Collings D1AT - Martin HD28LSV- PreWar Guitar Co. Model D

I wanted to make a comparison video between my three go-to dreads. A 2019 Collings D1AT, a 1998 HD28LSV smokies top, and a 2020 Pre War Model D. All are strung with Santa Cruz medium parabolic tension strings.

[@conanthedestroyer7123]

Man, I just enjoyed listening to your playing while eating a chicken barbeque sandwich for lunch.

[@nothingscripted5010]

Haha !

[@thelonglife5772]

Pre war has that richness I would want …. All three are so different and have individual characteristics. Interesting vid

[@TheoDahlemPickups]

All three nice guitars. Collings wins to my ears

[@Bluegrassboy49]

WOW, nice job Adam. The Collings is so clear and projects as expected of a Collings acoustic even with older strings. Collings are "take no prisoners" type guitars that will certainly be heard in a jam. It'll be interesting to hear that same Collings in 20 years to see what difference age makes - if any. The Martin is much warmer and softer in it's tone signature to my ears having a clear advantage in moving toward a vintage tone as one would expect from the Martin. The PW sounds very similar to the Martin and I doubt I could tell them apart if not looking at them. You have three very nice acoustic dreads.

[@spgokc78]

That Collings sounds awesome!!

[@thepokerpilotapp]

Great song choice and what a great stable of guitars. That Collings, despite the older strings, just might be my favorite out of the bunch. Thanks for the vid 🙏

[@ajeet490]

The Collings has a beautiful throaty singing quality.

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

I started to watch this and had the thought” why so many dreads?” Then I remembered I’ve got 4 000 sized guitars in my closet. So keep rocking brother yer living wild and free!!

[@bgp6656]

I think that's the best sounding Collings I've ever heard.

[@jasoncombs9607]

Man that Martin just howls! Love all three guitars though. Fantastic rendition of TN Waltz sir! Sounds beautiful and thanks for the video!

[@luxurylinr56]

The Collings seems to stand out to me, in terms of clarity and rich woody sound quality. The other two sound more muffled to my ears, with less note separation. Collings is the hands down winner IMHO.

[@el34glo59]

Pre war has some amazing reverb and depth. Jesus.

[@lilycat1694]

Nice demo of some great guitars. Martin #1, Collings #2, and PreWar #3, in my opinion.

[@TMoody]

Hard to beat a Collings..... damn hard.

[@visitur4914]

All great. I agree that the Martin gets the edge for this song.

[@cobberdig]

Wow. They all sound awesome. The only difference to my ears is the Collings perhaps a little brighter and snappier. That will probably mellow overtime. Great selection anyway and nice playing.

[@fifteenfofifo]

The D1AT wins the comparison with my ears. Really balanced, full and clear with great separation. PW sounded nice too.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

Nice job. All great guitars. Looks as if that LSV has a Smokies Adirondack top.

[@christopherreily1895]

Great demo with tasteful playing. Tough call for sure, I'll have to listen a few more times ;)

[@peanutavalon]

Collings for me...and I own the same PW. It’s great but the Collings tone is a more well rounded guitar tone to me. All great but the Collings hits the sweet spot for me

[@adambrown7112]

This Collings has everything I like to hear in a good dread. There is a great guitar in the PW trying to get out, I just think it needs some time.

[@BoydTimothy]

Yeah, could be. In this particular recording (listening from iPhone speakers) Collings sounds best to me. I also own a PW Model D. All good ones though. Nice pickin’!

[@peanutavalon]

@@adambrown7112 There is! I'm still waiting lol! Had mine for a year...Play it constantly and love it. But these are definitely an acquired taste. It's a historically accurate guitar tonally...Can't go wrong with any of them.

[@mgard6573]

Adam that was awesome picking. Thanks for doing the comparison. The sound of the Collings was the most enjoyable for me. Each note is so clear and powerful. The Martin and the Pre-War are also great sounding guitars. I have both Martin and Collings guitars. It depends what mood I’m in as to which is my favorite on a given day.

[@adamkoepke1366]

That LSV is so amazing! A friend of mine has one and I fell in love with it. Just picked up a Collings D2H not to long ago, but really want to add an LSV into the mix

[@tylermanharth9110]

You should look into the Collings CW Indian. It’s their version of Clarence White/Tony Rice’s guitar. Which is what the Martin LSV is based on. You’ll probably have an easier time finding the Collings, and they’re superb instruments.

[@adamkoepke1366]

@Tyler Manharth wish I had the money for the CW. I’ve seen some LSV going between 3,000-5,000. Won’t be getting one of those for a while haha

[@tedparkinson6892]

Cool comparison and it is amazing how good a job a simple iPhone does. Collings is crisp. For this tune I prefer the warmth and sweetness of the Martin, especially in the higher parts. Pre-war does sound a bit tinny.

[@earlspearl2933]

I like the old timey sound of your funny looking one there . the last one you played . it looks old timey too . that's a plus as it has a good character look . The D1 wins though . modern mahogany guitars are hard to compete with . I played a new D18 recently . but I like what I think is the Pre War .thanx for your good video . and would AT indicate Adirondack Top ?

[@cmoreno12345]

Adirondack Traditional

[@fifteenfofifo]

Collings rings out here. NIce comparison! (and older strings?)

[@toneman335]

All are good but the Collings and the Martin are the best where the Martin has the most tonal character!

[@djangobole]

The Collings for me.

[@TT-wz6xy]

3 wonderful guitars sir , but That Martin ohhhh lush

[@wyatthenson1283]

Great picking, man. I wanted to like the Martin more. That Collings sounded incredible though, I’m pretty torn between those two.

[@adambrown7112]

Thanks man. The Collings is a pretty damn good guitar, it’s been awesome since day 1. The Martin has a pretty classic tone with a great low end that none of my other guitars can manage. The PW sounds weak here but it was pretty new at the time and has started to open up since then, it’s turning into a great guitar. Thanks for checking it out!

[@el34glo59]

@@adambrown7112 The Martin beat out that prewar? Wow. I can see an authentic maybe doing that. Surprised. Different back woods though right

[@toneman335]

Curious...Does the Martin HD28LSV have a Smoky Mt top which was put on some guitars by Marin in that time frame of the late 1990's?

[@adambrown7112]

Yes this one does have a Smokies top

[@grorob52]

all sound amazing I'm kinda partial to the pre=war deeper sound.

[@billdedrick1914]

Great demo and great playing technique...How do the SC strings compare to medium Martin SP/Lifespan, D'Addario EJ/EXP? That Collins is unreal...great balance, clarity, aged type tone...Martin is 2nd with Pre War falling to 3rd to my ear.

[@adambrown7112]

Thanks Bill! The SC are probably the best wearing strings I’ve ever played, the strings that were on my Collings for this video are still in service and they still sound too good to change in my opinion. I’ve only ever used these, EJ17s, or D’Addario NBs and I think the SC are the best for my Collings but he PW sounds better with the NBs. The PW has also come a long way since this video but overall I think the Collings is much more diverse guitar

[@DannyBrooks1]

Pre-War was like a combination of the Martin with more clarity similar to the Collings.

[@Rich915]

Tough call...! Collings -crisp & articultate Martin - warm & full Pre-War - a bit tinny to my ears All fine acoustics . . .

[@jackbarley1720]

What’s the name of the song? Nice playing.

[@adambrown7112]

@@jackbarley1720 it’s The Tennessee Waltz. I don’t see it played in G often but I’ve been playing it this way for a while now

[@jackbarley9607]

@@adambrown7112 thank you!

[@letitbe978]

Nah, pw sounds like pre war martin. Warm rich Mellow sound

[@el34glo59]

Tinny? I definitely don't hear that

[@dcallan1]

Your Collings is an excellent flat pick guitar and the notes stand out great. Clear and powerful. The other two sound like older Martins with forward shifted bracing do. Warm and powerful.

[@williamcole9040]

Love to have thrown my HD28SV into the mix….Martin the best.

[@markhalley1140]

Three fine guitars. It’s hard to beat a Collings D1-A, it’s my favorite of the three. The Pre-War s interesting. It has a sort of resonator tone to me. Nice playing too.

[@biswasronit]

The Martin has a quite prominent low and mids. The volume is also bigger.

[@mylerism]

All three sound great. But I like how the PW lays back more in the mix. I'm more of a strummer/singer, so that one would really fill the bill for me.

[@tomformanek3312]

They are 3 great guitars. As usual listeners substitute their taste for what is actually there. I listen to lots of folk and roots music. So I prefer both the Martin and PW. Like old jeans, the tone is softened and comfortable. From that perspective, the Collings sounds really crisp and sharp. Too sharp for me. Not criticizing the Collings. It is great. I just like old sounds. Good for you that the Collings provides variety. Enjoy it as it ages.

[@championhairpuller]

I'll take the Pre War, thank you.

[@Elaleyelunivese]

Martin again!

[@UAL320]

Nice vid….if there’s a similar one you know of out there with 000/OM bodies please let us know!!

[@jonothanwoodward]

Strange, I greatly prefer the Pre-War. The Martin is also great, though being a Rosewood guitar it's a bit of an unfair comparison to two Mahogany guitars. The Collings is nice but I don't like the way it voices the notes nearly as well as the other two. BTW, my impression changes if I listen through my studio monitors as apposed to the headphones I listened through.

[@Hai.tinh.583]

That martin has so many sad stories to tell. the Pre-War sounds just like an old Martin though, it's super "mahogany" deep. I'm a Rosewood guy so I picked that Martin. It sounds deeper. Collings sounds good but it needs some age... May I ask what strings did you use for these guitars? I want to try it on mine, thanks!

[@adambrown7112]

Thanks for watching. In this video I had all guitars strung up with Santa Cruz medium tension strings

[@AGC828]

Your iPhone did more than a decent job of mic'ing. Surprising how good smartphone mc's and speakers are today. Keeping in mind how "cheap" they must be. Being as some phones are sold with "$0 down on a 2 yr contract". Collings sounded the most musical but I can see where one might want a brighter sounding guitar...good to have both a Sitka and Adi top guitar...

[@joshferguson9703]

The pre war for me

[@ryanboudreaux8547]

What’s this tune called? I need to learn it ASAP. Have a D-18 and HD-28 myself. That Collings is speaking to my ears…the wife is gonna make me sleep on the couch for a while, but guess it’ll be worth it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@adambrown7112]

This is Tennessee Waltz, it’s usually played in C but I’ve always liked the way it lays out from G

[@ryanboudreaux8547]

@@adambrown7112 I’m gonna have to study your rendition because it’s spot on 👍

[@BRLaue]

This is largely a matter of subjective taste and what you grew up hearing. I own a 91 Martin Custom 15 and a 08 Santa Cruz TR. The SC fits nicely between the Martin and the Collings which almost has too much clarity for me. I prefer the warmer undertones of Martins. The SC is more balanced than the Martin but with less low end and with a lot of the Collings clarity. Very nice comparison video and great playing.

[@el34glo59]

Agreed. Collings are just too bright for me

[@sotirzvanidjubre4109]

How does stings can affect tension? I thought its related to a scale and the gauge? And what the action on your guitars? Literally in centimeters if possible? Thanks.

[@papawrichard3553]

☝️Headphone candy right there. Your playing is what made me listen to it 3 times, also inspired me to go grab my dread. No I don’t have a #1 Collings #2 Martin # 3 Pre War Very close between the Collings and Martin, very slight edge to the Collings. PW is just new and tight yet. Dad always says it takes a while for a guitar to figure out it’s not still a tree. I give the video 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@shawnsnow6413]

Guessing 60% will pick the Collings because it's brighter and people love to hate Martin. The other 40% will pick the Martin because it's a Martin.

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Great pickin👍 on a great Americana tune. Honestly they all sounded pretty darn Close in tone and projection as they should- all three have nearly exact specs -Same tone woods in the Pre-War D-18 Class. Each guitar will have slight variances - as each guitar has its own Voice. - play 5 Original D-18’s from year 1940’ and they will each have their own voice-- and that’s a good thing!!!! I gotta echo a few of the others that chimed in-- I really liked that Collins’

[@bradh.689]

Collings ALL DAY! The Martin and the Pre-War sound great, but too quiet and muffled for me. I'm in the same boat with my two dreads, an Aged Tone Bourgeois Vintage D with torrefied Banjo Killer bracing and a Reimagined D41. My 41 sounds great, but quickly becomes boring to me, due to bass-centric, mid-scooped tone. My Bourgeois, on the other hand is LOUD, dynamic and has tons of clarity. I can see how it could be too much for someone who prefers that classic Martin tone, but I'll take "In your face" over boring any day on the week! Your playing was OUTSTANDING too!!

[@adambrown7112]

Thanks a lot. For sure the Collings does sound the best in this video. I recorded this very shortly after getting the Pre War and it was pretty closed off at the time, I’d say now it’s probably louder than the Collings

[@SHINEIKYU]

Martin top adirondack or sitka ?

[@TheDennzio]

Great guitars and enjoyed your playing very much. As good as you are you should get some mics etc.

[@kylebell7721]

Hey man, what do you think of the neck on the d1at?

[@adambrown7112]

Love it. Probably the best neck I’ve played on any of the guitars I’ve had. The Collings VN neck would probably be my favorite.

[@curtvahle2018]

They were all good but the Martin was just sweeter

[@letitbe978]

Nah.

[@thecanadianflatpicker]

I've never played a collings . How do they compare to a d18 standard in your opinion

[@adambrown7112]

I’ve never played a standard Collings D1 which was a the closest thing to a standard D18. I have played some D1As and D1ATs and really there’s no comparison, those Collings models are going to be quite a bit louder, responsive, and balanced than a D18. I traded a D18 up for this D1AT and I’ve never regretted it, but I do think the D18 is the best all around guitar Martin makes and if I could only own one guitar and my budget was less than 3k I’d be keeping a D18, you can usually find used D18GEs for around $2700 which will have upgraded bracing and an Adi top, they are awesome guitars.

[@thecanadianflatpicker]

@@adambrown7112 cool. I have an opportunity to get a d1at I think I will. Will have to trade a d18 and d35 for it

[@adambrown7112]

@@thecanadianflatpicker I don’t think you will regret that, my D1AT is easily the best sounding , most well rounded guitar I’ve ever played, and I’ve owned a lot of good dreads. If I could only keep one of my collection it would hands down be this guitar.

[@thecanadianflatpicker]

@@adambrown7112 ib really appreciate the input. I've never done a long distance guitar swap so it's making me uneasy but I think I'm going to go for it. I've literally never played a collings but always wanted one after seeing Kenny smith play one

[@adambrown7112]

@@thecanadianflatpicker I understand but you can always buy with confidence when it comes to Collings. Their quality control is probably the best in the business and the consistency in their guitars proves it. I’ve bought 2 Collings sight unseen and and would do it again in a heartbeat if the right guitar came up. The D1AT is a hell of a guitar, I think it’s one of the best all around models available today and I’m happy to have mine. It’s got a really unique played-in voicing that is incredibly warm and still maintains just enough of the traditional Collings sparkle without being even close to too bright. Good luck with your sale!

[@ianjohnston1430]

Does the Collings have a torrefied top?

[@adambrown7112]

Nope it’s a regular Adirondack top

[@tcoudi]

LSV has to much overtones for its own good. i bet collings would be best in the band, the prewar as a solo or in say two 3 instrument settings. but that one has crazy natural reverb and seems like it make whole room vibrate.

[@keithhunter3910]

That LSV does not have too many overtones. 🙄 You must be joking, brother. 😂

[@jasonusaf6326]

The Martin sound sweeter to me. Far more complexity in tone and harmonically soothing

[@userjones3399]

Martin followed closely by the Collings.

[@brewsky38c]

LSV for me

[@bcbottoms]

Damn! The Collins wins!

[@RSNflatpickn]

Collins Martin Pre war

[@Dave-rk2nl]

mahogany vs rosewood again ...nice guitars...no so much for the pre-war

[@mikehoehn1475]

Hard 2 choose. Pretty war slightest better

[@brandoncox7474]

That’s roughly 15k worth of guitar you have there sir

[@startreker8591]

H3 so7nds like he’s a good player artist…Martin is uber sonorous…I love to sing y play these axes you made them sing sans you(:

[@karenrattray5232]

Sounds like my Epiphone.😂😂😂