that just appeals to me. Maybe the old guys like me have the coin to pay crazy money. Not me. Taylor is growing on me, I’ve owned 5 different ones but none of the upper end ones. Martin is still my favorite, regardless if it is a D28, 0015, or 00028. But one day, I hope to have one of the really nice Taylors. Thanks for what you guys do. Fantastic job.
Quick note on the Dave Matthews Martin DM3MD. That guitar was played a lot by John Mayer when he was coming up and was actually the inspiration for his OM-28JM with engelmann top. I feel like that has a lot to do with bumping the resale value of that guitar, a lot of Mayer discussions I've seen hold that guitar on a pedestal for Mayer, not Matthews. Great video!
Bought my D12-35 in 1974 when I was a young airman. I remember walking into a guitar shop in Great Falls and seeing it hanging on the wall. I honestly didn't know much about Martin guitars back then, but when I played that guitar in the store, I knew I had to have it.
At times the story of guitar woods makes a difference. For me, how a guitar sounds when I sing and how it plays are the most important. Bob Taylor said if you want a guitar that sounds like a D-28, get one because Taylor's will not sound like that. So I own Martin, Taylor, Airline, Guild, and other makes but they all have a different voice and go better with different songs. To my ear, each makes me think of a tune. Like that Chris McKee unsigned signature 914ce LTD model that sounds like no other guitar. Technically correct answer: "it depends."
Good points! Out of curiosity, what song goes well with the Airline?
@@rosewoodsteel6656 the Airline (Regal Sovereign H6600 made by Harmony sold by Montgomery Ward 1967) goes/went well with about 300 to 400 songs. It was given to me, and was my sole guitar for 22 years till we froze one winter in a Montana bunkhouse. It was then assisted by a Korean made Washburn WLD20S-CE.
@@texhaines9957 I remember the old Airline's. My friend had an electric Airline, with an amp built into the case. He would bicycle to band practice with his whole rig. :)
@@rosewoodsteel6656 this was an acoustic dreadnought, spruce top, mahogany back and sides
That model has very muted EAD bass strings though, if you pay attention to the sustain… IMHO
I bought and sold several guitars along the road. The best one I ever had is my current 2012 Martin OM28V, the one I most painfully regret selling (for a so-so Martin 0018) is a 2007 Taylor 412CE. I think my next move is for a great Taylor to accompany my OM28V.
From my own experience, Taylor are much more consistent in their quality. All Taylor guitars are consistently similar, without defects. Martin, depending on your luck, you can get a shit D-18 with low projection and unsolvable fret buzz issues...or a fantastic acoustic cathedral. I would order online any Taylor guitar without fear, I would never do so with a Martin.
I think too that low end Martins (
Agree about more affordable Taylors are better value than Martins in the same price range, albeit with one exception, the Martin Dreadnought Jr. is a damn fine guitar for it's price and doesn't get enough credit.
@@scoggers1628 Had the Taylor GS Mini Koa acoustic electric . The more I played it the less I liked it. Plus the 2032 batteries for the pickup didn't last very long. Traded for the Martin Dred Jr. E . All solid wood acoustic electric with that nice warm Martin Dred tone . Fishman Electronics takes the 9 volt LONG LASTING battery .
Got a 2020 814CE and sent it back in the first 30 minutes. Now I have 1997 814C and love it. I also, have a 1999 000-28 EC and i love it as well. I find myself playing fingerstyle on my Martin and flat picking on my Taylor. Both are great guitar makers.
Yuck. Eric Clapton murdered his son when the devil came for his soul. That “Tears in Heaven” was Satan’s last gift to EC before dragging him eventually to hell. And, Eric “wrote” that on his signature Martin.
How many guitar companies can say they were played during the Civil War,WW1,WW2;Korea,Vietnam,Gulf 1&2 nuff said.BTW I own 3 martins 1 Taylor I Fender love them all it’s all about tone:
I think Dave’s signature Martin was the DM3MD. It was based on a D-28 or an HD 28, but with a 3 piece back like a 35. (Going from memory, could be off)
I watched this channel long enough to see Chris' beard gray out, waiting on Cooper's :D
Terrific conversation, gentlemen! I enjoyed the back and forth, and honestly agree with both of you. Martin tends to 'look back' through their innovation, while Taylor tends to 'look forward' in theirs.
I mean, you can purchase one of 4 D-18 models: the Martin D-18, the Martin D-18 Modern Deluxe, the Martin D-18 Authentic 1939, or the Martin D-18 Authentic 1939 Aged models. That's some serious heritage thinking!
As far as the Taylor goes, I haven't found any that 'celebrate the past' by being a 'reissue' model. At least not yet.
Maybe in the 2050's?
So, if you are a person who values innovation, creativity, and the promise of things getting better, you are probably a younger person. And you probably don't have a lot of extra money lying around.
BUT if you are a person who values longevity, loyalty, and history, then you're probably an older person. And you probably do have a little extra money lying around.
So, yes, the Martins will hold their resale value more, if they are those standard historic models.
At least until the 2050's.
Comparing Eras has always been difficult and subjective. I suggest a better metrics for comparison would be the value of each brand since Taylor opened it's factory in El Cajon in 1992. It was a couple years' later when guitar shops such as Gruhn began selling Taylors as an "in stock" brand.
I would then argue that since the 90s (U.S. Made guitars only),; Taylor Guitars vs Martin, have held their value much more consistently. In many cases, many Limited Editions (As you piont out) have increased in value.
While Taylor kept innovating; NT Neck (1999), First Expression System (2003), Expression System 2 (2014), and now "V" bracing, (2018), the previous versions barely faltered in value.
I believe one of the main reasons Taylors hold value so well, is that they were able to recreate a consistent sounding and playable guitar no matter what year it was bought, no matter what series it is, and no matter how much the initial cost was.
I interviewed Bob Taylor (for a small podcast) at the 2020 NAMM in Anaheim (Also interviewed reps from Martin, Breedlove, Tom Anderson, Fender, Gibson). It was about his and Taylor's efforts in sustainability in regards to wood production. What Bob Taylor has also created is a sustainable culture within Taylor Guitars.
IMHO you nailed it with the comment about Taylor looking to the future, Martin looking to the past. Both are great guitars. I own what I guess would be "flagship" models from each company. I like the sound of the Taylors more and the neck joint for long term sustainment.
I currently own a 2002 Taylor 414ce Ovangkol and like it a lot. However, it was built before they started putting the Expression system in their guitars and I'm stuck with a Fishman Prefix, which is still a pretty good pickup. I love the feel and sound of the guitar, but string it with D'Addario EXP's. I never cared for Elixirs, which I had on my Taylor 210. Guess I prefer a bigger low end since I have owned a Martin HD 28 and a Gibson Sheryl Crow signature model C & W square shoulder mahogany back guitar, both of which I sold, but now I want to own one of each of the "Big 3" brands. However, I'm retired now and don't have the weekly commission checks coming in, so if I could own only one guitar I might just trade up to a Taylor V brace 714ce. The one in Western Sunburst might just turn my crank!
When I was looking to buy my "keeper" guitar, I found and bought my lovely BTO5128 GS custom built for the 2012 Taylor Road Show guitar in 2014. I could`t believe nobody had bought it for 2 yrs so I got a great deal on it. I tried a Martin HD 28 and D28 but decided to go with my Taylor which was close to the same price. My Taylor has Adirondack CV bracing w/relief rout and it sounds amazing! I would love to own a Martin D18 one day but the prices sure went up since I was looking in 2014! I`ve been to Gruhn`s Guitar. Amazing place! Didn`t leave with a guitar but did buy a t-shirt, a hat and a sticker....that I placed on my Taylor guitar case. ;)
Right now I have a maple body Taylor 618 and a Martin D-28. I understand the Taylor won't fetch the price of my Martin, but the 618 is the best acoustic I've ever played. So I really don't GAF how much it's worth used.
Great show boys this is something we all need to know. I know a guy with the Taylor and he is just not a “Martin guy.” This kind of explains it , thanks.
What about the used market within the last 20- 30 years? Mayer had a 00-42 signature model a couple years ago. BTW I own a 2011 Martin D-16GTL 50th Anniversary model. It was a model in transition as they kept changing and experimenting with the D-16s Mine was well built and is still a cannon as well as seeming to opening up. I love its tone and will probably keep it.
They’re both fantastic sounding. I’d use both in different settings. You hit on something so very true: Taylor’s inspire my playing like nothing else. I can sit with a Taylor for hours and find riffs coming out of me that I’ve never played before. I love my 1975 D-35, but my 826e is something special.
I love my Taylor 324ce v class. I played a $6000 Martin since buying my 324ce and the Martin was good but I preferred my 324ce especially since my Taylor is gorgeous and sounds better. I was expecting the Martin to ruin me. It didn't.
Hey Alex I have the same guitar. Just bought it 5 months ago. The 324ce is so awesome. It’s warm and bright with bass at the same time. And when I hook it up to my acoustic fishman amp it sounds amazing! No doubt Taylor is every bit as good as Martin. With that said I am not bashing Martin as I would love to have one as well one day.
@@R.L.Humpert awesome dude! I'm thinking on getting the Fishman aura pre amp pedal for live shows. Plugging straight into the board sucks and it makes my 324 sound like garbage. I might look into a Fishman amplifier. I didn't know they made amps
In 1976, I first heard of Taylor. I met a Taylor salesman at a Denny's in Northern California. I play left handed, but tried out a guitar he had there in the Dennys foyer, sitting on a bench. I played it upside down, of course, but still were awed by the instrument. I cannot tell you the model. Still, an extraordinary experience.
With that said, my main player is a Martin D-18.
Martin has a bit of what Gibson has going on, in that the prevailing opinion is that original designs and original instruments are better. Where as Taylor’s entire thing is basically refining the acoustic guitar to make it better. In a way the best Taylor guitar should always be this years model. That’s a simplification and doesn’t account for aging of woods but that’s how Taylor has positioned themselves.
This may be the best and most honest discussion of these two brands out there. Great job!
I have Martins, Taylors and Gibsons (and Fenders). Each has its niche for me; for example the only 12 strings I've owned (over a dozen) in the last 15 years have been Taylors. I'm not happy playing any other brand of 12. I just don't care for their 6 strings much at all, preferring Gibsons (or certain Martins). But I've never lost money on any Taylor I've had and sold off. These days I tend to like Martin 00 and 000s; and I don't play dreds at all. I'm a huge fan of older Gibson 00s, but my budget is more about Waterloos (I have 3) and I just found a time machine 1933 Kalamazoo KG-11 which is breathtaking.
I wonder how the V braced Taylors will age?? And the Andy Powers era of Taylor fascinates me, especially as he's just launched his own hollow-body electric manufacturing company, which looks intriguing to say the least; while he's still CEO of Taylor... That guy must drink a lot of coffee. ;)
I suppose I haven't answered any questions here either, except to say that, for my needs and eclecticism, each of the major brands has had something they offer that, at some point in my career, has interested me enough to lay out big chunks of cash and use them for five or ten years until I "get it out of my system"...
I don't have the means or space to hold on to (or maintain) a stable of dozens of guitars anymore, (it's usually around a dozen these days as I'm getting older - I play a lot of open tunings, so that's my main excuse), but there have been literally hundreds of amazing and rare guitars and amps that have passed thru my hands from the mid 1970s 'til now, when I'm getting older, not really gigging anymore (disabled), and finding myself refining and culling the herd as each year passes according to my whims, arthritis, etc... ;)
Maybe I'll buy another oud this year... lol
Nailed it. Keep it up.
I have a hd35 and a 714ce and like ‘em both for different reasons. But the ‘71 d18 is a blast.
Chris, do you like the sound of your Taylor 914ce from, the early 2000, better than the Taylor 914ce with V-Class bracing better now?
You're killin' me Cooper... I'm a lefty! Dangit Bro, play it! That is a beautiful 314!
Taylor Guitars produced 40,000 more guitars in 2021 than they did during their record production year of 2019. That's 78,000 more guitars than in 2020, according to Kurt Listug in the current issue of Wood & Steel magazine. That says a lot about Taylor's new owners, every worker!
I still remember when the guys at Acoustic letter went for a blind test to present the new V-class bracing, declared one of the two guitars to be fuller, with more bass and better intonation just to discover (with maximum embarassment) it was the "old" Taylor with X bracing. Taylor guitars are beautiful, craftmanship is second to none and their marketing is top notch, but they always sound thin, bright, with almost zero low end (and V class made things worse, if anything). Unless you really like that "Taylor sound", or you are a fingerpicker, a comparison between Taylor and Martin cannot be even made. Martin represents THE sound of American acoustic guitars, as it should be. It is the standard against which everything else is measured.
I owned a little known Taylor that I traded for, new, in 1999. It was a 810 WMB. (With More Bass) Taylor knew that their sound was "thin" even then. It was basically a 910 with 800 fingerboard inlays. It sounded REALLY good in the music store, but when I got it home, to my embarrassment, my older Yamaha dread sounded better. I traded it with some money to my uncle for a 1996 Ford R150, which I traded for a 1995 extended cab Chevy 1500 that I still drive. So that Taylor wasn't a COMPLETE loss. It wouldn't hold a candle, anywhere, to the 1971 beat up D-18 that I had at the time. The same uncle that I traded the Taylor to SAT on that D-18 and turned it into firewood!
I just watched a comparison video by Alamo (Taylor 2017 914ce vs 2018 914ce V-Class Comparison) and thought the 914 with the V bracing sounded real nice. Check it out if you have a few.
@@tommylitchfield3450 Taylor has always claimied they have the new brew, always...I mean they send me and everyone else a highend advertisement every quarter.
I went to the shop to buy a Martin d15 and came out with a Taylor 310. More bass, more warmth, more comfortable. With elixir phosphor bronze is magic but if you change strings it loses that magic. I found out when I changed strings with another brand... This is to say that it is not a mathematical formula that everyone likes Martins
@@giuliotoffano4763 I can see a Taylor being more comfortable. But more bass/warmth is unheard of (it is not a secret that Taylor guitars are bright and thin sounding). I have not played any d15 though, but the truth of the matter is that tone is subjective. Probably, you just liked that Taylor a bit more.
I have played many of both Martin and Gibson. I have played a half dozen higher end Taylors in 600 and 800 series.
To me Taylors always feel 'heavy' in the hand and lap. They play OK and it may just be different enough to not feel quite right to me.
I own a Martin OMC in Ovankol, a D-35 and a D12-28 as well as a Gibson J50. They all just feel better to me than any Taylor I have handled.
The D-35 was always the dream 6 string since I was a kid and NO regrets. It is a lifetime keeper.
The OMC is to play out with and also a keeper. Previously used a D16 and OOOM for that as well, both now gone. OMC has awesome tonal balance and is a bit smaller than a dread' with great pickup system.
You mentioned the Monticello guitar of Poplar (that Thomas Jefferson planted) made by Huss and Dalton although you did not mention them. A tree planted by his own hand makes it incredibly rare and special. I got to see it and briefly hold it at a shop in Austin a few years back, they had one of I believe 6 made. Wanted $20K for it and if I had the money to spare I would have bought it on the spot. Case was beautifully done as well. Just seeing and touching it and knowing it's connection to our nations history felt like a holy moment. That one would have got her own seat on the airplane home (First Class of course! For Her, not me.) But alas, I am the frog, not the Prince..........
Very Interesting discussion.. here’s my 2 cents
… have 30 acoustics .. gonna start liquidating… it’s the 4th quarter of the football game ..
Taylors:crisp and bright.. and responsive ..
Martins : warm , rich.. responsive …all string dependent of course …Washburn, Crafter . Kalamazoo Gibson : solid sounds .. base and treble
All /most Epiphone acoustics great but good sound for the money
Big breaths of fresh air for me … my 1964 Sears Silvertone .. =cuts thru sound ,
1965 Stella harmony 12 string … both sunbursts bought in my early teens with my newspaper route money and I still have them both … Stella needs n reset but still playable … the Silvertone was $17.95 with mulched cardboard case
Did you guys see Jeff Daniels play guitar song on Kelley Clarkson’s TV show
2 nd week of May 2024???? KOOL TUNE …Great live performance , Jeff!
… Not Old … just getting Old(er) !
Romeo , Michigan
Great video , so interesting. Everything is all personal preference and something is only worth what someone will pay for it.
Martin guitars have a long history...therefore they got the upper hand. But new generations may enjoy Taylor guitars they're great. But for vintage lovers Martin can't be beat. Thanks Chris and Cooper for the review. 🎶🎶🎶
The tuner head on the Martin D-28 is made from one piece of wood. On a similar Taylor GA the neck head is made from two pieces glued together. The neck head is under enormous stress. Will the two-piece Taylor last as long as the one-piece Martin? 🤔🤔🤔
I think you share my feelings between Taylor and Martin companies. I am a Taylor man. However, I can't see the value as a player for V-class bracing, builders edition vs cost. My 2006 914ce is the best guitar I have ever owned and played in looks, sound and feel. It costed $2900. Engleman Top with Rosewood B/S.
Wow! A spirited discussion indeed. Both brands seem to follow the potato chip grocery store model- keep in producing more and more model types to take up floor space.Taylor has a significant edge on out of the box playability and overall quality ( including down- the- road maintainability) in my experience. Best US based brand for newbies.For bluegrass music and strumming, the Martins do best (those low registers!). Taylors seem to do better for fingerpicking. But Martin OMs and OOs are good for that as well. Nobody should buy one thinking they will get back all their money in a trade or on consignment, at least not for 50 years or so ! Begs the need to play a bunch and choose what you like to hear.
Back in the 90s I purchased a "Monday morning" Martin. The top refused to settle in; I sent it back to Martin, but it came back worse. Finally, the retailer and I reached a deal... of sorts. The takeaway? Not all hamburgers are created equal.
I know this video is 6months old
But do you guys still have that lefty in stock I been looking for a Taylor
For a long time
I wish Taylor would tone down the number models they offer. Dealers rarely have more than a few models to try out anyway.
So true competition drives innovation
I’m about to purchase my first Martin. I’ll be honest, my guitar instructor (bluegrass flat picking) said snobby flat pickers would laugh me out of the circle with a Taylor. I know they build great guitars and I almost purchased one. I do think Martins are geared or at lease lend themselves more towards the “flat picking” style of play though.
-Regarding the price differences between the Dave Matthew's Taylor and Martin signature models. My guess is there were way fewer Martin's made and it is simply a numbers game.
@7:07
Give me a break with that nonsense. “They think they don’t like the sound”? There’s a lot of us who don’t like the V class bracing. There’s a reason X bracing has been copied for so many years. It’s been tweaked here and there, but it’s proven.
I was lucky. I bought a 2017 814ce x-braced guitar when the 2018 814ce v class first came out and I had the opportunity to hear both played before I made the purchase. (I’m a lefty so I had to go to the store hear someone play the righties so I could make my decision) I could hear a huge difference in the two. The v brace didn’t come close. I won’t buy a v braced Taylor, the statement that all like the v brace is far from true. I have bought two Martins and a Gibson since Taylor’s V brace has come out though. I do love my 2017 x-braced Taylor 814ce though
@@gettyshiloh my mandolin has V class bracing😊
“ I think” Alamo has too many Taylors in stock and are trying to move them.
What kind of mandolin do you have?@@dondeese7167
Martin was at one time No.4 on the list of finest items produced in the US.
Every Martin is pre-sold to vendors based on the vendors previous years sales and movement.
Glued in hand finished set neck vs. CG necks.
Ive owned both and my choice is Gibson.
When a Gibson is right, it cannot be beaten. Unfortunately mileage may vary with that brand.
Yeah guys, I think Martin definitely has more value in it's old guitars than Taylor especially because is a brand with a longer history and their legacy is more valuable than any other brand, even if we compare a vintage Taylor with a vintage Martin of approx the same time. But if we wait maybe some 20 or 30 years, probably the guitars that Taylor is making today will have gained much value especially because Taylor is introducing a lotta cool and new stuff that in my opinion might give it some extra value to the brand in the future. However Martin will always be a brand with much value because they were the pioneer of guitars in the USA, and that's almost unbeatable
With brands like Blueridge, Eastman, Sigma and even Epiphone and PRS making solid reconstructions overseas at a quarter of the cost, both Martin and Taylor have no choice but to step up their game. Especially Martin. But to answer the question, at this time, the answer is Martin solely based on the surviving golden era pieces. Take that out of the equation and it's fair to say Taylor at least holds their value as well, if not better.
When your setup man says your guitars neck needs a reset, what guitar brand would you rather own? A Taylor that will take him less than 1 hour to do, or a Martin that will take days, major surgery and $$$?
I look at Taylor as the guitar equivalent of a Nechville banjo, and Nechville revolutionized banjo design.
I think Martin has a particular cache' that feeds the heritage market value at this point and probably into the future. Taylor is too young in the market place (relative to Martin and Gibson) for that to be a factor yet. IMO.
I do think the final year before the V-brace will have some collectability value in out years, simply because those guitars will reflect the apex of Taylor development in X-bracing. The first two years of the V-brace models may gain some value to collectors as representatives of the start up of a brand new top brace design across the model line. After that well, who knows?
I think the PS series will always have some collectability simply due to their limited numbers, quality of accouterments, and unique tonewood combinations. IMO.
One aspect of Taylors (IMO) is that they have a unique tone and clarity of enunciation that is not duplicated by other builders. That being said, I do feel that the 327E is a rather Martinesque sounding Taylor, tending to have more blended chords vs. the distinct enunciation typical of Taylors.
YMMV.
I think I would argue one of the reasons Taylor hasn’t had a dip in their curve to this point is due to the era they came up in. It’s not all due to this, when a company has great vision, direction, philosophy and decision making you’re going to trend towards success. Pair that with what I would say has been a friendlier market as a whole over their existence and you get Taylor guitars. Taylor has been able to stand on the backs of giants (Martin) and learn from their mistakes which is wise. But where Martin had to deal with folk/bluegrass go from pop to niche in a span of a few years, Taylor has actually seen acoustic centered music become more popular over their existence so far. Just my very brief thoughts. Again I am not saying I attribute Taylor’s success completely to luck in the market, simply that when you have a great company making a solid product and the market starts to become friendly it is a recipe for tremendous success.
Taylor is only just now getting to the point where some of the very early ones could possibly be considered vintage. I think in 50 years, comparing same year to same year they will be worth the same. Right now Martin has an advantage because they have the larger pool of truly vintage instruments.
100% on-point! Love this. It is the truth people in the better - quality guitar business know but it is something they never speak.
So-🤔 are you 100% sure you did not violate an industry secret🤣😆 here?
I could not get used to v class…. I had to buy a 2016 x brace! I thought I could adopt the v class, but I found that the 814 could be overplayed too easily. The 414 v class was better, but at the end of the day, I went with a 710. It’s a dreadnought and it’s what I expect Taylor to sound like.
Taylor has redesigned itself so many times, they have no identity.
Im so sad that they got rid of the 10 body.
I don’t care about what collectors value. All I care about is what guitarists value. Overwhelming collectors are not guitarists; they are investors.
Great video guys! I think Chris's comments are spot on. Taylor has bet the farm on V class, I'm just an average player but to my ears they lost something. V class emphasizes subtle intonation benefits up the neck, but what they gave up was low end resonance of X brace in the first 4 frets... where 75% of guitarists play. If you want the best Taylors find the Andy Powers refresh models of the 600 and 800 series prior to V class. Taylor was approaching perfection and they took a left turn into V class, just my 2 cents! The Martin standard series guitars coming out the last few years are some of the best I have ever heard, but with Martin you will usually need a custom setup. So Martin tone with Taylor playability is what you want 🙂
The hate for Martin is strong in this one…..
Jimmy Page played a 71'/72' basic D-28 live. I'd say that was still a descent era. I have a 2016 D-28 and it's too sensitive to arid climates. My 2010 Taylor 610ce is gorgeous and still plays and looks like new.
I own a cheaper 214ce Mexican made. One poster here mentioned the consistancy of quality with Taylors. This is true even with the Mexican products. I think this will be important when we get close to the end of this century. There will be many, still good, old Taylors around then there are decent old Martins today. But I don't put much stock in this arguement. It's how you play whatever you have that matters. Most people don't collect to actually
make music.
Is Cooper Greenberg ambidextrous?
Or is he just holding a left-handed guitar?
I started with a Taylor 214ce and my forever guitar purchase was a Martin Reimagined GPC28e, and I genuinely think it’s a perfect guitar
I agree. When talk OLD guitars, Martins own the collector market. As of Today, I think that in 20 years, collectors are going to flock to Taylor V bracing special edition guitars and leave Martins behind.
What about a 1956 model d 28.
Love em both can’t afford either 😂
I play my Taylor 1/2 step down and it sounds better when up strumming
I like the "cheap" Martins more than the cheap Taylors (X Series vs Academy for example) but I like the expensive Taylors more than the Martins (I dont feel the 4.5k € at the HD35 for example, but the 4.6k € in the Taylor K21 (aka "I'am rich - GS Mini)
The fact that everyone is always comparing everything to a Martin says all you need to know about Martin guitars
Yes
Kudos for bring in a Lefty. God bles you, Cooper. I hope your back survived 😂. Best Regards a happy Taylor owner, that probably be a happy Martin owner as well if I could fins one 🤷🏼♂️
A 000-42 for $40k sounds like a hell of a deal. There were just over 100 made pre-war.
Played many acoustics in my 69 years; my 2013 Taylor 618e best guitar I've ever played or owned. Know Martins are super, but my 618e just hits the spot.
From my experience, the quality of Martin guitars became inconsistent, but many excellent guitars were produced in that period. For instance, I have heard that there were three fixtures to determine bridge placement, and that two were fine and one was not, so there was a one in three chance that the intonation would be off. It really was luck of the draw. Some friends of mine bought Martins during that period, and there were no issues whatsoever, but music store owners told me that there were quality control issues that lingered into the 1980s.
Martin may be worth more, but I swear Taylor makes a better playing and sounding guitar. Have you tried a GS mini? It is amazing!!
😬
Basically, Pre-War Martin > Taylor USA made > Martin USA Made > Taylor Mexico > Martin Mexico
Although Taylor makes great guitars, to me they lack an identity. I used to own a GS5E and it was a great guitar. Now it’s no longer made. I moved on to other builders and then checked out another used Taylor - 810E. Great price too. I passed on it but found out that this guitar is also no longer made. Imo - Taylor discontinues models too quick and has no true base. Coming out with new bracing patterns etc - they also are trying to reinvent the wheel a little bit. Their resale price is pretty low as well.
Just my opinion.
Also, Bob doesn’t design or build his own guitars anymore. He’s pretty non existent and leaves the building designs to Powers.
I would say that the person buying the used guitar determines the market value. Right now there are just more people who think Martin is "the" guitar to have. Martin has a historical market presence that is very difficult to beat. In a few years, the mindset could change and Taylors might be the hot ticket. Once you get past the older generations who were so Martin-focused, it will be a new ballgame.
I’m relatively young and to my ears, Martin sounds better. I don’t think it’s about young or old, it’s about what sounds better. Ive said in other posts that Taylors problem is they lack an identity.
I admire and respect Martin guitars, but every time I've A/B'ed one against a Taylor I've wound up with the Taylor. Guess it's just how I'm wired.
The first Taylor I bought was a 412 in 1992. I think at the time it was the cheapest thing they made. I still have it, and it's at the very top of my "never sell" list. The thing is just that good, though there's nothing fancy about it whatsoever.
So... what do you do with the great vintage Pre-Gibson Epiphone guitars!?🤔
I think most people buy Martin guitars because they not only want a great guitar but to own a little piece of the rich history of the brand. And know when you're playing, you're holding an instrument that was made in the same building that a lot of famous guitars were also made. That is if you buy an American made Martin.