Hey y'all, happy new year. Just a heads up, the demo section lists the Collings as a D1, but it is in fact a D2H; sorry for the mixup, it was too late to fix it before the vid was dropping! But it is listed correctly at this link: www.alamomusic.com/products/pre-owned-1991-collings-d2h-acoustic-electric-guitar-adirondack-spruce-brazilian-rosewood-used
The tone and ringing /sustain in the Collings were amazing to hear, right on the edge before being over-the-top. I've heard that a guitar opens up as it ages; now I understand what that means. Great comparison!
Brazilian Rosewood : Truly a wonderful wood, not only in tone, but as an eye candy as well. In today’s times though it’s also one of the most expensive forms of ‘snake oil’ your typical cork sniffer can conjure up ahah! Sure, if given the option most everyone would choose Brazilian however the same model made with E. Indian or a few other places certainly won’t make so much of a significant difference tonally and if you can pick and choose from huge selections you can find some that just may look pretty close as well. I guess it’s like anything you are into and mainly ‘how deep are your pockets’ 😂 Have a fantastic New Year’s gentlemen and thanks for all of your interesting feeds on UA-cam, this is one of my favorite music 🎼 store channels by far 🤟
This is a great comparison and a nice chat about the modern alternatives to a Brazilian rosewood guitar. I have a Custom Shop Martin HD-28 (CS-Bluegrass-2016) that has a VTS Adi top and Guatemalan rosewood back and sides. The Guatemalan is a nice rosewood that has a much different smell and tone color than East Indian Rosewood. Great video!
Could definitely hear the difference. Both sound great. Love the brazilian clarity, but the more blended tone of east indian rosewood also sounds great. I would be thrilled with either one. Great comparison video guys.
Great comparison of both - but I'd be even more curious to hear an East Indian Collings built D2H and/or a Martin D-28 Brazilian, just to hear how the builds of each would compare knowing that the same brand built each as opposed to separate brands and builds. Definitely still showed off the tonality either way.
I had the pleasure of playing a Brazilian Rosewood guitar by Santa Cruz a couple of weeks ago. It was gorgeous, and the sound was incredible-but it was also over $10,000! That might be a steal to some, but it's not chump change to me. I'm afraid my ears aren't sophisticated enough to justify the difference in price between Brazilian and East Indian rosewood two otherwise identical guitars. That Collings sounds undeniably good, but has every Collings I've ever played! Scott Paul put it well when he said, "The wood has undeniable sonic virtues, but ultimately, it’s subjective. At the risk of sacrilege, which flavor of ice cream is best?" Now, if I ever win the lottery, I might start singing a different tune!
If you didn't know what the comparison was, and didn't SEE what was being played, I would wager folks would think they were hearing a comparison between Martin and Taylor guitars... not "woods". The Brazilian Rosewood reminds me of how Taylors voice vs a standard Martin. And as Tony stated, it depends on what you are wanting.
18 годин тому+1
Yeah, I get that....a medium bubble sparkle vs a champaign bubble sparkle. Both sparkle You really notice it in the 9xx series. Shimmery.
I was hoping you guys were going to review that guitar. Having had the honor to play it, the tone from that Collings was insane. Maybe it was the fact that thing is 33 years old and the top has aged combined with the Brazilian, it was by far the most clean sounding of everything I played. Also, man I don’t know if someone played that thing. It was super clean. It was a serious consideration and I hated to walk away.
Merry Christmas as we have celebrated the birth of Love's Perfection. My one insight to contribute as a violinist is that the top violin makers will only choose sound-woods that are aged. My violin made by Sergio Peresson, the wood was aged ten years before cut to shape. I don't know about guitars, but I don't see them rushing the wood to market. I remember years ago how Prermier Drum shell laminations were splitting because they rushed the wood to market.
Definitely different. I would take either one or both. I think the Collings would fit my voice better. That said, I have a Small Jumbo with a torrified Adirondack top and Brazilian back and sides. It sings well with finger style and higher key songs. It is also "pretty" to look at. East Indian Rosewood is a favorite, but walnut is moving in. Thanks, Chris and Cooper.
18 годин тому+1
The undistorted clarity, separation and sweetness of the Collings is remarkable. Anyone would have a hard time picking a guitar off the rack like that anywhere. I don't believe it's that hard to hear the distinctive tone of a Brazillian rosewood guitar from other tone woods. Even EIR. I have 2 custom guitars, a 12 string claro walnut top, sides and back and a 6 string adi top claro back. The walnut is equally as beautiful as rosewood and has its own tonal qualities. Walnut is where rosewood meets mahogany. The 12 string all claro guitar has defied my imagination. My luthier convinced me to do it. It doesn't make sense to talk about, but it's the guitar I'd run back into the burning house for.
The top and bracing make the biggest differences. However, the age is impossible to make - The Collings bright, tighter, yet open clarity seemed to be most expressive on my end. I still like that Martin Authentic...I own a 2020 D-28, and it's gotten better every year.
By default Collings always voices bright, in no small part due to the bolt neck. Taylor, Collings, Fender, Furch - you HEAR the bolt. Either it emphasizes highs, or dampens lows.
Very nice guitars indeed, the kind we can barely find here in France. The comparison with cheeses is very interesting to transcribe the sounding. When are you guys launching a channel AlamoCheeseAndPick ? Give Camembert or Roquefort a try in your next burger, it might give it a mahogany flavour :)
both are the deserts I love, martin one is like if you are full you want to stop eating but the other one is still want to get a spoon of even you are full
Love these reviews, a real treat. It would be useful to know more about the difference in the timber. Are they the same tree for instance that grown in different places? etc
As an owner of a couple Brazilians, I preferred, on two listens, the Martin, which was Wisconsin Aged Cheddar. The Collings was an English White Cheddar. A good pairing might be a set of ‘24 Santa Cruz Medium Tensions.
The two guitars are so different. I’m listening to this while A/B testing some new Christmas headphones and the Collings just has way more sound to it. It’s got more bass and sustain and clarity and presence and warmth and a broader array of sound. Not sure how much of that is directly attributable to the Brazilian vs all of the other differences you identified.
Wanted Martin D-28 GE Brazilian/Adirondack (used). Bought Martin D-28 Marquis (2008 used) EIRW/Adirondack instead. VERY happy with the Marquis. I'm not a good enough of a player to spend the difference and my ear is not refined enough to hear much difference. I play mine every day.
No one lays down - and picks up - an analogy like Coop & Chris. Spot on. Now to order up... a burger - y'all are crazy if you think I can swing that BR!
Comparing guitars is a hard thing to do because no guitar is ever going to be the same not even if they are made from the same tree on the same day from the same individual making both , sound wise it all comes down to you as a player ,what feels good and sounds good to one the other hears and feels differently , every ear ,every hand are different so as much as the idea is great and fun to do it only comes down to entertainment value . Always love the content you do and this type of discussion is always great .
The problem with these UA-cam videos with acoustic guitar comparisons is that they’re using condenser mics. Well that’s fine and if you’re not using EQ to enhance anything, it still doesn’t matter the microphone itself that I’ve noticed in these UA-cam videos ads more low end than you would hear in the room automatically. it’s just inherent in condenser microphones. They are really sensitive more sensitive than your ears. So take these comparisons with a grain of salt I’m sure these guitars don’t have as much low-end as it is represented in these videos just my two cents!
Yes… saw a 1937 Authentic up I35 about 5 hrs from you. Brazilian vs Guatemalan vs an East Indian HD28 shootout. One gave me gave me goosebumps, but cost more than my Bronco. Also own a Taylor 814 Brazilian that sounds like no other Taylor I’ve played
18 годин тому
Yes, but who will play your Bronco in 30 years? I hear you on the 814. Over a span of 8-9 years I played every one I ran into and could find and then one day of all places a Guitar Center gets one in with a burled maple binding that only took about 10 minutes for me to know it was worth having.
This comparison is apples and oranges, the voicing on the tops from 2 different makers would make a bigger difference than the back and side woods would .
Gents, a great video today! Hits home with me as I am curious to know what my 1988 HD28P is constructed of. I’ll reach out to you with serial number and see if either you or Martin can answer my questions…I bought it new.
Since every piece of wood is unique, there are times I've heard Brazilian Rosewood and Indian Rosewood that sounded much the same. Other times, the former sounded fuller and richer than the latter. There are too many variables to make a blanket statement. My red label Yamaha FGX5 turns many heads. I have been amazed how rich and robust the sound is with deep base and sparkling highs (using Martin .010 strings). I did the setup on the guitar and it sound much better than my Martin. The FGX5 is a true mahogany back and sides. Tight grain like the D15 I had.
There are a couple of other variables between these two guitars. First, the Collings is thirty years older than the Martin. Second, Collings voices their guitars different than Martin, with the result that they are a bit more bright and responsive than Martins, especially at the mid-range and treble. I think Guatemalan Rosewood is a good economic alternative to Brazilian Rosewood.
I have 2 style 28 dreads built by Dave Nichols in malone ny. My first was an adirondack top over east indian rosewood and the other adirondack over brazilian. the adi/eir cost me $2500 and the adi/braz was $5500. Both are amazing.
18 годин тому
Best investment you've made. Great value if they are indeed good instruments. Hard to buy any equivalent off the shelf for less than $5k msrp to $10k msrp for Brazillian.
BRW is a slightly better tonewood than EIR in my opinion. It would never be worth the upcharge in this economy. The top is much more critical. Thanks for the wonderful evaluation! I love 'em both!!!!! Hold the pickle and tomato please.
That was great. My preference is the Martin. I thought it was crisp and brighter. The Collings was too bassy for me. I have a Cocobolo Taylor and I use to love it and now it is too bassy.
You guys cracked me up with the Bonus round and cheese talk. Yeah, Grilled Cheese MUST have a sharp longhorn and BUTTER and between these two guitars, that would be the Collings Brazilian. It sounded more inspiring and engaging through my Apple AirPod Max headphones which are great sounding headphones. Without comparing, that Martin sounds great. Even in comparison its a good sounding guitar but it didn't WOW me, I'd choose the Collings Brazilian D2H in a heartbeat. It would have been more fair to compare the Brazilian D2h with Adi to a Collings D2HA with Indian. Collings are traditionally a bit brighter voiced to begin with and we're probably also hearing the voice that Collings is known for. Additionally, the 26 year old Collings also sounds like a guitar that has opened up over many years. When I watch your videos and listen to your banter, I just wanna go have beers with you guys or invite you to any party I throw at my place. Love your content!
Nicely done...except when you got to using cheese as a descriptor 😅! There are some distinct differences between the two Brazilians, but overall, my ears preferred the Collings (why would anyone ever use a guitar like that as trade credit... you'd be trading down, not up?!) Ah, none of my beeswax and "to each, his own".I like how well balanced the Collings is (as you mentioned, probably because it's been played-in so well). I was surprised by the wonderful high-end and controlled bass response. My overall impression of Brazilian and the huge associated up charge. There are many ways to come up with an incredible sounding guitar and taking that surplus in cash that would have otherwise been spent and use it in helping to put your kid through school or as a significant down payment on a new car. It's just not worth the associated premium over other very fine tonewoods. Cocobolo comes to mind, Zericote, or even some master grade EIR. And I would take a nice back and sides set of sinker mahogany as a preference over just about anything else that comes to mind. Happy New Year! I hope you continue to bring us some fantastic reviews. Stay healthy, be happy!
A better test is two guitars same builder/model/top with different body wood. I owned a Brazilian Collings OM from that same period. It sounded like a Collings of which I've owned several. I've owned several Martins, including '30s vintage - they don't sound like a Collings. Apples and oranges.
Collings ...beautiful ..now where did I put my checkbook ...? dang time to make my tomato /carrot /ginger soup...I use Hooks Chedda and lots of it...I can dream....
You may want to advise prospective customers when considering a Brazilian rosewood instrument: There are a lot of regulations and legal requirements regarding transporting any instrument made of Brazilian rosewood outside the US, or even across state lines. Brazilian rosewood is heavily restricted because of it's being endangered. It is listed under CITES Appendix I, meaning it's heavily regulated and requires legal proof of origin.
The Collings has odd harmonics that create dissonance, sounds uncontrolled. The Martin tone is more focused, warm and harmonious, I'd take it all day long.
Collings has way more high end on my studio monitors. Very "high Fi" and very crisp. The Martin is more full range and middy, and "muted" compared to the D2H, imho. Frankly, the D2H almost sounds like Mahogany (D18), which is my preference anyway as I get older.
Having played many Brazilian examples, I’ve arrived at preferring East Indian. The extended low end of the spectrum. Brazilian always sounds more low-end compressed than I prefer.
Definitely not. I heard a tone test side by side with exactly the same build and brand of guitar but one with Brazilian rosewood and one with east Indian rosewood. They were tonally identical. Any tone differences are coming from the build and bracing.
I want both…anyway I have a d18 satin and a d16e rosewood…which are great…can’t go wrong with any of them…also have. Recording King series 11 dreadnaught…and it has become my go-to guitar…and plugged in it is a Bosendorfer grand…for $499.00.😎
Thanks for doing this! The Brazilian seems to me to be far and away a better tone, but really hard to pin that down to just the wood,;given the age difference, the fact that Collings are exacting hand-builds versus Martin's hybrid mechanized / hand finishing process, the different bracing. So - yeah, heard the difference, but a 6X multiplier on the cost of the guitar - don't believe that's worth it, for the non-pro, non world class player, except to the stereotype doctor / lawyer with a collection of case queens.
I like Brazilian for the look....when it's a nice set. I've seen some ho-hum sets though too. I have a D-28 and I would much rather have the herringbone on my guitar than the Brazilian. In terms of EIR I'm not a super big fan of the grain pattern, but I like the sound despite that and would always take it over a D18 or any Mahogany back guitar. Just my preference
There is just the slightest bit of extra on the low end of the Collins. But unless you were sitting there with both those guitars A and B ing it, you wouldn't even know. Both are perfect.
17 годин тому
It depends. If you have ever had the pleasure of playing/listening to Brazillian, you'd recognize it guitars unseen.
Great comparison… both sound great. For the price and sound, Martin wins! I guess one may go for the Collings as an investment.
18 годин тому
Investment? That guitar deserves to be played. A master craftsman/luthier made that guitar. we'll assume money is no object. I'd take them both. I have a '2021 Martin custom shop adi/EIR D28 I'm really happy with. Right off the shelf. My friend has an adi/Brazilian grand Orchestra type. It is amazing to play and listen to. He doesn't know what he has. Yes, I covet my neighbors goods.
American cheese is what we call processed cheese up here in Canada. I use it in grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers. For Mac 'n cheese etc i use (real) regular cheese.
I own probably the clearest Collings, a CW, and it gets fatiguing/tiresome. Martin hits the sweet spot between Santa Cruz (too warm) and Collings (too bright, likely due to bolt neck).
Depends on who you are. If you are a big shot like George Strait or something and can shell out for a BRW at the drop of a hat without thinking twice, hell yeah it’s worth it. If you’re gonna go bankrupt if you because of that kinda thing, probably not worth it 😂
Chris is spot on about msking a great grilled cheese.Sorry Coop, mayo does not go on a grilled cheese sandwich. Ever. Thats okay, you're still the best guitarist. Oh yeah, the guitars. The Collings is clearer, balanced and more focused. But the bass is MIA compared to the Martin. Must have had a Brazilian wax down there. Collings have their own sound- but not from the Brazilian wood so much as everything else- bracing, voicing, etc. They are magic. The first Collings I played was immediately after trying a D45. And I liked it better in some ways. Certainly a better neck. And clearer. As for Brazilian being worth the cost- not always. There are guitars with Brazilian that are just okay, and others with Indian or other rosewoods that are fantastic. Anyway that is my two frets. Yeah I just coined that.
You have to play a ‘good’ BRW guitar in person to appreciate what all the fuss is about. There are some not great sounding ones too. Im talking about a well built one. When you experience it its a game changer.
18 годин тому
There are some that say a great builder could choose any material for the back and sides and their guitars would still sound great....that a well designed and braced top could work with a cardboard back. I wouldn't go quite that far.
The Martin is a little muddy. The Collings is super articulate with a well balanced tone. That Collings is a cannon. Great sounding guitar. I can feel it vibrating just by hearing it.
17 годин тому
Yes, I was thinking harsh, like come back in 5 years of regular playing and hear me. I'm 3 years into an adi/EIR D28 and it's just really smoothing out. Always lots of sustain, but sometimes brash.
Martin's and Collings' are built differently. Apples and oranges comparison.I think tonally, the great non-Braz RW is 90% the way of great Braz. Seems to be a little more harmonics, more of a natural reverb.
I always found Collings have a real powerful mid-range, in addition to the rosewood bass and treble. However. Brazilian DOESN'T necessarily mean better, all down to the guitar. That often upsets Brazilian owners. But I'd be very pleased to own the Collings, and yes, because of the superior clarity and sustain, it was the better of the two.
17 годин тому+1
A sweet, well worn clarity. Sight unseen I'd pick the Collings over a whole hell of a lot.
To my earholes, the Martin sounds a little nasally, whereas the Collings sounds full and open. I don’t know if it has to do so much with the tone woods as much as the time that said Collings has had to age. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But what do I know? I’m just some schmuck.
To my ears, the Collings was clearly better sounding. More highs, more overtones, just a clearer sound. You could hear the individual strings. The Martin sounded good but less sparkle. If I had the money for that Collings I'd be calling you up right now. I haven't heard a better sounding acoustic (for recording) in a long time.
I enjoyed the video. I personally don't like rosewood on a dreadnought or jumbo. I like to strum it hard and rosewood gets too overtoney for my taste. I love it for a 000 or smaller guitar, though. Give me the American cheese mahogony for a dreadnought anyday.
Not a true comparison as both companies guitars have different voices to begin with based on construction and design....Collings tend be brighter and Martins warmer based on the construction alone...Try a Martin braz and a Martin east indian rosewood or a Collings D2H braz and D2h East Indian rosewood for a better comparison...
When you say “this one“ in that one“ be great if y’all actually said, the name of the guitar, I noticed in other videos, too, but all of us watch the whole thing all the way through and I don’t know whether you’re talking about the callings or the Martin when you say something. I’m just sort of the point of the video.
As regards cheese, I'm afraid plain cheddar and American cheese belong to the realm of Amazon guitars... Although a good old British cheddar would already be a significant upgrade! But it's true you only talk burgers... :)
Where to begin... American cheese tastes like plastic, and I love mahogany. I preferred the pick guard on the Collins. My son was born in 1991. Thank God he doesn't play guitar because I would keep it. I recently bought a nice EA rosewood/Adirondack OM. Now I appreciate my old rosewood guitars again. The Collins is special, but not enough juice so I will keep squeezing. Give the Martin 34 years and watch out!
BRW is just an incredible BNS tone wood no doubt! And, who doesn't like BRW or want at least one guitar with BRW! EIR just as good sound and tone wise. With all that said, I'm a HOG guy! Just love Mahogany!!! Love your post! Love to look at BRW. 😂 hey if ine can afford it and you like the tone thats all that matters. Is it worth it? Well, thats subjective. I'll say this: in a blindfold test; you'll be wrong 50% of the time anyway 😂
Hey y'all, happy new year. Just a heads up, the demo section lists the Collings as a D1, but it is in fact a D2H; sorry for the mixup, it was too late to fix it before the vid was dropping! But it is listed correctly at this link: www.alamomusic.com/products/pre-owned-1991-collings-d2h-acoustic-electric-guitar-adirondack-spruce-brazilian-rosewood-used
Really appreciate the editing on this video cutting back and forth between the two guitars. Makes the differences easy to hear and compare!
I have a Tama Brazilian rosewood guitar from 1976, wonderful warm sound
The tone and ringing /sustain in the Collings were amazing to hear, right on the edge before being over-the-top. I've heard that a guitar opens up as it ages; now I understand what that means. Great comparison!
Brazilian Rosewood : Truly a wonderful wood, not only in tone, but as an eye candy as well. In today’s times though it’s also one of the most expensive forms of ‘snake oil’ your typical cork sniffer can conjure up ahah! Sure, if given the option most everyone would choose Brazilian however the same model made with E. Indian or a few other places certainly won’t make so much of a significant difference tonally and if you can pick and choose from huge selections you can find some that just may look pretty close as well.
I guess it’s like anything you are into and mainly ‘how deep are your pockets’ 😂
Have a fantastic New Year’s gentlemen and thanks for all of your interesting feeds on UA-cam, this is one of my favorite music 🎼 store channels by far 🤟
Extremely well done sound samples. You were very, very consistent playing the samples. Nice job gentlemen. Thanks
Thanks for yet another year of informative and fun demos. Best wishes for 2025.
This is a great comparison and a nice chat about the modern alternatives to a Brazilian rosewood guitar. I have a Custom Shop Martin HD-28 (CS-Bluegrass-2016) that has a VTS Adi top and Guatemalan rosewood back and sides. The Guatemalan is a nice rosewood that has a much different smell and tone color than East Indian Rosewood. Great video!
Could definitely hear the difference. Both sound great. Love the brazilian clarity, but the more blended tone of east indian rosewood also sounds great. I would be thrilled with either one. Great comparison video guys.
Great comparison of both - but I'd be even more curious to hear an East Indian Collings built D2H and/or a Martin D-28 Brazilian, just to hear how the builds of each would compare knowing that the same brand built each as opposed to separate brands and builds. Definitely still showed off the tonality either way.
They both sound great, but clearly different. What strings did you guys use? ...And, why would anyone trade in guitars like that?
Great comparison by Chris here. To me, the Collings sounds brighter. Both have amazing overtones.
And by default, Collings just plain voices theirs brighter even with the same woods. The bolt neck a factor.
I had the pleasure of playing a Brazilian Rosewood guitar by Santa Cruz a couple of weeks ago. It was gorgeous, and the sound was incredible-but it was also over $10,000! That might be a steal to some, but it's not chump change to me. I'm afraid my ears aren't sophisticated enough to justify the difference in price between Brazilian and East Indian rosewood two otherwise identical guitars. That Collings sounds undeniably good, but has every Collings I've ever played! Scott Paul put it well when he said, "The wood has undeniable sonic virtues, but ultimately, it’s subjective. At the risk of sacrilege, which flavor of ice cream is best?" Now, if I ever win the lottery, I might start singing a different tune!
If you didn't know what the comparison was, and didn't SEE what was being played, I would wager folks would think they were hearing a comparison between Martin and Taylor guitars... not "woods". The Brazilian Rosewood reminds me of how Taylors voice vs a standard Martin. And as Tony stated, it depends on what you are wanting.
Yeah, I get that....a medium bubble sparkle vs a champaign bubble sparkle. Both sparkle You really notice it in the 9xx series. Shimmery.
They Both are flawless
I'm using earphones, Collings incredible overtones. Incredible tone indeed 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
In my ears it was on the brink of feedback.
I bought a C10 in 2013, it’s only getting better although I’m on a third refret (partial)
How do they compare on price, or have I missed that bit?
Both guitars are great, but I prefer the Martin. It isn't even close. I like the thick sound of Indian rosewood versus the sparkle of Brazilian.
I was hoping you guys were going to review that guitar. Having had the honor to play it, the tone from that Collings was insane. Maybe it was the fact that thing is 33 years old and the top has aged combined with the Brazilian, it was by far the most clean sounding of everything I played. Also, man I don’t know if someone played that thing. It was super clean. It was a serious consideration and I hated to walk away.
I'm the only owner to my 1965 Gibson Heritage with brazilian rosewood, She's a jewel!
Merry Christmas as we have celebrated the birth of Love's Perfection. My one insight to contribute as a violinist is that the top violin makers will only choose sound-woods that are aged. My violin made by Sergio Peresson, the wood was aged ten years before cut to shape. I don't know about guitars, but I don't see them rushing the wood to market. I remember years ago how Prermier Drum shell laminations were splitting because they rushed the wood to market.
Definitely different. I would take either one or both. I think the Collings would fit my voice better. That said, I have a Small Jumbo with a torrified Adirondack top and Brazilian back and sides. It sings well with finger style and higher key songs. It is also "pretty" to look at. East Indian Rosewood is a favorite, but walnut is moving in. Thanks, Chris and Cooper.
The undistorted clarity, separation and sweetness of the Collings is remarkable. Anyone would have a hard time picking a guitar off the rack like that anywhere. I don't believe it's that hard to hear the distinctive tone of a Brazillian rosewood guitar from other tone woods. Even EIR.
I have 2 custom guitars, a 12 string claro walnut top, sides and back and a 6 string adi top claro back. The walnut is equally as beautiful as rosewood and has its own tonal qualities. Walnut is where rosewood meets mahogany. The 12 string all claro guitar has defied my imagination. My luthier convinced me to do it. It doesn't make sense to talk about, but it's the guitar I'd run back into the burning house for.
The top and bracing make the biggest differences. However, the age is impossible to make - The Collings bright, tighter, yet open clarity seemed to be most expressive on my end. I still like that Martin Authentic...I own a 2020 D-28, and it's gotten better every year.
The Collings is more focused. Personally I like it better. But the sustain on that Martin. Wow.
I preferred the sound of the Martin Indian Rosewood D28.
Wow the collings is incredible
By default Collings always voices bright, in no small part due to the bolt neck. Taylor, Collings, Fender, Furch - you HEAR the bolt. Either it emphasizes highs, or dampens lows.
Very nice guitars indeed, the kind we can barely find here in France. The comparison with cheeses is very interesting to transcribe the sounding. When are you guys launching a channel AlamoCheeseAndPick ? Give Camembert or Roquefort a try in your next burger, it might give it a mahogany flavour :)
both are the deserts I love, martin one is like if you are full you want to stop eating but the other one is still want to get a spoon of even you are full
Love these reviews, a real treat. It would be useful to know more about the difference in the timber. Are they the same tree for instance that grown in different places? etc
As an owner of a couple Brazilians, I preferred, on two listens, the Martin, which was Wisconsin Aged Cheddar. The Collings was an English White Cheddar. A good pairing might be a set of ‘24 Santa Cruz Medium Tensions.
The two guitars are so different. I’m listening to this while A/B testing some new Christmas headphones and the Collings just has way more sound to it. It’s got more bass and sustain and clarity and presence and warmth and a broader array of sound. Not sure how much of that is directly attributable to the Brazilian vs all of the other differences you identified.
Wanted Martin D-28 GE Brazilian/Adirondack (used). Bought Martin D-28 Marquis (2008 used) EIRW/Adirondack instead. VERY happy with the Marquis. I'm not a good enough of a player to spend the difference and my ear is not refined enough to hear much difference. I play mine every day.
First one here!! Thanks for all the videos guys!!!
Great comparison!
No one lays down - and picks up - an analogy like Coop & Chris.
Spot on. Now to order up... a burger - y'all are crazy if you think I can swing that BR!
To be objective Test should be same model same manufacture, same year, same strings just different rosewoods.
Good luck finding that in Brazilian
I agree with you..That Collings at least 34 years old.
Yeah but... these are what they have for sale! Happy New Year
Good luck having all those in the store at once. Take the free video.
you dont say...
Comparing guitars is a hard thing to do because no guitar is ever going to be the same not even if they are made from the same tree on the same day from the same individual making both , sound wise it all comes down to you as a player ,what feels good and sounds good to one the other hears and feels differently , every ear ,every hand are different so as much as the idea is great and fun to do it only comes down to entertainment value . Always love the content you do and this type of discussion is always great .
The problem with these UA-cam videos with acoustic guitar comparisons is that they’re using condenser mics. Well that’s fine and if you’re not using EQ to enhance anything, it still doesn’t matter the microphone itself that I’ve noticed in these UA-cam videos ads more low end than you would hear in the room automatically. it’s just inherent in condenser microphones. They are really sensitive more sensitive than your ears. So take these comparisons with a grain of salt I’m sure these guitars don’t have as much low-end as it is represented in these videos just my two cents!
Yes… saw a 1937 Authentic up I35 about 5 hrs from you. Brazilian vs Guatemalan vs an East Indian HD28 shootout. One gave me gave me goosebumps, but cost more than my Bronco.
Also own a Taylor 814 Brazilian that sounds like no other Taylor I’ve played
Yes, but who will play your Bronco in 30 years?
I hear you on the 814. Over a span of 8-9 years I played every one I ran into and could find and then one day of all places a Guitar Center gets one in with a burled maple binding that only took about 10 minutes for me to know it was worth having.
This comparison is apples and oranges, the voicing on the tops from 2 different makers would make a bigger difference than the back and side woods would
.
Well, there's that...
Very good demo.
Wondering what the strings are?
Gents, a great video today! Hits home with me as I am curious to know what my 1988 HD28P is constructed of. I’ll reach out to you with serial number and see if either you or Martin can answer my questions…I bought it new.
Did exactly that with my Martin 1990 HD28BLE. I emailed Martin directly and they emailed me back with a complete spec sheet.
Do they have the same strings ?
I’ll take the Martin thank you 🎸
Let's do this again in 30 years and see how that Martin sounds then! I'll make a note on my calendar. 😋
Since every piece of wood is unique, there are times I've heard Brazilian Rosewood and Indian Rosewood that sounded much the same. Other times, the former sounded fuller and richer than the latter. There are too many variables to make a blanket statement. My red label Yamaha FGX5 turns many heads. I have been amazed how rich and robust the sound is with deep base and sparkling highs (using Martin .010 strings). I did the setup on the guitar and it sound much better than my Martin. The FGX5 is a true mahogany back and sides. Tight grain like the D15 I had.
Hard to compare tone woods when the guitars are from two different manufacturers produced at different times. They both sound good.
There are a couple of other variables between these two guitars. First, the Collings is thirty years older than the Martin. Second, Collings voices their guitars different than Martin, with the result that they are a bit more bright and responsive than Martins, especially at the mid-range and treble. I think Guatemalan Rosewood is a good economic alternative to Brazilian Rosewood.
Hell yeah, either one is a keeper. !!!!!!!
I have 2 style 28 dreads built by Dave Nichols in malone ny. My first was an adirondack top over east indian rosewood and the other adirondack over brazilian. the adi/eir cost me $2500 and the adi/braz was $5500. Both are amazing.
Best investment you've made. Great value if they are indeed good instruments. Hard to buy any equivalent off the shelf for less than $5k msrp to $10k msrp for Brazillian.
BRW is a slightly better tonewood than EIR in my opinion. It would never be worth the upcharge in this economy. The top is much more critical. Thanks for the wonderful evaluation! I love 'em both!!!!! Hold the pickle and tomato please.
That was great. My preference is the Martin. I thought it was crisp and brighter. The Collings was too bassy for me. I have a Cocobolo Taylor and I use to love it and now it is too bassy.
You guys cracked me up with the Bonus round and cheese talk. Yeah, Grilled Cheese MUST have a sharp longhorn and BUTTER and between these two guitars, that would be the Collings Brazilian. It sounded more inspiring and engaging through my Apple AirPod Max headphones which are great sounding headphones. Without comparing, that Martin sounds great. Even in comparison its a good sounding guitar but it didn't WOW me, I'd choose the Collings Brazilian D2H in a heartbeat. It would have been more fair to compare the Brazilian D2h with Adi to a Collings D2HA with Indian. Collings are traditionally a bit brighter voiced to begin with and we're probably also hearing the voice that Collings is known for. Additionally, the 26 year old Collings also sounds like a guitar that has opened up over many years. When I watch your videos and listen to your banter, I just wanna go have beers with you guys or invite you to any party I throw at my place. Love your content!
Nicely done...except when you got to using cheese as a descriptor 😅! There are some distinct differences between the two Brazilians, but overall, my ears preferred the Collings (why would anyone ever use a guitar like that as trade credit... you'd be trading down, not up?!) Ah, none of my beeswax and "to each, his own".I like how well balanced the Collings is (as you mentioned, probably because it's been played-in so well). I was surprised by the wonderful high-end and controlled bass response.
My overall impression of Brazilian and the huge associated up charge. There are many ways to come up with an incredible sounding guitar and taking that surplus in cash that would have otherwise been spent and use it in helping to put your kid through school or as a significant down payment on a new car. It's just not worth the associated premium over other very fine tonewoods. Cocobolo comes to mind, Zericote, or even some master grade EIR. And I would take a nice back and sides set of sinker mahogany as a preference over just about anything else that comes to mind.
Happy New Year! I hope you continue to bring us some fantastic reviews. Stay healthy, be happy!
A better test is two guitars same builder/model/top with different body wood. I owned a Brazilian Collings OM from that same period. It sounded like a Collings of which I've owned several. I've owned several Martins, including '30s vintage - they don't sound like a Collings. Apples and oranges.
Collings ...beautiful ..now where did I put my checkbook ...? dang time to make my tomato /carrot /ginger soup...I use Hooks Chedda and lots of it...I can dream....
You may want to advise prospective customers when considering a Brazilian rosewood instrument: There are a lot of regulations and legal requirements regarding transporting any instrument made of Brazilian rosewood outside the US, or even across state lines. Brazilian rosewood is heavily restricted because of it's being endangered. It is listed under CITES Appendix I, meaning it's heavily regulated and requires legal proof of origin.
The Collings has odd harmonics that create dissonance, sounds uncontrolled. The Martin tone is more focused, warm and harmonious, I'd take it all day long.
Collings has way more high end on my studio monitors. Very "high Fi" and very crisp. The Martin is more full range and middy, and "muted" compared to the D2H, imho. Frankly, the D2H almost sounds like Mahogany (D18), which is my preference anyway as I get older.
Having played many Brazilian examples, I’ve arrived at preferring East Indian. The extended low end of the spectrum. Brazilian always sounds more low-end compressed than I prefer.
Definitely not. I heard a tone test side by side with exactly the same build and brand of guitar but one with Brazilian rosewood and one with east Indian rosewood. They were tonally identical. Any tone differences are coming from the build and bracing.
I want both…anyway I have a d18 satin and a d16e rosewood…which are great…can’t go wrong with any of them…also have. Recording King series 11 dreadnaught…and it has become my go-to guitar…and plugged in it is a Bosendorfer grand…for $499.00.😎
Thanks for doing this! The Brazilian seems to me to be far and away a better tone, but really hard to pin that down to just the wood,;given the age difference, the fact that Collings are exacting hand-builds versus Martin's hybrid mechanized / hand finishing process, the different bracing. So - yeah, heard the difference, but a 6X multiplier on the cost of the guitar - don't believe that's worth it, for the non-pro, non world class player, except to the stereotype doctor / lawyer with a collection of case queens.
I like Brazilian for the look....when it's a nice set. I've seen some ho-hum sets though too. I have a D-28 and I would much rather have the herringbone on my guitar than the Brazilian. In terms of EIR I'm not a super big fan of the grain pattern, but I like the sound despite that and would always take it over a D18 or any Mahogany back guitar. Just my preference
I like the Brazilian rosewood. May be my ears like it better. But quite a different. Sounded like a big difference to me.
There is just the slightest bit of extra on the low end of the Collins. But unless you were sitting there with both those guitars A and B ing it, you wouldn't even know. Both are perfect.
It depends. If you have ever had the pleasure of playing/listening to Brazillian, you'd recognize it guitars unseen.
Gibson J-45 Studio Rosewood vs Walnut would be a killer way to compare this
Great comparison… both sound great. For the price and sound, Martin wins! I guess one may go for the Collings as an investment.
Investment? That guitar deserves to be played. A master craftsman/luthier made that guitar. we'll assume money is no object. I'd take them both. I have a '2021 Martin custom shop adi/EIR D28 I'm really happy with. Right off the shelf. My friend has an adi/Brazilian grand Orchestra type. It is amazing to play and listen to. He doesn't know what he has. Yes, I covet my neighbors goods.
Martin D-28's were made from Indian Rosewood from some point in '69, I'm sure.
American cheese is what we call processed cheese up here in Canada. I use it in grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers. For Mac 'n cheese etc i use (real) regular cheese.
Lol! I'm a Texan! 😂
When you read the ingredients, they call it a cheese food. An emulsion of some kind of oil. It does melt so well for grilled cheese or cheeseburgers.
Yup, it’s one molecule away from plastic as my sister says lol
if you put a blanket on the Collings, you’d have a Martin.
I own probably the clearest Collings, a CW, and it gets fatiguing/tiresome. Martin hits the sweet spot between Santa Cruz (too warm) and Collings (too bright, likely due to bolt neck).
Depends on who you are. If you are a big shot like George Strait or something and can shell out for a BRW at the drop of a hat without thinking twice, hell yeah it’s worth it. If you’re gonna go bankrupt if you because of that kinda thing, probably not worth it 😂
Chris is spot on about msking a great grilled cheese.Sorry Coop, mayo does not go on a grilled cheese sandwich. Ever. Thats okay, you're still the best guitarist.
Oh yeah, the guitars. The Collings is clearer, balanced and more focused. But the bass is MIA compared to the Martin. Must have had a Brazilian wax down there.
Collings have their own sound- but not from the Brazilian wood so much as everything else- bracing, voicing, etc. They are magic.
The first Collings I played was immediately after trying a D45. And I liked it better in some ways. Certainly a better neck. And clearer.
As for Brazilian being worth the cost- not always. There are guitars with Brazilian that are just okay, and others with Indian or other rosewoods that are fantastic. Anyway that is my two frets. Yeah I just coined that.
Collings by far.
You have to play a ‘good’ BRW guitar in person to appreciate what all the fuss is about. There are some not great sounding ones too. Im talking about a well built one. When you experience it its a game changer.
There are some that say a great builder could choose any material for the back and sides and their guitars would still sound great....that a well designed and braced top could work with a cardboard back. I wouldn't go quite that far.
The Martin is a little muddy. The Collings is super articulate with a well balanced tone. That Collings is a cannon. Great sounding guitar. I can feel it vibrating just by hearing it.
Yes, I was thinking harsh, like come back in 5 years of regular playing and hear me. I'm 3 years into an adi/EIR D28 and it's just really smoothing out. Always lots of sustain, but sometimes brash.
Martin's and Collings' are built differently. Apples and oranges comparison.I think tonally, the great non-Braz RW is 90% the way of great Braz. Seems to be a little more harmonics, more of a natural reverb.
Can you take the Brazilian rosewood guitar to Europe?
It was expensive to date her, but she does deserve a nice vacation here and there.
For some reason I am thinking the Collings sounds like the Yamaha FG9!
I always found Collings have a real powerful mid-range, in addition to the rosewood bass and treble. However.
Brazilian DOESN'T necessarily mean better, all down to the guitar. That often upsets Brazilian owners.
But I'd be very pleased to own the Collings, and yes, because of the superior clarity and sustain, it was the better of the two.
A sweet, well worn clarity. Sight unseen I'd pick the Collings over a whole hell of a lot.
Use a fork with 4 prongs as opposed to 3 prongs when beating eggs
To my earholes, the Martin sounds a little nasally, whereas the Collings sounds full and open. I don’t know if it has to do so much with the tone woods as much as the time that said Collings has had to age. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But what do I know? I’m just some schmuck.
Built in reverb! 😮wow
I'm hungary! Great analysis. 😊
Got really hungry at the end of the video 😋
Its all a matter of the way you hold your tongue while listening!
I honestly like the Martin CS a little more than the D2H
To my ears, the Collings was clearly better sounding. More highs, more overtones, just a clearer sound. You could hear the individual strings. The Martin sounded good but less sparkle. If I had the money for that Collings I'd be calling you up right now. I haven't heard a better sounding acoustic (for recording) in a long time.
I enjoyed the video. I personally don't like rosewood on a dreadnought or jumbo. I like to strum it hard and rosewood gets too overtoney for my taste. I love it for a 000 or smaller guitar, though. Give me the American cheese mahogony for a dreadnought anyday.
Not a true comparison as both companies guitars have different voices to begin with based on construction and design....Collings tend be brighter and Martins warmer based on the construction alone...Try a Martin braz and a Martin east indian rosewood or a Collings D2H braz and D2h East Indian rosewood for a better comparison...
I think I like the sound of the Martin better
Collings is brighter. But I think because is older.
When you say “this one“ in that one“ be great if y’all actually said, the name of the guitar, I noticed in other videos, too, but all of us watch the whole thing all the way through and I don’t know whether you’re talking about the callings or the Martin when you say something. I’m just sort of the point of the video.
What kind of cheese is maple?
Alpine swiss.
As regards cheese, I'm afraid plain cheddar and American cheese belong to the realm of Amazon guitars... Although a good old British cheddar would already be a significant upgrade!
But it's true you only talk burgers... :)
Cheeseburger with American for me, I’ve always loved mahogany
Woah! Woah! Woah!
I'm all for the love of those guitars, but I'll simp for Mayo on that grilled cheese Anyday! 🤣
Miracle whip
Where to begin... American cheese tastes like plastic, and I love mahogany.
I preferred the pick guard on the Collins.
My son was born in 1991. Thank God he doesn't play guitar because I would keep it.
I recently bought a nice EA rosewood/Adirondack OM. Now I appreciate my old rosewood guitars again.
The Collins is special, but not enough juice so I will keep squeezing.
Give the Martin 34 years and watch out!
EST DEMO EVER..... The Collins is many times better for me
BRW is just an incredible BNS tone wood no doubt! And, who doesn't like BRW or want at least one guitar with BRW! EIR just as good sound and tone wise.
With all that said, I'm a HOG guy! Just love Mahogany!!!
Love your post!
Love to look at BRW. 😂 hey if ine can afford it and you like the tone thats all that matters. Is it worth it? Well, thats subjective. I'll say this: in a blindfold test; you'll be wrong 50% of the time anyway 😂