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- 18,771
Guitar Centering
- Thread starter la szum
- Start date
- Messages
- 18,771
Ever have an experience that is both underwhelming and inspiring? 
Well, that was my most recent trip to GC. Extremely underwhelming, and
also totally inspiring.
I did hawk off 2 Marshalls and 2 Telecasters, and left with some tasty store credit
and 2 brand new Tweed cases to be filled at a later date.
Buy the cases, first, right? Because Nature abhors a vacuum.
Nothing I played floated my boat. That was the underwhelming part. And I played a lot
of different Acoustics and Telecasters.
It made me realize that I have a lot of really freaking great guitars that in my hands, and
to my ears, are a better fit for me than what was in that store.
The Martins were yawn-tastic.
I played a couple of D28s and a D18. They are great. $3k-4k great!! They just sounded subdued, and
a bit too rolled off on the top, for me. And then the Taylors were just the opposite.They were too top-endy,
and a bit brash sounding, to my ears.
In all honesty, the best Acoustic I heard was a Made In Japan Red Label Yamaha. God damn,
that had the perfect balance between lows, mids, and highs.
I just didn't hear that with the
Martins and Taylors. Martins were warm, but not very punchy, The Taylors were punchy, but
not every bright.
As for the Telecasters, I just didn't find one in that store that felt as good in my hands as what
I already have. Played all of the 75th Anniversary Telecasters. From the Payer Series (that silver sparkle
looks cool in person) up to the Ultra. Some great guitars, but just not enough of a jump up in
tone or playability for me to make the leap. Maybe I need to go Custom Shop. We'll see.
Well, that was my most recent trip to GC. Extremely underwhelming, and
also totally inspiring.
I did hawk off 2 Marshalls and 2 Telecasters, and left with some tasty store credit
and 2 brand new Tweed cases to be filled at a later date.
Buy the cases, first, right? Because Nature abhors a vacuum.
Nothing I played floated my boat. That was the underwhelming part. And I played a lot
of different Acoustics and Telecasters.
It made me realize that I have a lot of really freaking great guitars that in my hands, and
to my ears, are a better fit for me than what was in that store.
The Martins were yawn-tastic.
I played a couple of D28s and a D18. They are great. $3k-4k great!! They just sounded subdued, and
a bit too rolled off on the top, for me. And then the Taylors were just the opposite.They were too top-endy,
and a bit brash sounding, to my ears.
In all honesty, the best Acoustic I heard was a Made In Japan Red Label Yamaha. God damn,
that had the perfect balance between lows, mids, and highs.
I just didn't hear that with theMartins and Taylors. Martins were warm, but not very punchy, The Taylors were punchy, but
not every bright.
As for the Telecasters, I just didn't find one in that store that felt as good in my hands as what
I already have. Played all of the 75th Anniversary Telecasters. From the Payer Series (that silver sparkle
looks cool in person) up to the Ultra. Some great guitars, but just not enough of a jump up in
tone or playability for me to make the leap. Maybe I need to go Custom Shop. We'll see.
- Messages
- 18,771
Cool aside. When I walked into the Acoustic Room there was a guy in there already playing. He
had some really tasty finger-style chops. Kind of Leo Kotke-esque. I told him so. "Nice playing!"
He did a great instrumental version of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World."
We chatted for over an hour and compared notes and tastes. He loved the Martins. I was underwhelmed.
He also really dug the jangliness of the Taylors. Me. Again. Not so much.
But we both can play and have decades of experience. So?
He said he transitioned full time to "acoustic" over a year ago. I told him I was not giving up
entirely on the "electric."
He was way balder than I am..... so that was reassuring.
#oldguysolding
had some really tasty finger-style chops. Kind of Leo Kotke-esque. I told him so. "Nice playing!"
He did a great instrumental version of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World."
We chatted for over an hour and compared notes and tastes. He loved the Martins. I was underwhelmed.
He also really dug the jangliness of the Taylors. Me. Again. Not so much.
But we both can play and have decades of experience. So?
He said he transitioned full time to "acoustic" over a year ago. I told him I was not giving up
entirely on the "electric."
He was way balder than I am..... so that was reassuring.
#oldguysolding
