50 Year Old Martin Guitar vs Brand New Martin Guitar - Which Sounds Better?

[@gwag8410]

I heard an old guy say one time, it takes a guitar 20 years to figure out it’s not a tree anymore. Both guitars sound very nice.

[@lgtw8438]

I have a 72 D 35. I played every D 35 in Elpaso Tx and this one was head and shoulders better than all the rest. Martin's vary ALOT! Some of them are special, some are not.

[@TheBigGuppy]

Yup, That's what all the old Martin guys say.

[@oaktree1628]

LGTW - if that is true, then that reflects poorly on overall quality control at Martin through the years.

[@hi99ins]

@@oaktree1628 I think its because its the combination of the brace sculpting (and its grain), the body/ neck wood grain and a few other things that makes each one unique. I don;t think there's any reasonable quality control that can detect the difference to be able to implement any quality regime in that respect.

[@livingadreamlife1428]

N M Varies depending on the width of the grain of the wood. Also, the drier the wood, the better the sound.

[@39MercFlathead]

Back in the 1960s a girlfriend's father gave me a 1910 0-28 with the original coffin case. It had been his wife's guitar. Both case and guitar were in magnificent condition. I played it for a year and after I broke up with the girl, I returned the guitar. Just too much guilt keeping something like that. But I often think of it and hope it is doing well and entertaining people.

[@qua7771]

It's good to hear form people who can share what life was like in that era of time. I'm not so sure that people have the same ethic today to return a gift that way.

[@christopherhawthorne5395]

Would be cool to find that guitar again that would be a sweet story. Good thing you gave it back- cause if it made you feel some type of way, then you prolly feel a lot better

[@onehundredpicks5531]

​@@qua7771gift is a gift man.

[@paulshearman138]

The new Martin has so much life in the sound and will mature even better I would imagine

[@70mcnevin]

Your retirement guitar... dude....

[@rmyAddison]

Nice playing lads........... My birthyear is 1949, and I've owned 37 Martins over 50 years of playing. Older is better, never owned a Martin that didn't sound better with time, wood changes, finishes gas, age mellows. It's very hard to compare models from different decades, specs change too. FWIW I retired with my personal favorites (CS OM-28 Alpine/Madagscar, OM-18 Authentic '33, OM-45 TB Engelmann/Tasmanian Blackwood, CS 00-42 Adirondack/Madagascar). Age turned the dreads/jumbos into smaller sizes as with many older players, to me Martin OM's are the perfect do anything size. A life full of music is a well lived one....................

[@toddbishop8357]

I will stick with my fg820 😀

[@susanroycroft89]

And I picked up an old FG 180, from '74, put a bone nut and saddĺe on and Wow what a remarkable guitar ( 3/ piece back ) ​though it's a laminate top, it sounds incredible😊😊@@toddbishop8357

[@billstralo7907]

I have a 73 d-28, I have played new ones mine sound more full aound and longer sustain. The wood resins hardens over time giving more of a bell tone, also the wood fibers elongate allowing the top more movement. Older is better for sure.

[@tonyfdesign]

Bottom line: new, or old, Martin makes a beautiful guitar. Bonus points for not banging them together on the 34 passes back and forth!

[@joshiuahallenbeck531]

Be a little picky about buying newer Martins. Personally if I had the cash I would buy older. Last year I traded away a year old 000-18 due to a bad neck set. I could have just gotten a dud but I asked around and others have had problems as well.

[@gurleyz]

Age makes a huge difference in both electric and acoustic guitars, but its much more noticeable in acoustics. The woods just blossum with age it seems. Even old laminated Yamahas have an amazing sound which many prefer to all solid wood guitars.

[@KozmykJ]

For sure. I have an old Eko Ranger VI which has mellowed beautifully. Not just my opinion. Sounds much better than you'd expect from a plywood body and a screw-on neck. Got her s/h in the late 80s. I'd still love to have a nice Martin though. Need a lottery win ...

[@notapplicable328]

I’ve got a vintage fg-110e. It’s a smaller OOO sized thing but your definitely right. They developed such a full rounded tone it’s impossible not to love playing them!!

[@qua7771]

I believe this to be true, but like anything, there are going to be common misconceptions. Overly dry guitars sound amazing, but are not structurally sound, and cannot always be easily repaired. Aging may not make a bad sounding guitar sound better. There is a lot more to the aging process than the woods moisture. There is something biological, and physical taking place over time. Flat tops, aren't really flat, and all the parts are under some tension. I got one shipped from the factory that sounded horrible the first day, and didn't project well. It sounded substantially better after a few days. I noticed that the shipping label was damp, so it was safe to assume that the guitar had been exposed to high humidity which would explain things.

[@patmillen9162]

I crave warmth in an acoustic... the vintage one is an easy choice for me.

[@rylanfutch8849]

Yes, I definitely thought it was slightly more mellow than the new one. New one is brighter.

[@zacharyohare2118]

Go play a seagull super warm balanced sounds

[@patmillen9162]

@@zacharyohare2118 I actually just bought a new acoustic last year... Seagulls are nice for sure, but I went with a Larrivee D-03R. It is beyond amazing.

[@Jonwsm]

Try a cedar or mahogany top.

[@Artcore103]

It's brighter the opposite of warmer.

[@kevinwest5456]

As long as it’s a Martin, I’ll love it. I’ve played every acoustic you can imagine over my 40+ years of playing and at the end of the day I’ll always choose Martin.

[@stephenhenion8304]

Me 🎵🎶🎵 too....

[@ericmadeoftin8206]

They just sound and feel better. Play a string loud or way up the neck or muted or ringing, etc, the response and tone are amazing. Sometimes I'll go, "what was that" as the guitar responds in some awesome way to something I'm doing. Willie Nelson, Niel Young and Eric Clapton have stories to tell too about their Martins.

[@Moonshot568]

To my ears the new Martin sound much fuller much nicer , the old one looks pretty .

[@RC32Smiths01]

Pete and Lee are always an unpredictable and amazing combo in playing! Both guitars sound great!

[@bobchambers8327]

Unpredictable?? Do you know the definition of that word?

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@bobchambers8327 I mean that they don't typically do the same kind of jam twice. They are always new and fresh in playing imo

[@poinkero]

The old one sound kinda loose, and lively. The new one sounds full but tight. It's like the strings on the new one has restriction in its movement.

[@thatmg]

I wouldnt say that the new one is "brighter" id say it sounds "tighter" to my ears. It has more mids.

[@josephochoa5230]

Marcello Gonçalves you are exactly right. I thought the same.

[@TheDennzio]

Exactly my impression

[@nickcoulter973]

Whoa! Massive difference. The old one is definitely the guitar I prefer, but both are fantastic.

[@larryrhindress2972]

Well done!!! The older Martin has my vote. My D28 has that similar warm sound.

[@chaingangzta13]

Do a "Gilmore's 3.9 million strat vs his signature strat"

[@Arcturian1111]

lol

[@torzsokszilveszter2444]

Gilmoure strat vs Squire bullet strat (second hand)

[@alexoller22]

Julius Estrada “A” Gilmore black strat? It’sTHE Gilmore 3.9 mil black strat. The one and only... That’s why they paid that kind of money!!!

[@alexoller22]

Darian Hall lol you’re so right

[@ricklewis5804]

Julius Estrada Gilmour

[@andrewf5390]

The smile on Pete's face when he first starts playing Lee's guitar says it all.

[@tomjjordan91]

I think the point for me is that I personally have enjoyed listening to my guitar age. An old one might sound beautiful, but it has been a pleasure being around for and experiencing first hand, the changes in sound in my guitar as the years go on.

[@apachehelicopter5001]

70s guitars are inconsistent, but the good ones are fantastic. My 74 strat is awesome. A little heavy but it’s still a solid guitar

[@WalkenDead]

My high school chemistry teacher had an old Martin that he had to send back for repairs, can't remember the model or year, it was back in the early '90's. I mention this for a couple of reasons, 1) the captain did lol 2) brought back a good memory. He was a really cool guy. The chemistry class had a huge storage room and he would let us come in during the study halls we had and just sit around and jam in that room. Coach Voiselle if you are still with us thank you man! He also coached track

[@dylanbrown4683]

Can’t beat the Martin sound, they sound so big and full. The best quote I heard about a Martin was 10 years ago, I was at my sisters house I had a cheap old guitar left there and I went there to show her my new Martin. She is a music lover but by far not a musician, she was blown away by the sound of the Martin but she then got the old guitar I left there and said remember this one?! And I played that one and to her untrained ears she said “the old one sounds like a cheap guitar but the Martin sounds like the full band is playing with it”

[@marc_leblanc]

Love the warm full tone of a Martin guitar. I've owned a Shenandoah model (D-18-ish) and the D-45. Love them.

[@jstar1000]

I had a Shenandoah HD-28 for many years, paid $500 for it back in the mid 80s sold it in the mid 2000s for around the same price but it had a lot of wear but was still a great guitar, I bought a new used D35 to replace it.

[@SimonBurley]

Amazingly I actually like the new one better. Sounds like Neil Young when he was young! Sounds fresh to me, and bright but not too bright. Usually I like cedar topped acoustics and a more mellow sound, but this new guitar sounds absolutely superb to me.

[@mjt11860]

i agree. i was also thinking of neil young

[@ericmadeoftin8206]

Doesn't Neil play an old one though?

[@nilsen589]

​@@ericmadeoftin8206 when neil young was young, his guitar was young too.

[@Casterman2]

Cheers from the US! Great vid guys.! I bought an HD28 new in 2006. It gets warmer every year. Never leaves the case unless I’m playing it. Still has the smell. That smell is the best! I think at the end when the new one was playing rhythm and the old one was playing lead was just right. The older one has such flavor. The new one is super full and chunky. They sound amazing together. Cheers to the audio guys for getting it to translate tonally, on my crappy apple ear buds👍🏻

[@dcallan1]

The new guitar is strung with 13s from the factory not 12s. Also, the HD-35 bracing is forward shifted and scalloped, whereas the ‘72 D-35 would have been standard location and not scalloped. Besides age, I think the differences could be expected based on those specs alone.

[@Artcore103]

Did he not say he changed the strings on the new one? I believe he did.

[@dcallan1]

@@Artcore103 My recollection was that he changed strings on the '72 to 12s. The new HD-35 was stock.

[@Techco1]

I have no idea how they just glaze over the fact they're braced differently. Comparison should have ended the moment they said the new one is an HD. How they couldnt have managed to find a d35 or even a d28 would have been a better comparison. Blows mind

[@johnathanutahzio8474]

Jeremy Hinds Because they’re morons who are barely above novices.

[@tacratt6091]

Martin dreads need 13-56 to make them shine, the 12’s make them thin

[@chuckandkonnie2415]

So much more character and depth to the older Martin.

[@brycecourtneymusic]

Agreed. The new guitar is so bright and snappy, to me the old one is so much smoother.

[@MikeAshba]

The older one has my vote but both sounded great

[@thefisherman2837]

Almost different guitar tho. The hd35 has scalloped forward shifted braces it's going to sound more bassy. A normal d35 would've been the test. I've had the new hd35 the new d35 and a vintage...and played the pre reimagined d35...the hd35 to my ears sounded vintage from the start and massive but built very different

[@zardonaz2963]

I prefer the new one. Less bright but fuller sound and I like more bass in acoustic guitars. Both sound GREAT though.

[@justinhobgood4312]

pete your playing truly inspires me every time

[@seanhealey2007]

I'm fascinated by how I seemed to change my preference depending on who was playing and the style. Takeaway: a D35 is tops no matter how you slice it. Gentleman in white shirt plays-old one sounds better ; gentleman in blue shirt plays - new one sounds better

[@Holtenstein]

I've gotten the chance to play many Martin guitars, authentic, Golden eras, D45,D50 and even the D100. The best sounding Martin I've ever played was a 1963 D28!! Age, when kept correctly, improves the sound.

[@dezionlion]

Maybe they had better wood or luthiers?

[@Holtenstein]

@@dezionlion No. Other than the addition of a truss rod in 1985 they're the same guitars. It's the age. Rosewood opens up over time. One of my favorites was the D18 Golden Era. It's mahogany and it has more bass immediately. Whereas the Rosewood will become better and better sounding. But once you get to a certain level of Martins the will give you a chill on the first strum. As long as they have fresh strings that is.

[@Holtenstein]

@ROCCO SMURF Yes, the D28 GE and authentic are extremely good. Just much more expensive.

[@joumannoe]

Videos with Pete are definitely the best! Spot on!!!

[@WowIndescribable]

Really like the video editing - sped up when they are switching guitars so the listener gets to A/B the sounds of the two quickly. Thanks!

[@Gordonsmusic911]

No doubt about it. The new one sounds better to my ear, but I'm not throwing rocks at the '72 model. It just has a different sound.

[@BevisFriend2010]

To me... The new one sounds cleaner and more distinctive. The old one sounds warmer, more homely & rounded.

[@firdausHITMAN]

Sounds like an ideal woman the way you've described the old one.

[@jeffreywilliams6386]

Homely or homey?

[@jimmythefish]

The only other structural difference is that the 70s ones had a large, clunky bridge plate made of rosewood, whereas the new ones have a small maple bridge plate. I'm torn on this aging guitar - if you find a really old, great-sounding guitar it's probably the reason it's still around. It sounds great! I've played 60s Martins that I wouldn't trade my 2008 D-28 for. Mine changed after it was new, to my ears, but I think aging of a guitar won't turn a bad guitar into a good one. A really great-sounding guitar started out that way. See any Santa Cruz or Collings or Martin Authentic for evidence of that. They sound fantastic right out of the box.

[@teamrockettes]

Honestly, I really liked them both. Kind of an impressive feat of engineering that a modern Martin can sound so close to a decades-old guitar that has had the benefits of aging the wood.

[@capohd28]

Martin's standard series from 2018 on are as good as any they've produced. First newer Martin I have owned since 1988, and even ended selling that. I also have a 1944 D-18 and 1962 000-18. The 2018 D-41 is by far my favourite. I almost didn't buy it due to my aversion to bling, but the sound wowed me that I had to own it.

[@MezzMcGillicuddy1]

It's a fun video, but the problem with this comparison is that they're comparing two different models. The HD-35 has scalloped bracing, and the D-35 doesn't. It's impossible to tell how much age has affected the tone, since they never could have sounded alike to begin with. You'd need two guitars with the same specs. But, as I say, good fun.

[@PANICBLADE]

The bridge plates are also most likely different, as is the placement of the bracing, with the HD being forward shifted. Too much going on that could be contributing to the difference of sound aside from the age.

[@fergar0206]

Solution: buy a new one when you're young and enjoy it as it evolves

[@beverlymichael5830]

Yes that is what I did in 1969. Got my d18 new in 69. Still have it today and in excellent condition.

[@mrericchwang]

Exactly what I did. Bought a very close to new OMJM that I’ll play for years

[@CardinalJHA]

I started playing quite late, I heard a while back that you could sit it on a stand by your TV/music system or whatever you have playing sound a lot, the vibrations from the noise simulating play time, giving the guitar that vintage sound quickly. Whether or not it's TRUE is different, but also seems another possible solution

[@beverlymichael5830]

@@CardinalJHA yes as long as the wood is vibrating. I heard a bluegrass player had a Martin he was not real fond of. Let it sit near a stereo for some time. It was totally different guitar and he loved the sound

[@beverlymichael5830]

I agree. I have always bought new and watch them become awesome martins. And to hear it evolve into itself and it’s own sound. I still have my 69 d18 I bought new. We grew up together. Not the same when buying used.

[@docbobster]

To my ears, the new model is very scooped sounding, with heavy bass and high end but less midrange. I prefer the older one's sound, but then I learned guitar in the 1970s!

[@josephtravers777]

I'm with you here. I've been playing for almost 50 years as well :)

[@johnathanutahzio8474]

Dude. One is a D35 and the other is a HD35. The bracing is totally different. This isn’t a fair comparison. They should’ve compared a D35 and a D35.

[@DavidHBurkart]

The bracing is the difference with regard to the increased bass resonance. On this side of the video, the new guitar sounds actually sounds brighter, the '72 has a much more balanced projection of tones... to my ear anyway 😉

[@955rocket]

Seems to me like the older has lost some it's high end, or ability to cut through the mix .

[@gfurstnsu]

For me the older guitar had a mellower sound and the new one was sassy and brash. I think the younger generation (excuse my over generalizations) would like the brassy sound, but as I approach 80, I prefer the mellower sound. Thanks for doing this comparison. Both have that deep rich sound that is characteristic of a Martin Dreadnaught! Greeting from Daejeon, South Korea.

[@christopherwatkins9729]

G'Day George... Hope my great grandchildren enjoy my CRAFTER Auditorium in 50 years !!!!! and Greetings from New Zealand... Yes, am happy to say I do have an Italian, (ESTON) Vintage, Jumbo/Dreadnought, Acoustic/Electric, Cedar Top, over 50 years age... and Yes... it has an appealing improved tone and is staying "In the family"... also with it's accompanying 1984 VOX AMP ... (But I play it mostly as an Acoustic guitar)... Warm Regards... Chris... ☘

[@backroadboys5681]

As a 23 year old I can contest I preferred the older d35 but I may be a little biased because my guitar teacher played a 1975 Martin d35 and it put everything I’ve ever compared it to to shame

[@MrRbillharz]

Good ear! The original D-35s had a rosewood bridge plate and lighter bracing than the D-28. The were designed for the singer song writer. The newer D-35s have a maple bridge plate and have a brighter more modern sound.

[@dkambury]

Fascinating video! I have a '72 D-35 I purchased new (~$700 USD), sold to my best friend in '76, and recovered it in 2009 after he passed away. Unfortunately, after decades of cigarette smoke turned it orange, then finished off with a few years in an unfinished attic in Oregon, "knackered" would have been a vast improvement over the actual condition. I had it restored, reset, refretted, and repaired, and now it's back home and played regularly. One thing to note regarding the neck, it came matte-finished, not lacquered, as can be seen at the heel; decades of being played, though, has polished the neck to a high, deep gloss. Another thing to note is that the bridge placement in the 72s was slightly off, causing slight intonation problems. This, too, was fixed in the repair.

[@ragingchimera8021]

If I was recording in a band mix I might go with the newer one, more dynamics and sonic range. If I was sitting around strumming I'd go with the older one, such a warm pleasant sound.

[@DanielTPeace]

An important distinction.

[@TheAlpineProject]

I came here because recently I restrung my first guitar, an old Martin kit guitar. Got it through a Marlboro catalog when I was a boy. It's pushing 20 now. I hadn't played it more than an hour in the past five years and had kept the same old strings on it. I cleaned it up, replaced them with a fresh set of the same kind, and the guitar seems to sound better than five years ago.

[@thalstantrailwalker2393]

I loved both guitars, but I think I prefer the newer one in terms of sound. That said, the sound of the older one is phenomenal. Both are great, and I would be extremely happy with either. Captain, you are a lucky guy to have found that wonderful guitar. Martin did a fantastic job in restoring that for you. What would really sell me though is how it plays.

[@stateofblitz]

The original definitely sounds more settled in and warmer. Beautiful. I have a Yamaha with the age treated top and the sound difference from one that's not is quite substantial.

[@torbenmeldgaard8112]

"Filmed on location at Andertons Honolulu" 😘

[@LPCustom3]

I'm sure they wished they were in Hawaii...

[@dezionlion]

I know I do ALOHA!

[@524coconut]

I lost my shit for a minute and thought there was a hidden Andertons here in honolulu😭

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

A D-35 is definitely "blingier" than a D-28.... Back then, the D-35 was the only Martin dread with a bound neck. The D-28 does not have a bound neck. As far as the D-35 comparison goes, other than the forward-shifted X brace, the scalloped bracing and the low profile neck, the new 35 has an adjustable single action compression truss rod (since 1985) and a faux tortoise pickguard whereas the old 35 has a non-adjustable rod and a plain black pickguard.

[@guitarelaxed]

The chord progression of the intro jam reminded me of the song "Follow me" from Pat Metheny´s "Imaginary day" record.

[@jimmypilgrim]

A few notes on what makes a D35 different than a D28: Martin starting building the D35 in 1965, not the 1970’s. The D35 has a bound neck and herringbone trim. The D28 could have herringbone but it was an option. The quality of the wood, particularly the top was supposed to be superior for each Martin guitar as you go from the D35 to D41 to D45. Another difference is scalloped bracing, which could make a big difference in the sound. Opinion: I lam the original owner of a 1975 D28 and it has aged nicely but the 70’s Martins were weak compared to earlier generations, even without the Brazilian rosewood. Martin was going through some labor issues in the 70’s including a strike in 1979, which could have caused quality issues.

[@markntexas8265]

I am 54 all American just like a bunch of British companies went through labor and supply chain issues in the ‘70’s. So I completely trust your account of Martins issues.

[@EveningCrow]

Some slight corrections: the D-35 does not come with herringbone. The D-28 originally did, but was removed. Herringbone is now present on all the HD series, which also has scalloped bracing. There are other custom, non production runs that have had it though.

[@sirhulk5325]

I prefer the older one. It feels warmer to me

[@Artcore103]

I prefer it too but it's the opposite of warmer, it's brighter. The new one is warmer.

[@lpjbird]

I believe we have differing opinions as to the definition of brighter and warmer maybe. To me the older sounds bassier which I refer to warmer. Haha, make sense?

[@Peasmouldia]

Yeah, took ten years for mine to play in. Got better sound as the years went on but now at 50yrs old a neck reset is well overdue. Best vid you've ever done sir. Ta.

[@1rwjwith]

Nothing like a Martin...beautiful sound.

[@lorenjo]

Try Larrivee mate.

[@shawnsnow6413]

@@lorenjo +1 for Larrivee D03. Martins are good but nothing like a Larrivee either.

[@ResoBridge]

"The neck needed a reset and the bracing was loose..." I'd say that answers the question right there. That's my issue with old guitars in general - if they have been played most of them are well worn and a a bit knackered. In the 'classical' guitar world there is the idea that after a few decades the tops wear out and the guitar is done.

[@jimgriggs2184]

Ok. they're both nice. I enjoyed the playing, I enjoyed the stories behind them etc etc. But whats with the statue of the dude with his beans hanging out at 24:40?

[@AbbieHoffmansGhost]

I've had lots of Martin's both new and vintage and a Martin is still my go to guitar. Given a choice of these two guitars I would choose the new one.

[@calebbhawkins]

One thing really shows is that the captain mostly plays electric guitar. Acoustic musicians just play differently.

[@andrewcrawley285]

yeah, true. I'm the same

[@zachjollimore4339]

I started on acoustic and yea, it's a thing, switching to electric was a whole new game.

[@shmooless3699]

Differently ? Huh, never heard anyone spell ‘better’ that way

[@mouloudo]

He has the touch though, can't teach that

[@joshiuahallenbeck531]

@@zachjollimore4339 heck yeah it is!

[@Mr512austintexas]

Great fun listening to this conversation, and the playing is excellent! Always fun to do an "A/B" comparison, and these are two fine guitars to compare. Toggling back and forth between 12:30 and about 12:50 the difference is pretty clear to my ears; the new one is bright & brash, the older one is mellower and rounder, more mature sounding. Personally, I prefer the old one, but my bottom line theory is that there aren't "best" guitars, just "favorites". If you're looking for a keeper guitar, just find one that sings to you in a special way, play it with love and be happy! 😀

[@richardgredwulf-cronley3858]

That 70's has a better sound, some kind of authority coming out of it. And I even didnt look at the video. Its got a hollow jangle that is only heard on older instruments

[@timothycormier3494]

My martin is the crown jewel of my guitars. I can have all the boomy bass and immediately jump into the higher jingley jangling notes and they cut right through without drowning each other out. I love my martin

[@Brmmsilva]

I much prefer the older one. What a beautiful sound!

[@davidwells997]

I KNOW they get better with age! I have an Alvarez-Yairi DY77 that I bought in 1979. When I bought a Taylor 710 in 1997, the Yairi was relegated to storage. I got it out last year (2022) and after cleaning it up and having a local repair guy do some fret work and other minor adjustment, it has turned out to be an amazing sounding guitar that I play more often than my Taylors.

[@rp89d28]

The '72 by a mile. Open and more articulate. New one sounds a bit congested. Which will improve over time

[@kempire4623]

Outside of the great playing, information, and general entertainment value, I don't feel like enough credit is given to the investment they put into the rooms they film in. Love how the acoustic room has a different vibe and decor than the electric demos. Thanks guys!

[@bluesysamurainao4557]

Nice review and performance!! New one is tight and stiff. Vintage one is mild ,dry and well balanced. I love Martin tone the best so both are awesome!!

[@RonRivet]

Hard to tell listening through my laptop speakers but the old Martin seemed to sound warmer than the new one. With that being said...I would be thrilled to own either one of those!

[@Randorita]

Pete, I smell my guitars, too! I can't decide if I prefer the smell of rosewood or mahogany. Both are great!

[@TheBigGuppy]

Thats weird that you post that. I just bought a sloped shoulder all mahogany Martin dreadnaught and I love the smell of that thing.

[@rosslynemrys5829]

There are mugs now for Martin fans, Sound hole sniffers!!

[@davidmcleandamrecordings3673]

There is a huge adjustment that the wood goes through. As years go by the wood patenas and balances ..

[@probono9341]

The HD-35 has forward-shifted scalloped bracing vs a D-35 which has Martin’s standard bracing. The HD Model will have deeper bass response and will be louder overall because of the bracing pattern.

[@ryanrego808]

Pro Bono pretty much making this comparison pointless right?

[@dougamacker6469]

The HD 35 has different bracing (Scalloped). The Captain's D 35 has standard bracing. Both sound great. It is strictly a preference to the player.

[@paulstubbs4487]

I firmly believe acoustic guitars improve not with age but when they are played. I bought a Tanglewood for around £600 and it didn't inspire me at all for many years until I started on acoustic lessons and played it several times a week. After 18 months it sounded massively better and as Pete says just seems to sound better the more I play it. I now have fairly new high end Taylor's and Martin's that don't sound as good but I'm sure when played in they will. If I can ever put my Tanglewood down that is!

[@BeefNEggs057]

Bracing techniques have changed giving more resonance on the new one. The older one is quieter and more mellow (like me). Scalloped bracing and all that is relatively new right? My $300 Yamaha sounds just as good though. Def look at one if you are in the market. Best sounding guitar I picked up.

[@j.dietrich]

Horses for courses really. Martin's "HD" branding is quite appropriate - the new guitar has more clarity, better note definition and a more extended overtone series. Unsurprisingly, the old guitar has all the characteristics we associate with "vintage", with a warmer, softer tone and a bit of natural compression. I don't think it's useful to call either guitar better, they're just different.

[@mymodel6]

Natural compression lol...

[@budandbean1]

@J Dietrich really excellent post... totally agree.

[@guildofgamefails]

Doesnt the 'hd' signify herringbone dreadnought? 😅 I agree with your point, but that's not what the hd means 😁

[@charlie-obrien]

I agree they both sound good. But the '72 sounds better to my ear.

[@bobbybo3458]

Just came across this video. Don't know how I missed it before now. Great comparison between two great guitars. I have a 2008 HD-35 that was new old stock in 2010 that just keeps getting better every year. and I just loved that blues shuffle that you guys did at the end!!

[@papashuvitsskateboardforth8399]

I've a 1970 Eko Ranger, it's the nuts and like Pete's, gets played with every day.

[@georgetempest9627]

I have an EKO 12 string since since 1979, I love it, it never bent or bulged and has been in many different climates. Why should I waste money on an ugly Martin?

[@jpizzleforizzle]

Both are great. The new one records "louder", is a bit brighter, and beefier in the low end. The 72 seems to have a more even response from string to string, with a little dip in the mid frequencies. I would prefer the new one for live playing (especially un-mic'd) and the 72 for recording and mic'd use. The 72 would probably need less compression than the new model also.

[@cjgsicknote]

Absolutely this

[@gmoore6166]

Love my Martins! The new HD sounds good but is too bright now compared to the older more mellow. The good news is when the new HD ages it will mellow too:) Both are great guitars!

[@garcdonald]

Xactly! My 72 D-35: full, deep, massive base response and resonance. My 2019 HD-35, extremely bright mids and highs. Almost half the base response. Beautiful, incredible brightness but personally, I do hope it mellows and deepens.

[@alan4sure]

My D35 sounded good from the day I tried it in the store. Now 4 yrs later, after playing it hard and loud a lot, the tone has got even better! That's how you improve the sound, play hard and loud, get that wood resonating so it loosens up, and play often. If you strum gently and pick gently it won't get much better over time.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

They keep saying the 50 year old one has a brighter sound, but I think the new one is a lot brighter, and the old one has a warmer tone.

[@kentriley1933]

I heard that right away

[@Bossanovawitcha]

neither a Taylor still

[@kentriley1933]

@@Bossanovawitcha yes. I have a Baby Taylor it can be played loud if you like. great tone and play ability and very bright has gotten better with age. But with tempture have to adjust neck a few times a year .I am sure higher end Taylors you probably dont have to Adjust neck too much.

[@Bossanovawitcha]

Kent Riley true.. save up for that GS Mini Koa, its wild wild wild haha

[@brianpizzuti8826]

I think they said that about the new one, not the old one.

[@garrysimmons111]

My 1969 D-18 needed a reset and some TLC. Came back sounding and playing great but not an inexpensive repair. I think it's very common for vintage acoustics to need a reset/etc.

[@thiilaak]

To your ears, playing, the newer one might sound better. The microphone says the opposite. The older one sounds way better. Much more balanced and classy.

[@panzerlieb]

Yep, that’s what happens. I’m not sure if they sound “better” because that’s really subjective to the individual. But most of them, no matter who made made them, do tend to balance out over time. I used to have this Kay acoustic made in the mid 60’s that sounded fantastic. Even though it was low end guitar at the time it was made. 30 years of aging did absolute wonders for it. The other thing to remember is a majority of the guitars made in the 60’s and prior, even the “cheap ones”, were made of solid wood. They hadn’t gotten into substituting plywood for the back and sides yet.

[@67ratsrule]

I love classic Martins. I grew up listening to a 66 D28, and to my ears it is the only thing that sounds right. I have that same D28 now, and a Yamaha for everything else. A couple of years ago, my mom’s Martin spent 2 months at a luthiers to get the neck reset and the headstock repaired. The guitar had been last repaired in Nazareth in about 1982, for headstock repair neck reset and refretting.

[@josephmullinsii8461]

Martin's get all the fame but I have to wonder how many great songs were written on a Yamaha just siding on the side of a couch

[@kevinmorris7722]

Lee's sounds much more balanced. The bodies go through some deformation. The neck angle must be fixed on most older accustics not just the truss rod. the other thing is a Martin expert fixed Lee's guitar. Also Lee's has Brazilian rosewood and the new has Indian rosewood. But the test will come 40yrs on the new one.

[@RWBHere]

And the two guitars are braced in different places, so it will be interesting to hear how the new one changes with age, for that reason alone. They'll never sound exactly the same. That said, two 'identical' acoustic guitars are not guaranteed to sound exactly the same anyway, because the wood is from different trees, or different parts of the same trees, and the grain is different. Furthermore, the craftspeople who made the two might be different, and working at different times of year.... the list of variables can go on.

[@adamscottv]

Lee's is also Indian. He says that. He could not have brought a Brazilian guitar to the UK from the US.

[@thomasraven]

Wood certainly changes over time. I have a 1966 Jazzmaster and the neck feels different from any modern guitar I've ever played. It's not only the age of the wood that changes the sound, it's the differences in the way the wood was grown. 50 years ago, no one was modifying genetics and speed growing crops. Trees today are often grown faster and have less overall density in many cases.

[@ahiwalter9153]

i don’t even play acoustic but I still wanted to watch these two jam out.

[@stevegroves]

Enjoyed both the playing and the demo, thanks guys. Incidentally I spent over 2 hours in a guitar shop trying multiple Epiphone and Taylor guitars (thought I was going to buy a Taylor) and ended up buying a Martin road series. For some reason the Taylor 114ce just didnt feel right though I know its a great guitar, the cheaper Epiphones were great plugged in but lacked feel and tone without an amp but the Martin, wow it wooed me! and the feel, the sound is just awesome. Close second was an Epiphone master built it was very good!. I have a 24 year old Yamaha and it does sound good but the Martin, well Its the only make for me now.

[@paulrenevos]

The old one sounds more ‘even’ by lack of a better word, I prefer it

[@pappyodanial]

I have a 1964 D-21 with Brazilian back and sides. The sound of Brazilian is unparalleled.

[@petestaint8312]

Wow! Awesome. 👍

[@GageTheCannon]

Pete really is an amazing guitarist.

[@Thelongesteconoline]

Great video. The Dane and Captain playing the grandpa’s guitars for once! Thanks for the video guys. This one was really cool.

[@TheBigGuppy]

Acoustic guitars really vary from individual builds. I just bought a new all Mahogany Martin. I was prepared to buy a lot more expensive guitar. I hated the look but I ended up buying a DSS-15M Streetmaster. It was the best sounding guitar in the room. Better than guitars twice its price..... and way better than the other DSS-15Ms. Its a freak. I just wish it didn't look like distressed barn siding.

[@onixtheone]

If you have an old acoustic you can usually test if you’re bracing is coming un-glued by tapping all over the soundboard firmly with a finger, you might hear what sounds like a loose snare sound “thwack” rather than a resonant “thum” that has a note to it.

[@SelmervanAlten]

Funny that, just finished a similar quest for myself, though on a budget. Ended up with a 1977 Yamaha SF-700. So far I'm a happy camper

[@absolutless]

I've got a 72 d-28 and a 63 D-16. The neck on the 72, somehow has made it the best acoustic I've played, but the sound of the 63 is un-matchable. The great thing about Martin is they have existed for so long and maintained quality for most of those years. Difficult to do.

[@AlexanderTerczka]

There might by a simple reason for the myth that old guitars sound better. Every year and brand has good and bad guitars. Over the years the bad ones got binned/smashed and good ones were taken care off. So only the good guitars survive.

[@zeroceiling]

No...there are very few people smashing Martins or Gibsons of any kind...great...good or just average....

[@thomasp961]

Interesting theory. Also wonder about old growth vs. new growth wood.

[@yourrnamee1280]

Hmm, I had an old broken Maton, sang like it had been on this earth for a lonnng time, it could play itself . Bought a Martin, expensive, apparently on par with the Maton. it was NOTHING compared to the Maton.

[@smokesgtp]

They both sound excellent. The early 70's is much more open, airy but mellow. Better sustain. Not as scooped in the eq.

[@mrmountain73]

Yes, the old one is more pleasant to the ear. The new one is pretty harsh to me. I go for the old one. :)

[@randgloger296]

Just like golf clubs, every guitar is better than the person playing it.

[@Rhsummers1941]

They do sound different with the new sounding brighter. The bracing on the new HD is different and contributes to the volume difference but I think with age the new one will mellow.

[@abelincoln95]

Wish they had some Gibson J-200's to compare..Talk about some tone generators!! They are incredible.Great video!!

[@chrisjames1924]

Incredible guitars, but not as warm as a J45 or a Jumbo Advanced. Loud, yes, but I find them to be quite treblley.

[@brocluno01]

I think what happens, in part, is that lacquer cracks as it ages. That cracking means it is not a complete surface so the wood is freer to flex. The true test is to refinish the aged guitar and then compare ...