Today I spent a good 4 hours in Manny’s music shop, 2 of them because 1 shop didn’t have the accoustic I wanted to try out. These are the results.
The first accoustic I tried when I was looking was a Martin 000 - X2E Mahogany electric accoustic. I loved how that felt. I since then went through about 10 other styles, all of the smaller guitar variety, as the dread is just too much for me. The guitar I went to the second shop for today, turned out to be the Martin 000 - X2e Brazillian rosewood, exactly the same as the first one, but brazillian rosewood, and that is the winner. Such a beautiful accoustic.
The electric guitars were down to the Les Paul Epiphone custom, which is the super sexy white one I had on earlier in this post. I played that guitar in 2 different shops. 1 shop had the Epiphone Les Paul inspired by BB KING, aptly named the 'Luceille. I think that is a beautiful guitar, but the one I landed on, that I am saving my penny’s for is actually the LP Standard.
The standard and the custom do have a different amount of wood on them, and the custom neck is slightly different than the standard. The standard just felt so light, and fit so well in and on me, that as much as I liked the aesthetics of the custom, the feel just wasn’t there for me.
So now linked are the 2 guitars. I will be hopefully grabbing the accoustic next week, and will saver up for the electric.
Hi Bret, I’ve read lots of great reviews of the Martin X-series guitars! As you know, these guitars have spruce tops and HPL bodies. As I understand things, there is no material difference between mahogany HPL and rosewood HPL aside from the finish. The rosewood version of the 000-X2E is new this year (beautiful rosette!), the mahogany version was retired in 2019 so that guitar you played has probably been in the store for a while. Of course, even two guitars with the exact same specs can feel or play differently, and you should get the one that speaks to you! Let us know when you bring your new friend home! P.S. I’m with you on the dreads…I can’t even get my arm over the body!
@judi Judi you are correct the HPL(High Pressure Laminate) that Martin uses is Laminated Paper and Resin and the Rosewood and Mahogany are exactly the same except for the design pressed into the laminate and the color.
Ok so, this weekend I celebrated my 50th (actually falls on the 30th) and I was talking to my sister about guitars. I joking said I wanted one, but told ‘everyone’ that the party they were throwing was above and beyond what I wanted.
However, my brother in-law decided that he wanted to get me the electric guitar I showed them, fast forward to Saturday, I get my card and a note that says ‘check your bank for your real present’ and in there was enough money to buy the guitar I showed them and then some.
Buzzing with delight I told her that she shouldn’t have done it, but it was truely greatly appreciated. So guess what Monday was? Spend the day at the guitar shop day.
I have been more closely loving the style and look of the Gretsch guitars, after playing one in a store, I decided to find a dozen that looked good, and play as many as I could.
after 7 hours of playing, 2 music shops and a return trip to music shop 1, I came away with not only this beauty, but a few additional toys that have set me up for quite a few years to come.
It is hollow body, with a bone bridge apparently. I am going to go into the technicals and learn what it is all about.
The design is a ‘streamliner’ which the guy who helped me said is a blend of 3 Gretsch models, the sound is amazing. I"ll upload a clip in a little while
The difference it makes, when you have a decent strap.
As a part of the gift I decided to throw a bit of cash to a new strap. Suede leather, but the minute I put it on my accoust, 90% of the feeling of the guitar pulling forward went away.
So needless to say I will be buying a second one, so that each has it’s own strap.
