One thing that always stuck with me about guitars is that (for instance) a $600 “lesser” brand is better than the same priced “Big Boy” professional brand. Like, a $600 Yamaha will be one of their high-quality top-of-the-line guitars, whereas a $600 Martin gets you their kitchen counter material (like Formica) guitar, made in Mexico. (The “good” Martins come from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.) And in the “good” ones of a “brand name” up-scale [more money] model, there’s a point at which you’re no longer paying for sound quality, but rather “stage appeal.” Or “guitar-player” appeal. More inlay work, flashier sound hole rosette work, artistic peg-head embellishment, cool looking fret markets (as opposed to the most common - a “dot.” I’ve got a nice older [70s] Martin, a D -18, dot markers, no extra inlay.
I love the way it sounds, as it has a “lightness” to it for my finger -picking style. I got it used for less than 1/3 the price of a new one. (In the realm of automobiles, newer = better, in terms of wear and tear. In the guitar realm, playing it kind of “forms the wood a bit and “seasons” it over time. Often times older sounds and / or plays better.)
Thinking that if my D -18 sounds that good, maybe if I can “trade-up” to a D-28, D-35, D-45 someday, I’ll REALLY SOUND GOOD! But no. Playing new ones in the store was quite disappointing. My used D-18 plays better and sounds better, for my ears and playing style and expectations. And of course, adding the “H” before the number just means the rosette and binding is done in herring bone style, as far as I know. Looks cooler. No discernible improvement in sound.
Shoes? I’m too old to run. But just wearing / walking in the wrong shoe can really hurt. I go for the regular “working class priced” Merrill’s or New Balance. Good luck with both. $19.95 on sale at Wally World? Nope. They’re gonna kill my feet.
I wish I could say I fit nicely into one of those categories, but like most people, we probably fit into several. However, I laughed out loud at the Minimalist - definitely my husband (he's also a bit of the Pampered, and the Deal Hunter) my daughters, the Thrifters, my son, the Brand Loyalist, and I find myself in the Buy if for Lifers category. I have to remind myself that it's ok buy things and maybe later replace them. When I think I'll only buy something once, I feel an incredible amount of stress in finding the perfect whatever at the perfect price! It can be so overwhelming, that I don't buy it. Whew! Fun topic and great conversations will happen when the family gets together. Thanks Miles!
One thing that always stuck with me about guitars is that (for instance) a $600 “lesser” brand is better than the same priced “Big Boy” professional brand. Like, a $600 Yamaha will be one of their high-quality top-of-the-line guitars, whereas a $600 Martin gets you their kitchen counter material (like Formica) guitar, made in Mexico. (The “good” Martins come from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.) And in the “good” ones of a “brand name” up-scale [more money] model, there’s a point at which you’re no longer paying for sound quality, but rather “stage appeal.” Or “guitar-player” appeal. More inlay work, flashier sound hole rosette work, artistic peg-head embellishment, cool looking fret markets (as opposed to the most common - a “dot.” I’ve got a nice older [70s] Martin, a D -18, dot markers, no extra inlay.
I love the way it sounds, as it has a “lightness” to it for my finger -picking style. I got it used for less than 1/3 the price of a new one. (In the realm of automobiles, newer = better, in terms of wear and tear. In the guitar realm, playing it kind of “forms the wood a bit and “seasons” it over time. Often times older sounds and / or plays better.)
Thinking that if my D -18 sounds that good, maybe if I can “trade-up” to a D-28, D-35, D-45 someday, I’ll REALLY SOUND GOOD! But no. Playing new ones in the store was quite disappointing. My used D-18 plays better and sounds better, for my ears and playing style and expectations. And of course, adding the “H” before the number just means the rosette and binding is done in herring bone style, as far as I know. Looks cooler. No discernible improvement in sound.
Shoes? I’m too old to run. But just wearing / walking in the wrong shoe can really hurt. I go for the regular “working class priced” Merrill’s or New Balance. Good luck with both. $19.95 on sale at Wally World? Nope. They’re gonna kill my feet.
I wish I could say I fit nicely into one of those categories, but like most people, we probably fit into several. However, I laughed out loud at the Minimalist - definitely my husband (he's also a bit of the Pampered, and the Deal Hunter) my daughters, the Thrifters, my son, the Brand Loyalist, and I find myself in the Buy if for Lifers category. I have to remind myself that it's ok buy things and maybe later replace them. When I think I'll only buy something once, I feel an incredible amount of stress in finding the perfect whatever at the perfect price! It can be so overwhelming, that I don't buy it. Whew! Fun topic and great conversations will happen when the family gets together. Thanks Miles!