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Should you buy a factory made or boutique acoustic guitar? Why I sold my
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- čas přidán 19. 08. 2024
- #BoutiqueGuitar #GibsonAcoustic #GuitarDemo
If you're buying used, the gap between boutique guitars and factory made guitars gets a lot closer. Should you buy a large builder like @gibsonguitar or a boutique builder like Huss and Dalton or @CollingsGuitars?
This video breaks down a lot of the differences between factory-built guitars and boutique builders.
It also explains why I'm selling my Gibson J-45.
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My wife says the most helpful part of the video for her was that she learned that we can sell guitars to finance future purchases instead of letting them pile up. Thanks a lot.
I agree, but I have guitars that are seldom played but loved and valuable. Hard to let those go.
i sold the wife.
It's ok to get your dream guitar and then realize that it isn't your real dream guitar.....it happens all the time
You are soo right.
In the end, it comes down to what you can afford. The guitar doesn’t make the player. Embrace what you can afford and enjoy.
Those guitars are so different from one another. That Gibson sound is divisive. Most either love it or hate it. It has a woody sound that I call the Gibson "thum". Like you said, no one does burst like Gibson and it's a great looking guitar. But perrsonally, I like clear and present sound, which leans more Martin sounding. Huss & Dalton make Martin-ish guitars. In my opinion, you made the right choice!
I went into the top guitar shop in Sydney and played all their best factory guitars. Maton, Cole Clark, Taylor. They were all very nice guitars, but then I found a 2nd hand Luthier Built guitar in the shop. The factory guitars couldn’t come close to matching the tone and resonance. I paid the same amount for a 2nd hand luthier built guitar as I would have paid for new top of the range factory guitars. Yes it doesn’t look as fancy as the factory guitars but the tone is unmatched.
This is the second video of yours I've been suggested by CZcams. I'm subscribing 30% because of your great content, but 70% just because you seem like my kind of person.
Love both, but that Huss and Dalton is just dreamy.
Awesome video. My grandson just purchased a Gibson J-45 in Rosewood. He saved his money and got it on his own and loves it ($2,250.00).
It's a little different from the standard J-45 and has a slightly narrower body but other than that it's pure J-45. I'm a Martin fan but after hearing and playing this Gibson, I love it too. I think it's the Rosewood that sold me on the sound(Gibson offered Rosewood for this model in 2020)
I own a 1965 Epiphone Texan FT79N which has the solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. But eventually, I will own my dream guitar, a Martin D-28 with the scalloped bracing. Fingers crossed.
Sorry for the long post. Love your videos.
ive had a santa cruz, huss and dalton. old gibson, old martins, but once i got into handmade nylon string guitars thats when i discovered guitar making wizardry! Jeremy pray you dont get the classical bug, it took me over! Love your vids man!
Lol!!! Me too!!! I've spent more on Classical guitars. They're unbelievable luthiers around the world! They are magical guitars. A concert Classical guitar is unbelievable. It's like having a vintage fender strat with a vintage marshall stack and a kick a pedal board all inside this clsssical guitar all at your fingertips.
I am slowly going that direction...pray for me lol! 🐰❤️🎸🎵🤝✌️
The sound of these guitars is quite similar to my old ears.I think that we hear with our hearts sometimes.
I like the Gibby more. It just has that wonderful thing that good guitars do. It's hard to explain but it's this kind of resonance/bounce back that's just killer. Old Martins often have it but not all Gibsons do.
You missed Bourgeois, Thompson and for those who are Irish, Lowden & half dozen others. Like a (Kevin) Kopp built in Montana. Great video Jeremy. I love my (banner) J45, my old Martin D-28, my Taylor 614ce, and still dream of a Kopp, Bourgeois, H&D and whatever. Thanks Jeremy.
You're right. I mentioned Thompson and Lowden on my "favorite brands a to z" video a few weeks ago. czcams.com/video/uEYnu7HNyB4/video.html
Thank you for mentioning Kopp. I love Kevin’s guitars and think they deserve far more recognition and a bigger following.
Lowdown are great if you can stand the bridge shape aweful looking bridge on then shame as they are amazing guitars
That J-45's voice always got me 😍
I can't believe you sold that J-45....it sounds incredible.
Agreed. I preferred that to the H&D, personally.
He has a family. I'm sure this is a great supplement to his income.
It's soooo good. J-45s can be unpredictable but that one's great.
I owned a Collings OM 1 and Larrivee Om 09....... I sold the Collings because I liked the Larrivee better. Who would of thunk !!!!!!!!
I love the Gibson J45. I kept trading up until I got a J45 this past year. and I’ll never sell it. I love the 24.75” scale length on the Gibson. And since I’m dying of a rare blood disease, I now have my dream guitar checked off on my bucket list. I hear some fret buzz further down the fretboard on the Huss & Dalton.
I am so sorry to hear that. Let me know if I can help.
Jeremy Sheppard Thanks Jeremy
Jeremy. This just shows again what a good heart you have. I’m probably about your parents age and can tell they have raised you right. Would like to meet you someday. Keep up the good work
This video should be sub-titled “Saying good bye to a friend” I think
At the level where you reach pro level guitars I think you just need to find 'the' guitar that inspires you. I play a Martin HD28 that was gifted to me by a band I worked with... And I love it. But I always think it dangerous to put me in a room with a Hummingbird or a good Southern Jumbo as I fear a deal may have to be done... Im glad you haven't stopped at the J45. They are great, but a dream guitar? I def think there's more milage and discussion to be had if you were to continue to work your way up to the next tier.
I've owned a bunch of acoustic guitars, including a couple of boutique models. Right now my favorite guitar is a 2008 Gibson Advanced Jumbo that I acquired a little while back. It is the best Gibson I've ever played or heard. It looks great too, with the burst, inlays, old scribe Gibson logo, and tiger stripe pickguard. Great vid man. Thanks Jeremy!
Personal I think the Advanced Jumbo is Gibson's best guitar!! I mean as far as their Standard models.. Custom Shops not included. But even then the AJ is hard to beat!!
If anyone has a Gibson Advance Jumbo in really good condition and wants to maybe trade for a D-35 in basically Mint condition..hit me up. ( Oh and/or a Southern Jumbo too 😁👊✌️)
I sure appreciate all you do! Currently lying in a hospital bed but these videos are great distraction and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and your work
Oh Jake! I'm praying for you man. I'm glad you like my work. Glad we're in it together.
Jeremy Sheppard
Thank you man I really appreciate it
I was listening through a bluetooth speaker, and could easily hear that B was much "better" sounding. I have never played a Huss & Dalton, but they are on my radar. I am looking for a Santa Cruz OM...that's my "dream" guitar, at least right now. I have never liked the sound of Taylor guitars or Gibson acoustics, and I have played a lot of them.
Cool demo/information, Jeremy. 🐰❤️🎸🎵🤝✌️
I also try to buy "Made in the USA" so we don't get into the same issue with PPE from China.
You mean "Q.C." lol? (Quality control)
@@Roosterscoope Eastman's (China) guitars are amazing and are put together phenomenally. Gibson's (USA) heastocks are notorious for snapping. Where something is made doesn't immediately make it good or bad.
American fender and gibson have terrible qc. I've played Chinese yamahas that are better put together then some USA made guitars. And they're way cheaper.
Hi Jeremy, I have recently come across your videos and I am hooked. I am only 19 but I have a huge fascination with vintage and rare guitars. Keep on making the great videos, I hope that one day I will be able to visit some of the awesome American guitar stores.
Great video! My Holy Grail is a Greenfield G4 or G2. Mr. Greenfield is a true wizard but he only builds around 20 to 25 guitars a year and his base price is around $10,000.
I like Gibson guitars but the huss Dalton is a different class for sure but the old saying is always got room for just one more guitar enjoy your video
Recently your videos started showing up in the recommended, so I have started watching. Really enjoying the content, and you seem like a good dude! Thanks for being you. This topic is interesting to me, based on a recent experience I had. I no longer think "boutique" guitars are inherently better than "factory" guitars. Not all factories are the same, nor all all small shops. Late last year I got to spend an afternoon @ Chicago music exchange, trying all sorts of guitars from big shops to little ones. I was anticipating the small, hand made guitars I had heard so much about. I played new, used, various sizes, etc from Collings, Santa Cruz, one from Ireland that I can't recall the name, etc. I don't recall H&D specifically in the group. Many of them sounded a bit like a Martin or Gibson, just a little different each time. Many of them were great, some just "good". None of them excited me more than times when I have played a well made guitar from Martin, Taylor, Gibson. So far, Gibson is the most hit or miss in general for me. Their builds seem less refined and less consistent than most everything else I've encountered, which is so frustrating.
I've had quite a few "factory" and "boutique" guitars, and you can get a dud from both. However, you are much more likely to not get a dud from the boutique builders, ie: santa cruz, collings, bourgeois, h&d, goodall, etc.
I'm currently playing a pre*war guitar co. 000 and it rules.
Problem with Gibson is they make 10% blow your mind best guitars out there and 90% shit boxes. I own a custom shop les Paul which is more a boutique brand within a household name brand. Otherwise play 10 before you buy one. Collings on the other hand make instruments that are scary consistent. Fender and Gibson make great custom shop electric guitars but otherwise 9 X out of 10 they are trash and not even worth anything other than the resale value.
Side note Collings rejects 90% of their Adirondack tops if that tells you anything about the quality control. I’m sure the rest trickle down from builder to builder until they wind up at a mega factory.
I’ve played and owned Gibson hummingbirds, J-45 etc... that blew my mind but maybe 3 out of a hundred disappointments. Martin is very consistent at their standard range even then some stand out more than others. I will say that they are more bang for your buck at that level and at the custom shop line; those are among the best guitars in the world even among the boutique wanna bees. When it comes to tone.
As an owner of a cannon 2016 J45 (there’s a waitlist for folks to inherit it should I die) I’d say getting one of the rare very well made factory guitars shouldn’t be counted on vs the higher rate of OMG coming out of the boutique folks
That's a great point.
J45 is my dream guitar, on one of them anyway and i tought it sounded best here also.
Both great but you can’t deny there’s just something about the Gibson J45 it’s has a distinct sound and looks far cooler
I bought a used Huss & Dalton D-RH. It needed a new nut. I had a luthier put one in, and I didn’t like the job he did, I had to have another luthier do it over. There’s also a bit of fret buzz a few places. It’s a great guitar and I’m not complaining, but like any guitar, over time things come up and work needs to be done.
I am a SJ Fan boy too, favorite acoustic I own. There is a Huss up my way I am trying to snag.
It's always hard to let em go!
Didn't realize Gibson made quite that many acoustics per year, crazy. Still loving my Hummingbird though
12,000 guitars made but roughly 30 people building them, so actually the numbers aren’t that far off.
Same with me, i worked my way up through buy and selling guitars.. Now i have martin 000 28 reimagined, luthier made cocobolo bolo back and sides engelmann top 42 style and a lx1e. Actually the fun part is not the profit... Its about testing almost all kinds of brands of guitars till you find a keeper.
It's clearly that you like Martin sound with H&D, it sounds amazing.. But for a blues player like me j45 has a nasal thump that i like, and I've played here and there.. why I fell in love with it, when u strumm it u have kinda chorus effect which i did not hear in any guitar so far.. I play mostly Taylor gs mini with baggs in it.. Too bad you did not keep Gibby.. 🙂
You neglected one of the most important factory vs boutique elements - how the tops are braced. Factories brace all guitars with CNC cut braces. Boutique builders hand brace and tap the tips so each guitar is braced specifically for that guitars particular wood. Big difference.
That's true! Good point.
Gibson=Rolex
H&D=Patek Phillipe
Well said.
@@JeremySheppard nice video man, ya got a new sub.
I have an obscure Acoustic guitar.. Abilene. ..is the brand....it's cheap in price but it plays so easy and tone wise is hard to beat, we had a jam.. My friend had a high end Taylor..... YET from another room my OTHER bass playing pal said that Taylor is awesome in tone....rich and FULL... but he wasn't hearing the Taylor....haha. It was my Abilene............🎸🎶🎶
Leesa Gomez that’s cool! What model do you have?
@@burperusmaximus it has a WALNUT Body... it's an AW- 015 see #12309351. 09 year ? She is Sweet sounding....👍🎶🎸
@@leesagomez6615 thanks for replying, i'm gonna start looking for one
Trying to get my hands on a Santa Cruz 🙏🏻 hopefully soon 🤞🏻
They're great guitars no doubt
The H&D reminds me of Atkin, a British small-volume maker whose guitars look like more expensive Martin replicas. Their models have names like "The Essential D". They're still not as expensive as a H&D though (who only have three dealers in the UK).
I kinda like the mellow highs on the Gibson.
Gibson sounds woody boutique sounds more musical
One thing overlooked is that custom made guitars are hand voiced, taking the top down much thinner to find it’s perfect thickness for musicality , there also braced lighter .. Gibson doesn’t want a lot of guitars coming back for warranty work, therefor a custom made guitar should have much better tone and range than a factory made guitar bc they are paying attention to each piece of wood .. and thicknessing accordingly, and then voicing it by hand.. all factory made guitars have the exact same top thickness , so like 1 out of 20 might be in the range of that piece of woods musicality
Burchette Sloped D.
IMO Gray Burchette, in Elkin NC makes the finest sounding guitars in the nation.
If you can find someone willing to give theirs up, buy it.
They are worth the $6,000 for a basic no frills model.
I never thought I'd say that about any guitar.
Great video bro! Both guitars sound incredible and you did a great job honouring them both. Can’t wait for the new mystery/surprise guitar!
Gibson’s are very mid rangey! I love that.
They are so magical. Wait till you see what comes in its place.
The J45 sounds better, to me the other one sounds a little dead
Vintage’ Gibsons are consistently wonderful and have that Gibson Tone. Newer generation Montana Gibsons can be quite good-but like most new factory guitars -be it Martin, Gibson or Taylor -some will really shine over others. The Huss’ in your Video-is basically a refined high end Martin D-18 style guitar. I wouldn’t consider the Huss’ a Boutique Acoustic -I would consider it a Small high end -small factory build -like Collins or Santa Cruz. Boutique Guitars are hand crafted by individual Luthiers from start to finish. Top boutique builders typically have a 2+ years waiting list. -Dream Guitars’ out of Asheville’ NC. specializes/Carries Boutique Acoustics from world class individual Makers. -Both those Guitars sound fantastic. Love the Warmth of that J-45. If I was primarily flat picking Bluegrass Id want that Huss/Dalton.
Man although ima huge gibson fan due to the fact that I've always had gibsons( currently have a 1993 gibson gospel) I do think you made the right choice I am hugely against the newer gibson j45s they just done sound like they used to.
Guess I got lucky and picked one of the good ones of this era lol mine is a 2018 model...sounds like a bell
There are a lot of makers making Martin golden era clones for the same price as a Martin standard! Then you consider the quality of tonewood, they either use torrefied wood (an upcharge at Martin or gibson) or naturally aged tonewood 20 plus years old. So if you are going to spend big bucks it seems sensible to go to the consistent small builders with better aftercare. If you just want a good guitar go shopping, try everything and you may find a cheapo guitar that does everything you need.for.a.fraction of the cost!
If I save three years I will be able to buy a guitar an start learning to play.
There are great options for $100 and up. You can learn long before that.
I actually seriously preferred B in every way to the point it surprised even myself. It sounds so much more full, with brighter brights, fuller mids, and warm resonating bass tone. Compared to the Gibson it seemed "fine" it wasn't the worst or anything by any means but it all just felt very flat and short sounding. Not to be insulting but it sounded "dull" like it covered in a thin layer of dust ( Idk how else to describe it lol ). I wish I could explain myself better I apologize for that, but personally, I dislike my acoustic atm its alike 2000-200 ( that's the year I purchased it I was in high school so I'm guessing the guitar was made in 2000- 2003 because I got it around 2003-2004 ) Rainsong Dreadnought ... It's pretty much this exact guitar I will link but my neck inlays are just dots *they have the nice pearl abalone swirl effect in them still though, and it's right-handed lol* But that Gibson even though the body shape of my guitar is more similar to the guitar body on A (martin body style) it sounds a lot more like the Gibson except a little better because of the carbon-fiber soundboard * which I hate now * but have to admit it really does cause my guitar to have much more resonance than the Gibson. .... Idk sorry if this if I'm making no sense and seem like a crazy person rambling.
I would love to sell this Rainsong, it's honestly a great guitar with a pretty decent sound and still easily worth its money to most players I would think. But sadly, I have too much sentimental attachment to the guitar, I lost my father in 2018 whom I was very close with and although he didn't play music * no one else in the family does * he loved me so much that he took the time to do tons of research for a good acoustic guitar back when I was too young to care but my dad saw the potential I had and found that guitar online when they were a super small company I think back then but the very first to do carbon fiber if I'm not mistaken and he was a tech guy and loved that part. So he matched my half and a half on the price so I could get this guitar. And now that he's gone I can't bring myself to trade this thing, and I've also had the damn thing nearing 20 years. I'm a 34 yo man but damn if it still doesn't hit me in the feels a little too much to bear getting rid of it now that he's gone. I'm doing what I can to save for a guitar that fits the sound I know I prefer which is a more Martin ( similar shape from the Dave Mathews acoustic set he did back in the day ), Taylor body style, or Greenfield but I'll never be able to afford that. Honestly I doubt I'll ever be able to afford even a Martin or Taylor, I haven't been able to work for the past decade due to Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Crohn's both aren't always so debilitating but unfortunately for me, I have aggressive versions of both. So I'm doing commission artwork ( portraits, designs, things like that. ) all I can to make a little cash now and then but I'll be damn near 60 before I get another really decent acoustic.
I personally am a singer-songwriter, but I love doing complete instrumental music in lots of crazy open tunings. I grew up listening to Andy McKee / Dave Mathews/ Days Of The New, and the like. All alongside all the heavier bands like Meshuggah and Opeth ( their acoustic album is my favorite lol) that got me into other styles of music. But I AWAYS come back to being an acoustic guitar player more than anything else as much as I try lol. I am just more inspired by them when I play them and the music I'm able to make at times with acoustic guitars. I've just recently found your channel and have really been enjoying, so thank you for that and also I use to live right outside New Orleans when I was growing up! I lived in Mandeville! Been in NC since 2000 now but I'm still a Cajun at heart. It never goes away.
**** edit: I literally was just cleaning and restringing my rain song guitar and had been noticing tons of fret buzz * know the frets are level, and bridge/nut are both fine it just had too little relief* and wanting to adjust my truss rod freely with strings off since I knew it likely just needed a little more relief and when I did it I heard a loud CRACK lol never had that before but I'm screwed because after that I panicked a bit and tried to compensate for what I thought may have happened and now the rod is completely stripped... I can't get it to turn at all even with a brand new key with crisp edges... I'm fairly certain my guitar is now ruined... Sooooo bit of heartbreak going on for me now today for many reasons... It's my only acoustic for starters and the connection to my dad I wrote about... so yeah it's been a wonderful day. Super sarcastic I can't even lie, it made me as a grown man cry. Sigh.... not sure what I'll do now. taking it to a friend who has a shop today but I know enough to know this is really bad and over the phone, my friend isn't sure what all he can do. It may need a truss rod replacement which is like a grand so not worth it even if I could afford it...
Love my Goodall TROM. Best sound ever.
HD is better IMO. But the Gibson is great - Love it's round shoulders and shorter scale length. Congrats to the person who got it.
Hi Jeremy I am having my first custom build from a luither in your neck of the woods located in Markham.I am in Cal.Love your vids!!!
I too hate those pickguards on the J-45. I always feel like something is going to accidentally get caught on it and I'll accidentally rip it off.
or knock it over and wind up with on e of those notorious Gibson broken headstocks!
Didn’t know the J45 was short scale. Hmmm? Now I want one.
The Gibson is just so cool though there’s just something about the J45 I changed the nut the saddle and the pins to all bone
Hey Jeremy… the depreciation calculation is staggering to me…. I currently have a "1 of 1" Everett N model dreadnought made for my by Kent Carlos Everett back in 1998….sitka top, brazilian back and sides…. a killer instrument...lots of one-off touches…. a ridiculously expensive instrument when new….I would never sell it… but..it's baffling to me to think that is probably valued less than a factory made D-45 from the same year even though the specs are similar and the construction is far superior…..really makes no sense to me but I guess its all about perceived value and what the market is willing to pay…… the lesson, i guess, is that if you want a boutique instrument be prepared to keep it for life….
I prefer the J-45 without a doubt. Why? Because the H & D sounds like lots of other good guitars, and nothing sounds like a Gibson. If you already have a Martin, or a Boutique guitar, you may want a standard Gibson for its unique sound. Oh, and I would take a Tusq nut over a bone nut any day, because it really helps the guitar stay in tune. I know that some of the J-45's came with Tusq nuts.
I’d be interested in seeing how you package a guitar for shipping.
I've done one of those but I'll do a new one.
I found the centre bookmark joint on my 170 GBP Fender, and counted the rings. There are 71 years worth of Alaskan / British Columbian Sitka there. 😊
As for the neck: Is there 'magic mahogany' somewhere?
I'm holding out for a torrefied top Bourgeois guitar made in collaboration with Eastman.
Tell us more about it!
Lexonn bourgeoisguitars.net/our-news/bourgeois-eastman-collaboration-update/
I have a 'budget' Eastman PCH acoustic and the quality for a sub $300 guitar is incredible. Stated to be handmade. Whatever their just great!!!
You're right about Reverb gouging. I listed a guitar before the price change and figured I'd be grandfathered to old rate. Nope. Stupid!
Have you tried GBase?
@@JeremySheppard I have not. I usually list them at the acoustic guitar forum or UMGF at the same time as I list them on reverb.
Nope, Like eBay and other sites, the commission is calculated at the time of sale. Same thing with your realtor: the commission is not calculated at the time of listing, and I think most people would rather not have it calculated at the asking/listing price.
i bet a major difference is (much as i love my 66J45) that there is a ton of glue all over the inside of the J45.
Might never have noticed without the H&D comparison, but the J45 sounds overbuilt. Like you would have to really punch at that thing with a thick pick to get it to sing, infinite clean headroom. The H&D seems to boom just from finger picking, it makes me wonder if it has the clean headroom to give you much more with a pick. If so, I want one.
BTW, I liked the H&D sound much better than the Gibson. The Gibson sounded a little dead to me - the H&D sounded alive, full of breath.
Totally opposite experience for me, w/ my ears hah. That's why there are so many different brands, 2 people will hear and like 2 completely different things.
Tickled Elmo
Exactly, and the other reason there are so many different brands is on person might like the sound of both of these guitars, but perhaps when he/she plays them both neither feels right.
Of course, there is always the fact that everyone has a different budget. Thankfully, I’m finally to the point where my budget allows me the option to buy American made acoustics above the most basic models.
SAME I actually seriously preferred B in every way to the point it surprised even myself. It sounds so much more full, with brighter brights, fuller mids, and warm resonating bass tone. Compared to the Gibson it seemed "fine" it wasn't the worst or anything by any means but it all just felt very flat and short sounding. Not to be insulting but it sounded "dull" like it covered in a thin layer of dust ( Idk how else to describe it lol ). I wish I could explain myself better I apologize for that, but personally, I dislike my acoustic atm its alike 2000-200 ( that's the year I purchased it I was in high school so I'm guessing the guitar was made in 2000- 2003 because I got it around 2003-2004 ) Rainsong Dreadnought ... It's pretty much this exact guitar I will link but my neck inlays are just dots they have the nice pearl abalone swirl effect in them still though, and it's right-handed lol But that Gibson even though the body shape of my guitar is more similar to the guitar body on A (martin body style) it sounds a lot more like the Gibson except a little better because of the carbon-fiber soundboard * which I hate now * but have to admit it really does cause my guitar to have much more resonance than the Gibson. .... Idk sorry if this if I'm making no sense and seem like a crazy person rambling.
I would love to sell this Rainsong, it's honestly a great guitar with a pretty decent sound and still easily worth its money to most players I would think. But sadly, I have too much sentimental attachment to the guitar, I lost my father in 2018 whom I was very close with and although he didn't play music * no one else in the family does * he loved me so much that he took the time to do tons of research for a good acoustic guitar back when I was too young to care but my dad saw the potential I had and found that guitar online when they were a super small company I think back then but the very first to do carbon fiber if I'm not mistaken and he was a tech guy and loved that part. So he matched my half and a half on the price so I could get this guitar. And now that he's gone I can't bring myself to trade this thing, and I've also had the damn thing nearing 20 years. I'm a 34 yo man but damn if it still doesn't hit me in the feels a little too much to bear getting rid of it now that he's gone. I'm doing what I can to save for a guitar that fits the sound I know I prefer which is a more Martin ( similar shape from the Dave Mathews acoustic set he did back in the day ), Taylor body style, or Greenfield but I'll never be able to afford that. Honestly I doubt I'll ever be able to afford even a Martin or Taylor, I haven't been able to work for the past decade due to Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Crohn's both aren't always so debilitating but unfortunately for me, I have aggressive versions of both. So I'm doing commission artwork ( portraits, designs, things like that. ) all I can to make a little cash now and then but I'll be damn near 60 before I get another really decent acoustic.
I personally am a singer-songwriter, but I love doing complete instrumental music in lots of crazy open tunings. I grew up listening to Andy McKee / Dave Mathews/ Days Of The New, and the like. All alongside all the heavier bands like Meshuggah and Opeth ( their acoustic album is my favorite lol) that got me into other styles of music. But I AWAYS come back to being an acoustic guitar player more than anything else as much as I try lol. I am just more inspired by them when I play them and the music I'm able to make at times with acoustic guitars. I've just recently found your channel and have really been enjoying, so thank you for that and also I use to live right outside New Orleans when I was growing up! I lived in Mandeville! Been in NC since 2000 now but I'm still a Cajun at heart. It never goes away.
** edit: I literally was just cleaning and restringing my rain song guitar and had been noticing tons of fret buzz * know the frets are level, and bridge/nut are both fine it just had too little relief* and wanting to adjust my truss rod freely with strings off since I knew it likely just needed a little more relief and when I did it I heard a loud CRACK lol never had that before but I'm screwed because after that I panicked a bit and tried to compensate for what I thought may have happened and now the rod is completely stripped... I can't get it to turn at all even with a brand new key with crisp edges... I'm fairly certain my guitar is now ruined... Sooooo bit of heartbreak going on for me now today for many reasons... It's my only acoustic for starters and the connection to my dad I wrote about... so yeah it's been a wonderful day. Super sarcastic I can't even lie, it made me as a grown man cry. Sigh.... not sure what I'll do now. taking it to a friend who has a shop today but I know enough to know this is really bad and over the phone, my friend isn't sure what all he can do. It may need a truss rod replacement which is like a grand so not worth it even if I could afford it...
@@pooppancake8750 Thumbs up for the effort you put into this post :-) that's a lot!
Huss and Dalton hands down.
You and me both!
It looks like the top of the Gibson is bowing just above the bridge and causing the pick guard to come loose. Perhaps there is something going on with the bracing that is allowing that bowing to occur!
Couldn't tell a difference really, i was thinking the Huss was rosewood and was trying to hear that bass difference lol
Listen with headphones or good speakers.
Headphones.
Hi Jeremy, Instead of buying a Boutique guitar, why not split the difference and get a Martin CS-Bluegrass-16? The Martin Custom Shop made a 100 of them in 2016 for their Dreadnought Centennial. It's a Martin HD-28 at it's heart, but mine has a VTS Bearclaw Adirondack top, Hide Glue construction, and Guatemalan rosewood back and sides that may actually be Amazon rosewood...but, looks like Brazilian. It costs about what that 1967 D-28 did, that you brought home a few weeks ago. If you can locate one, you should try doing a video on it. Thanks for sharing!
So much money for a 16 series though. I'd go with a Martin like that too!
@@JeremySheppard They call it the -16, because they made them in 2016...they aren't really a Martin 16 series guitar. It's really a mixture of a D-28 Golden Era and a D-28 Clarence White. And then they added hot hide glue construction and torrified top and braces. They couldn't use Brazilian back and sides, so they used something very close. Just Google "martin guitars design of the bluegrass-16".
I actually like that super dry Gibson tone, especially for singing along with. I hate that I like it, but can’t help it (don’t like Gibson as a brand).
Great video.
I lucked up enough and found an stonebridge sr D35 hand built by frank furch never have I played and martin or a gibson that was anything close to it and I paid pretty much 4× less for the furch
The J45 pickguard material is very bad. I changed it. My baby guitar for all time... ;)
Idk how fair of a comparison this is. A big factor is that Gibson guitars would be $1-2k less than any boutique guitar manufacturer. And Gibson will typically accrue in value better than a boutique guitar because of the brand name.
Great video man enjoying the channel
Jeremy. Ever did a video on the higher end Seagulls?
Would love the Huss and dalton. Will never be able to afford it. Loved the sound very mellow.
That H&D sounds good but looks like a fake Martin)
Bought a locally made acoustic that kills my friends Martin's.
I had a chance to buy a 2014 H&D TD-M torrified adi top with sinker mahogany for $5K Canadian, but I didn't respond to the ad in the first two days and the guitar was snapped up and I'm having non-buyer remorse.
one time I turned 50$ into a taylor 414ce
Wow! That's really impressive.
I intended to get a Martin dread, but accidentally got a Huss & Dalton, because I stumbled upon it at a good price used. So now I've never had a Martin. Strange. I have a Gibson, a Fender, a Guild, and some others, but no Martin.
Me too! Glad we're in the club. What did you get?
@@JeremySheppard Huss & Dalton D-RH.
It’s Gibson vs Martin style guitar so it’s not really a fair comparison.
It's comparing boutique vs factory made but it could be closer if I had a boutique vs same style factory guitar.
Don’t forget the Martin and Taylor custom shops....another viable choice
I love my 2007 Gibson j45 but the pickguard is off center
So what's the mystery guitar, a J 200 . Or a Elvis Model.Hahaha.🎸😎🎸😵😵
I preferred A in the sound samples, which tracks pretty well since I own and play a 2015 J45 just about every day haha. I liked the H&D too, though.
I am a little skeptical that the small difference in scale length makes much of a difference. My 24.9" scale Martin still sounds like a Martin and not like a Gibson even though the scale length is much closer to Gibson's.
You're probably right, but if you add in the sloped shoulders It makes a big difference. Also, the scale length affects the feel of the guitar, probably not as much the tone.
I think that nowadays, if you go above 300 USD, you are just doing it for 'ego'. As long as you have a nice spruce top, then the laminate sides contribute nothing to the tone, and you hold the laminate back against your belly anyway, so it doesn't vibrate. I have a 'cheap' Fender CC60S here, and when I put a new set of light Ernies on it, I had a good feel around inside. It's a Martin that somebody has put into a CNC machine and pressed 'Learn'.
We should start calling 'non-boutique' guitars 'Workingmens' guitars. All the old blues / country / bluegrass men were working men.
No way. Back and sides materials matter a lot and change the tone, particularly adding low end.
If we'd say $600 and get into an all solid Eastman or Blueridge, I think that's the bare minimum level.
Jeremy Sheppard
I completely agree with you. I’m not saying that laminate (or “layered”) back and sides are bad, because I love my GS Mini-e Koa. However, all solid wood definitely sounds better.
I got lucky back in 2007. At the time, the guitar I really wanted was a Gibson SJ 200, but there was absolutely no way I could afford one. The Epiphone version didn’t appeal to me at all, and I had looked at similar Guild models which were better than the Epiphone and only slightly more expensive. I was only able to find the Guild in a 12 string. So, I started looking at lower end American made Martins. I was willing to spend up to $1,100-1,200. So went to my nearest Guitar Center to see what I could get in a Martin. I’m not normally a fan of Guitar Center, but the location closest to me at the time usually had a great selection. I took a Martin off the wall and sat down to play it facing the other direction. A jumbo on that wall caught my attention. It was an all solid wood Korean made acoustic. The guitar was made by Cort, but it was branded Parkwood. The Parkwood company still makes guitars, but I believe that they are only available online in the US. When I bought mine they had a distribution agreement with Guitar Center. It felt great, sounded great, looked really nice (it was more plain than a Gibson SJ 200 and I really liked that about it). It has a Sitka Spruce top, and flame maple back and sides that are beautiful. The guitar was priced at $699. When they rang it up it turns out that it was on clearance for $250 including a really nice gig bag. I still love this guitar. It wasn’t the least expensive guitar I’ve ever owned, but it is definitely the least expensive one that I still own. I’ve never seen another one like it.
Funny, I advocate for boutique instruments. When I heard the beginning clips, I chose B blind testing. It turns out I chose the boutique instrument
While we're considering the fine details Jeremy, could you please let your audience know that the name of the manufacturer of the strings you're using is pronounced "Da Darrio" not "D. addario" That's why it is spelled D'Addario.
Question: If you had $6-8000 to spend on a great acoustic, where would you look? Taylor Builder editions? Other boutiques? Looking for mainly finger-picking warmth, some strumming
For that money I'd go Huss and Dalton, Thompson, or Santa Cruz!
believe me or not-I had and have a lot of high-ends but the Martin D28 Authentic '37 beats them all. If you like D's and Martins try one! Even great for fingerpicking - warm and resonant.....
Both sound great but, on my i phone, the answer is B.
Interestingly, the only time you mentioned sound was to praise the Gibson.
There one thing I hate about my Gibson J45 is the nitro lacquer and how it’s gets all the finger marks etc all over it s such a pain I prefer satin or Matt finish guitars. Might sell mine what do you get for yours mines a 2009 model
I'd go with the H&D because Gibsons can't cut 'Grass
I'm wondering if a more interesting comparison might be a new, out of the factory standard d-28 against the huss and dalton.
I had a 2007 D28 a few years ago, and it is incredible. Their new reimagined versions of the 28 hit just as hard as a lot of boutique guitars. I'll try and find one around here to borrow and compare.