Hi all,

I am in the market for a Martin D-35 for a graduation
present. I do not play and know nothing about guitars.
I found one selling locally for $1500. The serial number
looks like it puts it around 1972. Was this a good year ?
Are new ones better ? What should I look for in a
good used guitar ?

Thanks

Jim

On Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:34:54 -0400, against all advice, something
compelled "Jim Z" tricomachine.com>, to say:

A D-28.

The D-35 was built with a three piece back because the supply of
Brazilian Rosewood was running out and they needed to make use of
smaller pieces of wood. It was a compromise at best, dull and
lifeless at worst, best suited for the drunken singing of John
Denver songs around a campfire.*

Get a D-28. For the same money, you'll get a much nicer guitar.

* Not that there's anything wrong with that.
--

Steve Daniels wrote:

Geez, Steve, don't sugarcoat it, tell us what you really think!

Jim, the D-35 is one of those guitars people either love or hate.
Obviously Steve is not a fan!

I'm not much of a fan of D-35's, either, but some people truly love
them.

Steve Daniels wrote:

Thank you all for the replies.
The reason for the D-35 is my son is a huge
Dave Matthews fan, and I have been reading that
his guitar of choice is a D-35. Am I correct ?

I have also heard he plays a Taylor. Another brand
I know nothing about.

Jim

"Steven Bornfeld" earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:LYmdnZoWEeXAH8nVnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@earthlink.com...

In article nlpi065.nbdc.sbc.com>,
"Jim Z" tricomachine.com> wrote:

I don't know much about Dave Matthews, but Martin does make a D35-like
"Dave Matthews" model, so he must have some connection with them.

Anyway, with regard to the rather negative responses so far:

Especially with a 36-year-old guitar, it all depends on the individual
instrument, its condition, and the context in which it is used. One of
the best individual guitars I know is Michael P. Smith's D35 which,
unless I'm remembering wrong, was made in 1972. It's perfect for his
voice and the way he plays.

I agree with WHM's suggestion, though

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:15:29 -0500, Al Evans tbtm.org> wrote:

Jim Z wrote:

Jim,

If you can take your son with you shopping, that would be best. Let him
try out a number of guitars, and pick the one that works for him.

The three piece back in itself doen't make any difference in the sound
so far as I can tell. Martin does sort the top wood by visual
characteristics for the various models, and while that's far from a
great indicator of tone potential, it may have some bearing. I was
told that they tend to use tops that have wide grain spacing in the
center for the -35s. I haven't looked at enough of those to be able to
testify to that from experience. At any rate, if that's true, and if,
as can happen, that wide grain spacing correlates with somewhat lower
cross grain stiffness, that would account for a bit of difference in
timbre.

As al Evans said, with something in that age bracket, from _any_
maker, it's more about the individual instrument, and how it's been
cared for, than it is about the model.

Alan Carruth / Luthier

Jim Z wrote:

Jim, I bought a circa 2000 D-35 and mine sounds *very* nice. (If it
didn't, I wouldn't have bought it.) :-) A few of the guys in this
group have played it.