Takamine VS Martin Guitar (for Playing Live Solo Acoustic Gigs)

[@jasonstallworth]

***If you're just getting started or want to start playing live solo acoustic solo gigs, watch my complete guide here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqqTg6hsh617b8U

[@izzy4el]

Jason, That's a great promo pic of yourself that take to your gigs. How much was that to have made? I'm in need of doing the same and I'm not all that far from you bro. Thanks! =)

[@jasonstallworth]

@@izzy4el I’ve got a friend who’s a local photographer and need to reach out to him again soon got my new album photo shoot. His name is Bernie Filippi. www.berniefilippiphoto.com/

[@DanielGibbons-f1k]

@@jasonstallworth

[@richowensIII]

Great job with your channel. I'm 41 and your gig guide video helped me finally jump into starting to gig in the local music scene. Thank you!

[@jasonstallworth]

That is really cool to hear!

[@Hicks-g1m]

Both of those Acoustic guitars sound really good Jason

[@jasonstallworth]

They both have their strong points! If I could somehow merge those together into one guitar!

[@ceedeechester2277]

Wow Jason, I'm glad I found this video. I'd been playing electric for many years, then in '94 I bought my first real acoustic...a Takamine. I taught myself to play fingerstyle on it and always enjoyed playing it. Well after having the guitar for 27 years the action had risen really high and it became unplayable. The verdict was that it needed a neck reset which would cost more then the guitar was worth. So I ended up buying a Martin SC-13e which in many ways is a superior guitar EXCEPT that, just like you said, the Takamine was a real pleasure to play...the Martin is work. So I've been thinking lately of trying some of the higher end Taks and maybe even trading in the Martin. Only trouble is that back in the mid 90's you could find them in plenty of guitar shops. They don't seem to be as common as they once were, at least not in this area.

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah man I still can’t get Martin action low enough. The Takanine plays so much better. I may have a new acoustic soon and will post a video on that

[@georgejames8718]

My main guitar is a Takamine G series 341C that I’ve played for over 10 years and I’ve played hundreds of shows with it. I really like the guitar. I have also played a Martin DXM on shows (with a Fishman Infinity pickup installed) and it was good for hot humid outdoor shows. Sold the Martin, kept the Takamine. Now I have about 10 acoustic guitars including a Takamine 12 string that I love. I now have a Furch that is incredible to play, especially for finger style picking, with an LR Baggs Lyric pickup. Thanks for the videos!

[@jasonstallworth]

Dude, that's a lot of acoustics! I guess if I were forced to keep one it would be my Takamine for the playability

[@chie1709]

Damn Jason, you shred that Tele awesomely.

[@jasonstallworth]

It's been a workhorse!

[@AngeloBasilea]

Hi, can u do a video about how to eq the acoustic guitar for a gig in a pub/bar? thanks

[@jasonstallworth]

I honestly never change my EQ. For guitar, I use the Line 6 POD Go (I bought a patch from Worship Tutorials..highly recommend that!). My vocals have a bit more highs and mids, bass up the middle and some reverb. I use that at all venues.

[@FloridaHockey11]

Great show and comparison of the two guitars, I personally only have one acoustic guitar and it’s a Martin can’t think of the model right now but they just sound so good. It has a nice bright clean tone which is what I like specially for an acoustic. Thanks for the videos 🤟🏼

[@jasonstallworth]

They're nice guitars!

[@gordonreid1958]

What an amazing set up Jason👍 you sure know to put on a show👍🎸

[@jasonstallworth]

🙏

[@GreyMoonMusic]

Was that Cover Me by Candlebox? 6:30

[@jasonstallworth]

No but that’s a cool tune!

[@GreyMoonMusic]

@@jasonstallworth I have been studying your videos because I am about to start promoting myself as an artist. I have learned a lot recently! I have a song coming out December 2nd!

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

First of all, you are a very fine musician. Your two acoustics are kind of similar, but especially when plugged in, Martin sounds a bit "twangy" as if some strings are loose and hitting each other, that kind of effect. Your Takamine does not have those issues. However, if I were in your place, I would keep one of them, and then get an acoustic guitar with a different pickup system altogether, that produces a totally different tone and ambiance. I would try a Takamine with CTP2 or CTP3 tube preamps, which will work with your electric guitar much better because it will create a DEEPER and WIDER soundstage, and purer acoustic tone without that piezo "clacking". That was the acoustic preamp that knocked David Lindley off his feet. And at the same time, you will be able to mix in the acoustic guitar you already have, with that simpler pickup, but I would use it for more "rhythmic" and lighter patterns in the midrange of the guitar.

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you. I’ve been playing a different acoustic since the beginning of 2024: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWqqfnWrYqmCnrssi=bqIH4iRfwG2_Dha3

[@pawadventures5544]

I thought both guitars sounded good, but a little different. I just started playing guitar a couple weeks ago, I bought a Taylor. I found your channel and subbed after buying the Taylor. We are almost neighbors; I live in Lakeland. I'm looking forward to coming to one of your shows and say hello. 👍

[@jasonstallworth]

Awesome and I'll be playing at The Brass Tap at Lakeside Village Saturday (I'm there the 2nd Saturday of each month, 8-midnight). Would be cool to see you there. I keep my schedule updated on my website: www.jasonstallworth.com/

[@pawadventures5544]

@@jasonstallworth I'm an over the road truck driver and out of town this weekend but will definitely be coming to your shows when I'm in town and say hello.

[@tweakrr99]

Love my Takamine. I think you nailed it though with needing multiple acoustics that have different sounds. Acoustics by definition don't allow for as much effects/processing to modify the sound since you want to hear the acoustic part as much as possible. You have a great combo with the Martin and Takamine having pretty different sounds.

[@jasonstallworth]

That's true...you don't want to put so much effects on your acoustic that you lose it's native sound!

[@pettarn5]

Hi, i think i liked the takamine best 😊 Great playing 😊

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you!

[@angeld9465]

I stopped the video before your own comments on the guitars. I don't want to be influence by your opinion and also, want to compare what I heard to what you heard. First, the Martin sounds amazing. At first i was going for the Martin but listening to the video of you singing, I believe the Takamine is more suitable to your voice. It has a more warm sound with more lower end which matches with deep voice. This is also why I pick the Takamine for playing with the electric. I think the brighter and crispier sound of the Martin fights the electric guitar for attention while the Takamine does what it is supposed to do which is complement it. For instrumental or for acoustic solos the Martin is king. Now to listen to the rest of the video****** Too bad that I can't physically try them to feel how they feel while playing. Sounds like you prefer the Takamine as i do. Cool!

[@jasonstallworth]

That's a great write-up and I like that you stopped the video at that point...we can easily be influenced! The Takamine is certainly easier to play. And now I can really hear how the Takamine sounds better with the electric leads. I'm working on increasing my vocal range but I don't think that will change how the guitar fits the vocals too much. I do wonder how these would sound in comparison with female vocals.

[@downtownjbrown]

That martin is sweet! Thanks for your content. I'm new to solo gigging, and your channel has helped me get going tremendously. \m/ \m/

[@jasonstallworth]

So great to hear that and glad you’re out there doing it!

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Aluminum bronze strings were a game changer for me on my acoustic guitars.

[@jasonstallworth]

I've tried several brands over the years but always go back to Elixirs. I'm playing out 2-3x a week so the longer-lasting strings are a big help

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

@@jasonstallworth That's one of the reasons I went with aluminum bronze strings plus they have a better balance than all the other strings I've used' also easier to bend and increased volume. My main acoustic is a takamine ean-10c/ rosewood back and sides with cedar top, really brought it to life.

[@Obhimukto]

Loved the Takamine while listening using iPhone without headphones. As that is how (my audience) people are going to listen when I share privately. (Now I have to buy one)

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah that Takamine is such a solid guitar in every way

[@Acoustic_Music-h6x]

Currently looking at the Martin GPC 16 with a Fishman Matrix Blend (top sensor + Under Saddle Piezo) and Yamaha FGX5 with Atmos Feel pickup. Pickup sound and acoustic sound is better with the Yamaha but neck feel is better with Martin. Which would you choose?

[@jasonstallworth]

Man I honestly never get into the gritty details. I'm using the POD Go for my sounds so I basically leave the pickup EQ flat and don't mess with anything else. The playability is more important to me than anything so I could choose the one that feels easiest to play

[@m1nnefr3d]

Hi there, Jason! With the stock (?) piezos, both acoustics sound equally cheap. Guess what? I don't like piezos 😵 Starting at 8:48 we hear what the guitars really sound like 👍 Excellent idea to mike them up with a decent amount of room ambience. Without tweaking a lot in post, the Takamine promises sit well in a mix, I suppose. It has a very balanced if not mid-heavy frequency response. Martins are often quite boomy which makes them sound a little dull. However, for a solo acoustic gig, the Martin might be a better choice providing a preferable sonic foundation for strumming tunes. In the fingerstyle and soloing parts, the Takamine shines IMHO in favoring the high frequencies. That all said, I'm not a Jumbo body lover. I'm into triple-0s and Dreadnaughts, sttling for Blueridge guitars q few years ago. Martinish sound for a reasonable price. Highly recommended (htough not affiliated!) BTW: You didn't play the same kind of strings on both guitars, did you? Coated vs. uncoated and phosphor vs. 80/20 bronze make a notable difference in the high-end which might favor the upper egister of the Takamine. N.B:: Yes, definitely go for a better and more reliable pickup system on the Takamine. I'm sure you'll love the sound. You might want to check L.R. Baggs (no personal experience admittedly).

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, I use the same strings for both (and both recently changed): Elixir Nanowebs custom lights. I guess I'm neutral on the pickups. The Takamine has the stock pickup and Martin came with a Fishman pickup. It may be a little difficult to change out the Takamine pickup as it's cut specifically for that pickup. LR Baggs is recommended by many so the next acoustic I get, I'll be sure that either comes with it or get one installed.

[@lynnk.4615]

Another awesome video man. I'll start by saying I'm a novice so my opinion is to be taken with a grain of salt. Lol. Great playing first of all. Both sounded great to me. Not sure if it could be newer strings but yes the martin just sounds brighter and crisper to me. I set my phone down to see if could tell without looking which you was playing and the martin stood out to me..... But that being said, it stands out because I have almost the same guitar, so I know what I'm listening for. Lol. I have the Martin GPC 16e rosewood. I absolutely love mine. But if I'm being honest, the guitar I have that sees the most practice time is just a couple hundred dollar Gio ibanez electric. I absolutely love my ibanez because I love how the neck feels. I have a small house and I have an older dog (13 yr old rat terrier named Lucky ) and bless his heart loud music hurts his ears. So 75% of my practice is with my ibanez unplugged so not only does it not bother him, but I can hear my metronome, instructional videos, and play along with chords video while I play the ibanez unplugged. So I get having a favorite for sure. Anyway, sorry that drifted in the weeds. Great video man both sound great. I enjoyed them both. I do lean towards the brighter sound of the martin, but it's probably a slightly biased opinion. Keep on making music and keep on making videos. We all appreciate them.

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you for the feedback and doing the blind test is the best test. Both guitars had new (about a week new) strings on them; I tried to make this as fair as possible. I love my Ibanez as well...their wizard necks fit my hands perfectly

[@tweakrr99]

I had a similar problem with a piezo pickup having a short internally and high humidity or temperature changes causing it to short out and not work

[@jasonstallworth]

I'm going to look into getting an external pickup for that guitar as a backup. It sucks when these things happen in the middle of a live show and you still have two more hours to play.

[@trajic9204]

For me I'd say the difference in the audio was negligible, I'd say there was a bit more brightness and articulation in the Martin, but that could be from having newer strings on it. More than the tone, for me personally it would be up to which one holds tune better, and feels better to play over long periods.

[@jasonstallworth]

The Takamine definitely wins on those points. I find myself having the tune my Martin more often and between sets. I rarely have to tune my Takamine during shows. But I'm going to take the Martin back in for another setup. I did change the string gauge (custom lights instead of lights) so that may have had an impact.

[@vexxedami7817]

Is it me, or does the Martin sound warmer and fuller?

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah, the Martin does have a warmer sound and that's primarily why I got it. I have a video on that hear with my wife doing a bling test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqOwhZSwraecY5o

[@TheSingingDoctor325]

To my ears, your Takamine has more low end plugged in but sounds just a bit muddy vs the GPC which is a bit more articulate wtih better mids and highs. Acoustically, the difference was more pronounced and the Martin has about as much low end. I love that the Martin road series has a built in tuner. Disclaimer: My main gigging guitar is a Martin OOO-28 with a Fishman Matrix pickup and I'm a big fan of that sound (I also have a D-35 with an LR Baggs Anthem SL which is my absolute favorite sound).

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah, that Martin sounds really nice, especially unplugged. That's what won me over in the shop. I have a video of the buying experience here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqOwhZSwraecY5o

[@TheSingingDoctor325]

One suggerstion - have someone put an LR Baggs Anthem in your Takamine; they sound great. Also, put a humidipak in your Martin case since it keeps the humidity in the sweet spot range 40 - 60%.

[@jasonstallworth]

I've thought of getting an external pickup as a backup. I don't really want to change the pickup because the current one is designed and cut out specifically for that guitar where the electrics and EQ are

[@JimB-lk4ys]

Thought the Martin sounded better in each breakdown. Definitely like the Takamine too, but Martin was a bit better all around.

[@jasonstallworth]

That particular Martin has a nice, full sound!

[@alfonsogama7427]

For accompaniment with Martin guitar chords because it projects bass and midrange. If there was another guitarist to make solo melody, it would be the Takamine guitar because it projects the treble better.

[@jasonstallworth]

That would be a great combination! Great idea!

[@tonybaloney6656]

Both sound great , I own a Takamine but honestly the Martin had better definition if that’s the right word .

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah the Martin does have more fullness to it. I wish it played as good as my Takamine!

[@philw8049]

I have a Takamine, mid lvl priced I guess it is. Despite being an electric blues player, it’s my favorite guitar lol I just love that thing. Go figure.

[@jasonstallworth]

The Takamines plays really nice. I prefer their necks

[@izzy4el]

As far as the acoustic shoot out... They both have great character and tone. For me, they're kinda apples and oranges and really hard to compare. The Tak has a really nice deep warm tone and the fender a nice crisp yet full tone. I don't think one is "better" than the other so much as they're just "different." They sound great!

[@jasonstallworth]

I'm with you on that. They both sound great. One (the Tak) is just a little easier to play.

[@karlcountry2363]

You probably would have enjoyed the Martin 13 ce. Plays like an electric.

[@jasonstallworth]

There's a part of me that wishes I had gotten that one instead. It played nice as well. I was enticed by the overall sound of the GPC 13e

[@msblades5382]

For my ears the Martin is the right one. I May be partial because my name is Martin lol. Cheers

[@scottlewis3506]

The Takamine sounds good. However once you compare it to the Martin, the Martin sounds better to me all around.

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah, that Martin has a nice, full sound

[@MarkJohnsonJams]

Sorry I’m commenting as I go. Or as the video goes. With the rhythm the Takamine kind of sits back more. So you can really hear the leads. Again the Martin is brighter. But I almost still prefer the Martin. Just crisp, more attack.

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah, the Martin seems to have better overall tone in the sense that there are no gaps. The Takamine just plays better

[@MarkJohnsonJams]

@@jasonstallworth Right. I def get that. And you’re probably just so much more accustomed to playing that one too. What’s interesting is that when you were playing in the room, just playing unplugged, I thought they sounded very similar. Harder to tel them apart. The Takamine had some more lows.

[@jandevries57]

Today i bought the Takamine 😊

[@jasonstallworth]

I love mine...I will be doing a dedicated video on mine soon

[@jandevries57]

@@jasonstallworth you play very well. Sounds great Jason!. 👍👍

[@MarkJohnsonJams]

To my ears, the Martin was a tad brighter. Had a little more cut.

[@jasonstallworth]

I saw your other comment so I'll respond to that one!

[@Steven_Lee_Music]

Martin sounds better. I have some Taks and Martins. I'm always comparing them. These are all high end Japanese Taks and high end Martins as well. I'm always changing out the Pre-amps in the Taks (they're all interchangeable). I love the Build quality of the Taks. They are the most solid, well built guitars made today. Just feels like I'm holding something substantial, well thought out and quality every time I play one. Having said that, I love the Fishman Aura systems in my Martins. No matter how I tweak the Taks, they just don't sound as good as the Martins...plugged in! Which is supposed to be the opposite. My Tak PD4 sounds better unplugged than all but my D-35 Martin. So, don't believe all the people who say Martins are better unplugged and Taks better plugged. I've found the opposite true...Depending on the actual guitar. The final thing that drew me to the Martins over taks, is I don't like the Narrow neck on the Taks. Martins are wider, which helps with fingerpicking, which I do a lot of. Still keeping my Tak PD4 and P6NC. They're just beautiful. And they sound great...just not as great at my OMC Martins with the "aura" pickup system. On here, I still like Martin better. But, they both sound great. I was thinking of buying your exact Martin because I'm wanting a Sunburst. Most electric players like Tak's tho because of the skinnier neck. I like the wider neck myself, to each his own tho. :)

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah the Takamine plays a lot better but the Martin has a full sound. I've got a Zager now and will soon have a video on that

[@charleschastain829]

Keep it metal....

[@jasonstallworth]

And sometimes acoustic! I do throw in some covers of Metallica and Maiden here and there!

[@charleschastain829]

@@jasonstallworth sweet 🧁 as candy,.. thanks 🙏 Jason,