About 5 years ago I picked up a Martin D35, at the music store, strummed it, and it blew me away, so did the price, around $3500. It was gone next time I came in to visit it, but around that time I did have a few dollars, and was playing with a few Larivees. There was this really lovely L09 cutaway with Baggs pick up etc. I played that one last because it just looked like the prom queen, and I didn't want a broken, longing, heart. But I did play it, and she was the prom queen, and I was lusting with GAS. For kicks I looked at the tag, to discourage any possibility of actually buying it.........and the price was.........was............$1295;........excuse me.! !
I took it to the front desk, and holding it out with my hands underneath, as if I were about to put something on an alter, I said 'tell me about this guitar'......the sales guy said, some one traded it in, and I said, 'on what' knowing I was holding one of the most stunning guitars in the store, sound wise, I was sure....I guess some one just sold it to the store cause they needed money. I gave the guy $20, and said hold it for me...A couple of weeks later I made arrangements to put 25% down, took it home, and we are living happily...me, the Guilds, the Larivee, and a couple of other, neat but unremarkable guitars.
I did love the sound of t h a t Martin though....as good as these companies are, once in a while, every thing comes together to make a stellar guitar, I just think it happened more frequently with Guilds.
Steffan
