I've played Taylor guitars in the past, and was left wanting. I recently purchased my third acoustic guitar, a Martin OM-28E (owned Ibanez and Ovation before that). When I first demo'd it, I was floored by the tone. It was a significant investment - I'd never spent even half that much for a guitar before, but I'm very satisfied with the instrument, it's phenomenal!
I own the same number of Martins and Taylors. Different sounds for different songs. Taylor has construction and QC down to a fine art, and their necks are magical. Martins have the traditional warm and woody sound, but their construction is really spotty. My older Martin has had a neck reset and full rebuild. My newer one now needs a neck reset and the bridge glued back on. Loads of Martin owners have binding coming off. They’re fragile compared with Taylor, but their sound is perfect for some songs. I love and respect them both.
I have a D41 and D42 Martin as well as a K24 Taylor, all three with the same strings. The Taylor with its Koa top, back and sides, is mellow and pleasantly woody, but quiet. Both my Martins, which are much louder than the Taylor, are surprisingly different from each other. The D41 is more focused where you can hear each individual string in a strummed chord, whilst the D42 give a sweet, warm, wall of shimmery sound. My main point is that whilst Taylors tend to be more visually blingy, the difference in tone is down more to the individual model, and age of the guitar than simply whether it is a Taylor or a Martin. I would concede, however, if you wanted a sweeping generalisation, that often Taylors can be bright and modern sounding, and Martins often can be more traditional and warmer sounding. At the end of the day I enjoy every guitar in my collection, and I have access to a palette of sounds for most every occasion. As always; play before you commit.
A fun comparison. I have a ten-year-old Taylor 714ce (V bracing hadn't been invented yet), and for the last year and a half a Martin Rich Robinson D28, a replica of a 70-year-old instrument owned by Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes (who I hadn't heard of, believe it or not, when I bought the instrument.). The Martin is a truly inspired instrument, a number of people have said it's one of the best D28's they've ever played -one friend says it's "touched by God". Warm, even tone, big volume, but not too boomy due to rear-shifted bracing of that vintage design. I like to say it doesn't have great looks (I'm not into the aging and dings they put in), but great personality - great for strumming and flat-picking and fingerstyle (which I'm best at and do most).The Taylor is a beautiful instrument, the Grand Auditorum design a fabulous innovation, both more comfortable and playable than the Martin and with comparable sustain and volume (although slightly less than the Martin's volume). But what a different sound! I would describe it as "scooped", with rich bass and shimmery high and a more subdued mid-range = great for fingerstyle. But sometimes, too shimmery in those upper B and E strings. Plugged in, though, the Taylor's Expression system is fabulous - and I can dial down the high end to create the warm tone I want. I tend to play the Martin more at home, but am surprised by how good the Taylor is when I switch to it.
I have both, but Martin is my favorite. A huge difference that I hear, one that isn’t mentioned often, is the sustain. The Martin has much more sustain. And that’s because of the dovetail at the neck instead of bolt on. It really makes a difference.
@@danielgustafson6209 Agree with you. I’ve had a Taylor 314 for years, was always a bit disappointed by the sound but I thought it was my fault. Then I played a Martin and suddenly I knew. The difference in sound is HUGE
I have a Martin GPC-16e (rosewood sides/back) and a Taylor 322ce (all mahogany). Martin strings on both. I love them both, and it just depends on what I am playing that dictates which guitar I use.
Martin all day, every day for me. In both cases but especially the pricier ones, the Martin sounded more balanced to me, it would cut better in a mix and, playing mine at least, it's a very rewarding experience as it renders all the playing dynamics amazingly well. I did like both Taylor models here too though which is rare for me. Usually I find Taylor acoustic brash and even harsh but not here. But I still much prefer the Martin sound.
I have a '96 Martin Dm and an '04 Taylor 310 and love them both. The Martin obviously projects way more with clear, deep power but the Taylor tone can cut through a mix a little easier with a full group. Depends on the song and mood for which one gets played at which time but it would be hard to choose just one full time guitar.
Both great guitars. Martin more warm & woody. Taylor more bright & airy. I have a Taylor 414ce-R and it plays like a Dream. It all-comes-down-to: personal preference. oNe LovE from NYC
02:25 - exactly, the Martin sounds absolutely traditional as you said, and that's why I'd never play one, SO tired of that tone after 50+ years of playing acoustic guitar. Then I got the Taylor 618e in 2015 and the full grand piano tone and that NECK, my goodness, feels like the best friend you've always had, plus I need the 1-3/4" nut for my bigger hands. Taylor fan from there on in. In fact, the new V bracing... don't like it as much, the maple and spruce combo in my huge 2015 618e where Andy Powers revoiced it with shorter bracing so the maple could breath, that's the tone I'm still amazed about 9 years later, and in fact it really does sound better now. And that brown sugar stain they used like the color of orchestral instruments, WOW, and it looks like they are phasing that out, so I'm glad I have my classic. Martin fans, enjoy! They sound great, no doubt, just not for me.
Taylor offers that modern "even response" across registers that you mentioned but I would choose a Yamaha 26 or 36 over a Taylor since they sound similar but are built with flawless top-notch materials. Martins have that wonderful mid-range that made history throughout the decades. If you are a guitar aficionado you cannot help but liking it and apply for a mortgage.
They’re all great guitars. For me, I chose Martin for the way the neck feels when I play. It’s all up to you and your playing preference. But companies like Furch, Alvarez, and Yamaha are starting to offer some interesting options for less moneyb
I have recently bought a Vintage 2 OM Furch, it’s a dream ! Even if I still love the sound of my 000-15 SM Martin with its velvet mahogany tones, the Furch has blown my mind (for 20% less in price)
@@JimBubansky I have the 000-15 SM as well! Great guitar. I added a K&K mini pickup and it’s perfect for that. The mahogany scent from the guitar is the cherry on top.
I've got a Taylor 410, 25 year anniversary model. People have told me it's the best sounding guitar they have ever heard. Super playable too. Also have a Breedlove that I had some work done on. Now it plays great, has a bit more projection and bottom end. Love them both, but have an emotional attachment to the Taylor.
Kind of late to the party. Just now saw this video. I have a 2013 Taylor 310 and a 2020 Martin HD-28. Not exactly apples to apples comparison, but x10 series is closer in body shape to the dreadnaught than the x17 is. Both have Elixir Nanoweb PB mediums. I was originally planning to sell the Taylor once I purchased the Martin because at my hobby-level playing (and retirement fixed income) I could not really justify having 2 guitars for the same application. But I kept the Taylor anyway. The reviewer has it right. They are very different. Even with the “reimagined” design of the Martin neck, etc., I still find the Taylor is more playable. I agree that the Martin is (much) warmer, which I love, but the Taylor is more articulate. It depends what I am playing, although I do reach for the Martin more often. I just can’t let go of the Taylor though. So it still does get considerable play time. At my age, you’ll forgive how wishy-washy this all sounds. Haha.
My only 2 acoustics at the moment are Martins. I'm very satisfied with my OM28, and my little 00017 feels like an old friend. I don't miss my Taylor 614, or my Gibson Dove. I miss my Martin D 18
I gave lessons at a music store for almost 23 years. They were a Taylor dealer. I played a lot of of Taylor's over the years, and never once did I feel the urge to buy one. As far as Dreadnoughts go, the quintessential acoustic sound, is the Martin (H)D-28. Even my Eastman E20D blows away any Talor I've seen.
I love both and one of each sounds great in the mix. Just like I prefer a single coil and a humbles guitar in a mix to really fill out the overall sound. Other than that they are both guitars worth your attention.
Taylor always sounds pretty good on UA-cam, and I love the sound when my friends play their Taylor's too. But whenever I try them in person, I gravitate to the Martin sound. I tried several really high end Taylor's and it just doesn't do it for me.
I own two Taylors and really like them. But there is no Taylor with the sweetness of a 00018 for example. Some people prefer the high voice of Neil Young, some people the low voice of Bruce Spiringsteen. Its that easy.
For everyone trying to do some research, there are wonderful Yamaha guitars in the $1,000 price range. Look for SOLID top and preferably SOLID sides and back as well. Martins I think get really good in the $2k+ range just my experience.
The side by side comparison was interesting. I own neither a six string Taylor or Martin, To my ear the Martin’s sounds like a beautiful High Definition TV. Very nice. Then you played the Taylor’s, the sounds were like a 4K TV. Just more overall frequency response. In the end I believe it’s what feels good in your hands and what appeals to your ear. Not to mention what you can $pend. Which is why I own a lawsuit era Takamine & a Breedlove.
For a performing musician, the ironic thing of worrying about how a guitar sounds is that UNLESS you are playing acoustically (no pickup or mic on the guitar), it really doesn't matter. How a guitar feels/plays is far more important. If the guitar is plugged in or mic'ed, any guitar can be EQ'd/affects added to sound however you want it to sound.
All though I have a Taylor 814ce deluxe, i honestly have to admit the Martin sounds better with its bigger sound. On the other hand the Taylor with it's smaller neck plays easier for me. And if it means anything the Taylor wins the beauty contest. If you like playing music like James Taylor, Jim Croce, Gordon Light foot get a Taylor. If you like playing blues or blue grass get a Martin there both great guitars. Or get yourselves a Yamaha or Alvarez and play some folk lol😊.
I own and play a Taylor CE 614 and a Martin D-45 (and D-28). I wouldn't get rid of any For some reason, I keep the D-45 in my gig bag to play on the road and my Taylor and D-28 in my home's den for instant playing when I'm in the mood, which is every day. My wife as a Taylor GS Mini that she loves, says my Martins are too big for her (she's 5'1")
I own both. Im a gigging musician. Solo and with accompaniment. The taylor works best solo with light acoustic accompaniment and the martin cuts through a band setting. Of course anything can be EQ"d and manipulated but...Plug and play?.. Martin with a more loud band setting and Taylor light band and solo. I own a Taylor 214ce anda martin DCPA5K. Both designed with hybrid materials. Laminates ,richlite, stratabond etc. I wanted an affordable guitar that could take fairly drastic temp and humidity changes well. My next guitar will be carbon fiber...maybe an emerald?This is my opinion gained from many ,many hours gigging. Either brand will do the trick though. How you play. What you play and your personal preference is all that matters at the end of the day and truly is your taste.
I have never warmed to the Taylor sound. Martin gets my vote. That having been said, I would choose an Eastman over either AND keep a sizable piece of change in my pocket.
I miss the American X Brace Taylors, I lost interest when they went V brace, then they try to say if you want X brace by one of 100 or 200 series, 👎🏻🤪 I will also say I love the wood pick guards, but if your like me and use your pinky as an anchor that wood guard feels weird on the fingers 🫤
Hey Kris, nice video! For newbies in acoustics - how would you choose which guitar to use for the song/style? e.g. for acoustic rock, blues, solo performances as singer-songwriter? What's important and what's not? Which acoustic guitar for you is your desert island one? I have a typical choice paralysis and torn apart between saving some money and biting the bullet and buying the Dread, as I want to have only one acoustic... not possible I know, but I wanna try(:
Don’t understand did you not have the more closely related guitars in stock? You should have used a 717 Builders for the Dreadnought and Martin makes higher end Rose wood cutaway guitars.
Appreciate that maybe those were the guitars available to you but considering the Taylor is a GA and has a deeper body, not the fairest comparison… Taylor 812 grand concert vs Martin 00-28 probably closer
I have a 2002 Taylor 414 (spruce/sapele) that I bought last year …. Its sound is incredible, and out performs so many guitars worth double or triple the price. Don’t get sucked in to make and model and year …. Find a guitar that works for you.
I have both brands and I prefer Taylor over Martin because of the maple neck and they're not as heavy on the bottom end as a Martin. In my price range, of under $1000, most Martin's are made of HPL, which stands for a high pressure laminate composite. If I was in the $3,000 and above price range, I would probably choose Martin. It's hard to compare Martin's to other brands, because they have their own unique sound.
Couldn't decide until I put on headphones. Surprisingly I think the Taylor sounded a little better for me. Both great guitars. I have an HD28 and 514ce and I slightly prefer the HD28. May have to try one of those 517e's!
I am torn. I grew up dreaming about Taylor guitars. I would love to prefer them, to want them, still. However, if I force myself to be honest with myself, the Martins sound warmer, fuller, sweeter. The Taylors tend to lose lower frequencies, strong mids and highs... almost tinny. Yes, modern and crisp, but thin. Dilemma. Go for the childhood dream, or what my ear tells me today.
Both brands sound great, but I prefer the traditional laid back Martin sound. Its sounds like home. They all sound quite new though, probably cause they are ;). I wonder how they develop and sound a few years from now. The Martins will sound different. I wonder if the same goes for the Taylors.
I own several of both Martin and Taylor. They are both excellent guitars, and both sound fantastic. However, at the end of the day, I find myself gravitating back to Martin every time. For me, the playability sets them apart.
I have a Martin 00028 and I have played it now for 46 years (bought It new) so I’m not the one to ask. I mean the Martin sound is pretty much in my head. Would be interesting to play a 46 years old Taylor. Is there someone who knows for how long Taylor’s have been on the market?
Hey Kris! Good review of both. I have been lusting for a Taylor 314ce Builder's Edition because the 814 is a little out of reach. How does the 314 compare to the 814? I have a Martin so I am set there. Thanks buddy!
Hey Steve, thanks a lot! Actually the 314 has a little more pronounced midrange compared to the 814. That comes mainly from using different wood for the back and sides and as far as I know the bracing is different too. So actually the 314 might be a little closer to a traditional acoustic tone than the 814. Cheers //Kris
I currently own a Taylor 314, and it is a Swiss army knife of guitars. I have been looking at a Martin recently, but really can't justify me getting one, as this particular guitar does tend to have pretty good low end. Does it sound exactly like a Martin? No, it doesn't. But for the price, and the sound you get from the 314, you'd be hard-pressed to beat it in this price range. Just my opinion.
For me Taylor is better if you’re going to convert metal music to acoustic. My sweep picking and scales sound clearer and richer plus that carve out allows access beyond the 14 frets. If I were strictly playing strumming music the Martin would sound better
Made the decision to buy Taylor in 1999. I had a 710, a rosewood dreadnaught. It was louder than an equivalent Martin and I needed it for a pure acoustic gig. In 2001 I bought an 814ce. It's been a reliable friend all these years. I've 'grown up' on the broad, open Taylor sound. Martin isn't even attractive to me. Sounds closed and too tight. But... some like chocolate and some vanilla. For me, it's Taylor all day long.😎
The highest end level guitar's have neck to body made with either dovetail construction or Spanish Heel Construction. The lowest end guitar's like Taylor uses nuts and bolts to connect the neck to the body construction. That is why your Taylor guitar's are bright and tinny with no true timbre colours and flavors of each note not blending together smoothly and evenly. Guitar makers like Martin, Gibson and high end luthiers only make guitar's with dovetail construction or Spanish Heel Construction in both steel string and nylon string guitar's.
@@johnoffutt898 everyone has their opinion... I'll ride the horse that brought me here. The audiences I've played to seem to love the sound, so... I'll stay with my Taylors.
Long time Taylor player and i remember when I first compared the two my ears massively preferred the Taylor cause I love the brighter acoustic tone when compared to Martin D28. Still have my 614ce for almost 20 years and it definitely opened up in tone. D28 is still pretty boomy to me but the D35 has been my favorite Martin to play and perhaps one day I’ll get to own one.
I also am a tailor guitar player. I currently own the Taylor 314, and love it. However, a friend of mine does have a Martin d35, and out of all of the martins I have ever played, it was to me, the most comfortable. I played a Martin d18 as well as a d28, and didn't love how they felt. But the d35, feels pretty comfortable, and sounds pretty good. I may have to buy one in the future.
Hi, I mean the usual little things that most people consider to be a modern acoustic sound. More presence and less low-mids than a traditional acoustic guitar, very even volume and fullness across the fretboard, etc. I'm sure you know what I mean. Cheers //Kris
Martin guitarist and Taylor guitars are both great/one is not better than the other. They have different sounds/when I bought my Martin D 28. The salesman asked me if I play Bluegrass music I didn’t but I just wanted to Martin 28 because e that was the epitome of Martin Guitars Martin are deeper booming sound Taylor clear sharp and higher range. I have Martin and I have Taylor both great but they’re different playing Bluegrass is what the D28 was made for
We got a Taylor in the shop . The usual For my friend Bruce Gladwin was work on it for a year . He killed me selling his own Collins OM so now he’s playing with this Taylor basic . Laraveee twice the Taylor . The Collins course . But this thing came in the box the neck was like it woukd take callouses off a hand used to ding ditches . I cut and cut then that dull finish they are so prowd of took a month to get it to the shine . I was sick when I saw the neck . After an awful lot of work Everyone who came in loved the Taylor they didn’t even have a clue how much work we put into it . Really sad . They have forest in. Cameron they harvest sustainabley My dad was the wiring a hospital They had so much mahogany they used it for everything thier .Where Laravee has a forest behind the house in Canada and The guys wife he said did the inlays . A little heavier than you might be use to . When through a collection of martins the Mowy wowy MiaPow the Joint forces . Grand old opry melenium. Things like the 100 yr old Martin but the rare thing was it has a dark sunburst just from well Martin didn’t do this at that time hardly It always was a Gibson thing . Mr Bruce died about 2 months ago maybe 3 now . I saw a Gibson like Jon Lennon s J45 with a pick up and controls maybe I can’t remember it’s a145 or 165 that was it maybe . I saw it online for real cheap . Same yr as the original. John Lennon Million s worth Taylor yeah but if you go cheap to get what you want you’ll have to put it in a shop for a year
If you're going to compare a Martin (redwood) dread to a taylor, how about using a 717e (redwood)? To me, bottom line is the sound you prefer is always subjective.
The Taylor shim system means you don't have to do a $1000+ invasive neck reset surgery in ten years if you want the guitar to play at it's peak. If I realized this back in my guitar salesman days, I never would have suggested "Get whichever you are leaning towards" when asked about a Martin Vs Taylor that someone was torn between. I would say Taylor every time. It's an ugly reality that especially up the neck, your action will rise as the top (around the fretboard) sinks in and the belly bulges (bridge area). Shaving the saddle down is not optimal as it reduces sting break angle and volume. And eventually that won't even be an option.
Shocking how poor the taylor sounds, but honestly they have a different niche and aren't meant to stack up to the pickupless martins in this price bracket.
I have a Taylor K26ce and Martin. Since I am left handed, I have to have guitars made for me. My Taylor is a damn great guitar, made in Cupertino California, says so right on the serial number label. I play it every day, it is my Fingerstyle guitar. My Martin is made in mexico, says so right on the serial number label. It has a neck that is so rough on the back that I could use it as an Emory board to file my fingernails. I rarely play it, may get rid of it.
![Why Taylor Guitars Suck!!?! [Taylor VS. Tanglewood VS. Mayson] Watch this before you buy a Taylor](/img/n.gif)
I've played Taylor guitars in the past, and was left wanting. I recently purchased my third acoustic guitar, a Martin OM-28E (owned Ibanez and Ovation before that). When I first demo'd it, I was floored by the tone. It was a significant investment - I'd never spent even half that much for a guitar before, but I'm very satisfied with the instrument, it's phenomenal!
I own the same number of Martins and Taylors. Different sounds for different songs. Taylor has construction and QC down to a fine art, and their necks are magical. Martins have the traditional warm and woody sound, but their construction is really spotty. My older Martin has had a neck reset and full rebuild. My newer one now needs a neck reset and the bridge glued back on. Loads of Martin owners have binding coming off. They’re fragile compared with Taylor, but their sound is perfect for some songs. I love and respect them both.
I have a D41 and D42 Martin as well as a K24 Taylor, all three with the same strings. The Taylor with its Koa top, back and sides, is mellow and pleasantly woody, but quiet. Both my Martins, which are much louder than the Taylor, are surprisingly different from each other. The D41 is more focused where you can hear each individual string in a strummed chord, whilst the D42 give a sweet, warm, wall of shimmery sound. My main point is that whilst Taylors tend to be more visually blingy, the difference in tone is down more to the individual model, and age of the guitar than simply whether it is a Taylor or a Martin. I would concede, however, if you wanted a sweeping generalisation, that often Taylors can be bright and modern sounding, and Martins often can be more traditional and warmer sounding. At the end of the day I enjoy every guitar in my collection, and I have access to a palette of sounds for most every occasion. As always; play before you commit.
I have 1976 Martin D35, 6-string and a 1971 Martin D-28, 12-string guitars. I think I just voted! 🎉😊 Love the traditional sound!
A fun comparison. I have a ten-year-old Taylor 714ce (V bracing hadn't been invented yet), and for the last year and a half a Martin Rich Robinson D28, a replica of a 70-year-old instrument owned by Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes (who I hadn't heard of, believe it or not, when I bought the instrument.). The Martin is a truly inspired instrument, a number of people have said it's one of the best D28's they've ever played -one friend says it's "touched by God". Warm, even tone, big volume, but not too boomy due to rear-shifted bracing of that vintage design. I like to say it doesn't have great looks (I'm not into the aging and dings they put in), but great personality - great for strumming and flat-picking and fingerstyle (which I'm best at and do most).The Taylor is a beautiful instrument, the Grand Auditorum design a fabulous innovation, both more comfortable and playable than the Martin and with comparable sustain and volume (although slightly less than the Martin's volume). But what a different sound! I would describe it as "scooped", with rich bass and shimmery high and a more subdued mid-range = great for fingerstyle. But sometimes, too shimmery in those upper B and E strings. Plugged in, though, the Taylor's Expression system is fabulous - and I can dial down the high end to create the warm tone I want. I tend to play the Martin more at home, but am surprised by how good the Taylor is when I switch to it.
in my dreams I get a Martin, in real life I went for a used Eastman E6OM, it does a pretty decent job :)
Eastman guitars are amazing.
Yup. Love them both!
I like the warmer Martin sound personally. The Taylor sounds a bit thinner for my liking but both are great guitar brands.
I have both, but Martin is my favorite. A huge difference that I hear, one that isn’t mentioned often, is the sustain. The Martin has much more sustain. And that’s because of the dovetail at the neck instead of bolt on. It really makes a difference.
@@danielgustafson6209 Agree with you. I’ve had a Taylor 314 for years, was always a bit disappointed by the sound but I thought it was my fault. Then I played a Martin and suddenly I knew.
The difference in sound is HUGE
I have a Martin GPC-16e (rosewood sides/back) and a Taylor 322ce (all mahogany). Martin strings on both. I love them both, and it just depends on what I am playing that dictates which guitar I use.
Have both of this brands too! Martin 000-10e and Taylor 712ce, and love them
Both beautifully made, but I prefer the Martin sound. Taylor thinner and brighter to my ears.
Martin all day, every day for me. In both cases but especially the pricier ones, the Martin sounded more balanced to me, it would cut better in a mix and, playing mine at least, it's a very rewarding experience as it renders all the playing dynamics amazingly well. I did like both Taylor models here too though which is rare for me. Usually I find Taylor acoustic brash and even harsh but not here. But I still much prefer the Martin sound.
I have a '96 Martin Dm and an '04 Taylor 310 and love them both. The Martin obviously projects way more with clear, deep power but the Taylor tone can cut through a mix a little easier with a full group. Depends on the song and mood for which one gets played at which time but it would be hard to choose just one full time guitar.
D16 will truly surprise you. Well worth the investment and the savings !!😊
Both great guitars. Martin more warm & woody. Taylor more bright & airy. I have a Taylor 414ce-R and it plays like a Dream. It all-comes-down-to: personal preference. oNe LovE from NYC
I have 3 Taylor’s and a Martin 12 string they all sound awesome you really can’t go wrong with either of them
Martin for sounds and Taylor for beauty so I choose them both
I have a Taylor and a Martin. Tend to reach for the Martin more.
My Taylor gets more action not because it sounds better it’s just easier to play than my d28.
why don't you just setup the martin?
@@lugame859 I do the neck on the Martin thicker.
02:25 - exactly, the Martin sounds absolutely traditional as you said, and that's why I'd never play one, SO tired of that tone after 50+ years of playing acoustic guitar. Then I got the Taylor 618e in 2015 and the full grand piano tone and that NECK, my goodness, feels like the best friend you've always had, plus I need the 1-3/4" nut for my bigger hands. Taylor fan from there on in. In fact, the new V bracing... don't like it as much, the maple and spruce combo in my huge 2015 618e where Andy Powers revoiced it with shorter bracing so the maple could breath, that's the tone I'm still amazed about 9 years later, and in fact it really does sound better now. And that brown sugar stain they used like the color of orchestral instruments, WOW, and it looks like they are phasing that out, so I'm glad I have my classic.
Martin fans, enjoy! They sound great, no doubt, just not for me.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and enjoy that awesome 618e! Cheers //Kris
Taylor offers that modern "even response" across registers that you mentioned but I would choose a Yamaha 26 or 36 over a Taylor since they sound similar but are built with flawless top-notch materials. Martins have that wonderful mid-range that made history throughout the decades. If you are a guitar aficionado you cannot help but liking it and apply for a mortgage.
My Mexican Sapeli Martin is wonderful, also the first with neck shims if needed.😊
Interesting, clear comparison. Thank you. To these ears, either guitar would be better for a particular performance.
Thanks a lot! Yes I agree. It's great to hear how different they sound. //Kris
They’re all great guitars. For me, I chose Martin for the way the neck feels when I play. It’s all up to you and your playing preference. But companies like Furch, Alvarez, and Yamaha are starting to offer some interesting options for less moneyb
I have recently bought a Vintage 2 OM Furch, it’s a dream !
Even if I still love the sound of my 000-15 SM Martin with its velvet mahogany tones, the Furch has blown my mind (for 20% less in price)
@@JimBubansky I have the 000-15 SM as well! Great guitar. I added a K&K mini pickup and it’s perfect for that. The mahogany scent from the guitar is the cherry on top.
I'm a pre war martin guy all my life. Recently got 2009 taylor custom GA cocobolo. It's a different world I need borh.
Hi, I prefer the Martin, it’s warmer. But it is a matter of taste. When you are a good guitar player you should buy them both 😊
I've got a Taylor 410, 25 year anniversary model. People have told me it's the best sounding guitar they have ever heard. Super playable too. Also have a Breedlove that I had some work done on. Now it plays great, has a bit more projection and bottom end. Love them both, but have an emotional attachment to the Taylor.
Great times to be a guitar player. There are so many great options out there
I think I prefer the 814 vs 000 and the HD-28 vs the 517. But I did love the 000,
Kind of late to the party. Just now saw this video. I have a 2013 Taylor 310 and a 2020 Martin HD-28. Not exactly apples to apples comparison, but x10 series is closer in body shape to the dreadnaught than the x17 is. Both have Elixir Nanoweb PB mediums. I was originally planning to sell the Taylor once I purchased the Martin because at my hobby-level playing (and retirement fixed income) I could not really justify having 2 guitars for the same application. But I kept the Taylor anyway. The reviewer has it right. They are very different. Even with the “reimagined” design of the Martin neck, etc., I still find the Taylor is more playable. I agree that the Martin is (much) warmer, which I love, but the Taylor is more articulate. It depends what I am playing, although I do reach for the Martin more often. I just can’t let go of the Taylor though. So it still does get considerable play time. At my age, you’ll forgive how wishy-washy this all sounds. Haha.
My Martin D35. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
My only 2 acoustics at the moment are Martins. I'm very satisfied with my OM28, and my little 00017 feels like an old friend. I don't miss my Taylor 614, or my Gibson Dove. I miss my Martin D 18
I gave lessons at a music store for almost 23 years. They were a Taylor dealer. I played a lot of of Taylor's over the years, and never once did I feel the urge to buy one. As far as Dreadnoughts go, the quintessential acoustic sound, is the Martin (H)D-28. Even my Eastman E20D blows away any Talor I've seen.
I love both and one of each sounds great in the mix. Just like I prefer a single coil and a humbles guitar in a mix to really fill out the overall sound. Other than that they are both guitars worth your attention.
Taylor always sounds pretty good on UA-cam, and I love the sound when my friends play their Taylor's too. But whenever I try them in person, I gravitate to the Martin sound. I tried several really high end Taylor's and it just doesn't do it for me.
Matin 00015M Is all you need.
Martin is my choice, Taylor is too bright
Same here.
Taylors come with elixirs which are bright, you can change them to Martin guitar strings to mellow them out 👍🏼👍🏼
Yamaha .....half the price....... same or even better quality
Both overpriced, so many brands that perform so much better on every level for less money
@@flolopolyI wish that was true.😔
I’m a true Martin lover. Got one because I love the warm, rounded sound. Just sounds richer.
I just dont understand why anyone wouldn't want that clarity and "oomph" that Taylors distinctly have.
I own two Taylors and really like them. But there is no Taylor with the sweetness of a 00018 for example.
Some people prefer the high voice of Neil Young, some people the low voice of Bruce Spiringsteen. Its that easy.
@ True its just taste :) Light beer vs dark
For everyone trying to do some research, there are wonderful Yamaha guitars in the $1,000 price range.
Look for SOLID top and preferably SOLID sides and back as well.
Martins I think get really good in the $2k+ range just my experience.
Taylor is less muddy
The side by side comparison was interesting. I own neither a six string Taylor or Martin, To my ear the Martin’s sounds like a beautiful High Definition TV. Very nice.
Then you played the Taylor’s, the sounds were like a 4K TV.
Just more overall frequency response.
In the end I believe it’s what feels good in your hands and what appeals to your ear.
Not to mention what you can $pend.
Which is why I own a lawsuit era Takamine & a Breedlove.
For a performing musician, the ironic thing of worrying about how a guitar sounds is that UNLESS you are playing acoustically (no pickup or mic on the guitar), it really doesn't matter. How a guitar feels/plays is far more important. If the guitar is plugged in or mic'ed, any guitar can be EQ'd/affects added to sound however you want it to sound.
Played both, but always went with the Martin. The Taylor's always felt like a well-built piece of furniture, rather than an instrument.
All though I have a Taylor 814ce deluxe, i honestly have to admit the Martin sounds better with its bigger sound. On the other hand the Taylor with it's smaller neck plays easier for me. And if it means anything the Taylor wins the beauty contest. If you like playing music like James Taylor, Jim Croce, Gordon Light foot get a Taylor. If you like playing blues or blue grass get a Martin there both great guitars. Or get yourselves a Yamaha or Alvarez and play some folk lol😊.
Martin ❤
I own and play a Taylor CE 614 and a Martin D-45 (and D-28). I wouldn't get rid of any For some reason, I keep the D-45 in my gig bag to play on the road and my Taylor and D-28 in my home's den for instant playing when I'm in the mood, which is every day. My wife as a Taylor GS Mini that she loves, says my Martins are too big for her (she's 5'1")
I wouldn't throw either one out.
Both Martin and Taylor are magnificent.
I own both. Im a gigging musician. Solo and with accompaniment. The taylor works best solo with light acoustic accompaniment and the martin cuts through a band setting. Of course anything can be EQ"d and manipulated but...Plug and play?.. Martin with a more loud band setting and Taylor light band and solo. I own a Taylor 214ce anda martin DCPA5K. Both designed with hybrid materials. Laminates ,richlite, stratabond etc. I wanted an affordable guitar that could take fairly drastic temp and humidity changes well. My next guitar will be carbon fiber...maybe an emerald?This is my opinion gained from many ,many hours gigging. Either brand will do the trick though. How you play. What you play and your personal preference is all that matters at the end of the day and truly is your taste.
I've always leaned towards the more modern Taylor sound. Never played one I didn't like. I want to like Martin but I never played one I really liked.
I have never warmed to the Taylor sound. Martin gets my vote. That having been said, I would choose an Eastman over either AND keep a sizable piece of change in my pocket.
I miss the American X Brace Taylors, I lost interest when they went V brace, then they try to say if you want X brace by one of 100 or 200 series, 👎🏻🤪 I will also say I love the wood pick guards, but if your like me and use your pinky as an anchor that wood guard feels weird on the fingers 🫤
Hey Kris, nice video! For newbies in acoustics - how would you choose which guitar to use for the song/style? e.g. for acoustic rock, blues, solo performances as singer-songwriter? What's important and what's not? Which acoustic guitar for you is your desert island one? I have a typical choice paralysis and torn apart between saving some money and biting the bullet and buying the Dread, as I want to have only one acoustic... not possible I know, but I wanna try(:
Don’t understand did you not have the more closely related guitars in stock? You should have used a 717 Builders for the Dreadnought and Martin makes higher end Rose wood cutaway guitars.
Appreciate that maybe those were the guitars available to you but considering the Taylor is a GA and has a deeper body, not the fairest comparison… Taylor 812 grand concert vs Martin 00-28 probably closer
I have a 2002 Taylor 414 (spruce/sapele) that I bought last year …. Its sound is incredible, and out performs so many guitars worth double or triple the price. Don’t get sucked in to make and model and year …. Find a guitar that works for you.
I play a lot of popular songs and prefer the Taylor. I'd like to have a Martin in the collection one day though.
I have both brands and I prefer Taylor over Martin because of the maple neck and they're not as heavy on the bottom end as a Martin. In my price range, of under $1000, most Martin's are made of HPL, which stands for a high pressure laminate composite. If I was in the $3,000 and above price range, I would probably choose Martin. It's hard to compare Martin's to other brands, because they have their own unique sound.
What’s good for blues
Couldn't decide until I put on headphones. Surprisingly I think the Taylor sounded a little better for me. Both great guitars. I have an HD28 and 514ce and I slightly prefer the HD28. May have to try one of those 517e's!
From personal experience: Martin HD28, my goto live acoustic. Very balanced. Taylor 810; better for recording. Brighter than a Martin.
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I am torn. I grew up dreaming about Taylor guitars. I would love to prefer them, to want them, still. However, if I force myself to be honest with myself, the Martins sound warmer, fuller, sweeter. The Taylors tend to lose lower frequencies, strong mids and highs... almost tinny. Yes, modern and crisp, but thin.
Dilemma. Go for the childhood dream, or what my ear tells me today.
Neil Young says Martin so I do too. But since I don't own either, yet, I'm just here to learn.
Both brands sound great, but I prefer the traditional laid back Martin sound. Its sounds like home. They all sound quite new though, probably cause they are ;). I wonder how they develop and sound a few years from now. The Martins will sound different. I wonder if the same goes for the Taylors.
I own several of both Martin and Taylor. They are both excellent guitars, and both sound fantastic. However, at the end of the day, I find myself gravitating back to Martin every time. For me, the playability sets them apart.
I love both Martin and taylor guitars
I have a Martin 00028 and I have played it now for 46 years (bought It new) so I’m not the one to ask. I mean the Martin sound is pretty much in my head. Would be interesting to play a 46 years old Taylor. Is there someone who knows for how long Taylor’s have been on the market?
Great video. Martin for the smaller body. Taylor for the bigger for me.
Get Martin D18 or HD28 or both you are set don’t need anything else period
Hey Kris! Good review of both. I have been lusting for a Taylor 314ce Builder's Edition because the 814 is a little out of reach. How does the 314 compare to the 814? I have a Martin so I am set there. Thanks buddy!
Hey Steve, thanks a lot! Actually the 314 has a little more pronounced midrange compared to the 814. That comes mainly from using different wood for the back and sides and as far as I know the bracing is different too. So actually the 314 might be a little closer to a traditional acoustic tone than the 814. Cheers //Kris
I currently own a Taylor 314, and it is a Swiss army knife of guitars. I have been looking at a Martin recently, but really can't justify me getting one, as this particular guitar does tend to have pretty good low end. Does it sound exactly like a Martin? No, it doesn't. But for the price, and the sound you get from the 314, you'd be hard-pressed to beat it in this price range. Just my opinion.
@@superblindeye1 Thanks for your reply. I like the "Swiss army knife" comment as that is really what I am after .
Prefer Taylor myself, but it’s hard for anyone to claim that either one is ‘bad’.
However, if I had a bottomless bank account, I’d go Collings
Collings or Santa cruz if I had that same bottomless bank account.
we need tabs of your demo songs!
The Martin sound is traditonell, unique. Taylors guitars have a more tinny sound, only clear highs. I have sold my Taylor due the sound.
I have one of each
Definitely like the Martin HD28 better than the Taylor but liked the Taylor Grand Auditorium better than the Martin in that size.
I love guitars if it has 6 strings it a win for me🤘🏻
For me Taylor is better if you’re going to convert metal music to acoustic. My sweep picking and scales sound clearer and richer plus that carve out allows access beyond the 14 frets. If I were strictly playing strumming music the Martin would sound better
Made the decision to buy Taylor in 1999. I had a 710, a rosewood dreadnaught. It was louder than an equivalent Martin and I needed it for a pure acoustic gig. In 2001 I bought an 814ce. It's been a reliable friend all these years. I've 'grown up' on the broad, open Taylor sound. Martin isn't even attractive to me. Sounds closed and too tight. But... some like chocolate and some vanilla. For me, it's Taylor all day long.😎
The highest end level guitar's have neck to body made with either dovetail construction or Spanish Heel Construction. The lowest end guitar's like Taylor uses nuts and bolts to connect the neck to the body construction. That is why your Taylor guitar's are bright and tinny with no true timbre colours and flavors of each note not blending together smoothly and evenly. Guitar makers like Martin, Gibson and high end luthiers only make guitar's with dovetail construction or Spanish Heel Construction in both steel string and nylon string guitar's.
@@johnoffutt898 everyone has their opinion... I'll ride the horse that brought me here. The audiences I've played to seem to love the sound, so... I'll stay with my Taylors.
Hi how are you rock on dude l am learning to play guitar basic power chords
The smaller guitars sounded very close, but in the dreadnought test the Martin tone wins by a landslide.
Long time Taylor player and i remember when I first compared the two my ears massively preferred the Taylor cause I love the brighter acoustic tone when compared to Martin D28. Still have my 614ce for almost 20 years and it definitely opened up in tone. D28 is still pretty boomy to me but the D35 has been my favorite Martin to play and perhaps one day I’ll get to own one.
I also am a tailor guitar player. I currently own the Taylor 314, and love it. However, a friend of mine does have a Martin d35, and out of all of the martins I have ever played, it was to me, the most comfortable. I played a Martin d18 as well as a d28, and didn't love how they felt. But the d35, feels pretty comfortable, and sounds pretty good. I may have to buy one in the future.
Taylor is too bright and twangy for my ears. My ears enjoy the full warm Martin sound.
Yup love the Martin tonewise more🤔
What exactly do you mean by “much more modern”?
Hi, I mean the usual little things that most people consider to be a modern acoustic sound. More presence and less low-mids than a traditional acoustic guitar, very even volume and fullness across the fretboard, etc. I'm sure you know what I mean. Cheers //Kris
Martin is legendary ❤
For me is it The Martin Guitars! I Love the Tone and the Feel!
I am a Fan von Neil Young, Crosby Stills Nash,
Martin all the way!
Taylors have always felt impersonal to me and they sound cold, lacking warmth and depth.
Taylor
Nothing compares to Taylor playability and for fingerstyle I prefer Taylor for bluegrass Martin
Those Taylor’s rocked it!
Martin guitarist and Taylor guitars are both great/one is not better than the other. They have different sounds/when I bought my Martin D 28. The salesman asked me if I play Bluegrass music I didn’t but I just wanted to Martin 28 because
e that was the epitome of Martin Guitars Martin are deeper booming sound Taylor clear sharp and higher range. I have Martin and I have Taylor both great but they’re different playing Bluegrass is what the D28 was made for
My son has a D18 and a D28 that he performs with. He won't even TOUCH a Taylor in a store. Ha ha ha
If you like the legendary sound > martin / If you like modern and bright sound > Taylor
We got a Taylor in the shop . The usual For my friend Bruce Gladwin was work on it for a year . He killed me selling his own Collins OM so now he’s playing with this Taylor basic . Laraveee twice the Taylor . The Collins course . But this thing came in the box the neck was like it woukd take callouses off a hand used to ding ditches . I cut and cut then that dull finish they are so prowd of took a month to get it to the shine . I was sick when I saw the neck . After an awful lot of work Everyone who came in loved the Taylor they didn’t even have a clue how much work we put into it . Really sad . They have forest in. Cameron they harvest sustainabley My dad was the wiring a hospital They had so much mahogany they used it for everything thier .Where Laravee has a forest behind the house in Canada and The guys wife he said did the inlays . A little heavier than you might be use to . When through a collection of martins the Mowy wowy MiaPow the Joint forces . Grand old opry melenium. Things like the 100 yr old Martin but the rare thing was it has a dark sunburst just from well Martin didn’t do this at that time hardly It always was a Gibson thing . Mr Bruce died about 2 months ago maybe 3 now . I saw a Gibson like Jon Lennon s J45 with a pick up and controls maybe I can’t remember it’s a145 or 165 that was it maybe . I saw it online for real cheap . Same yr as the original. John Lennon Million s worth Taylor yeah but if you go cheap to get what you want you’ll have to put it in a shop for a year
If you're going to compare a Martin (redwood) dread to a taylor, how about using a 717e (redwood)? To me, bottom line is the sound you prefer is always subjective.
From listening with headphones I thought the Martins had a better low end and a wider sound from low to high. JMO
The Taylor shim system means you don't have to do a $1000+ invasive neck reset surgery in ten years if you want the guitar to play at it's peak. If I realized this back in my guitar salesman days, I never would have suggested "Get whichever you are leaning towards" when asked about a Martin Vs Taylor that someone was torn between. I would say Taylor every time.
It's an ugly reality that especially up the neck, your action will rise as the top (around the fretboard) sinks in and the belly bulges (bridge area). Shaving the saddle down is not optimal as it reduces sting break angle and volume. And eventually that won't even be an option.
Hd28
Shocking how poor the taylor sounds, but honestly they have a different niche and aren't meant to stack up to the pickupless martins in this price bracket.
I have a Taylor K26ce and Martin. Since I am left handed, I have to have guitars made for me. My Taylor is a damn great guitar, made in Cupertino California, says so right on the serial number label. I play it every day, it is my Fingerstyle guitar. My Martin is made in mexico, says so right on the serial number label. It has a neck that is so rough on the back that I could use it as an Emory board to file my fingernails. I rarely play it, may get rid of it.