That right there is some killer playing and… the China copy sounds excellent. Videos like this make me awefully tempted to buy one but I have yet to to take the plunge.
Well i forgot to comment after i got mine. Mine was perfect from the factory. I owned over 170 high end Martin's, Gibsons, Gresch White falcons, a couple old fifties es-295's and tons more at one time when i was collecting guitars. This China copy would hold it's own with any of those. I am still shocked that i would ever say that, but i have played them side by side and if there is much better tone coming from my Martin or Gibsons i must be deaf because i don't hear much difference if any. I never thought i would ever say that but i did. Even the Fishman pre-amp sounds great. Glad i found these guitars. I would never have bought a Chinese guitar before. They used to be junk back in my day (i'm 70 now), but when the big boys took operations to China to save on labor, they didn't pass any savings to their loyal customers and now the Chinese are taking the plans and building good guitars at a fraction of the big boys are charging. I have no loyalty to any company who would profit from cheap labor and not pass a little savings to it's customers. To those who say they wouldn't buy guitars from China, i say well why do you buy more than half of everything else made in China? What's the difference? Can't have it both ways.
My dream guitar, a original Martin D 45.. I played one at a music store once. it was for sale for $8000.... I couldn’t put it down. I did the one hour tour in the Martin factory in Nazareth Pennsylvania watching them build these guitars. It’s memories that will last me a lifetime.
Well this isn’t the American Dream Martin D-45 But it’s a nice 700.00 ( in 2015) Chinese ‘Daydream ‘ of one ! I got lucky had a small shop They really did a good job But I did need a fret crown and level Probably due to heat on the ship and the blown mold mummification packaging Protection yes. Good for new wood - Hell no !
Sounds great! (I think). And congratulations on a great looking guitar at a great price. You can never really tell on guitar sound with recordings, though it certainly seems to play well, and I'm sure it sounds just as good based on your responses.
Great playing Mark! It looks like you are as happy as I am with the gorgeous Chinese D45 Copy.. I like the value for money and do think there is quite a bit of brand snobbery around when it comes to guitars.. If you like the sound and it feels right and looks great (and didn't punch a massive hole in your wallet, then that's your guitar! and in my opinion the Chinese are now building similar quality instruments as the with the 70s Japanese guitar copy renaissance.
Having said that above it should be noted that QC is a bit lacking with many of the Chinese guitars and it's often a gamble buying online sight unseen.. But at these prices it's usually worth the risk (when they cost 10 times less than the 'real deal')..
Sorry last comment.. To anyone thinking of buying through a website like AliExpress, many of the suppliers on request will build a guitar for you without the tacky 'replica' Brand Logos. It is not illegal to buy or own a replica in most countries. However, it is usually illegal (and slightly immoral) to try and sell such 'replicas'.. So I got mine with no logo and no soundhole sticker - took a 6 weeks extra wait time but is worth it if I ever want to re-sell it locally....
I agree there’s some great guitars in there at a great value There’s also some not so great it’s Usually the ridiculously low ones The fit finish and abalone in my D45 was flawless I was shocked as was my friend who owns a D42 Usa There were some fret crowning and leveling I had to do but that was well worth it!
Totally agree with everything you've said - I too had small issues with my D45 replica - The fretboard unglued near the sound hole (under frets 17-20).. Easy fixed with glue and clamps.. Luckily the frets didnt need levelling or crowning although I do have all the tools and know-how if needed.. The supplier I bough from claims to have their own factory (many he told me are one person business who resell from Chinese suppliers).. The Abalone inlay was also amazing and other than the aforementioned problem, the build was flawless (I did replace and setup a new nut saddle as I like my setup to be exact down to
I just ordered a fake D45 from ebay and am waiting to see if i screwed up. Actually for the price i couldn't have screwed up terribly. Can't afford the real thing anyway. Great review by the way! Thank you. I am subscribing today!
Thx DL. They are hit or miss depending on Which factory and which worker QC’d itThe 45 I Got was incredible fit finish immaculate It did have a few high frets but a 90.00 crown n level was well worth it I then ordered a D- 18 clone different seller It was the worst guitar I’ve ever seen My only advice is spring for the case to help temp insulation during intl air and customs Storage. Good luck For the money you will have a cool guitar visually at worst and all around at best!
@@philidorblackmmar7910 sorry that was 6 yrs ago. They change names and come and go Even after 6 -8 months it’s hard to find same again! It’s a crap shoot unless you can find someone Who got a good one recent even then I’ve seen one great and one horrid from the same seller a month apart Good luck Let her roll !
I had a Martin D-45 Brazilian Rosewood "Tree Of Life" custom made for me, It took Martin about 5 months to make for me back in 1990, Now I just bought a Chinese made D-45 with real Rosewood sides and back, Real Ebony Bridge and Fretboard, Bone Nut. It sounds and plays Outstanding, Can't beat the price, I don't have to worry about someone stealing my Martin D-45 now, The Chinese sounds every bit as good as my Brazilian Rosewood D-45. For under a grand, Can't beat it :)
@@patriciosva Same here, I buy/sell Pre-War Martins, I had four 1930's Pre-War Martin D-28 Herringbones. Anything vintage now is out of sight, Out of mind. Stay Safe !!
It was recorded on an iPhone Judging a guitar by its sound on that is foolish.... HAS huge bottom... i realize other videos using a good mic might get closer to the actual sound0- but here, no! Just not captured on the itty bitty tinny iPhone mic i
Martin has over 8 models now made entirely in China And the $1000 guitars made in Korea And Japan are better than the 4k Martins The fact is most American Guitar companies Have models all made in China People said the same closed minded Things about driving a Japanese car In the 70,s People didn’t buy them to be traitors they bought them for better quality and mileage Same is true now for guitars !
Yeah just like to add that one of the benefits of free trade is wars are less likely - Hopefully countries think twice before attacking a trade partner. Bottom line is if you provide a good product or service there will be a market - There is always enough money - Just print more ;)
Agree but this is compressed and recorded on an iPhone-- in a living room It will hold its own But it is voiced different it also is 1500 bucks less expensive!!! Less “ punch” in the financial Gut!😉
Interestingly Martin makes cheaper guitars in the China factory …correction He’s right it’s Mexico not China- but same principle - use cheap labor in a foreign country and use the USA Brand name-they are shipped here - and called a Martin That should not be allowed !! But I agree it is an illegal copy because of the perfectly done inlay one headstock !
@@applianceman6009 you are correct But there’s not much difference in Mexico and China And I think better quality work is now done in China take Eastman A lot of classic vibe fender chinas are very superior to the MIM as well Where it’s crafted these days is secondary 20 years ago it made a huge difference! Why the 45 copy sounds good!
@@applianceman6009 you are correct sir But same principle applies I think I appreciated your forthright- ness I know it bothers you and you still had the honesty to say it sounded good! Rare for some Martin die hards But pricing a D-45 at 8k puts a market up for approximations at 600 bucks !
You play well, but I'm not impressed with that guitar. It might look like a Martin, but it doesn't sound like one to my ear. I'd like to hear something more melodic being played on it. Just out of curiosity.
Nothing sounds too good recorded on an iPhone and compressed by CZcams That was long ago before I had a good mic So I agree It doesn’t have any bottom If you played it in my den tho I think you’d change your mind In 2008 when the layoffs hit I had to sell it Along with a lot of stuff So I can’t do more melodic But I think my Alvarez Masterworks had more if you see any of my other videos w it! But it was close!
That right there is some killer playing and… the China copy sounds excellent. Videos like this make me awefully tempted to buy one but I have yet to to take the plunge.
Well i forgot to comment after i got mine. Mine was perfect from the factory. I owned over 170 high end Martin's, Gibsons, Gresch White falcons, a couple old fifties es-295's and tons more at one time when i was collecting guitars. This China copy would hold it's own with any of those. I am still shocked that i would ever say that, but i have played them side by side and if there is much better tone coming from my Martin or Gibsons i must be deaf because i don't hear much difference if any. I never thought i would ever say that but i did. Even the Fishman pre-amp sounds great. Glad i found these guitars. I would never have bought a Chinese guitar before. They used to be junk back in my day (i'm 70 now), but when the big boys took operations to China to save on labor, they didn't pass any savings to their loyal customers and now the Chinese are taking the plans and building good guitars at a fraction of the big boys are charging. I have no loyalty to any company who would profit from cheap labor and not pass a little savings to it's customers. To those who say they wouldn't buy guitars from China, i say well why do you buy more than half of everything else made in China? What's the difference? Can't have it both ways.
My dream guitar, a original Martin D 45.. I played one at a music store once. it was for sale for $8000.... I couldn’t put it down. I did the one hour tour in the Martin factory in Nazareth Pennsylvania watching them build these guitars. It’s memories that will last me a lifetime.
Well this isn’t the American Dream Martin D-45
But it’s a nice 700.00 ( in 2015) Chinese ‘Daydream ‘ of one !
I got lucky had a small shop
They really did a good job
But I did need a fret crown and level
Probably due to heat on the ship and the blown mold mummification packaging
Protection yes. Good for new wood - Hell no !
great job. I'm diggin that sound
Sounds great! (I think). And congratulations on a great looking guitar at a great price.
You can never really tell on guitar sound with recordings, though it certainly seems to play well, and I'm sure it sounds just as good based on your responses.
Thanks its really all about enjoying it--and you're right the true sound test is in your lap in your living room!!!
beijing bandit....what an appropriate name
What an appropriate Martin Only Holy comment
I like the Beijing Bandit moniker.
greatr guitar, great player....
Awesome!! your play
Lee soo thank you Lee !
Great playing Mark! It looks like you are as happy as I am with the gorgeous Chinese D45 Copy.. I like the value for money and do think there is quite a bit of brand snobbery around when it comes to guitars.. If you like the sound and it feels right and looks great (and didn't punch a massive hole in your wallet, then that's your guitar! and in my opinion the Chinese are now building similar quality instruments as the with the 70s Japanese guitar copy renaissance.
Having said that above it should be noted that QC is a bit lacking with many of the Chinese guitars and it's often a gamble buying online sight unseen.. But at these prices it's usually worth the risk (when they cost 10 times less than the 'real deal')..
Sorry last comment.. To anyone thinking of buying through a website like AliExpress, many of the suppliers on request will build a guitar for you without the tacky 'replica' Brand Logos. It is not illegal to buy or own a replica in most countries. However, it is usually illegal (and slightly immoral) to try and sell such 'replicas'.. So I got mine with no logo and no soundhole sticker - took a 6 weeks extra wait time but is worth it if I ever want to re-sell it locally....
I agree there’s some great guitars in there at a great value
There’s also some not so great it’s
Usually the ridiculously low ones
The fit finish and abalone in my D45 was flawless I was shocked as was my friend who owns a D42 Usa
There were some fret crowning and leveling I had to do but that was well worth it!
Re logo. Yeah many opt to get their own initials or a custom design in abalone. They can do it!
Totally agree with everything you've said - I too had small issues with my D45 replica - The fretboard unglued near the sound hole (under frets 17-20).. Easy fixed with glue and clamps.. Luckily the frets didnt need levelling or crowning although I do have all the tools and know-how if needed.. The supplier I bough from claims to have their own factory (many he told me are one person business who resell from Chinese suppliers).. The Abalone inlay was also amazing and other than the aforementioned problem, the build was flawless (I did replace and setup a new nut saddle as I like my setup to be exact down to
which company did you buy it from. Sounds great!
the seller was Ebest on Dhgate online site
I just ordered a fake D45 from ebay and am waiting to see if i screwed up. Actually for the price i couldn't have screwed up terribly. Can't afford the real thing anyway. Great review by the way! Thank you. I am subscribing today!
Thx DL. They are hit or miss depending on
Which factory and which worker QC’d itThe 45 I Got was incredible fit finish immaculate
It did have a few high frets but a 90.00 crown n level was well worth it
I then ordered a D- 18 clone different seller
It was the worst guitar I’ve ever seen
My only advice is spring for the case to help temp insulation during intl air and customs
Storage. Good luck
For the money you will have a cool guitar visually at worst and all around at best!
@@woodreed52 hi mark , wich seller do u use please? i m lefty and I need one.
@@philidorblackmmar7910 sorry that was 6 yrs ago. They change names and come and go
Even after 6 -8 months it’s hard to find same again!
It’s a crap shoot unless you can find someone
Who got a good one recent even then
I’ve seen one great and one horrid from the same seller a month apart
Good luck
Let her roll !
I had a Martin D-45 Brazilian Rosewood "Tree Of Life" custom made for me, It took Martin about 5 months to make for me back in 1990, Now I just bought a Chinese made D-45 with real Rosewood sides and back, Real Ebony Bridge and Fretboard, Bone Nut. It sounds and plays Outstanding, Can't beat the price, I don't have to worry about someone stealing my Martin D-45 now, The Chinese sounds every bit as good as my Brazilian Rosewood D-45. For under a grand, Can't beat it :)
I collect vintage martins and i agree with you....100%.....i bought a d45 from china and i was wow........
@@patriciosva Same here, I buy/sell Pre-War Martins, I had four 1930's Pre-War Martin D-28 Herringbones. Anything vintage now is out of sight, Out of mind. Stay Safe !!
get real..
This place is full of dreamers and fantasy merchants.
....’sounds every bit as good as my Brazilian Rosewood D45.’
Then you woke up.
Sounds very tinny. Could this guitar have started on the Dobro assembly line? Very little bottom end. Pretty, though.
It was recorded on an iPhone
Judging a guitar by its sound on that is foolish....
HAS huge bottom... i realize other videos using a good mic might get closer to the actual sound0- but here, no!
Just not captured on the itty bitty tinny iPhone mic i
awsome what strings are you using on it?
D’addario med phosphor bronze (un -coated)
Don't mind the naaae sayer's, I say looks and sounds great at any price, very nice playing aswell.
I wish American can made this price and sound plus it look great
I seen these on ebay.. I imagine some sound sound and some have issues... All solid wood...
Awesome guitar! What song is this?
just some riffs i made up..the tuning is the top 2 strings down one whole note
ie EADGAD... if you want to make up your own
mark woodruff Awesome, thank you!
mark woodruff Awesome, thank you!
I love that piece of music. Do you have any own songs? @@woodreed52
where did you get for 450.00 bucks? sounds G8
It was 2016 on DH Gate now are 2x that
I lucked out on quality I had other friends who
Did not ( not my seller )
Sorry,all solid wood copy?
Yes it’s Indonesian rosewood they had no cited limits so it’s very good being 10 yrs ago
O, and while im here. Thanks for helping our enemies attack our own businesses.
Martin has over 8 models now made entirely in China And the $1000 guitars made in Korea
And Japan are better than the 4k Martins
The fact is most American Guitar companies
Have models all made in China
People said the same closed minded
Things about driving a Japanese car
In the 70,s People didn’t buy them to be traitors they bought them for better quality and mileage
Same is true now for guitars !
Yeah just like to add that one of the benefits of free trade is wars are less likely - Hopefully countries think twice before attacking a trade partner. Bottom line is if you provide a good product or service there will be a market - There is always enough money - Just print more ;)
I don’t know, it looks great but no punch like my D-28
Agree but this is compressed and recorded on an iPhone-- in a living room
It will hold its own But it is voiced different it also is 1500 bucks less expensive!!! Less “ punch” in the financial Gut!😉
Someone in China stole the bass response.
I think that would be someone in California stealing the Bass - (my iPhone )
as I was using it’s mic
Live it’s got plenty of bottom end
Good guitar, but they shouldn’t be branding it as a “Martin”. It is not a Martin, and it should never be sold as one. However, it is not a bad guitar.
Interestingly Martin makes cheaper guitars in the China factory …correction He’s right it’s Mexico not China- but same principle - use cheap labor in a foreign country and use the USA Brand name-they are shipped here - and called a Martin
That should not be allowed !!
But I agree it is an illegal copy because of the perfectly done inlay one headstock !
Martin only makes their guitars in Nazareth, PA and Navajoa, MX. I have never seen a Chinese-built authentic Martin.
@@applianceman6009 you are correct
But there’s not much difference in Mexico and China
And I think better quality work is now done in China take Eastman
A lot of classic vibe fender chinas are very superior to the MIM as well
Where it’s crafted these days is secondary
20 years ago it made a huge difference!
Why the 45 copy sounds good!
@@applianceman6009 you are correct sir
But same principle applies I think
I appreciated your forthright- ness
I know it bothers you and you still had the honesty to say it sounded good!
Rare for some Martin die hards
But pricing a D-45 at 8k puts a market up for approximations at 600 bucks !
You play well, but I'm not impressed with that guitar. It might look like a Martin, but it doesn't sound like one to my ear. I'd like to hear something more melodic being played on it. Just out of curiosity.
Nothing sounds too good recorded on an iPhone and compressed by CZcams
That was long ago before I had a good mic So I agree
It doesn’t have any bottom
If you played it in my den tho I think you’d change your mind
In 2008 when the layoffs hit I had to sell it
Along with a lot of stuff
So I can’t do more melodic
But I think my Alvarez Masterworks had more if you see any of my other videos w it! But it was close!
Buy a guild
I have - I own a Guild ! And a Martin D41
And a Santa Cruz
The Bandit can keep up with them no problem!