Today I stopped at an acoustic guitar shop that I've been meaning to visit again for a while. I'm not actively looking to buy a guitar right now as I have a "boutique" guitar in the works, but I'm always up for some window shopping and I'd like to maybe make another guitar purchase later in the year.
I played a couple old Gibsons from the 70s. One was a Hummingbird, one was something similar but less ornate (it wasn't a Country Western). I don't think the 70s were good to Gibson, and these guitars were proof. Not great. That being said, nearly all the new Gibsons I've played in recent months and years have been anywhere from pretty good to great.
Tried out a Martin 00-15M that was just lovely. That being said, I've played the D-15M and prefer the fuller, deeper sound. But I gotta say, Martin's 15 series is just impeccable. Great woods, great vintage appointments, great price, great sounds. I'm thinking about ordering a D-15M with gloss finish as that guitar purchase later in the year. We'll see.
Also tried an Eastman E10D. Wow. It might have been the best guitar I played in my quick visit. I have been skeptical about all the Eastman hype, but this guitar sounded great, looked great, and I couldn't believe the price tag.
I'm pretty familiar with most of the Taylor models, but I picked up one of the new 12-fret mahogany models. Great sound. Both times I've played 12-fret Taylors I've had to double check the headstock to make sure I'm playing a Taylor. It's a sound and feel that none of the other models come close to. It was a great combination with the mahogany -- really woody, vintage tone. Came really close to the Eastman as being one of my favorites of the visit. I think I just prefer the deeper tone of dreadnoughts, but the 12-fret would make a great addition as a different flavor.
I also picked up a GS Mini for the first time. It was a spruce model (I was hoping they'd have a mahogany one, which is kind of why I stopped in...) and it has a great small-body tone. Not unlike the 00 Martin I played, actually, at least in terms of volume. That being said, the fretboard felt a little cramped for my liking. I think it was the thin width and the small scale that combined to feel a little off. Granted, it was a quick test drive, and something I'm sure I could get used to, but a wider nut width and/or at least a 24" scale would go a long way I think. Maybe that's to come with the BTO Minis?
They also had a couple electric guitars there which I assume were new -- one was one of the new Fender American Vintage '69 Thinline models -- I've always been a fan of the thinline Telecaster and would have liked to have given it a go -- maybe next time.
It was a quick little visit, and I snagged some strings on my way out (I like to do that when I visit small guitar shops and play for a little while) -- I'll have to swing by another time to give the Mini another run (maybe they'll get the mahogany version in) and maybe give that Eastman another go...
