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Post by Shannon on Dec 16, 2023 17:41:09 GMT -5
I've seen it written on this forum that Martin doesn't know how to do a sunburst. Well, I played one of these in my local guitar shop today:  Martin OM-21 in Ambertone finish. It was just marvelous! It is much better-looking in person, and the sound! Oh my goodness, you could feel it rumble in your chest, even though it is an OM. If I'd had a spare $3100 in my pocket, I'd have brought it home. |
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Post by drlj on Dec 16, 2023 18:02:25 GMT -5
I like a lot of the Martin sunbursts, especially on a small body guitar. The Ambertone finish is especially nice.
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Post by Marty on Dec 16, 2023 18:48:29 GMT -5
That is a nice burst.
I've seen bursts that I thought sucked on Martins, Gibson and many high end guitars.
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Post by howard lee on Dec 16, 2023 19:28:50 GMT -5
Ken Hooper (Hooper Guitars) sprays a pretty fine sunburst top and shadetop on his OM, OOO, and dreadnought guitars.
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Post by drlj on Dec 16, 2023 19:54:51 GMT -5
My J-45 has a nice late 60s sunburst.  |
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Post by Marshall on Dec 16, 2023 20:38:57 GMT -5
The warmth and gradient of color and the grain of the wood always is primary in the aesthetic. And many Martins hit that mark well. I personally prefer the Gibson style to the Martin edge burst in terms of approach. But that’s just me. It’s more the warmth and color and wood grain that matters most.
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Post by theevan on Dec 17, 2023 6:12:45 GMT -5
I think it's very pretty, but I'm flummoxed as to why the look of a guitar is so important.
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Post by millring on Dec 17, 2023 6:58:21 GMT -5
I think it's very pretty, but I'm flummoxed as to why the look of a guitar is so important. Same reason the look of anything is important. We love beauty. |
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Post by millring on Dec 17, 2023 7:01:01 GMT -5
I personally prefer the Gibson style to the Martin edge burst in terms of approach. But that’s just me. It's not just you. It's me too. And though I can't explain exactly why, the way the Gibson burst is done implies something about the sound and the use of the guitar. It always struck me as implying a patina borne of use. I know it isn't that. We're talking art not science here. |
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Post by kenlarsson on Dec 17, 2023 12:31:04 GMT -5
The warmth and gradient of color and the grain of the wood always is primary in the aesthetic. And many Martins hit that mark well. I personally prefer the Gibson style to the Martin edge burst in terms of approach. But that’s just me. It’s more the warmth and color and wood grain that matters most. I don't know whether it was the guitars finish or my body chemistry but....... I used to have a Gibson Advanced Jumbo with a nice looking burst. However, playing it resulted in a whitish discoloration where my right arm touched the guitar that I could never remove completely. Tried all sorts of stuff to clean it up and eventually I moved on from the guitar. The discoloration wasn't the primary reason I moved on but it was a factor. Never had this happen with another guitar, don't know it it's a thing with Gibson finishes or my body chemistry or just a problem with that one guitar's finish. |
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Post by drlj on Dec 17, 2023 12:45:28 GMT -5
The warmth and gradient of color and the grain of the wood always is primary in the aesthetic. And many Martins hit that mark well. I personally prefer the Gibson style to the Martin edge burst in terms of approach. But that’s just me. It’s more the warmth and color and wood grain that matters most. I don't know whether it was the guitars finish or my body chemistry but....... I used to have a Gibson Advanced Jumbo with a nice looking burst. However, playing it resulted in a whitish discoloration where my right arm touched the guitar that I could never remove completely. Tried all sorts of stuff to clean it up and eventually I moved on from the guitar. The discoloration wasn't the primary reason I moved on but it was a factor. Never had this happen with another guitar, don't know it it's a thing with Gibson finishes or my body chemistry or just a problem with that one guitar's finish. I have seen that on some older Gibsons. It is a cloudiness in the finish where the arm rests on the top. I have seen a couple where it was very noticeable and a few others where you had to hold it under the right light to see it, but it doesn’t seem to be on the finish. It actually soaks into the finish. That’s why it can’t be cleaned off. |
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Post by majorminor on Dec 17, 2023 16:09:01 GMT -5
That Martin brown burst is typically referred to as "shadetop". Generally Gibson does burst better than Martin IMO but that particular brown burst hangs with Gibson in terms of beauty. You almost have to see it in person to understand as it never quite photographs right - too much red pops in a photo, and the white purflings aren't that loud in real life. Strange timing as I'm in the office boxing up a Custom shop sunburst 000-18 I've had for a few years with that finish. Adi top, 1 13/16" nut x 2 5/16" saddle low profile oval neck, 1/4" adi braces. I'm trading it back to the shop I bought it from for a Fender telecaster thinline custom shop. I've had it for several years now and while it may be the prettiest acoustic I own I've just never 100% clicked with it. I just tend to like the larger bodied guitars.  |
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Post by John B on Dec 17, 2023 19:19:11 GMT -5
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Post by coachdoc on Dec 17, 2023 19:47:34 GMT -5
That Martin brown burst is typically referred to as "shadetop". Generally Gibson does burst better than Martin IMO but that particular brown burst hangs with Gibson in terms of beauty. You almost have to see it in person to understand as it never quite photographs right - too much red pops in a photo, and the white purflings aren't that loud in real life. Strange timing as I'm in the office boxing up a Custom shop sunburst OM-18 I've had for a few years with that finish. Adi top, 1 13/16" nut x 2 5/16" saddle low profile oval neck, 1/4" adi braces. I'm trading it back to the shop I bought it from for a Fender telecaster thinline custom shop. I've had it for several years now and while it may be the prettiest acoustic I own I've just never 100% clicked with it. I just tend to like the larger bodied guitars. i’d have to run it by my CFO but could you be persuaded to sell that in the vicinity of 2 grand? |
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Post by majorminor on Dec 18, 2023 8:45:43 GMT -5
Sorry Doc - it's already boxed to ship today and they give me a really strong trade value for it.
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Post by james on Dec 18, 2023 9:56:02 GMT -5
Paul Davids has a very lovely little Collings 12 fret with a nice sunburst and abalone inlay. Here he is playing in open D. A tune for pickers that like to keep things simple for the left hand.
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