2013 Martin D-28 1941 Authentic has OPENED UP!

Follow up the '41 A we studied in the Humidity: Learn to Read Your Guitar video. I mentioned in that video that instruments often sound better after being over-humidified and then dried out. Maybe it's my imagination but this '41 A sure seemed to wake up after I dried it out again. See for yourself. These are the same strings that have been on it since this video back in Sept:
• Do Strings Really Make...
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Playlists:
Guitar Comparisons- • Guitar Comparisons
Evaluating Guitars- • Evaluating Guitars
Guitar Repair Technique- • Guitar Repair
1970's Martins- • 1970's Martins
Shop Tools and Layout- • Shop Tools and Layout
Questions and Answers- • Questions and Answers
Just Playing- • Just Playing
Instructional- • Instructional
Mandolins- • Mandolins

[@jamesdepalma6341]

Out of the D28 guitars that are newer than the 70s ones you tune up, the 41' for some reason has become my favorite year for the authentics. The 37' is good but to my ear the 41' just has something to it. Great video as always and thanks for sharing!!

[@Bryankimsey]

I agree. I've got several videos where I compare rear-X Authentics to forward-X and I always comment on how I like the midrange punch of the rear-X.

[@maxx7733]

Sounds really good!

[@Bryankimsey]

I've played it more since that video than I have in all the previous time I've owned it! It sounds great.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

Sounded GREAT from the first strum!

[@shanewolfe6912]

I think it sounds very balanced, seems to sound good on everything. Be a great all around guitar for about any style player. One of the most well rounded ones you have played. A guy would certainly be proud to own such a fine instrument.

[@beverlymichael5830]

Wow. Sounds fantastic.

[@RahulSharma_JaiMataDi]

One of the best sounding Martin I ever heard … honestly

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Once, a certain Guitar seller sent me a Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack Spruce D-45, from a very high end maker. I got it out of the box and I was like, holy cow, this thing is heavy for this particular builder! I heard a little bit of a rattle, and knew the seller generally would put a humidity pack in his guitars; on this occasion however, by the time I got done sticking my arm in the sound hole and shaking, I had retrieved eight humidity packs. The seller had went on and on about how the Guitar just sounded horrible, and he expected so much more from the builder. It’s funny what moisture will do. 😀 I personally am very fond of these rear shifted 28s, when they are played in. Great video as always sir.

[@Bryankimsey]

Great story!!

[@HayesTech]

Great video. And yes, guitars open up, after playing them for a while. I had this happen first hand when I purchased that Recording King RD-328, brand new. It sounded tight and not very good at first. But after a few hours of constant playing, it opened up. And the sound was like night and day difference. That will also happen when a guitar gets repairs. Again, great video.

[@jcrgtattoo333]

I’ve had a recording king RD-328for about 3 weeks now, still working on the setup, end goal is low action like my Martin and Takamine, the tak has the lowest action I’ve ever had on an acoustic, but the RK sounds awesome, I can only imagine how it will sound in about a year., it’s also the 1st v neck I ever played, and I took to it in about an hour, thankfully!

[@luvbgrass]

Killer sounding guitar there Bryan. 😁

[@billlamb1745]

Amazing guitar.

[@JAGProductionss]

It sounds so clear. We need a comparison betwen this and a D35!

[@DMogren10]

Sounds great, Bryan! How much does keeping a guitar in its case play into humidity levels? I’m in Minnesota, so the winters can be rough. I keep them cased with sound hole humidifiers. Is that too excessive?

[@Bryankimsey]

I don't know. That's why I'm trying to teach you to read the guitar. I don't like to block the soundhole because the fingerboard needs love too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKWbd2CKZ9xgiMU

[@DMogren10]

@@Bryankimsey Thanks, Bryan! I will be reading my guitars as much as possible moving forward. Appreciate your content!

[@jspendleton3898]

The run-out pattern on that top is almost identical to my 2011 D28 Marquis. I wonder if they're sister guitars from the same log.

[@Bryankimsey]

The actual sister/brother to this guitar (4 SN away) was just posted on the UMGF (Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum). umgf.com/the-d-28-authentic-1941-club-t152714-s780.html#p2807862

[@brotherhermit3977]

Question for Mr. Kimsey: if the guitar is completely finished, including the inside, would the guitar still be as affected by humidity?

[@Bryankimsey]

I think it's a moot point because that much finish is going to kill the sound. The best guitars usually have a very thin finish. So, yes, finishing every surface will slow down humidity effects but at what cost?

[@cugir321]

Oh yea! Finally a D28 that sounds like a monster. I had this happen on a used 100.00 Bedell BDD-18-M....I hadn't played it for years. It's about 14 years old. Took it out and saw it had a crack from the soundhole to the bridge....was going to throw it out but said...let me fix the crack....(I robbed the hardware) put it back together and man! That thing opened way up....My guess is it dried out. That must have opened it up. It's a laminate too but I've heard Bedell uses Mahogony all the way through the laminate. (I have two of the same guitars but the other hasn't opened up as much...it's getting there...no crack in that one so must not have dried out as much. Those cheap guitars were very interesting. The one that cracked was the loudest gutiar I've bought when I got it...not much overtones...very vintage sounding...it has deep depth of tone) My LL16 yamaha sounds like that guitar and is only 6 years old. The "ARE" wood is amazing on some!!! Some, not all! Chinese made is always a crap shoot! That Martin has tremendous depth! It's killer. I've seen Brazilian Martins that sound like crap....it's not always the wood...I think you're right....it's drying it out over time.

[@Akmatick]

Wow that sounds fantastic! What strings are you using on it? Also... what's the opening tune? I've heard you play that a few times :)

[@Bryankimsey]

Exilir Nanowebs PB that have been on since September. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqqnh5igmLaHgsU Big Sciota or, as I call it, Big "Kioti" (coyote)

[@Akmatick]

@@Bryankimsey Thanks! Do you use your “true medium” gauge with those strings? I suppose you’d have to buy them all individually?

[@RahulSharma_JaiMataDi]

Sounds Amazing after dehumidification 😂😂…. Trebles are crisp excellent

[@robmiller3464]

Bryan, in your opinion what is the single best thing to do to make my Martin OO-18 open up.

[@Bryankimsey]

What year is it? Anything post- 1994... shave the rear back braces, popsicle out, scallop the braces. Videos on all of these. Pre-94 to post-war... scallop the braces a little. Anything collectible or valuable... sell it and get something else. Let the collectors have your collectible guitar.

[@robmiller3464]

Sorry Bryan, I wasn’t clear with my question. I own a 2019 Martin OO-18. No electronics, just plain acoustic. This guitar sounds great sonically to my ears. I’ve compared it to other acoustics larger than mine and the volume, articulation, sustain and resonance are all there. I play daily for 2 hours minimum. I do here a difference since I bought it new, however I was curious to to know what else could be done sonically to enhance the tone further. My luthier doesn’t want to slot the bridge or perform risky procedures it appears. It has 1/4 in scalloped bracing forward shifted. Maybe I need to buy a pre-war or authentic to get a better sound. What do you think if I send the guitar to you is it worth it, or should I just be happy with it. It really does sound good. Thanks Bryan and really like your videos!

[@Bryankimsey]

He doesn't want to slot the bridge??? Why NOT? There is no downside. None. I don't think a guitar has ever escaped my shop w/out having the bridge slotted.... it just make so much structural sense. You are _preventing_ structural damage and there is absolutely nothing risky about it. But, whatever. Anyway... you'd shave the rear 2 back braces and pull the popsicle and that's about. I'm completely loaded for the rest of the year unless you drove over and handed it to me. If you can afford a pre-war (you mean, pre-1940's or The Prewar Guitar Company?) or an Authentic, that's as good as you can get. Hit up my Authentic Playlist and look for the small body A's.

[@RobertsRoger-q6h]

Apropro that someone who's given so many players a fantabulous new tone to their old guitars should have happenstance, intuition, and experience--not to mention humidity--do the same for their 10 yr old '41 D-28 authentic. Karma from the guitar gods.

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm pretty pleased!

[@UAL320]

Can’t see what the hygrometer over your shoulder says…what % are you running the shop at?

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm not running the humidifier while recording so the RH is going to drop. I turn it off when I'm working and on when I'm not in there. It's 40-50% when running and can drop to 25% when not running.

[@AC-rg5vl]

Mr Kimsey do you still do setups?

[@Bryankimsey]

If you bring it to me. But otherwise, no. It's too much work box and unboxing just for saddle or nut tweaks, plus shipping is up to close to $100 each and the guitar might not even need anything. Suggest you review this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIioiaCdZdCCq9k

[@AC-rg5vl]

@@Bryankimsey I appreciate your time and all the great info.

[@UAL320]

As far as pushing limits that’s what you want to do with bracing, too, isn’t it? Building a guitar as lightly as possibly without imploding? Seems like that’s where Martin lost themselves a bit in the 70s….overbracing, massive bridge plates, massive ugly bridges, etc….overbuilding everything to avoid warranty claims, thereby killing tone….

[@Bryankimsey]

That is exactly correct.