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For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
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Author:  Frei [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:46 am ]
Post subject:  For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
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?
Author:  David Collins [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
A bit more direct attention, care, and discretion. It's wood after all, and Martin is what you get when you build to print.
Author:  TonyFrancis [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
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Author:  Frank Cousins [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
TonyFrancis wrote:
Collings are sterile sounding.


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.
Author:  Frank Cousins [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
Todd Stock wrote:
Both nice factory guitars...both sound pretty Martin-like. If you want to compare, try sticking to the same price point and same design features, materials, etc. - ends up as something like a D-18GE (Golden Era) versus the Colling D-1, etc. For my money, it's pretty much a case of finding one you like in either brand, because fit and finish are similar (yes...the Collings guys are more anal, but hard to find flaws on either guitar) and setup of the Martins has ceased to be a big issue...at least for any of the GEs or Marquis models.


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!
Author:  Frei [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
I'm looking for what the differences in bracing is from people who have repaired them. [:Y:] I know its a long shot to find people who have taken the back off alot of Collings.
Author:  James Orr [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
Different models are braced differently. All of them are going for the traditional bluegrass sound with a strong fundamental.
Author:  jordan aceto [ Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: For Luthiers:Difference between Martin and Collings?
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.
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