$600 guitars. morgan monroe vs. blueridge vs. martin

Josh Sharpe · From: Waycross, Georgia, USA

im looking for a new acoustic-electric guitar to get me by for a few years until i can buy the martin of my dreams. anyone have any thoughts on which would be better if im spending $600? morgan monroe, blueridge or martin?

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Forget brand names, play as many guitars as you can, including used ones, and find the one that touches your soul, and buy that specific one, not one that's "just like it" that will in fact be be completely different.
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Andy Jones · From: Mississippi

Josh,Mr.Perlowin is right.When I got heavy into bluegrass,I bought a used '67 Martin D-18 because that's what all the pickers played.It was,and still is,a very fine instrument.I've had this guitar 34years.Since then I've played many other guitars,both cheaper and more expensive,and found that there are several that sound and play just as well or better than the Martin.Just last week,I played a used $300 Epiphone at a pawn shop near my work and found it to be a very good playing and sounding guitar.Shop around,take your time,and something will catch your fancy.
Andy

Dennis Coelho · From: Wyoming, USA

Josh: I've had several adult guitar students who have been in exactly your dilemma. There are a couple of different ways to think about this. First, I would suggest that you don't think in terms of some fixed amount of money to spend. Rather, as others have suggested, get out there and check out all the possibilities. There are a number of good, playable acoustic-electric instruments available new in the $300 range.

The quality in this price range has substantially improved in the last few years. Many of these instruments, though they are marketed here under different brand names, are made in the same "off-shore" factories. Labels don't mean that much in this price range.

Try to find the cheapest instrument you can live with while you save for the guitar of your dreams. But, whatever you pay for such a temporary guitar, figure that its value as a used instrument will be half (or less) of what you paid if you want to trade it in.

On the other hand, very good Martin instruments with excellent "blended" pickup systems are about twice the amount you presently have (check out the 000C-16GTE). These sometimes also are for sale second-hand from on-line dealers such as Elderly. Maybe it is time to liquidate some other assets (i.e. sell stuff) and get the money now to get the Martin.

Good luck!

Dennis

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I've owned one BlueRidge, and played a bunch more. GREAT guitars!!! I think you can get a Brazilian rosewood BlueRidge for less than 2 grand! But their lower-priced guitars sound really good, too.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I have a couple of the Blueridge guitars and bang for buck they really are hard to beat.

Josh Sharpe · From: Waycross, Georgia, USA

ok thanks for all the advice guys. im just kind of torn since i am settling. but ill take all of into consideration.
josh

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

I've owened both a Monroe and Blueridge,both great guitars for the money.
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Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

Josh,take a good look at the Takimine and Ibanez guitars.Pretty good insturments in the $300-$400 range.And remember you can replace the nut, bridge saddle, and pins with bone to improve the tone.I've done that and it does make a difference. PJ

Terry Edwards · From: Florida... livin' on spongecake...

A Martin is a good investment.

Many of the others are not.

A guitar might "touch your soul" like Mike says, but how will it touch your wallet if you decide to sell it one day.

Terry

ajm · From: Los Angeles

Other things to consider (just my preferences)...

1) I like a fat neck and larger frets. The fat neck is easier on your hand. That is one reason I don't own an acoustic. I played an older Guild D25 one time with a larger than average neck, and some of the Tacoma models are supposed to have larger than the typical skinny frets.

2) Don't be stuck on a larger bodied macho guitar like a dreadnought or auditorium size. I played a Yamaha folk size solid top one time that I should have bought. Some people say the smaller size guitars are more comfortable to play, and they do sound different. They quit making that model about 20 years ago, but I see they have recently started again. Hmmmm.......

3) When you go to audition guitars, have someone else play them and stand back and listen. It will sound different standing in front of the guitar as opposed to sitting behind it.

4) Unless you are really going dirt cheap, buy a solid top. You can tell the difference (usually) by looking at the edge of the top around the sound hole. If you can see the actual grain it's almost assuredly a solid top. If it looks like pressed wood it's a laminated top. Beware!!! I have seen people tell others their guitars were solid top and they were not.

5) If you get something you want now, you won't want to or need to sell it later.
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Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

I am a HUGE fan of Larrivee Guitars. They are all solid woods, and come in several shapes and sizes. As an example, I just purchased a LO3, a cross between a Dred and OM body size, with LR baggs electronics, hardshell case and complete setup for low $800, including shipping and tax! Look for used, they are a great value. JP
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Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

For sure on a Larrivee.The right one just might make you forget about your "dream Martin". Smile

PJ

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I've played some bad Martins and some bad Blueridges, but never have I played a bad Larrivee. They're the most consistent of all brands on the market, IMO. I have a '62 Gibson SJ that's my current gigging guitar.....but if it ever gave up the ghost, a Larrivee would be taking its place.

The quality control on the new Martins is faltering big time.........and the Blueridges are a better bang for your buck for sure, but they don't have the full-bodied sound of the Larrivee, to my ear. The true test of an acoustic for me is when the strings are dead. When my Southern Jumbo has dead strings, it still resonates. I played a Blueridge ($1,500 model) at a jam recently, and the strings were dead. I was not impressed. It had 0 throw. My vote is for a Larrivee..........until you find your Martin. However........

A buddy of mine recently bought a '71 Martin D-28 for $2,000. A month later, he brought it in for servicing and paid another $1,000 for repaired braces, a neck reset (no truss rod in those guitars, keep in mind), and a fret job. Acoustics can be a money pit if you're playing 'em for bread and butter. I have a old Takamine that has withstood every bit of abuse I could give it throughout 15 years and easily two thousand solo gigs in dives all over Eastern Canada.

Here's my take on it:

For sound? Gibson (50's-60's or earlier). Durability? Takamine. Bang for your buck for both qualities? Larrivee.
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Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

I have owned a Martin D-41 and a D-28. Both were stolen. Insurance did not cover either so I bought a Takaminie and I wouldn't compare it to either Martin but it had great tone and after a 4000.00 loss in stolen Martin guitars 600.00 was an easier investment.Then one night while on a break some guy grabbed it off the stage and ran out the door with it. Another loss. I was lucky enough to be given an Ovation Baladeer Guitar and loved it. I still miss my Martins but as I only do a few shows a year Ovation and an old Fender are sufficient.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Eric Jaeger · From: Oakland, California, USA

Tough question. IMHO, unlike electrics there are no "bargains" in acoustic guitars. No ancient beater Kays and Arias and the like that actually sound pretty good. Past a certain point it seems you can't build a good acoustic with CNC machines and semi-skilled labor. Martin is certainly a factory, not an artisan shop, and they mostly use an assembly line approach rather than having a single builder on a single guitar, but there's still a lot of variation from guitar to guitar as each tech optimizes the guitar. At the next step down in quantity Taylor only uses CNC to get parts in the ballpark, then fine tunes.

Add in resale value (admittedly at least partly based on taste rather than tone), and the case for cheap acoustics gets rather dicey. I've heard one teacher advocating buying the cheapest guitar you can reasonbly play, and save your pennies for a good one ASAP.

-eric

Steve Stallings · From: Houston/Cypress, Texas

As the founder of the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum, I'm a bit biased. However, I can certainly see the value of Blueridge and others. I don't look at Martin guitars as simply "guitars". I view them as individual entities, each capable of becoming a treasured family heirloom. I'm a big fan of the simple Martin Standard series, the D18, D28, and D35.

A really nice entry level Martin is the D16GT. This is sort of a "poor mans D18". I bought one of these for my sons 13th birthday several years ago and it remains a very fine little guitar. I stuck an i-beam pickup in it and it really excells as an acoustic electric. Good luck!
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Drew Howard · From: 48854

Played a Blueridge at a bluegrass jam Monday day nite was really impressed with it!!

Any other "bluegrass jammers" out there? Lots of these things going on at churches, schools, coffeehouses in MI.

cheers,
Drew
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Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

There are several bluegras jams per week around here. Everybody from rank beginners to pro level players. It's a ball, until the 15th guitar player shows up! One dobro, a fiddle, one bass, three banjos, and fifteen guitars---Sounds like b0b's Christmas list!!!

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

The local bluegrass jam around here is run by a guy who plays harmonica. He's real good too. Plays a chromatic harmonica rather than a Marine Band.
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Drew Howard · From: 48854

My acoustic guitar is a Larrivee D-03E, been through hell and back, sides split and Elderly glued it back together. Still sounds like a cannon. Good enough for a just under $1000 model.

Would love a decent Martin or better yet a Collings but they are out of my price range.

Drew
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