Deluxe Dreadnought Guitar Shootout: Gibson J-45 Deluxe, Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe and Taylor 717e

[@bigzack53]

I've played all 3 in person. In person the Taylor is disappointing, the Gibson is fantastic, but the Martin takes the cake. In the video it's the Gibson on top but you have to play them yourself before you make a decision.

[@bjfoster1974]

The J45 is best sounding acoustic i have ever played. I had a Martin and it was great.

[@s3archery849]

I'd say a tie between Gibson and Martin, Taylor is outclassed. Taylor always sounds lifeless - it may have all the pieces, but seems lifeless. The Martin has the "sparkle" and the Gibson the "earthy" tone. Gibson and Martin all day

[@jdog_unchained8098]

I'm not sure how you can tell the difference. No offense to Chris I love his videos but he mis-plays every other note making hearing what they actually sound like very difficult

[@ChrisIryMusic]

I agree. Taylor sounds compressed.

[@cmoreno12345]

I think the Taylor could sound much better with an updated setup. The action is usually set quite low which I think changes tone.

[@fingers14]

Gibson best sounding for me. Good review

[@tommagnum6302]

They all sound awesome, different from each other but you can appreciate each one for what they do. I wish I could own all three.

[@probono9341]

I have Taylor 814ce and a Martin HD-28, so I’m familiar with deluxe acoustics. Hands down, the J-45 was the best sounding to my ear in this comparison.

[@jamied8013]

Please hand your guitars in at the door (or my door lol) I think Martin, Taylor then the J45. I never understand why people like Gibson acoustics, to my ear they always lack definition and even the deluxe sounds like a cheaper guitar. Maybe they are just for studio recording?

[@el34glo59]

​@@jamied8013same

[@bigjohnson9561]

I got to play the Gibson Deluxe at Alamo Music and fell in love with it. The instrument felt great in my hand and sounded phenomenal. It was to the point where I could not literally put it down. Having said that I've got to try the other two models so I can compare them myself. By the way great review!

[@roadapple66]

I just want to say that I own a Taylor, a Gibson and two Martins I love all four of them. My Taylor is a K24ce, the Gibson is a Songwriter Standard and the Martins are a D28 and a D15M. Each are beautiful and all four sound gorgeous! I say this so you know where I am coming from when I say that concerning the 3 guitars compared here: The Gibson is the most beautiful, followed closely by the Martin and then the Taylor. The overall quality of the tone-woods, on the Martin, is better than either of the other two. The Sitka Spruce has a tighter, more even grain, with gorgeous cross flame over the whole top. The Rosewood (on all three models) is straight and tight, with beautiful shades of Dark Brick Red, Coffee, Browns, Dark Burnt Orange and Subdued Dark Yellows. The fit and finish is excellent on all three, with the Martin and Gibson tied again. I cannot find any flaws on the Martin. The 1930's style inlaid abalone pearl headstock is simple, yet beautiful and it really caught my eye. The Gibson has more pearl inlays, bound fretboards, headstock, great looking nitro lacquered rosewood burst paint job and the gorgeous, turquoise rope purfling and back strip. The Gibson would walk off with first place in this category, but I saw some very small gaps where the fretboard and top are joined. Gibson is getting way better in this category but they still have room for improvement. Nearly every Martin has the fit and finish down to an art. I have yet to find a flaw in any of the Martin Modern Deluxe models. The Taylor is beautiful as well, but it is not to the same level of visual appeal of the Gibson and Martin. The Martin, and Gibson, both have beautiful, high gloss, nitro lacquer finishes. They have that deep gloss finish that reflects every light that comes near it, no matter how small or dim. The Taylor uses a satin, polyethylene finish that is sprayed-on by machines, cured under U.V. lamps, in something like 30 seconds! Taylor calls it a "Silent Satin" finish, claiming that it makes less noise when in contact with the players clothes. It has been my experience that it makes MORE noise than any gloss finish, including the plastic ones that are so popular in finishing many brands of electric guitars. It could be that it costs Taylor less money to produce this finish, but I do not know that for sure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I am sure there are people out there that completely disagree with me on this. If the Taylor is your favorite, then you are correct in your choice. I have a highly figured Koa Taylor and it is one of the most striking guitars I have ever seen. I have probably contradicted myself several times when trying to pick a winner in this category. When it comes to tone, sound, equilibrium note to note, resonance and warmth; the Martin comes in first place, followed by the Gibson and then the Taylor. The Martin has that famous "Martin Dreadnaught" sound. Gibson has a sound all their own, and according to Andy Powers, it was this type of sound he was looking for when he designed their Grand Pacific dreadnaught. It is close, but the Taylor still sounds brighter to me and Taylor has yet to duplicate the warmth, bass and over-all feel of the Gibsons. Sound, like visual appeal, is highly subjective. So what I find beautiful, you might see as mediocre or "too flashy". For example: My guitars, that I listed above, have 4 different levels of "trim", or finish. My Gibson Songwriter has way more abalone inlay than my Taylor, D28 or D15. The Songwriter, the D28 and the Taylor Koa all have high gloss finishes. The Songwriter and D28 both have lacquer finishes, while the Taylor Koa has a poly finish. The D15 has a Satin lacquer finish. While the high gloss finishes are beautiful; the Satin finish on the D15 is much thinner and will let the wood breathe and age at a more natural pace. Guitars resonate more / better when they age. The D15 sounds better now, and will continue to sound better as it gets older. The Gibson and the D28 will age at a more natural pace because they have a nitro lacquer finish. This finish is comprised of more layers, in order to get that "high gloss" finish that is so prized in standard guitars. There is a premium price for such finishes, and the more layers / coats of lacquer, the longer it takes to age and the longer the finish stays on the guitar protecting it from the outside world. I have to say that, when it comes to sound / tone; My D15 sounds better than the other, more expensive guitars that I own. The other guitars are no slouches when it comes to tone, though. The Gibson has scalloped bracing, so it is louder, and projects more bass than the others. The D28 is straight braced so it has a more even tone, string to string, and it is over-all louder than the Gibson. The Gibson, and Martin, are rosewood models so they have a similar sound, but each certainly has its own voice. The Martins, and the Gibson, are all square shouldered dreadnoughts, so they have a similar sound, but are still very different. The Taylor is made from Koa, is a Grand Auditorium and it has a poly finish. It sounds very different from the others. Koa is a bright tone wood. Taylors are bright by design. Therefore, it is a very bright guitar, strong in fundamentals, with a tone that favors the high end of the sound spectrum. Koa can't just age and sound good. It has to be played-in. When I got my Taylor, I played the snot out of it for 6 months before the lower mids started to "come out" and sound less bright over-all. It took a year of playing it every day before the low end made itself know. Now, when people hear it, they are shocked at how much bass it has. It is a very beautiful guitar. It plays easily, and it sounds fantastic. Like I said, it's all subjective. The third category is not mentioned here because there is no way of evaluating it without actually holding, and playing, each guitar is: Feel and playability. I have played each of these models, presented here in this comparison, not too long ago. My evaluation is as follows: First place is a tie between the Gibson J45 Deluxe, and the Martin D28 Modern Deluxe. The feel of the modern-vintage neck, on the Gibson, is just more comfortable to me. I feel like I've been playing it my whole life. The Martin D28 Modern Deluxe is actually louder than the Gibson, but not by much. The Gibson's asymmetrical neck feels almost natural, like it was made just for your hands. Both really resonate in a way that you can feel through your whole body, especially when it comes to the bass notes. You can feel the bass thumping against your chest and the guitar, as a whole, sings out with vibrations throughout every part of the guitar, on both the Martin and Gibson. The D28 Modern Deluxe uses hide glue in its construction. Hide glue used to be used to build all guitars at one point in time. It dries and bonds like it becomes part of the instrument. There is nothing better for building guitars. You can still request it in many custom shop builds, but it will cost you big $$$. It gives the D28 Modern Deluxe an edge on the competition. The over-all feel of the D28 Modern Deluxe is not like an instrument made of many parts, but more like it is all one part. You have to feel it to understand. The Taylor was bright, cold and brittle. It needs to be played-in before it can get a chance to shine. Modern Country Music, and Worship Music, have a preference for brighter tones and many people that play these genres prefer Taylor guitars. Taylors are generally easier to play. They have bolt-on necks like some electric guitars and therefore, play very much like an electric guitar. Each guitar has its strengths and weaknesses. You really need to play them to know what you really want. Each of these fine instruments are expensive. Some more than others. Most important to know, though: Each has its own voice. A guitarist will do well to find what fits them best. There is a reason that professional guitar players usually own dozens of different guitars. They know how important it can be to have the right tool for the job at hand. Not everyone can afford to own a bunch of guitars. It is more important to find the guitar that suits you best. If you can only have one, make sure it is the best one for you. Invest more in strings and lessons than on more guitars. It is better to be a pro with one guitar, than it is to be a mediocre guitarist with an arsenal. Good Luck! Remember, practice does NOT make perfect. Practice makes permanent! Make sure you learn to play each song right. Play it slow, correctly, and keep playing it correctly. Speed and accuracy will come when you make playing correctly the priority. --------- A Mediocre Guitar Butcher ------------

[@richardbolt9901]

Great comment. Curious to know what you think of the V-bracing on Taylor’s? I own an 814 that I love for fingerpicking, but when strummed compared to my D18 has a very “tin-like” sound. I think the V bracing has pros and cons but I think it almost lacks depth compared to other similar models.

[@acepalacio8223]

I own all 3 Taylor 717e 2019 Martin HD28 2015 Gibson J45 custom 2018 All are very good to me just different in their own way.

[@warmonger9100]

Three great guitars. I think the only great answer is, you need all three of them. Since I can't buy all three and a year away from being able to buy one. I am leaning towards the Gibson but I am equally impressed with the Taylor and Martin. The Grand Pacific, keeps surprising me.

[@Moonshot568]

War Monger finally a real guitar lover . It’s to hard to choose only one , they all great .

[@warmonger9100]

@@Moonshot568 agreed. How can you pick one, when each one is great and has its own sound.

[@donttalktome4696]

This is the exact video and level of detail I've been looking for. Thank you

[@jimmycollette9209]

The true test is to play all three for yourself. I found that to be when I was checking out the Martin d-18 to go with my hd-28 and d-35. I wanted a mahogany Martin. I came home with a Gibson j-45. Just goes to show actual side by sides comparison is the best way to go.

[@donadolfo11]

Great comparison, as always. Being normally a Martin sound type, I'm impressed by this Gibson in sound and esthetics. Let's hope that Gibson really returns to old glory! This guitar at least is very promising.

[@RylanLeo]

Oooh! Great review, Chris! I’ve got to say that I think that Martin is leading in clarity and depth! As it should at that price point! I’m sure that the Taylor 717e felt better though, as well as looking more interesting I would place the 717e in second. That Gibson is gorgeous! The sound to me is on the more hollow side but the look is fantastic! Thanks for the review!

[@ignacioibrahim8833]

Instablaster...

[@rstevenhanson]

Through my phone speakers: Taylor, Martin, Gibson, for all the playing styles shown. However, I've played the Martin and Taylor, and Martin wins big on sound. Surprisingly, the Martin has a better neck profile and plays better than anything I've ever played. The frets feel amazing, too. I spent a couple thousand on a Taylor because I have always loved the way they feel, but I now cover this Martin!

[@scottf2199]

I’m a Taylor fanboy, so take these observations with that in mind. Taylor was clearly most balanced of the 3, but I also love me some bass, and the others had those in spades. The Martin was the least balanced of the bunch but I loved it’s big bass. In the strumming I thought the trebles on the Martin were brittle to nonexistent in some places. The trebles on the Gibson also sounded brittle on the blues piece. The trebles on the Taylor were bell like in many places. For this comparison, my order of preference is Taylor, Gibson, Martin

[@pgcracka]

As a Gibson fan-boy, I'll just say my opinion is that Taylors are generally too bright and have too much clarity. The sound is so clean it almost feels sterile or robot-like in a way. That said, I think they're doing something right with their Grand Pacific line. I haven't tried any in person, but from what I've heard online, they sound really good.

[@rollzst]

All great guitars, I just bought a J45 slash model and love it. The fatter C shaped neck is very comfortable and the sound is incredible. My next guitar will probably be a Martin D28 variant.

[@davidmurphey9514]

Currently own a Martin Om28e. Also 97 Taylor 412e. About 3 months ago I spoke to someone in your store. I explained my wife and I wanted to come during our vacation and wanted some details about making another acoustic guitar purchase while there on vacation. Still waiting for that call. However, we will still drop by in a couple of weeks and see how the in store customer service goes. I have always enjoyed your videos. Thought you should know.

[@teslapete4461]

Wait a minute...that Gibson kicked @$$!!! I'm not a Gibson guy and I was majorly impressed. Definitely a 1st pick.

[@alanmcentee3035]

Too bad it's fugly.

[@robertlowery5586]

@@alanmcentee3035 Your pink "Hello Kitty " guitar does raise the bar awfully high.

[@Spartanm333]

Thanks for the review, appreciate the video - everyone has their own preference but on tone I don't see a $1500 difference in my 2018 Gibson J45 in vintage sunburst (with the same LR Baggs VTC) and the guitars here... particularly the deluxe Gibson. Is a titanium truss rod required? Does it do anything my truss rod doesn't? Does it help tone or sustain? And the carbon fibre makes no sense at all, kind of a man-made dead material - these guitars are driven by marketing, not guitar players and even if I had the money to burn I'd go custom shop, get something unique for me with a focus on tone, longevity, stability and comfort. But each to his own and I do appreciate the craftsmanship involved in making the guitars... the concept and excess doesn't sit well with me though.

[@robertwilliams-yk9nu]

The Gibson blows the other 2 away and I hate to say that after just purchasing a new Martin D-35. I also have a top of the line Taylor. All in All my ears hear the Clean sounds of a Taylor but the Mids and Bass muffled leaving the Taylor "Treble-Thin". The Martin has a great all around sound with good bass, excellent midrange and not too bright treble (I hate too much treble). This Taylor is the best Taylor that I have heard to date. I will probably buy one after I sell my current Taylor. I have had problems with the Taylor needing a neck re-set and some delamination of the finish, but they took care of it,. I have a 46 year old J-45 Gibson that looks, plays and sounds better than any of these in the video. That's the True Test of Time.

[@el34glo59]

Don't judge guitars by youtube videos. No way that Gibson beats a good Martin. Just not happening. An old one like yours? Sure Not a new model. This is a modern delux Martin. Not a good example, regardless of how much it costs. A regular hd28 would blow this away.

[@keithrowe1007]

M- 6:18 T- 7:14 G- 8:10 M- 6:40 T- 7:36 G- 8:29 M- 8:52 T- 9:55 G- 10:57 M- 11:59 T_12:47 G- 13:37 You're welcome. If I was in a room, playing for fun, Any would do. If I was *recording* ac guitars I'd want the one with the most "recording ready" signal, where 120-300 range is attenuated, since those are the problem frequencies. The Taylor wins the 'recording ready' contest hands down. The Martin is second. Sorry to those of you who've paid $4K for the Gibson, terrible boomy south end on the thing that microphones hate. --- As an aside, I've always found this hilarious: every other industry on earth - "We need to innovate to stand out. We're going to reinvent our industry by creating new and exciting designs never before seen! This will change everything!" Luthiers: "We must all build exactly the same guitar with the same dimensions, techniques, and sound as has been done for the last 100 years. All acoustic guitars shall look and sound just like the other 150 million guitars out there, with the following exceptions: color, shoulder bouts, and abalone if you must.

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

Dead mullusks rule.😂🤣😂

[@keithrowe1007]

BARKINGattheMOON100 Well they’re apparently the only way a luthier is allowed to stand out. :)

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

All good guitars and I thought right off the bat that I would be going with the Martin but man oh man that Gibson.... by far the clear winner here no contest, to me anyways. Great review , good work.

[@CLH126]

The Martin has a unique sound That's always superior to me.

[@kevinconville9258]

The Martin sounds the best to me. Best balance of tones. The Gibson is a close second and sounds pretty great also. The highs from the Taylor have a banjo like quality that sounds harsh to me.

[@kk-px7lu]

martin sounds deep and warm, taylor a little bright and the gibson i’m not sure if I like it or not. martin 1st, taylor 2cd, then gibson. I own a taylor 312ce and really enjoy playing it, but if I buy a dreadnought it would be the martin for sure.

[@Guitar-pro-lk]

Unbeatable tone of j45, my dream guitar 😍😍🤗

[@johnlord1399]

My first two GOOD guitars were Gibsons, a J50 then a J45. Both fantastic guitars. That was decades ago. I came back to American guitars in 2020, and it was the 717e that did it for me. This was a great comparison, Chris! I LOVE the tone, the sound, and the articulation of the 717e, and while the Martin and Gibson here are great guitars, I’m glad I didn’t spend the extra coin to go for either.

[@stephanedegrasse351]

Came here with an open mind and much anticipation. I was not disappointed. My ears tell me J45 Deluxe is first with the GP 717 as a very close second. The Martin had no appeal. Great review!

[@davidmicheal4688]

Shhh. Stop. Go back and listen.

[@jjdillon2007]

To my ears: 1) Martin 2) Gibson 3) Taylor.

[@1funkybasslady]

@d-houston Your comment about brand bias is sometimes very true, however in my case, I go strictly by what my ears tell me. That said, I generally prefer Martins because they do, in fact sound better to me. In this comparison, I agree with JJ Dillon's assessment. The Martin "wins" hands down!

[@rogerlee440]

I own the D28 Modern Deluxe..awesome sound and playability.

[@JAK0E]

I walked into guitar center with fully intending to purchase a 600-800$ Martin guitar. I had always wanted one. Since I was 16. I'm 26. For some reason I decided to play a 1600$ Martin. Sounded good. And my wife suggested I try the Gibson next to it that was 1499 even though I wasn't planning on spending that much. And I was so blown away with the sound of that Gibson... I now own a J45 Studio and will probably only buy Gibson acoustics from now on. I still like Martin but man. The Gibson compared to the same price Martin was a clear winner in my ears

[@pgcracka]

I had a similar experience. I owned a '79 Yamaha FG340 that I scored a at a pawn shop for $200. It's basically a Martin D35 clone, so I figured I'd get a Martin. Got to the store and the Martins just didn't really do it for me. So I decided to broaden my scope. Tried a few Taylors which I felt were all too bright. So I tried a few Gibson. There were 3 J45s and 2 J15s. I liked the J45s ok, but those J15s had something totally different going on. They were much punchier in the mids than anything else I played, and I fell in love with that unique tone. Needless to say, I bought a J15 with a walnut burst finish and to this day, I absolutely love the tone of my guitar. I may or may not ever decide to upgrade again, but either way, I'm converted to Gibson Acoustics.

[@lisarmia]

While I wouldn't throw any of them back if I caught one, the Taylor sounds the best for my ear. A little more mellow, a little less "boomy".

[@MusicMikeRay]

Thanks for the video! I would choose the Taylor 717e in Wild Honey Burst

[@dmar3651]

I've played all 3 models, and the Martin D-28 is just the best. That said, the Martin HD-28 Blows all these models out of the water. The sound, feel and Playability of the HD-28 is too good to be true. The Taylor sounded a little to treble focused for me. Very light sounding. However, this is a minor issue and the Taylor is worth a buy. The Gibson on the other hand, had great sound, but honestly a sub par neck carve. My hand cramped barely 5 minutes into playing it and I IMMEDIATELY asked for the Martin again just to see if it was just me. That neck shape is a major issue.

[@Lensman864]

It's a D28 MD not a D28 which is different but you might mean a D28 MA.

[@carlweiderick]

Liked the Martin but the Gibson really stood out - full, yet articulate sound. I also liked it visually.

[@j.merkus]

Martin, Taylor, Gibson. Martin really knows how to make a guitar sound good.

[@MichaelMcIlwrathJ]

Excellent comparisons. All three sound amazing!

[@hapshan]

The Martin sounds like a Taylor, who sounds like a Gibson, who sounds like a Martin.

[@cmoreno12345]

hapshan lol

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

😂🤣😂

[@kicknadeadcat]

I have an SL Mossman 1975 great plains guitar. Bought it in 1975. It cost $500 with a hard case. Two piece Rosewood back and sides. It’s 45 years old now but the wood that was used to build it was already 40 years old. I brought it to a guitar store in my area yesterday. I played against a Martin D 28 and a Taylor. The tailor was over $4000 not sure what the Martin cost. It was like playing a $500 guitar compared to mine. I owned a 1973 Martin D18 at the time I purchased the Mossman. And I loved that guitar. But the Mossman sound was so much fuller and louder I had to buy it. I sold my Martin to a friend of mine for $300 +2 ounces of really good weed. Don’t remember the exact price of the Martin but it was definitely less than $500. I can’t say for sure if it got better with age because I certainly didn’t. But when taken care of a good instrument will last many lifetimes.

[@bookmarshall2725]

Great review. I am a Martin guy most of the time but it amazes me how different people here differently.

[@mylerism]

It's the warmth of the J-45 that wins me over every time. I'd say the Martin's a pretty good runner up.

[@billyakin3301]

Pretty much a tie between the Gibson and the Martin but, overall; #1 Gibson #2 Martin #3 Taylor I've seen several videos on the 717 now and it's a good guitar and possibly a better recording guitar but, to my ear...it loses against Martin and Gibson every damn time? Am I wrong? It just doesn't seem to project as much or differentiate between the highs and low notes as well. Maybe it's the shape? Maybe they should experiment with a type of F sound hole? Just thinking out of the box here... I love your videos Chris!

[@moisesperez4605]

I am a blind individual, I would love for you to let us know, what guitar you playing first, what guitar you playing second and what guitar you playing third, so that we can compare as well, I am soon going to buy a guitar, these sound awesome, I love these deluxe models.

[@jamescoughlan8193]

Martin, Gibson then Taylor, liked the look of the Taylor but the sound was a bit dead, did all three have new strings?

[@tunemeister99]

These 3 guitars are worth their costs in their 3k range. Gibson aesthetic looks is stunning. Martin has always the boring standard looks and Taylor has the crisper and sweet tone as expected. All three sounded great as expected. It all really depends on who plays them. Good players bring out the best of guitars. I own a Taylor 110e and a Big Baby. loved them for their quality sound especially in the studio and they cost way less.

[@biwak01]

All 3 are great, but i love the Gibson Sound. In the next days i will try a j-45 Deluxe and if the Guitar is ok, i will buy it and my J-35 will not be longer alone ......

[@kutsbothways]

All sound good finger picked. If I were strictly a strummer or flatpicker the Gibson and Martin would be a hard to choose between. The Gibson is gorgeous.

[@randytausch3519]

I have a ‘98 Martin HD28, a ‘14 Gibson J45 Custom, a ‘18 Taylor 414E and a ‘02 Takamine NV360S. They all sound a bit different, but all have that rich Rosewood warmth. It’s really hard to pick which one sounds the BEST. SURPRISINGLY, the Takamine is right there with all three of the others when it comes to sound quality. It basically comes down to personal preferences. I LOVE them all. This comparison is really good. I really like the looks of the Gibson and the sound of the Martin. I’m not a huge fan of Satin guitars, so the Taylor would be my least favorite of the three. (Even though I have one)

[@Randorita]

The Gibson has too much low end for me. It loses some definition, but it looks great. I am undecided on the Martin Modern Deluxe, but I may give one a play in the near future. Never been a Taylor fan, but they may have something with the GP.

[@onixtheone]

You can always play closer to the saddle to add some treble to the bass strings

[@garyshawver653]

I Love your finger picking!

[@fabrizionapoleoni]

J45 wins to my ears

[@tyleranderson9190]

Gibson, Taylor, Martin for me this time. Can you do this with mahogany guitars? Thanks

[@davidnadal8902]

Rosewood has always be the benchmark in terms of tonewood. Mahogany the cheapest option as it ages goes towards a more rosewood sound but not quite the real thing. Which makes your comment very perplex

[@pgcracka]

I'm not sure I agree that Mahogany is just trying to be Rosewood. They have different tone profiles. Mahogany guitars aren't quite as rich in the low end, which can be a good thing...particularly for say, a slope-shoulder (round shoulder if you prefer that vernacular) dreadnaught that is intended to be an airier sounding guitar, more suited to a vocal accompaniment instrument. Of course if you're playing bluegrass, or sitting in a mix, and you need the strong attack and boomy bass that Martin square shouldered dreads are known for, then yeah, rosewood will improve that aspect...but as with pretty much everything, there's a right tool (or in this case, wood) for the job. The J-45 standard is, historically, the best selling guitar Gibson makes. It comes standard with Mahogany back and sides and there are a lot of people who prefer that sound over the J-45 deluxe (or customs) with rosewood...particularly for recording where you really don't want a ton of bass. There are guitars that have maple back and sides, and more recently Walnut has been getting more use as well. I don't know that it's fair to say one wood is just a weak semblance of another, so much as to say, that each will have it's unique characteristics, and some may be better suited to certain tasks than others...it really just depends on what you want from your guitar, I suppose.

[@davidnadal8902]

@@pgcrackamy point was as mahogany ages it sound leans and more toward a Rosewood sound. That's why I would also recommend to beginners out there that don't know much about tonewood to always go for the best you can afford and the best wood is definitely Rosewood

[@pgcracka]

I see your point, and I kind of agree, but again, what is "best" is highly subjective and depends a great deal on what you want from your guitar. I would recommend to a beginner to get something affordable to learn on and then later when they have a better idea of the sound they are looking for, to then go shopping and get the best guitar they can afford that fits their style of play...that's certainly not always going to be a rosewood guitar.

[@tyleranderson9190]

david nadal rosewood may be your benchmark but not mine. I much prefer the sound of mahogany, as do many others - that’s why they make mahogany guitars. I don’t own a rosewood guitar and don’t plan on it any time soon.

[@ektalon1]

Martin sounded the richest and warmest, Taylor was the most forward-I guess stronger treble and the Gibson had the largest sound. I’d choose the Martin for myself or recording, the Gibson for a large crowd without a mic and the Taylor for rockabilly tunes.

[@biwak01]

J45 Deluxe, i think this will be my next Gibson!

[@biwak01]

And now i got my j45 Deluxe and ist is really a great Guitar.

[@josephlaming8209]

I think the Gibson is the only one here without a torrified spruce top. Really makes me wonder how it would sound on the Gibson compared to the other two.

[@guitarded222]

Lets be real. They all sound great!

[@xchalibur77]

Oh shit... the intro on that Martin...Oh man... I just thought that my next quitar would be a 000 but the depth on that Martin its something else !

[@BPToneReview]

I own a Custom Shop D28 with VTS top and aged toner and binding and also a 717e. Both do the old, smokey bar, blue grass thing so well. Almost Dobro-ish.

[@ratwynd]

Clearly the Martin has the best clarity, balance and depth, Gibson the close second. The Taylor is beautiful but not as balanced as I like. The few Taylors I have played didn't impress me overall but I did really like the sound of a used Taylor 355 12-string I played once in a shop in Austin. It had some condition and finish issues so I left it there. I would consider one of them if I found one in decent shape but if information I have seen is correct Taylor uses water based finishes and they may be a problem long-term in my eyes. (I once worked in a coatings R&D lab for a major paint and container maker.) I have seen several with thumbnail areas of finish lifting at a binding edge or by the neck joint. That was the problem that put me off of the Taylor 12 string I played. Current goal is a D-28-12 string when I find the right one. Few things can keep up with a Martin dreadnought.

[@ShowseeTravels]

Wow the 717e really separates itself from the others when you are finger picking 😳 The D28 is just so basey, the J45 is right in the middle… I need one in my life ❤️

[@roadapple66]

Nah, You need all 3 so you can "do more in-depth research"... We all need to "do more in-depth research"!

[@rejuvenator8966]

I agree Taylor was the sweetest when finger picking! I'm thinking of getting a Martin tho cause it seems to be a sweet in-between. I don't like the Taylor when strummed so much

[@nickunderwood6175]

You are my new favourite guitar guru! !!! Great stuff

[@AlamoMusic]

Much appreciated!

[@7enderstrato]

Great review! The Gibson is the most visually impressive but for the sound and a complete package for the price, I would definitely pick the Taylor GP.

[@seusnefl1697]

I went with the d28, plays beautifully and looks better in person as well

[@dougdruziak8795]

While it’s very close..I feel like they each won a round. Just depends on what style you’re playing.

[@jimmy5634]

The Taylor was great for fingerpicking as it was clear and balanced. Since I do little finger style, I wouldn't want that guitar. For strumming and flatpicking, I would pick the Martin or the Gibson. The Taylor was too brash under a pick.. I really don't care for Rosewood back and side guitars anyway. I own a J45 Standard and a D18 with Mahogany backs and sides.. best of both worlds. Clear single notes with a nice warm bass.

[@walterstreet1467]

Gibson has the warmest tone to my seventies ears 😊, i thought the Martin and Taylor were close the Gibson was a surprise.

[@3cardmonty602]

Man - the Martin D-28 wins hands down for me. I just don’t like Taylor’s. The J-45 is too tight - needs to open up, but I don’t like that the Nut Width is 1.73”. I like the good ole 1.75”. Chris - I wonder what they would sound like tuned a half-step down? Can you do a comparison tuned a half-step down in the future? I play 1/2 step down & love it. Easier to bend & deeper lows.

[@thomastommy1192]

I have to say. I love them all. I'm usually a Martin man. I have always played and owned Martin D35's. I was shocked that Martin did not have a much louder tone. I was very undecided on which guitar sounded best. Until the last round. I think the Martin stood out a little more. As for looks. The Gibson stood out way more than the others. Gibson has always built nicer looking guitars. A touch of class. But the Martins always had a better louder tone for less money. Thanks so much for sharing your videos. What is the list price on the Gibson? I would like to see a video on the new D35's. Have a Blessed week Guys.

[@Michael-ei5jd]

martin‘s sound is the best

[@bkt6025]

I think the this Taylor is not what we're used to hearing almost calls for a different modern play style, played one, caused me to create differently, loved it. This demo may not of brought out it's potential. I like the look of it too Martin and Gibson definitely what we're used to hearing

[@rocknsuhr1078]

Since Taylor changed the X-bracing to V - bracing the sound became anemic.

[@guitarlusteuphoria4507]

Wait, if the D-28 has herringbone, does that not make it a HD-28?

[@patrickmorgan4006]

Only if Martin says it does.

[@GarryWan666]

“So take a listen to which one’s sound you like.”......... Commercial comes up...Well yeah that commercial sounds best for my ears

[@sidnewman7676]

adblock amigo

[@charlieleonardo]

Gibson has great looks as well as great playability & tone! 😆

[@Gabaz76]

Taylor 717e my favorite.

[@kurthenze2900]

Is the Gibson a 24.75" scale length, or longer? I have an Advanced Jumbo that is 25.25". These are important factors, and should be included in your informative vid. I'm sure the Martin is 25.4" is the Taylor 25.5"?

[@cmoreno12345]

Lol I wound up with this particular J45. I didn’t particularly like the sound, noting it’s older strings and could not locate OEM strings. I finally changed the strings to Martin Lifespans after 2 years and the sound blew me away.

[@federicoines1848]

Take out the electonics of the taylor And change to LR baggs This is reason why I am hesitating to buy Taylors To be honest Taylor sounds very Good and they make nice guitar

[@edfulginiti8798]

For me, Martin for warmth, Taylor for intonation and Gibson for boom. Great comparison... any of these are great... if push comes to shove, I'd go Gibson... Taylor... Martin.

[@michaelhayes9773]

of these three there is no better, it comes down to preference. They all sound great. I'm starting to lean towards Taylor for their shallower depth personally.

[@ericlee6913]

"shallower depth" has kind of negative connotations, though you're not wrong at all in what you're saying. Taylor has a much more cohesive sound than basically any other guitar companies. The way I describe it is that Taylor makes polyphonic instruments and everyone else makes 6 monophonic instruments that you can play at one time. It's not a matter of better or worse, just preference and genre and such. I still bow to the almighty J-45 personally, though I am otherwise a Taylor player.

[@Builtdifferent007]

Not much of a Taylor fan but that guitar has beautiful tone and super loud! Martin takes the win though with Taylor slightly behind. Well done comparison 🙏🏿👍🏿

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

14:25 When my Ears and Eyes start telling me things, that's when I'll know there's no hope left for me.😂🤣😂

[@kuma8293]

What's the song he's playing in the demo?

[@dennism7191]

Three great tones. The Gibson and Martin sound similar to my ear. The Gibson seems quieter when gently finger picked. I imagine it is a strum monster. Tough decision but if limited to these three, the Dollars would win out and Taylor would get the purchase.

[@Faiirchild]

Great comparo! Why does it seem like Chris doesn't like playing the Gibson as much? Is it harder to play? Sound wise They are all so good compared to the junk I play. Time to trade up.

[@davidohara6515]

The Martin. All day. Gibbo looks a million dollars and almost gets the vote . Taylor sounds like every Taylor I've played . Not at all bad , but lacking something .......Great review btw.

[@joibjalla]

To my noob ears the Taylor sounded best but I love the look of the Gibson. On the other hand I'd never pay that much for a guitar 🎸😊

[@davidnadal8902]

Taylor was too bright and tinny. Gibson all the way and specially when Pickings style is applied

[@joibjalla]

@@davidnadal8902 the Gibson sounded a bit muted compared to the others to me. Just my opinion. I like loud projecting guitars 😊

[@mattsgarage6670]

On the second go around what was the fingerpicking song you played?

[@punchion]

The Taylor is best to my ear especially when finger picked.

[@GarryWan666]

6:19 Martin 7:15 Taylor 8:11 Gibson

[@Darltornjacket]

Good comparison, My thoughts as follows, Martin best strummer, Gibson best for finger style, the Taylor is very nice but, is not the best to my ears. I’m sure I could be content with any one of them.

[@thongamchan775]

Hi, Thanks for your display with comparison for the big three here. I like both martin and Taylor ones as my prefered choice on the basis of what I feel in my ears. Out of these two, again I find Taylor sound is more focused type in general as my previous listening in other youtube shows here. But first, I would be buying Martin HD35 otherwise I won't be happy myself as I intended from before. But next buy for me, will be Taylor guitar which sounds exceptional focus type as I have listening to many shows here. Taylor guitars have a peculiar sound.

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

What is Fretboard Material Gibson J-45 deluxe???🙂🙂🙂

[@kk-px7lu]

I would have any one of these all day, all wonderful guitars.

[@VaughnFelixMusic]

They all sound killer!

[@AlamoMusic]

Thanks!

[@MrLph427]

Who’s here for the playin’ on lovely guitars ?

[@koofdome]

Nothing ever beats a Martin

[@420thebestdayever]

Gibson has that twang like a southern Bbq sauce mmmmmm!

[@scottcarman3090]

Man to me the gibson sounds insane. 1 Gibson 2 Martin 3 Taylor

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I think Taylor is the winner here .

[@nedzadmesic771]

Was the Gibson custom shop?