Since my recent rediscovery of my modern Martin S1 - bought new in 2013, played all the time but never really thought about Uke as a serious instrument (My apologies!) - and discovery of the Uke community and UU, I became very interested and quickly got myself into the learning process.
Aside from buying a variety of strings, I also got a 50s style 1 and 50s style 0. Returned the style 0 because the previous owner(s) had shaved the saddle down in order to achieve low action but too low for me (2mm), while the style 1 is perfect in any way (2.6mm action in comparison). I did do research and the price was reasonable.
It all started with a random trip to Hawaii and played a sweet sounding vintage Martin at a random guitar shop... (which got me to look at my S1 through colored and biased glasses)
But the two recently came through my hands really echoed my experience. They are really nice sounding - much much more complicated, maybe a technical description is more overtone and harmonics. I always judge classical guitar by their performance on e, b string in higher positions. Nylon string guitars are harder to get the brilliance and complexity in the treble is my understanding.
All equipped with Martin M600 - after all the experiment, went back to the very string that came from the factory - S1 just sounds plain. I don't think the difference can be picked up in Youtube videos, but in person it's huge.
And a reasonably priced old Martin is not too much away from a MAP S1 - $419 in US currently. Compared to other things in life - root canal, dental implant, high end restaurant, or other things in music life - any US made guitar, US made amp, etc. I think they are truly wonderful despite their price point (fairly priced not the overly zealous sellers).
Amen!
Aside from buying a variety of strings, I also got a 50s style 1 and 50s style 0. Returned the style 0 because the previous owner(s) had shaved the saddle down in order to achieve low action but too low for me (2mm), while the style 1 is perfect in any way (2.6mm action in comparison). I did do research and the price was reasonable.
It all started with a random trip to Hawaii and played a sweet sounding vintage Martin at a random guitar shop... (which got me to look at my S1 through colored and biased glasses)
But the two recently came through my hands really echoed my experience. They are really nice sounding - much much more complicated, maybe a technical description is more overtone and harmonics. I always judge classical guitar by their performance on e, b string in higher positions. Nylon string guitars are harder to get the brilliance and complexity in the treble is my understanding.
All equipped with Martin M600 - after all the experiment, went back to the very string that came from the factory - S1 just sounds plain. I don't think the difference can be picked up in Youtube videos, but in person it's huge.
And a reasonably priced old Martin is not too much away from a MAP S1 - $419 in US currently. Compared to other things in life - root canal, dental implant, high end restaurant, or other things in music life - any US made guitar, US made amp, etc. I think they are truly wonderful despite their price point (fairly priced not the overly zealous sellers).
Amen!
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