Unboxing Chinese Martin D45S copy
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 лис 2013
- Nobody had a decent video on one of these when I kept getting requests for it from you so here it is - a copy Martin D45S from China. The jury is out on the fit, finish and build quality on this one but I have to confess, it sounds and plays OK despite being a fake. I know that the sound recording didn't come out quite right so please check out my follow up test here: • D45 Chinese Copy - Sou...
I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU NOT TO WASTE YOUR MONEY ON ONE!
TAKE CARE, ENJOY & ROCK ON!!!
THE USUAL DEETS:
CGS Website and Forum: www.ChinaGuitarSceptic.com
You Tube Channel: / chinaguitarsceptic
Instagram: / chinaguitarsceptic
Facebook: / china-guitar-sceptic-7...
Email me: chinaguitarsceptic@gmail.com
MILTON GUITARS CHANNEL: / @miltonguitars
MILTON GUITARS WEBSITE: www.miltonguitars.co.uk
THE GEAR I USE:
USA LINKS
Audio
Behringer X32 Digital Mixer - amzn.to/2quqRb2
Zoom R16 16 Track SD Card Recorder Interface and Controller - amzn.to/2qvZwFm
Zoom H4n Pro/UK Handy Recorder - amzn.to/2QmVOcv
Rode NT1-A condenser mic and articulated arm/stand - amzn.to/2Dq4tbF
RØDE M3 Cardioid Condenser Microphone - amzn.to/2Doz610
DBX 286S Mic Preamp/Compressor - amzn.to/2DolRxd
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Studio Monitor Professional Headphones - amzn.to/2PMdsK0
SM 57 LCE dynamic Microphone - amzn.to/2REXIFT
Sennheiser EW100 Wireless Microphone System - amzn.to/2DoKxFI
TC electronic M350 - amzn.to/2qvaISJ
Video
Logitech Brio Webcam 4K Streaming Edition HD - amzn.to/2DpwXlL
YI 4K+ Action Camera Ultra HD 4K/60fps - amzn.to/2SNEz5V
Miscellaneous
D'Addario EXL125 10 SETS - amzn.to/2Qmj2Q0
UK LINKS
Audio
Behringer X32 Digital Mixer - amzn.to/2Jc32gX
Zoom R16 16 Track SD Card Recorder Interface and Controller - amzn.to/2ON6PXV
Zoom H4n Pro/UK Handy Recorder - amzn.to/2z1muIG
Rode NT1-A condenser mic and articulated arm/stand - amzn.to/2yZ7Ykr
RØDE M3 Cardioid Condenser Microphone - amzn.to/2z14g9R
DBX 286S Mic Preamp/Compressor - amzn.to/2EFCx4P
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Studio Monitor Professional Headphones - amzn.to/2yVMkxF
SM 57 LCE dynamic Microphone - amzn.to/2CDOIMG
Sennheiser EW100 Wireless Microphone System - amzn.to/2CZpf1j
TC electronic M350 - amzn.to/2O2OOQe
Video
Logitech Brio Webcam 4K Streaming Edition HD - amzn.to/2Jd2VSm
YI 4K+ Action Camera Ultra HD 4K/60fps - amzn.to/2JewClU
Miscellaneous
D'Addario EXL125 10 SETS - amzn.to/2EF8DO1
For more info on guitar stuff and particularly Chinese made copy guitars please do take a moment to subscribe so you never miss a new upload:
ua-cam.com/users/subscription_c...
If you would like to see your photo behind my sofa in one of my videos simply email them to Chinaguitarsceptic@gmail.com and I will use all 'suitable' shots.
Thanks for watching!!
Disclaimer: Any or all fair use materials which the owner does not wish me to use will be removed immediately on written request directed to chinaguitarsceptic@gmail.com once verified that the request has come from the actual owner of the material.
The China Guitar Sceptic channel would like to draw your attention to the fact that this channel seeks in no way to promote, sell or encourage the purchase of any items that infringe any manufacturers trademarks. However we would also like to point out that while counterfeiting and
selling of counterfeit items is illegal in most countries, in almost all, it is not illegal to buy or own such goods, merely at the moral and ethical discretion of the buyer.
The China Guitar Sceptic channel seeks only to provide those with an interest in guitars made in China with the best advice and honest guidance on the good the bad and the downright ugly truth about them. All information shared on this channel is, as far as we can be sure, one hundred percent factual and where we can't be sure all opinion or conjecture is explicitly stated.
This channel will always encourage you to avoid buying counterfeit products and through Milton Guitars Channel also seeks to provide a real alternative. We hope that you will respect the intent in making these videos and helping you to make informed decisions based on facts and the truth.
This channel is entirely independent and receives no sponsorship, support, backing or funding from any guitar manufacturer, distributor or outlet.
For a much better sound comparison between the f d45 and yamaha fg310 watch ua-cam.com/video/R5zT0eDPhCs/v-deo.html
thats one thing you buy on them on line stores you gonna take a fkin anout 85% of the time .
Nice guitar. Where to find?
The fake it WAY better. WAY!better!!
I think the fake Martin sounds way better more rich and full sounding
You should put the same kind of strings on your Yamaha then compare.
Your Chinese copy sounds just fine. It has a nice sound. I don't think that you got ripped off, other than possibly not getting the case. It's a very usable guitar with a nice tone.
I live in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. where the Martin Guitar factory exist. I never knew the words Martin Guitars and China would ever be spoken in the same breath.
Illegal in the USA I'm sure.
The fake Martin sounds better than the Yamaha, wow!
If only they plugg in......yamaha f310 sounds great also......
I agree
Haha. Fake sounds better.
Both suck
Yamaha's are basically a plywood guitar, if you want a Yamaha stick with motorcycles
For the same money, get a used Takamine or an Ovation
I played a D45 Ornate that a Martin rep was displaying. It was like a grand piano in your lap. The most beautiful tone and the hugest projecting acoustic i ever played. They don't compress they just get louder the more you dig in .This knock off is not even in the ballpark. Enjoyed your vid. Cheers!
Thanks buddy and I agree 100% :-)
In my view, the sound is "great" and I am impressed with the clarity of the sound. I think it is worth the money.
Me too
Objectively, it's not a bad sounding guitar for the money by any means. And if you installed a bone saddle, bone nut, and some decent strings it would probably come to life quite nicely.... Personally, I dont think I'd fancy buying a counterfeit guitar though. But that's just me.... Thanks for putting up this video, it's interesting to see what these things are like!
Many years ago I interviewed CF Martin IV for a magazine. I asked him what was to stop anyone sawing up a Martin and making an exact spec copy using the same wood etc. He told me a Chinese company contacted him one time to ask if they could visit the plant in Nazareth, Pa to see how Martin made their guitars. He invited them over to have a look. He did not hear back from them for quite a while after they went back to China. Eventually they contacted him and said they were able to make an exact copy that sounded just as good as the Martin they had. However they told him they would not be able to produce it because they would have to sell it for a lot more that what their Martin cost.
CF Martin IV also told me it another reason why it would be difficult to replicate a Martin guitar is because many of the employees in Nazareth are 2nd and 3rd generation. He said this creates a "synergy" that no computerized equipment could ever replicate.
Moral of the story: forget Yamaha's etc and find a Martin that gives you the sound you like.... and keep it. You will always get your money back if you decide not to keep playing. Or keep it as an heirloom. CF Martin in Nazareth is a true US success story.
dreadnaught90 bs my uncle was a guitar maker took a part a D45 took pictures and named every brace and as he reverse engineered it he traced every brace and made stencils for every part even had the glue analyzed at a lab that cost a $$$. He made them until he got Parkinsons disease they sounded perfectly the same but he made the headstock in the shape of a bell our last name.
dreadnaught90 I don’t believe the “synergy” can’t be replicated with a computer.
dreadnaught90 since then CF Martin decided to use synthetics anywhere they can. I purchased one then realized the fretboard was made with their patented synthetic junk. It went back to the store that minute! Don’t be their guinea pig. Just purchase something else.
@@Nomad-Rogers do you have one for sale
dreadnaught90 my first acoustic guitar is a OM-21 fresh out of the factory. As a gift my mother brought me to the factory in Nazareth and bought me a Martin guitar right down the road from the factory. It was honestly one of my favorite experiences. Seeing how everything comes together was absolutely fantastic. The entire factory smelled of fresh wood and lacquer and the employees were right there working on new guitars right in front of us. They showed us everything, including one of the 40 guitars they were making for their one millionth guitar celebration (which was absolutely gorgeous, and has a price tag of over $200k iirc). I would not trade that guitar for a cheaper one even if it was my money. I never would’ve wanted such an expensive guitar but it’s really one of my most prized possessions and greatest motivations. You can feel, smell and hear the hard work and hundreds of years of expertise in every guitar. Not to mention, they are the only acoustic guitar that only sounds better the longer you have it. A good Martin is an investment, but an investment for a lifelong tool, and one that can outlive you if you take care of it.
I once played a friend's used Yamaha Eterna and was absolutely blown away by the sound quality. At the time I was playing a Yairi masterworks from the 1970s and damned if the Yamaha didn't hold it's own. And this was with old Ernie Ball strings. It taught me that guitars are individuals.
Mine has arrived, I switched the bridge pins to graphite and I changed the saddle to bone (It comes with a plastic saddle) I also added a Tusq nut. These minor up grades cost about $40, and this guitar sounds very nice, I am very happy. All in all this is a really nice guitar for about $310, I have been playing just about every day for 30 years, great hobby. I play a Martin DX1ae and a Yamaha FG800, this Chinese Martin is a nice addition to my guitar stable.
That Yamaha sounds super muddy. Even a FAKE Martin sounds good. Great timbre. Some nice sustain. Overall good tone. Listen, tone is almost 90% in the hands. Really, it's only at the professional level that super expensive gear becomes crucial. That was a well spent 150$. Sounds awesome.
that would not be the case if it were a LLX16A dude
Checking out some older CGS vids, liked this unboxing, straight forward and unbias.
Thanks Ben that's very cool of you.
I bought one of these for about $260. It took about a month to get to me (and mine did come with the case: a case they charged $70 dollars for and is identical to a case my dealer friend sells for $40). Instead of the Martin graphics on the headstock, I had my name inlaid. This is my favorite acoustic. I have had it for 3 years and it still resonates wonderfully. The sound is different than a D45, but it is a great soft sound and you can hear every note in the chords. The Frets were faultless. The action was a little high for me (I like the action on Ovation Guitars), so I shaved 3/32' s off the saddle to get the action where it worked for me. The guitar plays like butter and the sound is sweet and alluring. What more could you ask for. I own a Martin D-28 that is about 24 yrs old. This guitar plays and sounds better than the D-28 (my D-28 is in bad need of humidification so that comparison is not really fair. The guitar came with a what is supposed to be a fishman pickup. It could be, it has a built in tuner with a 3 band equilizer and sounds many times better than the lonely piezo pickup that came in my Martin that has always had the typical hollow piezo sound, or I should say piezo's have a hollow sound to me and don't do a good job re-creating the sound of an acoustic... once again, in my opinion.) I'm thinking of buying a couple more of these Chartins for backups. BTW mine is a cutaway model. Also all of the inlays are impecable.
Can you recommend a place to buy one of these d45 knock offs? I've been looking and can't find any at all.
looks like a nice guitar and has that new string brightness to it, I agree the unmatched top would throw most people off in its buy ability but if its not an over concern to others it does sound like a nice acoustic guitar as long as the play ability is there
Love your playing on this 1!!
As for the guitar even with the not matching top I think it looks great!! And sounds very bright n balanced & produced a lot of volume/projected it sound nicely. :)
Btw surprised no one has asked ya to do this yet ... but if I might sugest 1 more buy/import of a chibson .... Its gotta be a SG!! You don't see to many imported/Chibson SG's.
thanks for the great upload as ususal !! :)
Thanks MTB :o)
I sear by my f310 as well. Had her for years. Been so good to me. Only just upgraded to a Martin LX1E the other week. F310s are awesome for beginners who want a cheap, yet nice guitar.
Glad u featured a "Martin" guitar. My grandfather gave me his 1979 Martin E-18 electric guitar. Gr8 video
Thank you. Cherish that real martin it will increase in value.
is that a fake couch from China too?
Savage
@jbstorck Right on. Hey, this video reminds me about a guitar I seen on eBay. Gibson Les Paul, that I asked the guy selling them if he'd sent me a few pictures of the Headstock, which he did & man oh man, I was shocked just how good it looked. Without seeing it up close, you'd swear that the guitar he had was a Gibson. Even the serial number & the ''Made In USA'' looked spot on, It was that good. I mean a Les Paul ''Gold Top for $289.00 was just amazingly finished..... How he gets away with selling on eBay, baffles me 100%. I mean I thought that eBay would be checking up on these sellers. They don't makes me wonder why they're not doing anything about it. Like we don't already have enough problems already, that we've gotta worry about the fake stuff coming into the states.......
@jbstorck Just because the guitar comes from China, it doesn't mean it's fake.
No, from Chernobyl.
@@Sunny-yg2pq no one is saying it's a fake guitar they're saying it's a fake Martin guitar....
you had me at the oriental riff. that is my favorite composition
I think once again the China Martin sounds deep and sustainy...sounds good to me!!
This might be one of those times where you can visit a local guitar shop and compare it to an actual Martin D45S. The Chinese guitar's sound is pretty good.
I have a fake d45 and I love it
Relly
Try a Martin D-15 (all mahogany), the poorboys Martin, you'll love it. 1100 USD
What’s a reputable source for Chinese guitars?
The fake Martin sounds good. a lot better than that cheap Yamaha
Kali 808 I agree
And the yam is out of tune ( slightly)
Must be the wood.
I think what you’re hearing is the difference between the new strings and the older strings on his Yamaha. That’s what I hear. I hear more resonance in the Yamaha.
I would say much better than Yamaha.
When you held it up after playing it the dark side was on the left and then when you put it on your lap the dark side was on the right was it supposed to be like that ?
Thanks for the review. I own several Martins and have almost ordered one out of curiosity.
Try to avoid it because you will definitely not find this to be closer to the quality of your real one's my friend.
Can you tell me where to order one? I can't find any online they just have old 2017 dates.
how old are the strings on the yamaha, it sound very dull.
Exactly...
Yamaha is not a good guitar to compare to they stuck and he played only 80 pounds sterling
hifijohn it is dull. Shit guitar. No ooomph.
I own an Epiphone Masterbilt. Yes it's made in China. However, it doesn't pretend to be a knock-off of a Gibson or Martin. It's not a cheap imitation. It was manufactured up to high Epiphone/ Gibson specs & inspected here in the States.
+Michael Clonts I have a Masterbilt as well, and it is amazing! Holds it's own with my Taylor GC3 and my Eastman AC420. Great guitars all around. The chinese have really stepped it up lately. Even Fender Modern Player series are made in China, along with Squier's VM's and CV's.
+Michael Clonts What are they going for these days?
recently bought a fender C60 guitar from Sweetwater, they caution to let it acclimate for 24 hours? before playing. I hadn't noticed the bright orange sticker on the box stating this, but it sounded amazingly better the next day, the plastic nut and bridge, tusq or whatever material it is, will make it ring brighter.
The fake sounds good but how old were the strings on the Yamaha as that will have a big effect on the warmth and brightness?
For me the Martin sounded better than the Yamaha.....sounds lovely. I could live with it happily
Real Martins, made in Pennsylvania, are impeccably crafted and have a much more full, warm tone than the cheap Chinese copies. Do yourself a favor and find one in a local guitar shop and play it! You'll love the sound and the buttery smooth action of even the less expensive end of the American-made Martins.
China is all about quantity than quality. That's why they are good at business in the replica industry. Sometimes they make replicas that look even more advanced than the original.
All the beston the 1000 subs.Best to peter!!!From the USA.
Very cool comparison.
I have a Chinese Les Paul Epiphone, I love more than i could of imagined.
The "fake Martin"
The "Fartin".
The "Chinese Martin"
The "Chartin." or...
The "Fartin Chartin."
Lol
😂😂😂😂😂
LMAO!!!
lol!!
I have 70+ guitars, expensive vintage US models, older Japanese models and a few cheaper Asian models. As CGS states some are well made, some are rubbish, even from the same seller / factory. To the same token I have seen some absolute crap come out of the US Gibson factory in particular, among others. So to the fools giving a blanket ruling that USA made is always superior... if only that were the case, the US makers would not be so worried about Chinese makers stealing their thunder. The only downside to these sorts of copies is when some less scrupulous buyers do resell them as the real thing to unsuspecting novices. Some of the Chinese guitars are outstanding, some of the US guitars are firewood. In an age of CNC produced instruments, it is often the finer details of set up, finish and QC that make all the difference...
Very fair points and exactly what I always try to put across buddy thank you. :o)
Tl;dr
@@fritzb43 You would be surprised who is buying some of these, I know good musicians that are using these knockoffs, Blueridge, Martin, because they can get a decent sounding guitar, without mortgaging the house. I have heard Martins that don't sound any better. Personally I have a 77 HD28 and a 62 Gibson J45 and thats all i'll ever want or need, but if I was starting out today, who knows. I play bluegrass and people I know are selling their Martins and buying Blueridges, and they sound okay, and I guess they are banking money and not recording. so they don't care about a small difference if any in sound, but they get a fancy better looking in some cases than the plain old Martins, without the big cash outlay.
Did they both have the. Same new strings on them? Makes a big difference in sound
I actually don't think it is a non-bookmatched top. With spruce, you have considerable end-grain exposed to the surface of the top. If you notice in the video, when the guitar is tilted the color of each half changes depending on the direction of the tilt. It is a poor top for sure, but I think what you are seeing is the light reflecting differently on each half due to the bad end-grain of the top itself. I've seen this effect on more expensive U.S. models as well.
Note to all persons doing sound comparisons: In order to compare the sound of two guitars or any other sounds you need to use short clips and not long drawn out chord progressions. You also need to switch back and forth instantly between the sounds. Audio memory in humans is very poor, so fast switching is essential. If the differences are subtle this method is most likely to reveal differences.
I agree and it's something I've been doing in recent times. Thanks.
Since you've decided to keep it, will you PLEASE reveal the name of the seller, now? Thank you in advance.
Ali express
@@matthewratcliffe1953 can't find it , sooo frustrating
Just found your channel. I really only have one thing to say to you: That's a damn fine couch!
RIP couch! It went back to the Chinese factory in the sky about 4 years ago - ah fond memories! LOL
Just stumbled upon this channel and am glad i did...the intro is hilarious👍
Thank you 😊🙏 I hope you stay and look around, perhaps subscribe?
To be honest, sounds pretty good. The only waste of money, I believe, is to buy a fake, other than that, put your name on the headstock and you'd be able to sell a few. Sorry for my english
Your English is great!
The Fake sounds A lot better than the yama
Sadly it does. :o)
Chinaguitarsceptic Why sadly? :D
Agreed, it sure did. I've bought 4 or 5 F310's in the last year,great beginner's guitars but the saddle always need reducing on the bass side.They play fine after that but at the end of the day they are a cheap guitar.I use one as my knockabout everyday guitar.I bought it with a little dent from shipping for 40 euros, hard to go wrong.
i'm so dissappointed because the fake thing sounds unexpectedly beautiful....
Excellent tone.
This guitar most likely came from the same factory in Guangzhou we used to import our guitars from that we sold. They will put any name you WANT on them, but if it comes to the USA it better not have a trademarked name on it. We used our own brand names. The guitars can be built however you choose with whatever materials you choose. But you cant order just one, it requires (if I remember) a container load of instruments to be able to purchase factory direct. They make all kinds of string instruments there. We found the guitars were better when we ordered them as basic bodies and did the set ups ourselves. Lets face it, The Chinese have no idea how guitars are supposed to sound in our neck of the woods. Nor do they care. Construction at the Guangzhou facility was very good, however, and we did the finish work here to our specifications. The exception: Banjos. They suck BALLS at trying to manufacture 5 string banjos at this plant compared to the Koreans and Japanese.. They are so bad there is no WAY we could set them up to get them to sound like they should for bluegrass. They dont know what bluegrass even IS so how do they know how it should sound LOL. Just my observations from buying several container loads of these chinese guitars, mandolins and other instruments. Be advised allow 6 months for delivery, and be prepared for delays due to customs, and other stuff along with the added cost for their random inspections.
The diamond-shaped volute is a traditional feature of the better Martin models. In the 19th century, the peghead was carved from a separate piece of quarter-sawn wood, and the volute was a key in the joint between neck and peghead. At some time in the 20th century, the company switched to carving neck and peghead from a single piece of wood, leaving the volute only as an artistic suggestion of the older method of construction.
I've been playing/songwriting for over 30 years and can honestly say that Martin knockoff sounded a LOT better than the Yamaha. Like others, I also take exception with putting the Martin name on something that isn't a true Martin but for the money, if you want to take the gamble on a knockoff, I don't think this one is a bad way to go.
"Case" in Chinese is "strap". Both guitars; "made in China".
I have a Yamaha FG-140 Circa 1969 that was made in "Taiwan"
Which is officially a republic of China
Somebody was just downing the Yamaha guitars in a video. I think they're great I know someone who's had one for years! They're awesome for the price and like you said, great beginners guitar!
From lots of experience setting up dozens of my own acoustic guitars over several decades (many used high end $6K to 3X that), dump the plastic saddle on the bridge and fit a quality bone saddle to the slot, to be snug BUT not tight so you can remove it to make adjustment in string heights if needed. You just don't want it tipping at all in the direction of the head stock when strung up. The length is not so critical as long as the strings can't fall off, so if a little short is just a small cosmetic thing.
The sustain and tone will be MUCH better, and most any lower cost acoustic can be greatly improved this way. The synthetic "Tusq" saddles are also very good and a big upgrade in sound to plastic, and may already have the adjustment on intonation built in and only need to sand the thickness and possibly trim the length from each end a little.
One thing though that is a real issue and one to be considered for anyone thinking of buying a knockoff of a trademarked USA built guitar,....you ARE supporting the disservice to Martin,......and so help to perpetuate the continuing harm to the Martin Guitar Company.
I'd have NO other issue with the Chinese building a decent low cost Acoustic guitar, but they go too far when they slap the Martin logo on the head stock and anywhere else! Just saying,.....
Cheers,
Joe T
Ti Rod Tactical
Good advice friend and I might do that if I ever play this guitar again regularly.
Oh,...I forgot to mention that sustain on open strings will also be much better if you replace the usual plastic nut with a bone one. It will last a LOT longer too! Tuning wrapped steel strings over plastic nut slots acts much like a file would, and will soon lower open string to fret spacing. :-(
I recently purchased a Johnson dreadnought ( D size ) at a garage sale for $28.00 . It was built in China ; I was expecting the worst . I am happy to say it is a very playable guitar with excellent tone . I am totally against buying a fake / counterfeit guitar be it a ( Fender , Gibson , Martin ) it is ripping off the legitimate builders good name .
I don't think anyone buying these counterfeits thinks they are getting the real thing. It is really just a bit of a joke. The American names are getting stale.
They were the best in the world 50 years ago, but now there are countless good guitars being made. The value of the names is fading.
I don't mind if they knock off the designs, lets face it, everyone does that. A guitar is a guitar, there's nothing new under the sun. However, putting the Martin Name on that cheap guitar should be punishable by stringing their privates up with guitar strings and ... well you get the picture.
I completely agree with you.
in china patents dont apply so you can copy what every you want there
Sean Attard That's not the point is it?. It shouldn't be legal to import them - if, indeed. it is.
yeah i guess its shouldn't be legal to import
From what I've read recently they're putting a stop to it.
How did the dispute go?
Did you get what you ordered in the end?
I quite liked the tone of the Chinese Martin!!
Nope I got a refund but never the case and no joy on the issues with the guitar either. That's what you get in China when buying fakes in afraid.
I think the chinese one sounds pretty awesome. I have a Yamaha FG160E and I would trade it in a heartbeat for the Chinese one you are demoing.
As the owner of a Martin D35 and a D28, I feel compelled to tell you there is NO copy of a Martin.
You Got That Right !
My Blueridge BR40 blows away many a Martin. Get over it. Lol
Shut your pie hole! Its a matter of personal preference and what guitar speaks to the player! @@theshyguitarist
Yup. Dads ia a 1967 D28...
martin copy all the way. funny pickguard thou
I actually like the top of that guitar being asymmetric. Every wood acoustic is different even within the same model. That top looks different than most and I like that slight contrast.
Ii
Sorry, I’ve just seen your videos, so haven’t watched a lot. Are there ANY of the Chinese knockoffs that you would actually recommend?
Amazing how close in looks it is to a real Martin. Good info, thanks for sharing.
Ty :o)
I just played a D45 today and although it's hard to compare with a real 45, this sounded pretty good. The 35 and 45 has a really full bodied and lively sound. This Chinese 45 doesn't sound bad at all.
Just out of interest did you have the Yamaha 310 set up? I have one and am wondering whether it’s worth the cost.
Yes I have. i did it myself, but I wouldn't pay for it as it would cost the same as the guitar mate
How was the weight? I had one of those cheap Yamahas then I got a Martin and it was twice the weight, more like a piece of furniture, and resonates forever.
Sounds good for a two hundred pound guitar. Very nice tone.
You should really take a trip to the US and visit the Martin factory!!!! You can play all their wonderful top instruments!!! Amazing place!!!
I would love to
I was there a few years back and was in that room picking up each one for hours. D45 in my hands the longest of course.
I have owned several Martins and high end Guilds, Yamaha's, Ibanez and Alvarez. The odd guitar like a Hondo I kept on the ship to play at sea when I was in the Navy. The most durable was the Yamaha and believe it or not the fifty dollar Hondo has some of the best action I've ever played. I was absolutely amaze it was that good. I didn't even realize there was a fake Martin out there like that. Well good luck and God bless from Nashville, Tn. keep on pickin and grinnin
I enjoyed your video very much. My son has a 5 string Chinese cello he's adapted & tweaked til it sounds pretty good. That Martin didn't sound bad at all. Would be a great guitar for a grandkid if they could reach around it .. and maybe a traveling guitar. I do play a Martin. I know I'm lucky I thank God for it every day.
8.17 that "oh shit" look. Think it's better than you expected CGS!
Chazz-J Black -(
I could tell by the language used there was a low expectation for the Chinese guitar without giving it a fair test. The prejudice was obvious throughout the video until the tone surprised him....the copy was clearly better than the Yamaha, yet he still did not admit that.
Having bought two "knockoffs" in the last two years, I cannot agree with the evaluation not to buy....the "copies" are undervalued considering the price of them. Buying sight unseen is risky no matter what brand you decide to buy. Want better pricing? Go search eBay.....I bought a Korean instrument for half list price, and a Chinese OM-45 copy for 2/3 list price. There are pictures of the actual item with each auction, so you know exactly what you are buying....no surprises like the lack of case or the mismatched topwood.
pdef1949 because there crap and you know it it’s wrong to use another company’s name on your headstock and it’s made in China so garbage
The Fake Martin sounds better.. it's richer and fuller.. with more sparkle and chime.. put a Bone saddle and nut on it and some elixirs and it will sound amazing! Where did you guy it.. I would buy one for the price.. Thanks for the post.
Christopher Freedom Cheers mate, all good calls. :o)
You are right and of course he calls himself "skeptic" and does not like Chinese people I suppose.
A spruce top is a spruce top, unmatched is of no importance. How many grains per inch would have been good info to share. Martin guitars are nothing to get too excited about anyway. A stacked wood neck is ideal but surprised he did not know what wood it was! Probably mahogany. Sounds way better than the yamaha. Should have played his hidden Takamine, that would have been more interesting.
cravinbob About 36 latitudinal grains per inch in the top. Spruce top, Rosewood sides [solid not laminated], Mahogany neck 2-part stacked heal, Rosewood fretboard and Mother-of-chewing-gum inlays. The Takamine is an EG520S a great mid-range guitar when I bought it a few years back and there will be a demo one day soon. The Yamaha is a solid and reliable go to guitar for laying around the house, camp fire sing song or even demo session with new strings. However the fake D45 is only marginally better but looks really nice.
Just for the record I have nothing against the Chinese people, nor Americans, it's just the unjust or ignorant I take issue with. I hope this clarification helps. :-)
Chinaguitarsceptic 36 grains per inch? Holy shit. That's alot. Even on Sitka. Although grain count isn't indicative of sound quality. It is however indicative of an old tree. Very surprising
Christopher Freedom tusq is much better...both the nut and the saddle ...the elixir nanoweb 12s...
My Dads Birthday was today. He played a Martin D28,1967. We saw it built at the Pennsylvania factory. Nothing beats a Martins deeper,richer sound.
The knockoff sounds pretty good.
Good memories never leave us brother. Wishing you a very happy day my friend.
It's worth doing a hole to copy of martin acoustic guitar to install the pick up or it's better not
is there a Taylor Chinese guitar. I'll be forward to buying it
Just save the hassle and throw your money in a fire.
"This is a 90-pound guitar."
For a second there, I thought he was really really strong. Then I realized he's British.
Lol
It's not just the aesthetics and tone that drive a guitar's price, though that's a part of it. More important is the structure, especially construction elements and bracing patterns, as well as scalloping.
I agree. All those factors are important. Playability is also top of the list for most people. It's not the easiest to play I've had.
Does that Yamaha have a solid top? How about the sides and back?
The Martin sounds *A LOT* better than the Yamaha you played
It’s not a Martin
...somewhere in Bejing...there must be a guy with a British "ahhcent" opening a USA made Gibson and "hoping" that it's as good as a Chibson!
I have ad45 from China it is astounding a great value my top matches resonates great tone & electric fish an pick up
Cool I'm pleased you are happy brother 😊👍
What Chinese manufacturer would you recommend to buy the Martin D45 with a hard-shell case from?
I wouldn't brother
I actually kinda like the miss matched spuce for some reason
Next time use Yamaha FG series for comparison, because it have SOLID spruce TOP
Where did you buy the Martin D45 guitar , I think I would like to try one
Did you measure the frets? I used a nock comb stright edge and the frets past the 12th fret were ALL off (short) So I don't know. I am getting the guitar aclimated to our weather and tomorrow will check it again
Yes and they seem to be a completly different scale length interval to the nut to bridge length. That's why it gets exaggerated at the high end.
Iy
I'm not too sure a comparison of a Chinese (Martin D-45) and a Japanese Yamaha makes any sense. Go borrow a real D-45 and make a real comparison. All you are doing is comparing one guitar to another.
+john smiley the Yamaha f310 is one of the most popular acoustics on the market. So it is a good yardstick for the most largest number of people. Believe me, it would be more of a waste of time comparing it to a real Martin as this is not even close to the same league. At the price what do you expect right?
That is a good point! Real Martins, the ones still made in Nazareth PA have a certain craftsmenship that produces a warm full rounded sound. There is a huge difference. The one in the video is a cheap knockoff!
Both got a point
A low-end Yamaha would not be made in Japan anymore -- only their top-end are made there now. Same with Ibanez and all the other Japanese musical instrument manufacturers. They have plants in China as well as using OEMs in South Korea, Indonesia and elsewhere. An actual Japanese Yamaha and a D-45 would be a worthy comparison.
OMG, well put LOL
Yeh G'day Chinasceptic, the Chinese have started copying effect pedals now, one being the Suhr Riot Distortion pedal , the originals sell for $250, I bought the Chinese copy for $38.00 delivered free to the door....And seriously its one of the best sounding distortions I have ever heard even makes my solid state Fender amp sound great....I love China...LOL.
that two tone top would drive my nuts !! over all it does look cool !!
Thanks for the video. What was the outcome of the dispute? Did the seller send the correct guitar & case?
I got a refund for the case but they said the guitar was not being changed.
Who else think Chinese copy is the best among those
kunkubutta Good looking and decent sounding Martin copy from china for £200 I would buy one, it's shit the case didn't arrive.
I've got a Chinese Gibson Hummingbird..sounds so awesome, but mostly amplified...
kunkubutta I do without a doubt. with some new parts to lower the action my Dad plays great. Nobody can even tell it's a Chinese knockoff. I personally don't have 10 King for a real one.
D45
kunkubutta D45
It came with the case - cardbox!
Unstable Audio Productions LMAO
I've got the ayamaha FG-110 I bought new in Okinawa Japan 1974. Love it to this day.
I bet. Good for you mate great stuff! 👍😊
Great video. Glad you posted it. Now, the 100K question, where did you buy it. On eBay?
My question exactly, I would like to know, I want a Martin copy!
No. On aliexpress but the seller is long gone having ripped enough people off.
Having worked in a guitar store for many years when I was young we had them all. Gibson, Martin, etc. My point is that every new guitar sounded tinney right out of the box. They did get more mellow with age and as the strings age a little as well. I asked the dealers who sent them to us, and they explained that the joints of the bracing in all guitar need time and vibration to settle in. For example I have a friend who purchased a new Martin D-41 and he was upnext my old D-41 which broke his heart because my older and more seasoned D-41 had such a larger and deeper bark. What was not taken into consideration is that my D-41 had been played on stage for many years before. Since 1970. All guitars of any quality such as the Yamaha sound better over time and tinney when they are first played because they have not been saturated with seasoned vibrations. So don't judge a book by it first cover, don't be quick to judge a fairly decent guitar by it's first sound. Fresh out of the box is not a good test.
Very wise words my friend. Thank you.
Add a bone saddle and pins will improve the sound greatly.
Or brass.
I have a Chinese Gibsun J200...it's a dream. I am a professional serenade singer, do not use amplification of any kind and have played it virtually every night for 7 years. I admit that I never concern myself about materials or exacting workmanship which I know for certain are waaay shoddy by Gibson standards. I am interested in sound, performance and durability. Where I live real Gibsons are almost nonexistent and prohibitively expensive.
The fake sounds better than the Yammy. Both will need some attention on details of the build. Bone nut and saddle, correct action and entonation. I love my old Yammy. But it was not even close, when I bought it. Thanks for the video!
From the little I can see of the inside of the two guitars it appears that the Yamaha is a plywood back and sides while the fake is solid Rosewood. That alone will influence the sound. But over time I suspect you're going to get some nasty surprises. I know the Chinese guitar making world intimately and would caution anyone thinking of buying one directly from a "factory" that the pitfalls outweigh the possible savings.
First of all, there are a handful world class makers in China. They're doing work for Western brands and have no interest in selling a few guitars to individuals. They may occasionally sell rejects to a third party who will then misrepresent themselves as the "factory" to the unsuspecting consumer. If that's the origin of your guitar it may have been built in a quality workshop but it can't be anything but a reject.
Then there are hundreds of Chinese factories that do "price" work. They have neither the skill nor the desire to do top quality work. Their customers who generally buy by the container don't want great guitars - they want cheap ones. Again - the guitars that don't make the grade are sold off to jobbers who sell them to third party individuals such as yourself.
Between the two are factories trying to go upstream with quality but really don't have the people or resources to make high end acoustics. The factory that made most of the Chinese Martins was one of these. They actually owned the brand in China which prevented real Martins from being sold there. I believe the dispute has been resolved (I may be wrong) so there's bound to be a bunch of the fakes moving through the pipeline.
Your expectation of a case almost certainly indicates the guitar came from a reseller. Guitar factories don't make cases. They rely on the importer's agent to buy them separately and deliver them to the factory in time for packing and shipping.
Another thing that makes it highly unlikely any factory was involved with your transaction is the different world that exists in a Chinese factory. Almost no owners speak English and with one exception that I can think of, not one of them would understand how to sell to a westerner. That's not meant as a put down. It's simply the truth.
Here's what will likely happen with your guitar:
If the wood was not properly dried or the factory environment was excessively humid it will crack. Humidification may help but probably not. The bracing inside the guitar may pull loose and the top start to lift. Glue is not expensive but I'm astounded how often the lesser workshops will try to save money by using low grade adhesive. Somewhere in that guitar there's a problem (I would almost guarantee it) The glue, truss rod, wood condition or poor neck to body joint will show up within a year.
There are some really astoundingly good Chinese made guitars with excellent long term warranties. You won't find them by buying fakes through shady middle men though.
Hope this contributes in some small way to the conversation.
John Marr
MacKenzie & Marr Guitars
Good comment. I have a Yairi from the 90's that is a hand crafted guitar by a master from Japan. The guitar is highly resistant to any type of changes in temperature or humidity because the wood is properly aged. That's what you probably won't get with one of those Chinese acoustics. I have played more than a few Martins and that guitar has a bit of the martin sound but I think your right over time it will probably have issues. I would keep it in a case with the humidifier when not in use to prevent the wood from self destructing.
Why would anyone who plays the guitar buy a Martin online? I've been playing for 50 years. I wouldn't buy from China online. In this video, the fake Martin sounds brighter, but in 5 years, I doubt it will sound so bright. I would prefer to see the guitar in a shop before buying it.
I bought a D-35 online. No tax, good price, awesome guitar!
Are the fake martins given “authentic” serial numbers? I’ve got a few bones to pick with a couple of pawn shops.
hey. i just found your channel find your content interesting (& i love your accent). i'm a cheap chinese gear enthusiast. i think it can be really good serviceable stuff if your experienced & know what you might be getting into. my zzdtm chibanez came with a horrendous set-up, strings like bailing wire and unfinished fret job that made it like playing a steak knife. after filing the frets a bit; setting & intonating the bridge a bit & slapping on some diaddario 10's it's comparable to guitars i used to buy in shops for $200. & it was only $60. the pickups actually even have a decent output which isn't always the case with these cheapies. when i was a teen in the early 80's i spent a fortune on classic gear & still could hardly play a note. i love all my knock off gear gear these days & get hours of enjoyment shredding on it most everyday. i have lotsa mates from back in the day on facebook that have tons of classic gear & one of their guitars or whatever is worth more then everything in my house (& they hardly play a note). that's fine.. i'm not even jealous. i love 2018 & this stuff i can get for these prices. when i was real little in the 70's my first guitars & basses came from the sears & jcpennies catalogues. they were similarly priced; if i knew what i know now i could have set them up pretty nice prob. the were still plywood & heavy as boat anchors.
I have a chinese made Blueridge d-45 copy and love it It actually sounds better than an actual Martin D-45 on one occasion
I had a good laugh at the unmatched top. Its like they didn't even try.
Joshua Kleiner LOL yup - they just churn em out! :o)
@ Joshua, if you think that's funny wait till you see a real Martin with unmatched top selling for $5,300.
There is one listed on e-bay today 2.14.15. look for yourself, seller is eddie's guitar
Joshua Kleiner your right!!! they didnt even try!!!
I've seen genuine Martins that look as bad so that isn't really a valid criticism. It does sound good but you can't judge until you see it compared with the genuine article. Also, will it last you a lifetime and improve with age both in sound and value? As a fake it shouldn't have even been allowed into the country. It's the Martin branding that makes it illegal. It would be OK if they called it something else.
I think it’s just where the light is hitting on the top. If you see when he hold the guitar, the side where the pick guard is at, it looks darker. But then when he sat the guitar standing up on the sofa, the side where there is no pick guard turned darker. You can clearly see when he move it but then again I’m looking through video so it’s kinda hard to tell. I have fender USA strat and It have the same effect. You have to look at it in some way. I think the finish make the effect.
Do they still make Martin guitars in America?