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AR15.COM
5/17/2026 8:59:06 PM EDT
[Last Edit: EagleArmsHBAR][Edited]
I've been fascinated with guitars since I was a kid and I figured it was time to learn. I don't know much at all and I've never had lessons. I know how to strum a G, D, C, A, and E minor.  I bought an Epiphone AJ220SCE and a Fender Stratocaster in 2015 to just mess around with and I never really learned.

I've been taking lessons online and can already see some improvement, but the real motivation will now be that I just added a new Martin D-28 Standard in 1933 Ambertone to the mix. It is amazing how shitty the Epiphone sounds next to the D-28.

Wish me luck!












5/17/2026 10:18:47 PM EDT
[#1]
That Martin is not a beginner guitar. I would be proud to have one. It is a whole different level than your Epi.  

Here’s the good news.

There are ever better guitars out there.

Good luck.
Pure blood saved by His.
In my defense I was left unsupervised.
5/17/2026 11:43:06 PM EDT
[#2]
Nice guitar.

I use to think my $300 acoustic wasn't that bad until I got a $1500 Yamaha FG5 a few years ago.  Tremendous difference.

Keep an eye on the humidity with that D-28.
5/18/2026 12:42:56 PM EDT
[#3]
That thing is freaking beautiful
5/18/2026 12:48:12 PM EDT
[#4]
Looks good.  My custom Martin is getting some work done on it and I am super excited to get it back soon.
"Some people have issues. Sounds like he signed up for an entire subscription." ~Brohawk
Proud member of Team Ranstad.
Arfcom St Jude Mafia 3 years
Arfcom callsign: trenchfoot
5/18/2026 3:46:36 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mach][Edited] [#5]
beautiful guitar.

as said above, it is not a beginner guitar unless you will eventually spend $5000 or more later when you are no longer a beginner
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.

.
5/21/2026 9:25:54 AM EDT
[#6]
Man I love the finish on that thing.  Congrats!
5/21/2026 10:22:15 PM EDT
[Last Edit: splitbolt][Edited] [#7]
Quote History
Originally Posted By RickFinsta:
Man I love the finish on that thing.  Congrats!
View Quote

Got to agree with this dude.
I'm usually a natural top kind of guy....
This has me re-thinking my preferences; I like a nice, natural symmetrical spruce top.

I just can't see myself buying a Martin...They sound so dull, comparatively speaking.

Some crazy figure going on in that neck..

5/22/2026 7:03:42 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Originally Posted By splitbolt:

Got to agree with this dude.
I'm usually a natural top kind of guy....
This has me re-thinking my preferences; I like a nice, natural symmetrical spruce top.

I just can't see myself buying a Martin...They sound so dull, comparatively speaking.

Some crazy figure going on in that neck..

View Quote

Sound dull compared to what?  The D-28's I've played sounded beautiful and loud.

Fantastic looking guitar OP.
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
5/22/2026 9:05:30 AM EDT
[#9]
I'm more of a Taylor guy because they play better for me, but that's a very nice Martin.
5/22/2026 4:20:06 PM EDT
[#10]
Nothing like jumping in with both feet….heres my D-18 that was a bit of a grail for me
Attached File
There were these two fellars standin' on a bridge, a-goin' to the bathroom. One fellar said, "The water's cold" and the other fellar said, "The water's deep". I believe one fella come from Arkansas. Get it?
5/28/2026 9:15:26 AM EDT
[#11]
Originally Posted By EagleArmsHBAR:
I've been fascinated with guitars since I was a kid and I figured it was time to learn. I don't know much at all and I've never had lessons. I know how to strum a G, D, C, A, and E minor.  I bought an Epiphone AJ220SCE and a Fender Stratocaster in 2015 to just mess around with and I never really learned.

I've been taking lessons online and can already see some improvement, but the real motivation will now be that I just added a new Martin D-28 Standard in 1933 Ambertone to the mix. It is amazing how shitty the Epiphone sounds next to the D-28.

Wish me luck!

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_8005-3764168.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_7994-3764166.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_7999-3764169.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_8031-3764173.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_8012-3764171.jpg


View Quote
It's amazing how motivating a good guitar can be.  I rarely touched my electrics until I got a modeling amp.  Now I can't put them down and my good Yamaha acoustic is neglected.
Pour over coffee is best coffee.
5/28/2026 12:37:53 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote History
Originally Posted By corwin1968:
It's amazing how motivating a good guitar can be.  I rarely touched my electrics until I got a modeling amp.  Now I can't put them down and my good Yamaha acoustic is neglected.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Originally Posted By corwin1968:
Originally Posted By EagleArmsHBAR:
I've been fascinated with guitars since I was a kid and I figured it was time to learn. I don't know much at all and I've never had lessons. I know how to strum a G, D, C, A, and E minor.  I bought an Epiphone AJ220SCE and a Fender Stratocaster in 2015 to just mess around with and I never really learned.

I've been taking lessons online and can already see some improvement, but the real motivation will now be that I just added a new Martin D-28 Standard in 1933 Ambertone to the mix. It is amazing how shitty the Epiphone sounds next to the D-28.

Wish me luck!

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_8005-3764168.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_7994-3764166.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_7999-3764169.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_8031-3764173.jpg

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/298/IMG_8012-3764171.jpg


It's amazing how motivating a good guitar can be.  I rarely touched my electrics until I got a modeling amp.  Now I can't put them down and my good Yamaha acoustic is neglected.
I am the exact opposite. I got a really nice modeler for Christmas and shortly after that I put a bone not and saddle in My Yamaha FG700S and could not believe the difference, Then I went to look at a Yamaha LL26 and instead bought an FG9 R and have not touched my electrics or the modeler in 5 months.
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.

.
5/30/2026 9:35:31 PM EDT
[#13]
I got a D28 with a broken headstock repair for dirt cheap. I don't see myself ever getting another acoustic, aside from a cheapie that won't break my heart if my 2 year old decides to give it an Animal House treatment.
5/31/2026 12:56:21 AM EDT
[#14]
Nice!  I seriously need to upgrade my old Ibanez acoustic guitar.  I played a friend's Martin 000-18 standard and it was like night and day difference in playability and the tone/sound was just so much better.
5/31/2026 7:50:11 AM EDT
[#15]
Beautiful. My dad and I toured the Martin factory last year, it was pretty neat. The tour guide wasn't the best, I think because she'd been doing it for 20 years or something and didn't have any patience for questions, but otherwise it was a cool experience.
Attached File
Attached File
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords may not be a basis for a system of government, but strange men distributing Kalashnikovs from the back of a Toyota certainly can be.
6/2/2026 1:00:44 PM EDT
[#16]
Ummmm.....
Starter guitar

I'm still holding out to check out the d10/12 retro series they have around that 1500$ tag....if they ever get in stock locally.
Because I don't think my skill level of drunken campfire Rockstar validates more than that lol.

I played my wife's cousins gibson....and held it like a new born.
She asked why because he rails on it...bumps into shit with it.
Pulled up Sweetwater on the phone
" that's why babe."
Her:
Can I get one...it plays nice lol.
i dont want my final jig in the belly of a squid.
6/5/2026 8:51:04 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Czechers][Edited] [#17]
Quote History
Originally Posted By protus:
Ummmm.....
Starter guitar

I'm still holding out to check out the d10/12 retro series they have around that 1500$ tag....if they ever get in stock locally.
Because I don't think my skill level of drunken campfire Rockstar validates more than that lol.

I played my wife's cousins gibson....and held it like a new born.
She asked why because he rails on it...bumps into shit with it.
Pulled up Sweetwater on the phone
" that's why babe."
Her:
Can I get one...it plays nice lol.
View Quote

My Gibson J45 is beat to shit. My stepdad had it since he was a teen in the 70's (its a 64), carried it to church camps, I carried it off to work at a camp for 4 years, it went to college with me and was one of my guitars I played backing Elvis impersonator back then. Lots of character. That said, I'd never buy a new Gibson, prob go Martin or Taylor.

Attached File
Crap Magnet Extraordinaire
6/6/2026 8:17:15 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Czechers:

My Gibson J45 is beat to shit. My stepdad had it since he was a teen in the 70's (its a 64), carried it to church camps, I carried it off to work at a camp for 4 years, it went to college with me and was one of my guitars I played backing Elvis impersonator back then. Lots of character. That said, I'd never buy a new Gibson, prob go Martin or Taylor.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/300247/20231007_103500_jpg-3773685.JPG
View Quote
Yeah his is a new hummingbird iirc..
He had a laviriee ? Sp..that was super nice. He got the Gibson because his ex smashed the lavariee over his back ...
i dont want my final jig in the belly of a squid.
6/15/2026 9:59:41 AM EDT
[#19]
I've tried out a couple dozen good acoustics and only one model has a 100% rate of blowing me away, and that's the D-28!  I thought I was a mahogany guy, but maybe not!
Pour over coffee is best coffee.
6/15/2026 3:16:03 PM EDT
[#20]
Originally Posted By corwin1968:
I've tried out a couple dozen good acoustics and only one model has a 100% rate of blowing me away, and that's the D-28!  I thought I was a mahogany guy, but maybe not!
View Quote
you owe it to yourself to play a Yamaha FG9 Rosewood. The Adirondack top IMO sounds like  the pre war D-28 which has an Adirondack  top.
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.

.
6/15/2026 5:11:35 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Mach:
you owe it to yourself to play a Yamaha FG9 Rosewood. The Adirondack top IMO sounds like  the pre war D-28 which has an Adirondack  top.
View Quote
I've heard amazing reviews of that guitar and having an FG 3 behind me, I would love to try an FG 9, but I've never come across one.
Pour over coffee is best coffee.
6/16/2026 10:30:54 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote History
Originally Posted By corwin1968:
I've tried out a couple dozen good acoustics and only one model has a 100% rate of blowing me away, and that's the D-28!  I thought I was a mahogany guy, but maybe not!
View Quote
I need to amend this statement to include a Taylor 500 series that has "Gold" in the title.  I've come across two of those and both are equally amazing to the D-28's.  Different, but equally amazing.
Pour over coffee is best coffee.

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