My New Guitar

Post by **Alatar** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:50 am

So, for my birthday yesterday, my wife bought me a guitar. I already have a few guitars, including a lovely Ovation 12 String, but I've never owned a real "quality" 6 String guitar. Since she wanted it to be a surprise, obviously she couldn't take me shopping for it, so she asked a good friend of ours who really knows guitars to do the legwork.

Well, I knew this much yesterday. That I was getting a guitar and that Don had picked it out for me. Knowing his taste in guitars I knew it would be good. I looked at the case initially and saw that it was an "Ashton", which I'd never heard of, but again, knowing Don I just trusted it'd be good. The guitar itself was very "plain" as in no frills, but when I picked it up and strummed it, the tone and brightness took my breath away. Then my nephew pointed out, "Look it has your name on it". I did a complete double-take. It hadn't occurred to me that the guitar case was a different make to the guitar. They had bought me a Martin guitar.

Its hard to really describe how that made me feel. As a kid growing up, a Martin guitar was about as unlikely and as unobtainable as an Porche, or a Rolls Royce, or more aptly an Aston Martin. Along with Guild, Martin Guitars were the ultimate. Modern guitars like the Cort and the Takamine are probably their equal at the top end but there's something about a Martin thats indefinable. Its like owning a work of art.

For the guitarists who may be interested:

The DX1R is described here:

Martin's DX1R No Frills, No Compromise Dreadnought!The Martin DX1R, one of Martin's most affordable instruments, is a 14-fret dreadnought steeped in everything that has made Martin guitars so well respected among fans of acoustic guitars - superior craftsmanship and fine, natural tone. The top is made of solid spruce with sides and back of durable Indian rosewood grained high-pressure laminate. The fretboard is of black micarta with side dots only, black micarta bridge, chrome enclosed gears, and the whole instrument features a satin finish.

Mine is similar, but with the added bonus of a Fishman pickup, making it the DX1RE.

But all of this really tells you nothing about the guitar. The tone, the warmth and brightness are impossible to describe. The action is better than any guitar I've ever played, even far more expensive models. (I should also explain that these cost a LOT more over here than in the US).

I love my wife.

Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:50 pm

(I look forward to hearing it some day.)

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:17 pm

Wow, Alatar! That's fantastic. You do indeed have a wonderful wife!

My dad has a Martin he lucked into when he was 18—it was in poor shape, so he got it practically free, then found out what he had when he took it to be repaired. He can no longer play it because years of glucose monitoring (he's diabetic) have made his fingertips too sensitive to pressure. And none of his kids or grandkids play the guitar. I feel a little sad thinking about that guitar—I hope he knows someone who would use it and appreciate it when he's gone.

I've even considered taking lessons. But I've tried out the guitar different times over the years, and I think it's too big for a woman's hands. Better it goes to someone who will treasure and use it.

Post by **Padme** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:45 pm

Wow,

Lucky you. Congratulations.

Post by **vison** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:19 pm

What a lovely gift!

I know nothing whatsoever about guitars, Alatar, but I know when a guy is thrilled with one!!

Enjoy it.

btw, I hear you made a deal on the calendar?

Post by **Alatar** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:57 pm

Yeah! I think he's doing better out of it frankly, but thats the nature of trade! He's getting a Trilogy Tuesday Polystone Film Frame Collectible for a Calendar.

Post by **WampusCat** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:55 am

Congratulations, Alatar! Martin guitars are incredible. Gary wanted one for the longest time and finally found a used one. I thought he'd been overstating the difference in tone, but he wasn't. It sounded so much better than any other guitar he'd played. It's an HD-35 from 1979.

Later, Gary convinced me that Brendan needed a decent guitar -- which to him meant a Martin. So one of his last gifts to his son was a 2005 Martin 000-28 Eric Clapton model.

They both sound great, and I'm sure yours does too.

And I have a Fishman pickup in my harp.

Post by **Lalaith** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:17 am

That's great, Alatar!

Your wife gets major points for this one! What a lovely, thoughtful gift.

Post by **WampusCat** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:56 pm

By the way, happy birthday! May you find joy in every year.

Post by **Alatar** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:26 pm

Thanks guys!

Post by **Crucifer** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:37 pm

I don't know much about guitars (string instruments hate me and I can't play them), but you seem pretty happy with this one. Is it steel or nylon stringed? (I know that makes a huge difference...)

Oh, and happy birthday!

Post by **Alatar** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:45 pm

Oh its steel string. I have a nylon strung as well, but all my other guitars are steel strung. Nylon is only for classical music really.

Post by **solicitr** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:30 pm

Good on you! There are guitars, and then there are Martins. Martin effectively invented the steel-string guitar as we know it. And the tradition! Jimmy Rogers, Hank Williams, Lester Flatt, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney (yes, Blackbird was recorded on a D-28), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joan Baez, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, on and on and on and on.

A company which has been in the same family in the same little town for 180 years- perhaps not so remarkable in Europe, but astonishing in the USA.

Post by **Impenitent** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:53 am

You're a lucky man, Al.

I'm talking about your wife, btw, not the guitar.

What a wonderful, thoughtful gift! I don't know anything about guitars either, so the name and specifications don't mean anything to me - but I can tell you're thrilled by it. Congratulations.

Post by **Angbasdil** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:00 am

A Martin dreadnought? I'm officially jealous.
We wants one preciousssss...

Post by **Hachimitsu** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:03 am

Wow, that is lovely. How the look on your wife's face once you realized what type of guitar it was?

Post by **Angbasdil** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:17 pm

So it's been over a week and you haven't posted any pictures of it.

just sayin'

Post by **Alatar** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:59 am

Well, its very unimpressive to look at. Its when you hold it...

Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:45 am

So it's been over a week and you haven't posted any sound clips of you playing it yet?

just sayin'

Post by **Lindréd** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:12 pm

Hey Alatar, I just came across this thread, and as one who has had and loved a number of guitars (and used them to make my living!) I just wanted to say that I've never ended up with one in such a special, meaningful way! What a gift! I've never been very materialistic about "things", but guitars are different somehow. It's almost like they're alive. When we're lucky a sort of symbiosis between player and instrument can occur......

So, how's it going with the new Martin???
Playing it every day??
Care to post a photo of it?