3 Dread Shootout - Gibson Dove Original - Antique Natural | Martin HDC28 | Collings D1 Traditional

[@Rogmichael1]

They all sound great! I like the Collings best and the Dove next. Thanks for the comparison it really helps! If you ever get a chance try a Gibson J-45 Deluxe Rosewood, I had one and foolishly let it go, it was one of the best sounding guitars I ever owned

[@gair1944]

Thanks for watching. The Collings got even better after I did this video. I took it to my guitar tech for a set up and he did some fret leveling that enabled the attack I use with medium action. I swear it sounds even richer and better.

[@Rogmichael1]

If I could only have one it would be Sitka Spruce and Mahogany. That Collings is absolutely gorgeous! My main guitar at the moment is a Gibson Hummingbird Original, I just love the Gibson neck and short scale

[@Rogmichael1]

@@gair1944 Would that be similar to having pleck pro setup on a guitar

[@eddyj3862]

GARY, I CAN NOT PICK, PERIOD!!! I LOVE THEM ALL, IT ALL DEPENDS WHAT YOU WANT TO USE THEM FOR. IF I HAD A KNIFE TO MY THROAT IT WOULD BE THE DOVE.

[@larryburrow6278]

I really like the dove

[@softsouthernknight]

That Dove was super clear and resonant.

[@gair1944]

Thanks for listening! Great guitar

[@andrewstendahl36]

I like that Dove so much, square shouldered dreadnought with beautiful inlays, ornate tone woods and the taller fretboard, plus all the headstock emblems. I have the round shouldered J 15 and G 45, both walnut back and sides which doesnt resonate quite as loud. That Dove is just such a classy lifelong collector piece. Thank you for sharing!

[@stevec.1802]

Excellent note separation on the Dove and Collings D1. HDC28 has a beautiful balance and bouquet. All are worthy of owning and gigging.

[@rickknowlan8949]

What a treat, to hear these three guitars, and played very well to show off their individual characteristics. Thank you.

[@gair1944]

Thanks Rick! I had fun comparing as well. No dog in the race

[@Analogart66]

I own a Dove and a Hummingbird, and love them equally for the strengths of both tone woods. Mahogany just has that sweet midrange that sounds so warm and complex, but the maple is so crisp, clear and focused with great note separation. Your Mrs. has good ears! Great comparison. That Collings is super sweet.

[@gair1944]

Thanks for listening and please subscribe if you haven't done so. I'm almost at 3K subscribers. (for whatever that is worth. Probably nothing) LOL Yes, my wife has great ears!

[@kes17415]

My choice after listening to this whole video on headphones was the Dove, as it seemed to articulate better. The other two seemed to sound a bit muddy to me.

[@gair1944]

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.

[@arthurleblanc7272]

In my opinion, The Dove lets you play with all of the harmonics that are available wherever you make contact with the strings. I think that the Artwork gives the player visual clues as to where the harmonics live around the 3 rings of inlays on the sound hole The pointed parts of the pick guard also hint at where the curve is best to strum in . And, of course the Dove's tail hints at light as a feather, then to full body and on to singing like a Dove. I think The Dove sounds really nice and jazzy when you string it with Gibson Flatwounds (.50 low E), or interestingly different when you stringi it up with even lighter gauge Brite Wires for "Nashville Tuning". Then the maple really brings out that 12 string illusion of briteness. Neck like a Gibson and sings like a Dove, my favorite "Red-Necked" guitar. Nice playing, by the way!!

[@gair1944]

Wow, really nice thoughts! Love it. Thank you and Happy New Year to you

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Down that hillbilly highway 😂😂. GREAT SONG! Kinda suprised the biggest guitar seems to have the least volume. Thats what always detered me from Gibsons. But i had a Advanced Jumbo AJ that could walk over every Martin in the room 😂. Sadly i lost it in a house fire and a new AJ is around 6k dollars now! But Trey Hensley play a black Dove as a bluegrass guitar and that thing is a flatpicking beast!! I never played a dove before but now im def gonna try one! Your J45 sounds pretty lively too but every time i try one they seem to not have much volume so I always end up with a Martin D28 of some sort. Had d28, hd28, and a hd28v. But man my advanced jumbo was the absolute CANNON! I miss it so badly. But if i had to pick one of yours its toss up between that J45 and Dove 🕊. They sound great 👍

[@gair1944]

Merry Christmas JohnnyRebKy. Loved all you shared. Sorry about the advanced jumbo . When you get a good one, there are none finer. This Dove shocked me and I had to buy it

[@mattmoo1007]

All three sound very good, and with their own personality. The Collings will be a different beast in a year or two. I'm on my seventh Collings and my latest one had profound shift in tone after 10 months of heavy play. The, "roar" arrived and the tone became much more complex. As for that Gibson, it is a good one and has a bit of that, "thunk" that Gibson is famous for, but is also light and airy with nice note separation. It's a winner and I believe finding a great Gibson can be a bit of a hunt.

[@gair1944]

This Collings is literally 6 weeks old in my home. It definitely has some opening to do. I love it now but hear some tightness in the lower wound strings. Yes, this Gibson is a "good one" indeed.

[@jdmoney1000]

Gary, how many inches deep is the body of the dove??? I can't find this info anywhere....

[@gair1944]

No idea. I actually sold it. I prefer Custom Gibson Songwriter Ebony. But it definitely is a dread depth

[@gorgiasxx]

Great recording. The martin sounded a bit tight like that was the new guitar. The dove had some crazy overtones that was really mesmerizing. Woudnt say no to the Collings either. 🙂

[@gair1944]

I agree on all points you made. Thanks for checking it out.

[@kevinbaird2527]

All 3 guitars sound great as they should sound with their tone woods. Maple for back and sides for the Gibson and Rosewood for the Martin and mahogany for the Collings.

[@gair1944]

Well said Kevin. Thx for stopping by. Ish I had thrown in my Martin D18 but it is being refretted this week.

[@iamanovercomer3253]

Nice playing 👍 I'm a Fender guy all the way with electric but acoustic I like Gibson, but out of my price range right now. You can tell a Martin ( I have one)...they have 2 dots on the seventh and twelve fret . I contacted Martin about that and they told me that they had no idea ‼️ I like to get a Seagull Performer CW CH Burnt Umber Presys II I agree with your wife, when I looked at a Gibson acoustic in 2016 , it went for $2400 and had roses on it....the body like an amber. The roses made it not so appealing to me

[@gair1944]

This Gibson Dove is a sweet guitar for sure. Martins have their own voice and I have always loved it.

[@azcharlie2009]

I liked the Martin... Martins just have something that other guitars don't..

[@gair1944]

I've always been a Martin lover. Its the sound I chased for many years and have multiple Martins.

[@tomasvanecek8626]

Thanks for a great video.. you passion for and knowledge of guitars shows 🤩 The guitar is such a complex instrument, I can hardly think of any.. After 50+ years of playing them, its been lifelong song. And what I´ve learned is - you never know, in the way how the wood, bracing, scale and all would fit together - in that one particular piece... Thats why no "luthier" guitars for me ever. I know what sound I ´ll get with Gibson and Martin (no bolt-on necks for me, sorry Collings, Bourgeois et al.. none of that strident sound..) The Dove would be likely the last guitar I will ever buy. Why: first off - the maple isnt "bright" .. it is just transparent, with no coloration of sound. RW does it, hog does it, for better or worse.. horses for courses. The Dove would be a happy medium between my 2 favorite guitars: a J-200 1964 replica (the exact copy of Mickey Most J200 Page and Beck recorded with) and Martin D35 J.Cash. First one is a delicate "whispering giant" jumbo, as they all are.. the other is a grand piano of guitars, with crushing dynamics.. I had to relearn all I knew.. But the ebony fretboard has nothing of the bloom and depth the rosewood one has.. So - the Dove, the best of both worlds... I believe 🙃 .. see if I´ll ever find out

[@jonathanfoushee13]

Curious, what do you use to record the audio? All three guitars sound great, and you’re playing is excellent.

[@gair1944]

Thanks Jonathan. I use an old HTC One M8 video recorder. They got the audio right for recording .

[@eddyj3862]

I MADE A MISTAKE!! THE COLLINGS!!!

[@yjersey]

Dove

[@whodat3644]

The Dove sounded best to me.

[@gair1944]

This Dove is an excellent guitar for sure.

[@Blkojo]

Correct. The Dove.

[@SteveSingerFowkes]

Dove is v bright sounding... but in a good way D18 - classic RW - bass and treble missing the Mids a bit Collings - actually a lot closer to the Dove For me as a singer the D18 would be choice

[@gair1944]

I have a D-18 but it is getting a fret job this week because it has been played the Most. What does that tell you? LOL

[@JohnJones22856]

D18’s don’t use rosewood. 🙄