Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm just looking for some insight into the structural difference between an 'average' Marting Dred, and some Collings guitars? Collings seems to have a higher end sparkle to them, whats going on with the bracing?

_________________
Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

A bit more direct attention, care, and discretion. It's wood after all, and Martin is what you get when you build to print.

_________________
Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

-

Bit harsh I feel

I spend way to much time at my local guitar store - Guitar Junction in Worthing Sussex who have huge aray of decent Acoustic guitars from the manufactured to the handmade specials - ( have a nice late 70s Gurian in at the moment for you collectors out there) and they stock both Martin old and new and Collings and In myumble opinion both are capable of some VERY nice sounding instruments - For me Colling are better made and as pointed out above seem to have a stronger 'attack' - overall I think their smaller bbodied instruments seem better... just my opinion naturally. Martins - well, never tom keen on plastic bindings and their construction is never going to equal the likes of the best hand builders, but now and again they do really nail that tone - you have to sort the good from the average for sure, but sometimes, they still get spot on.

And for me the bets sounding guitar I have ever played (I know big statement) is a '54 D38 they have in right now - sure its built rough and reday compared to what i see on here, but jeez the tone is frigthening - age plays a huge part for sure, but its breathtaking.

Agreed on Marquis and GE model, even on the 'vintage series' but teh standard models are still suffering a bit in my opinion... but I think you are right the price point of the Collings, etc and Santa Cruz standards are on par with the the higher specced Martins here in the UK not the standard models. Have owned all three in the past and still ahve a nice HD28V from '97 which was a lucky find as they say - beat the pants off my old D42!

I'm looking for what the differences in bracing is from people who have repaired them. I know its a long shot to find people who have taken the back off alot of Collings.

_________________
Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Different models are braced differently. All of them are going for the traditional bluegrass sound with a strong fundamental.

FRETS.com is the place to go for everything.

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musicia ... lery3.html

4th one down is a Collings.

Martins are a bit more ubiquitous, you could probably get better/more results of actual martin tops pretty easily, but here is a quickie.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q ... cing&gbv=2

Digging around FRETS.com, you will find lots of pictures of top bracing hidden throughout the different sections.

_________________
Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY