What is the difference between taylor and martin guitars

How much of this is Elixor strings and how much is the design of the guitar? I apologize if this is a rehash. Bill Nichols CaptBill. Hi Tom, I don't think your question is dangerous. I think you will find that the members of this forum appreciate fine guitars no matter who builds them. As far as the brightness of the guitars I would not attribute that to the Elixer strings. I like the elixers a lot but they are not a very bright string they have a little more of a broken in sound and last a good length of time.

The comparison between the Martins and Taylors that you played may well have a lot to do with which body size, shapes and types of wood.

A good comparison for instance would be to compare a Taylor mahogony dreadnaught to a Martin Mahogony dreadnaught both strung with the same strings and both with sitka spruce tops. If you are currently shopping for a new guitar than buy the one that sounds the best to you. I think you will find however that for the most part the Taylors are a more playable guitar all the way up and down the fretboard.

Have Fun! Find all posts by Bill Nichols CaptBill. The volume and brightness of Taylors are from the guitar To my ear, Martins sound muddied Of course, Taylors can also be interpreted as thin and tinny and Martins as vintage and mellow I also agree with Tom -- Taylors come alive in the hands of any player including a perpetual beginner like myself Martins sound wonderful but I find they are more work to play.

I got to admit, though The primary cross comparison between the two is in Dreads. The ubiquitous x14 Taylors are roughly matched to Martin's J Jumbo series guitars which are much rarer than the an OM series. The latter are closer to an x12 in overall size.

Martin dreads tend to have more bass than Taylor's. Among Martins, I prefer the sound of the HDs, the scalloped bracing dreads. Among them, my favorite is the HDVS 12 fret neck, slotted headstock a mahogany instrument. I played one at Gryphon that was really nice but I wasn't in a postition to buy it. Martin makes great products. The manufacturer recommends medium Elixir Phosphor Bronze strings that have a nanoweb coating , but you can also try out heavier and lighter string gauges in order to get the sound you want.

Elixir Phosphor Bronze Strings Guitar Center Engineered to endure, these acoustic strings constructed with phosphor bronze wrap wire boast a dynamic balance of rich, full-bodied tone and sparkling high-end clarity. A Taylor guitar is always going to sound great whether you opt for one of their entry-level models or models that cost several thousands of dollars. The headstock angle in relation to the neck allows the guitar to adjust to the changes that occur over time.

The Taylor e guitar comes with a chrome tuning mechanism, but this feature is not the same on all models this manufacturer offers. A guitar like the e may not be the first choice for a professional musician, but Taylor produces guitars in a wide price range, so you can opt for one of the more expensive models if you want an instrument that is going to sound great in the studio.

Arguably one of the oldest guitar manufacturing companies today, Martin has a year long history of producing acoustic guitars. Although the company produced electric guitars in the past, none of their purely electric models that were relatively famous in the s and s is still in production. For instance, the Martin D is available with an optional electronic system, which enables you to choose if you want to use it as an acoustic or both electric and acoustic guitar.

Check out our Martin D vs D to find out more about the differences between these models. It features a solid Sitka spruce top for well-balanced tone. The use of solid mahogany for the back and sides further adds to this dreadnought's precise, clear treble and a warm, moderate bass.

The shape and size of a Martin guitar depending on the model, as the manufacturer produced thousands of different guitars throughout its long history. The D model exemplifies the supreme craftsmanship that has made Martin guitars famous. Martin D has a The sound of Martin guitars is described as classic acoustic guitar sound. Electronics on the Martin D guitar are optional. If you decide to add electronics to this guitar you will be able to choose between the following options.

Surprisingly, aside from enhanced volume and sustain, it offers better intonation, too. Guitars with the V-class bracing has a more focused and studio-like sound quality. Both manufacturers are making great instruments. When these two are properly setup, their playability is superb. Taylor has an adjustable neck angle to easily adjust the action, whenever you need.

On the flip side, Martin offers a set-neck, which is non-adjustable, yet it provides better energy transfer between the body and neck. Another factor when considering playability is the fretboard radius. Most Martin guitars have inch radius, while Taylor is slightly smaller at inch. The smaller radius of Taylor makes it easier to fret the barre chords, while the flatter radius of Martins is perfect for melody and lead guitarists. Not all guitars are made great for all playing styles.

One guitar may be best for fingerstyle while the other is better when strumming. Taylor guitars are more preferred by players who do fingerstyle often. On the flip side, when strumming and flatpicking, there is a need for bigger and louder sound projection. Hence, Martin dreadnoughts do that better.

They are also not afraid to stretch the limits of conformity and offer new designs that some manufacturers may find too daring. Taylor Guitars, like Martin Guitar, produces high-quality instruments to make sure that they maintain their great reputation, and to ensure that guitar players are always satisfied with the product they offer.

Aside from their fine acoustic guitars, they also produce electric guitars. Martin and Taylor produce an extraordinary number of guitars. Each guitar may have different body shapes and materials used, which is why each one can produce a different tone even though it may have been manufactured from wood derived from the exact same tree.

This compares their sounds in general, and not in detail. Many musicians describe the sound produced by Martin as the classic acoustic guitar sound — a rich overall sound with a particular bloom in the lower frequencies. The more recent Martin DRS2 is a great example of their best value in a current instrument. On the other hand, the tone that Taylor guitars produces, such as the Taylor CE , are described as a more modern sound. These are usually brighter, cleaner and crisp.

They produce a rich sound for the upper mid tones,. Taylor guitars have been used by many contemporary guitar players such as Mateus Asato, Taylor Swift, Chelsea Wolfe, and many more leading edge musicians.

Both companies also produce guitars that can be plugged into an amp. They incorporate and continue to develop quality electronics to make sure the sound produced is as close to true reproduction as possible with sound shaping flexibility, not just amplified.

Taylor guitars incorporate their excellent in-house designed Expression System pickup system while Martin primarily utilizes comparable OEM Fishman pickups. Taylor guitars and Martin guitars are both brilliant playing instruments when properly setup. The exact adjustments will depend on the player, and can be done by the player themselves, or by seeking the help of a well-trained professional at your local music store.

The radius of the fretboard may also affect how easy it is to play the guitar. When properly setup and cared for, both guitars are exceptionally easy to play due to their attention to the details.

Compare owner reviews at Sweetwater. The two companies build their guitars quite differently. Taylor, perhaps more open to forward thinking construction, has come to love the various modern techniques available today. On the other hand, Martin guitars are more traditionally made because, after more than years of experience, it works well for them. One very forward thinking advantage with Taylor guitars is that the neck angle of the guitar is made to be more easily adjustable to compensate for natural changes over time.

A traditional neck reset with refinishing touchups can run into many hundreds of dollars, and every acoustic instrument will require this adjustment every couple of decades or so due to the forces of time and pressure.

Thus is the nature and tradeoff of traditional set neck construction. Taylor guitars are designed and crafted on a larger scale, but they still make sure that each guitar is of great quality. The NT necks fit in a precise pocket and use laser cut shims measured in thousandths of an inch to make sure the fretboards are well supported and straight.