Martin Custom 0000 vs M-36 (Custom vs Standard Model Challenge)

[@theshadowtalks]

I use the M36 in the recording studio for years. It’s my “go to” all in one guitar. You would be surprised at how many songs are recorded in Nashville with this guitar!

[@MOAB-UT]

Another music guy in YTube just said the same thing when demoing it- Alamo Music I believe.

[@scottconnors544]

Love my Martin M-36! Best guitar I’ve ever owned or played!

[@kennygee83]

M-36 is my favourite of all the Martins! That custom sounds great though !

[@Dub1281]

I am finally getting my hands on one of these customs. Patience finally paid off. Shout out to Abel and thank you MV for creating these

[@lcvol73]

I have a custom shop 0000-18 sinker mahogany from Martin. It has now become my favorite acoustic. Great video!

[@tcjensen1]

That’s what I want, with the short scale & hide glue

[@papawrichard3553]

I love both of these. I’d be happy with either one.

[@neilanderson2374]

Im just researching my next guitar. Was initially looking at a D-18, but the M-36 is it for me i think. I love the dread sound, but OOO playability is better for me. I'd better start saving !

[@A2an]

The difference is quite large, I loved the 0000, Great sound❤️ and you too guys are goooood. Thanks for the test. PS: loved the explanation about the guitar sizes 👍

[@davidcudlip6587]

I play an M-36 and it can do everything you throw at it. I use mine for Bluegrass and flatpicking fiddle tunes. Plays like butter.

[@SingSurfStrum]

If they did a bigger size in Koa, would that be a Hawaii 5 O ?

[@gentlegiant6585]

Book em Danno 😎!

[@markstrain8989]

certainly oughta be !!!!

[@michaeldoucette]

Always enjoy your postings!!

[@MrGoogster]

Just when I thought I’d gotten over my GAS-that custom OOOO! OOOOF!

[@michaelmcinnis911]

The 0000 sounds a little more "lush" and open, the M-36 sounds more focused and direct. Not sure which I would pick for *tone* but the 0000 looks great (even though I'm NOT a fan of "wild" Rosewood; I'd prefer nicely quartersawn like the M-36 and most standard Martins have).

[@gillesserrigny6324]

I would be very interested to know if, for the sound test the both guitars are equipped with the same strings 🤔.

[@ksine84]

I don't know if anyone knows this but, how does the M36 or the OOOO compare to the Martin GP35?

[@TheoDahlemPickups]

The Custom 0000 is my favourite in this video. Warmer and more bass. Looks cool w. the back and without the binging

[@atta1798]

That custom 0000 has a beautiful sound!

[@g.j.haycock1064]

The 3 pc back is what I love about the M36. So the custom is out for me. But both sound great!

[@paolopardi4933]

The custom sounds amazing

[@brettmorrical6978]

Compelling for me. Custom all day long, especially as I already have a custom D-35. Perfect complement.

[@dennispurdy3533]

Too close to call. What with sample variations and player inconsistency they sound virtually identical. Would love to have either.

[@Rinty145]

I totally agree. As an M-36 owner I just couldn't hear the difference between these guitars. If I were to nit pic perhaps a slightly longer sustain when played in finger style on the 0000 but the "36" is more pronounced when strummed , I hope that makes sense.

[@dreaminman4549]

Great video !

[@jamesdepalma6341]

Now the 0000 is great! Wish Martin made that as a std model. Love the two part back!

[@tcoudi]

more sustain and broader sound on the custom. kinda expected, given it will be probably twice the price, but both great take on GA from martin. apparently popular among studio pros.

[@mikeadams4605]

Sounds great!! 21 series guitars are my personal favorite and these 0000 and M-36 have some similar tone to my OM-21. Thanks for showing off the Custom shop guitars. My next Martin is going to be an OM-18 and right now the custom shop is really the only way to get one.

[@stevec.1802]

Love your demos. IMHO- I prefer quarter sawn rosewood over slab cut/flat sawn rosewood. No difference in sound as both 0000’s sound beautiful. It’s more about a visual and structural observation and my experience.

[@fredsings1]

They both have the MMS (marvelous Martin sound). Aesthetically the 0000 has it. I think the M36 has an overall more balanced sound -without being boomy.

[@flyingash]

I have a Gruhn Special Custom Shop model 0000 it's amazing. Played every Martin in Gruhn and left with this one.

[@johnsierramusic]

Would love to see a 0000 (maybe with sinker mahogany) vs. D-18. Played a 0000 with adi top, sinker mahogany sides at Gruhn's, and I think I may sell my D-18 to buy it.

[@JRJ2000]

Can you do a M36/0000 vs the D16e? I would love to hear the sound difference in those?

[@BluesHeavy]

It may be my ears but I found the M36 had better note separation and clarity but a nasally sound if that makes sense. The custom was more boomy and bass driven wish less clarity in the higher range.

[@mariodriessen9740]

May I suggest something for another comparison video, please? Lately I'm interested in 12 string acoustics. I rarely see video's of 12-string acoustics, but I'd love to hear a good comparison between a Martin, a Gibson and a Taylor 12-string in both higher and lower price points. Nothing beats some fine strumming on a good 12-string acoustic! Anyway, I love the show. Thanks!

[@gillesserrigny6324]

Il you are interested by the 12 strings guitars how can you forget Guild guitars. This brand make the best 12 strings guitars since the 60's. The F 512 Guild is probably the best 12 strings guitar in the world.

[@mariodriessen9740]

@@gillesserrigny6324 ; I’m interested in 12 string acoustics because I don’t know a lot about them. I want to learn. So off course, if Guild fits perfectly in that line of good 12 string guitars, then sure, I’d LOVE to hear it! That’s why I keep asking.

[@gillesserrigny6324]

@@mariodriessen9740 l understand your point of view. You have some guitarists specialized in the 12 strings. Leo Kootke, he play live with Taylor and like Gibson, John Butler or Roger McGuin on electric with the mythic Rickenbacker. A hit like " Give A Little Bit " by Supertramp, play with a Guild F 212. Be careful, since around twenty years you have chinese models too. Make your choice.

[@mariodriessen9740]

@@gillesserrigny6324 ; Thank you. I appreciate your help.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Wow. Pretty distinct change in tone. The M-36 is the only guitar I know of with an ebony bridge and rosewood fingerboard. The custom has an ebony bridge. That will affect the tone for sure.

[@johnwbanjo]

Love the sound of both. Is the bridge on the Custom 0000 ebony or rosewood? If it’s ebony what we have here is basically a model that Martin had in their offerings back in the ‘90s, an M-38, which was a twin of the M-36 with a 2-piece back.

[@dwightlowes]

Both are beautiful sounding and overall beautiful guitars the custom I hear a little more low but I would love either. My next Martin will be a 0000 M-36 guaranteed!🔥🎶👍🏻

[@paulbretschneider3105]

I have the jumbo they mention at the start...the J-40. It is hard to track down, but it's worth the hunt. The J-40 is off the hook!

[@GC-sy1uf]

I just recently bought a 2003 J40 at my local Guitar Center. It blew away the new D28’s and HD28’s they had in stock! Boomy bass but with a more focused mid-range. Fantastic guitar!!

[@paulbretschneider3105]

@@GC-sy1uf Yes, it’s an incredible instrument…and the sustain is crazy!

[@toddbeeman5933]

Of course the only Martin that could sound better than an M-36 would be a custom 0000. I'm surprised the difference was so noticeable. I love the looks of that 3-piece back, but I'd choose the sound of that custom over beautiful looks any day. Thanks for the comparison and letting us know of such a great guitar! I bet a short-scale with the 2-piece rosewood back would be the ultimate eargasm..

[@JesseDylanMusic]

The back won’t change the tone. The m-36 has a rosewood bridge which brightens the tone up some, so sounds like you prefer an ebony bridge all else being equal.

[@patricklundquist9869]

Actually there is another Martin that sounds better than either an M-36 or and 0000, and that is the Martin J-40. I would love to hear a shootout between the classic J-40 with 1 11/16" nut and standard bracing versus the Martin Reimagined J-40 with 1 3/4" nut and forward shifted bracing. I have a classic and the only reason I would consider a Reimagined is for that 1 3/4" nut. I need that extra width for my fat fumble fingers. I'm just concerned that forward shifted bracing will cost the guitar it's excellent balance and make it too bass heavy. Unfortunately, since the classic J-40 is out of production, I see no incentive for anyone selling Martin guitars to ever have such a shootout. But, I can hope...

[@guitarzana688]

Both wonderful guitars. More base with the custom but I could play either happily ☺️

[@gillesserrigny6324]

Yes, ar the level of quality, no problem, one or the other we take its. If we can 🤔.

[@mikenorman6697]

Custom shop oooo sounds more open and transparent compared to the M36 in my opinion!

[@SteveSmith-vg5ov]

What's the.price.on the M36 Custom.?

[@championhairpuller]

I think I'm leaning toward the 0000. A bit richer tone to my tin ears.

[@Revansstuntdouble]

My $5 earbuds don't help my case.

[@Em_Dee_Aitch]

HUGE difference. Although I like the look of the wild grain, it is my understanding that they are only cut this way because they could not be quartersawn. It is also my understanding that anything that isn’t quartersawn is a weaker cut.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

That type of slightly less structural strength will never matter if a guitar is otherwise well constructed, which a Martin certainly is. It’s no different than the people who say a guitar top with more runout is less sturdy. Yes, it is, but it’s never going to matter, at least not with any guitar made correctly.

[@el34glo59]

What's the difference? Can't just be the back. Has to be the bracing or something too

[@vspvince]

What mic are you using to record? Are both guitars using the same strings? If so, what strings are being used?

[@texhaines9957]

Great day to curl up with a cup of coffee & really listen to these great instruments. I think I heard a bit fuller base on the 0000-28. I'll have to go in & play them to decide. Both have the modified low oval neck for easier playing. Maybe Ms Diane Ponzio had a different M-36 with more bass. Hers is also a jumbo, if I recall. The top on hers is Italian Alpine Spruce, so that will make a difference. Good comparison Quinton & Paul. Thanks

[@MTLeadSlanger]

The custom seems to be just a tad more open sounding. Not a lot of difference though.

[@flyingash]

I have the Gruhn Spec Custom Shop 0000 fabulous guitar!!

[@c.p.1589]

Cant help thinking that the 'wild grain' rosewood upgrade is a clever marketing idea to get rid of flat sawn wood.

[@lhvent]

More base with the custom for sure but two great guitars

[@samtomaska1421]

What are the odds you guys make a Jumbo with a short scale length? I’m a big Dave Matthews fan, and for the last few years he’s been playing Rockbridge guitars. All of their guitars, even their Jumbos, have a 25” scale length, which is closer to the scale length of a Martin 000 (24.9”) than their standard scale length (25.4”). I’d love to see Martin have the option for a shorter scale length for all their guitars! I have a Martin 000, and it just plays like butter.

[@TheAcousticLetter]

We have two coming in soon.... One Mahogany and the other RW. Check out the video of the last two: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3jReJaEg9CZoK8 Send em an email if you would like more details.... [e-mail]

[@CarlosCandidoMusic]

They clearly sound different.. but it’s a tough call as to which I like more. I like both for what they give sonically. They’re both gorgeous. Not a huge fan of 3 piece backs in general, but that isn’t a detractor in this case. That M36 will open up with time so I’m not seeing an obvious winner. Actually, the winner is whoever gets to own either model. 🍻

[@scottf2199]

Custom definitely has more body and depth - and more richness

[@elvis8burgers81]

Both sound superb, but the 0000 Custom has 3-D top-end shimmer and overall a richer sound than the M-36, which is a tad spiky-er sounding in comparison. I have a 0000-28H, best Martin I’ve ever owned, completely disarming!

[@patricklundquist9869]

When you switched guitars I thought, "The new one sounds better," then you switched and I thought, "Oh, wait, that guitar is better," then you would switch again and I thought, "Never mind, that one sounds better." It was like that clear to the end of the demo. My conclusion? Each guitar sounds better than the other. Other than 3 vs 2 piece construction and slight tone differences, there is one major difference between the two guitars; adding the words "Custom Shop" increases the price by a few grand.

[@papagiusti]

Love the 36, great attack, 0000 mellower great tone but I love that m36….

[@tinkerscussmusic]

I own a 000036 Custom. Best guitar in the world 😁👍

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Me too! What is custom about yours?

[@deborahmcalister3936]

Damn... look at those guns on Quinten

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Don’t forget about Martin’s GJ, grand jumbo. It’s like a Gibson SJ size or Taylor jumbo size.

[@alexcorll90]

Oh no. I just bought an OM. And now I think I need a 0000, hahaha.

[@vincenteoppolo9025]

Custom hands down.. fuller.. warmer......

[@soofitnsexy]

...richer

[@MrOddmanout1]

M-36 compressed, nasal, not in a negative way. Differing tones, that’s for sure.

[@daveanderson5680]

Listening with my Sennheiser headphones,….the 0000 has more of the dreadnaught signature sound & resonance,….and the M36 has the more balanced & focus signature of a 000. I prefer the M36

[@abiding_ihsan]

M-36 kills it

[@dvanolya]

The custom looks slightly deeper.

[@kindface]

Custom 0000 is more resonant.

[@Hjaltland2]

T my ears the 0000 has a slightly warmer tone.

[@Blkojo]

0000

[@BlindTom61]

Nobody in the world calls it a quad-0. Only you. It’s either an M or a four ought. Turn in your Martin pass, yer fired!

[@JesseDylanMusic]

You’re not spelling “aught” correctly, so you might want to make sure your bases are covered before correcting others 😂 I’ve heard people call it a quad 0 before, considering “aught” means zero, and many people say Oh instead of “zero”. Calling it a quad-zero might be a little odd, but other than that…