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[–] TheBuddha [S] 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

;-)

Wait until I have my guitar back! I do have two other flamenco guitars but, as mentioned in another thread, they're more meant to accompany other musicians and I really strive to put down good tracks for you folks. I also really want you to be able to hear this wonderful guitar - as it was crafted by hand and is a wonderful piece. (It's made by a fella you can Google - his name is Ethan Deutsch. I highly, highly recommend looking him up.)

I dropped the guitar off this morning. It should be be done by next Wednesday. I stopped at the music store and they had no Cobalt strings that @cheesebooger had recommended I try. They're going to order some and they'll put a few sets aside for me. (Special call-out to Everyday Music! Thanks guys!)

While at the shop (not the music store but the guy who maintains, restores, and fixes my guitars). I played a 1953 Martin 00-18 that's in beautiful shape. I did good. I didn't buy it. He offered to let me take it home with me, "To try it out." I've known him for quite a few years now - since moving to Maine, so a decade. I give him quite a bit of business and have spent many hours in his shop with him. So, he trusts me well enough to let me do that.

But, I declined to take it home with me. I probably should have, so that I could have recorded a few tracks with it and let you folks here it. A Martin really doesn't come into its own until it's at least 20 years old. The wood is settling into place and it takes a while for a Martin to come into its own. A used Martin is almost always a good option, even though they can be pretty pricey.

Anyhow, I figured I'd better not take it home. If I had, I wasn't really sure that I'd bring it back. I played it for about 30 minutes, and it's truly a wonderful tone. It's a stunningly beautiful piece with mahogany sides and a spruce top. The price was actually pretty good. He says it's $3000 for everyone else, but he'll let me buy it for $2500.

The $2500 is actually a good deal for the guitar. I'm not sure how familiar you are with Marin pricing, but I'd expect it to run (with non-cosmetic restoration) in the $3000 to $3500 range, depending on condition and maybe a bit more if it had been played/owned by a notable artist with provenance. Depending on the artist, the price might range from $4000 to $10,000 - or more if they were particularly famous. A more famous artist's would end up at an auction, more likely than not, before I became aware of it. So, I'd expect to pay auction prices, as opposed to estate sale prices.

So, it was a pretty good price but I declined to take it home with me. I'm pretty sure that taking it home with me would just mean that I'd end up buying it. I don't really need another old Martin right now - but that's never actually stopped me before. I've been thinking about it and may bring it home on Wednesday, just 'cause it does look and sound delightful.

Here's the same model:

https://www.dreamguitars.com/shop/martin-00-18-16653.html

Note: They don't disclose the price. You'll have to trust me about the pricing for such. Though, there may be some good online resources to verify those estimates. I wouldn't say that I'm an expert in used Martin pricing and appraisal, but I'm pretty familiar with it. I've managed to acquire a pretty reasonable collection and I'm well and truly a fan of them. But, if you click the link, you can see the same guitar make and model. The one for sale is in slightly better condition, fewer surface defects, but lacks the history of being owned by anyone famous.

Hmm... I'll stop now. LOL I could go on for hours - I'm a bit passionate about classical Martin guitars. I've spent way too much time researching, buying, and playing them. It's almost to the point where I need a 12 step program. Still, it is awfully beautiful and the sound is delightful. The neck is worn in just the right places and you can see that it's been loved but never beaten and has always been treated kindly. The tone was warm and inviting, the action a bit high for my taste - as I'd play folk/rock/blues with such a guitar, and there was an immediate sense of comfort when I tested it.

(I'm trying really hard to not talk myself into calling him up and telling him to hold it until Wednesday and then letting me take it home for a week or two.)

Like I said, this is a subject I can talk about for hours.

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[–] Cheesebooger 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

My great uncle has some old Martins that are worth a fortune. If you seen them you would faint. A couple famous Nashville people bug the shit out of him for them and made some ridiculous offers. They've come to his house. He got drunk with them and still didn't sell them. He's a fuckin character. He's 92 and still goes out playing in his bluegrass band with his buddies. They still get fucked up and all that lol. I've played all of his guitfiddles. wow. He has old LP's and other instruments that are also serious money. He will not come off with any of it. I guess his kids will get them when he dies. I might get a couple, who knows? I'd rather he stick around, though.

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[–] TheBuddha [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

They are addictive. Once you buy one, you might just as well buy a few more.

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[–] crazy_eyes 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Martin guitars are awesome. The prices are outrageous, though. A couple years ago I was in the market for a nice acoustic and though the Martin's I tried were by far the best sound, I ended up getting a takamine for a quarter of the price, which was basically a Martin copy. It was beautiful and sounded real nice. Till an angry woman smashed it to smithereens. Glad it wasn't a martin

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[–] TheBuddha [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

I love a Martin.