Flatpicking Guitar Network

For Fans of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine

Hey everyone, I would like to perform a simple survey of all that will reply to this. I am very curious what brand and model of guitar is the most popular among the flatpickers here.  There are thousands of members here so it will be great information for someone trying to decide on a "friend". So lets have it flatpickers, what do you play?

 

I will start;

I play a McPherson MG 4.5 with bearclaw sitka spruce top and indian rosewood b&s

Views: 7648

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I play a Martin DM, which has a Spruce top and a laminated Mahogony back and sides. I put DR Dragon Skin medium strings on it to improve the bass. Bottom end Martin, but still nice.

Martin D-28 (standard, 2006 model)

Blueridge BR-140A (2012 model)

Taylor GS Mini (2011 model, Sitka top).


That's about it for me...

Todd

Played a 1970ish Suziki Martin copy for years.  Actually a pretty darned good guitar, but about 5 years ago I finally saved up and went down to get the Martin D-28 that I always wanted......came home with a D-35.  Played every guitar in the shop and the D35 just sang to me, and still does.  I travel a lot and recently bought a Rainsong Dreadnought graphite guitar to take along with me.  Darned graphite guitar sounds pretty good boys and girls, and don't need to worry about the humidity!

Glad you found a nice Martin... I'm wondering about the Rainsong D. Is the setup flexible, or do you have to "take what they give you"?

Just a beginner, completely new to flatpicking.  You can laugh, but I have a yamaha FG700S and  Fender FA100.  I didn't want to spend a fortune on a nicer guitar if I wasn't gonna stick with it.  I bought them in May and have not let a day go by that I don't play.  The Yamaha has a spruce top and seems to sound nice enough to play at church.   I like this question! It will help me decide on a future guitar!

I own a Blueridge 160. I have owned a half dozen Martins, a Guild, and a Larrivee in my 45 years of playing. I have also played top level Collings guitars extensively (fantastic but very expensive).

Dollar for dollar Blueridge offers the best value in todays acoustic market. For around 700 you can get practically the equivalent of a Martin D-28V in the Blueridge 160. I have owned both, and they are each great instruments. The difference is the BR is 700 and the  Martin about 2700.

Both companies produce the occasional dud, and the advantage you have with Martin is that you can go to a shop and play one, and that way be sure that it's a good one, and you like it. Few shops carry Blueridge in stock - You pretty much have to buy them online. They are made in China, and shipped to Saga Music in San Francisco. Most online stores are just drop-shippers for Saga. There are exceptions - if you happen to live near Eastern PA, Maury's Music carries a pretty fair assortment, which you can go to their shop and try. They also offer the cheapest prices for them online by a good margin.

Anything less than a BR160 is not going to be comparable to other well known companies high end instruments, and it's silly to spend 500 instead of 700 when you can get a top quality instrument at the 700 mark.

One other thing - the Blueridge models are slim necked. 1-11/16 at the nut for Sitka Spruce topped, and 1- 3/4 for Adirondack Spruce. If you need a wider fatter neck, they aren't for you.

I recommend the BR160 Adirondack Spruce (700) or the 180 Addy (at around 1100).

Good luck, hope this helps broaden your horizons.

You couldn't have said it better! 

Collings CW

Bourgeois Slope D

Santa Cruz PW-D

The Bourgeois is the current favorite.......

Glen

I'm playing a 2009 Martin D-28 Marquis.

Conley D-21, 1949 Martin 000-18, Conley/John D-21

Bourgeois Dreads, I've paid my dues to Mr Martin over the years . Huss and Dalton are very good too.

I own several, but play primarily two:

(1) 1963 Martin D18

(2) 1936 Gibson Century of Progress

RSS

From Flatpicking Mercantile

Get a digital subscription or download FGM back issues www.flatpickdigital.com

 

Check out the March/April issue of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine


Download the Newest FGM Catalog

 


Download the Newest FGM Tab Index

 

 

Badge

Loading…

Latest Activity

Randall Wise updated their profile
Friday
Tom Faux replied to Todd McFarland's discussion What brand do you play?
"I recently came across a steel string parlor guitar made by P. Benson, in Minneapolis.  It's really a nice little instrument--well built, comfortable, very much like an old Martin 00-18 (mahogany, slotted headstock, pyramid bridge, ladder…"
Thursday
Marc Schlotthauer replied to Todd McFarland's discussion What brand do you play?
"My gear is much better than my skill - for straight flatpickin', I play a Martin D-18 Authentic 1937. My go-to guitar for just about everything else (and it flatpicks just fine, thank you) is my Huss & Dalton D-RH with a Red Spruce top.…"
Thursday
James Bruce Martin is now a member of Flatpicking Guitar Network
Thursday
Profile IconMarc Schlotthauer, Mike Wimberly and Craig joined Flatpicking Guitar Network
Tuesday
Derek commented on Derek's video
Thumbnail

Ragtime Annie

"Hey Craig. Thanks for the kind comment. The credit for this version should really go To Steve Kaufman who's arrangement it is. Good luck with your bluegrass studies, it's wonderful music and great fun to play. I look forward to…"
Tuesday
Craig commented on Derek's video
Thumbnail

Ragtime Annie

"Derek: Mike above is teaching me blue grass and showed me this site.  Fantastic rendition by you of this great song.  Thanks for sharing.  I'm off to Mike's to practice!!!!"
Tuesday
Terry Bachman updated their profile
Tuesday
J. Michael Robbins shared a profile on Facebook
Monday
Clyde J.Ortego replied to Todd McFarland's discussion What brand do you play?
"I play a Silvertone Acoustic from back in the Sixties."
Monday
Mike FlatPickingBuddy updated their profile
Monday
Mike FlatPickingBuddy replied to Todd McFarland's discussion What brand do you play?
"I have a Guild Bluegrass D40 made in the original factory at Hoboken that has been with me since 1964 I also have a Martin D18 made sometime around 1994 and a 1977 or earlier Yamaha FG336SB"
Monday
Derek commented on Derek's video
Thumbnail

Ragtime Annie

"Thanks Mike. I have to prove to myself that I can play the material as written but once I've done that I start to allow myself some leeway to have fun and drop in my own bits. There's not too much space to do that in SK's version of…"
Monday
Derek commented on Derek's video
Thumbnail

Banks of the Ohio

"Thanks guys! Always appreciate people taking time to listen and respond!"
Monday
Mike FlatPickingBuddy commented on Derek's video
Thumbnail

Banks of the Ohio

"I like your up the neck variations, Nice!!"
Monday
J. Michael Robbins updated their profile
May 19

© 2013   Created by Dan Miller.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service