Rosewood Dread Comparison

[Rich Cohen]

Every so often, Paul, owner of Music Villa in Bozeman, Montana, pairs up with Quentin King to try out different guitars. This time he gave Quentin, a fine player, five different rosewood dreds to compare in a blindfolded test. Quentin was fairly flumoxed to name the brand of the guitars, until he got to the D-55. One stroke from his pick and Quentin knew what he had in his hands. Paul, and Quentin are clearly fans of Martins and Gibson, so it was pleasing to hear Quentin identify the iconic D-55 without any hesitation. Watch the video.

 

[steverok]

I always watch their videos. Very fine folks. Unfortunately, for me, Quentin never plays in a style that I listen for when evaluating a guitar's sound, but then again, no one does really. The only way to know is to play it yourself. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Westerly Wood]

wow, I actually liked the Gibson best.

 

[davismanLV]

But the Taylor is not a dread!! How's that happening?? The Gibson sounded amazing. D-55 was super nice as well.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I surprisingly did not like the D55. Oh no, what the heck does that mean???

 

[Longnose Gar]

I sold my Oxnard D-55 after I took a flyer on a 2004 Gibson Songwriter used from GC for $1,500. The main reason was the wider nut on the Songwriter. The D-55 wasn't as loud, and I found the tone smoother and more balanced. I liked the D-55 better for accompanying voice. The Songwriter is more woody and folky. More "guitary". Both great. Songwriter is cheaper, and cheaper than other Gibsons. I think because it doesn't have the legacy of a Hummingbird or Dove.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I sold my Oxnard D-55 after I took a flyer on a 2004 Gibson Songwriter used from GC for $1,500. The main reason was the wider nut on the Songwriter. The D-55 wasn't as loud, and I found the tone smoother and more balanced. I liked the D-55 better for accompanying voice. The Songwriter is more woody and folky. More "guitary". Both great. Songwriter is cheaper, and cheaper than other Gibsons. I think because it doesn't have the legacy of a Hummingbird or Dove.

I think you just answered my question as to why I did not like the D55 and did really dig the Gibson.

 

[walrus]

I surprisingly did not like the D55. Oh no, what the heck does that mean???

It means it needs different strings!

walrus

 

[Westerly Wood]

It means it needs different strings!

walrus

nailed it!

 

[HeyMikey]

Guild then Gibson for me.
The D55 sounded so much fuller to me. The Gibby was surprisingly balanced and full.

The Martin probably my third has nice warmth but seemed a little dull. I didn’t care at all for the Eastman or Taylor. Nice guitars but too mid/upper focused comparison for me.

 

[kitniyatran]

I'm with HeyMikey on the Guild and The Gibson. The Gibson was surprisingly full but not as Boomy as a Martin dread. The Martin sounded like you expect a top quality rosewood dread to sound like, the Taylor was too jangly, the Eastwood sounded like a very good lesser copy of a D28. The Guild was like the "this is how it's done guys" blow 'em away monster Boomer

 

[davismanLV]

So everyone is okay with them comparing 4 rosewood dreads and then throwing an OM or Auditorim sized rosewood Taylor that was not either a dread, OR a Grand Pacific?? Sorry... what a crappy test, if just for that error alone. That's just comparing a WOOD with no other control. Nope!! Apples and Oranges, or walnuts....

 

[GGJaguar]

Sorry... what a crappy test, if just for that error alone.

Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn! But I agree with you, it wasn't a good comparison.

 

[Bernie]

I liked those guitars, but the Eastman is always confusing as it really sounds too much like Martins ; that's where you'd get lost. Others have more of a distinctive tone it seems, so when knowing well the different brands and models, you'd increase your chances to guess well.
Quinton didn't know much about woods, makes, and models, when he started playing reviews for Paul...He is just an advanced amateur musician who picked up a nice Martin several years before he started, and apparently didn't bother much trying other guitars after it...
He didn't work for a guitar shop either, apart from doing those reviews (he plays in the same band as Paul)...

 

[Rich Cohen]

So everyone is okay with them comparing 4 rosewood dreads and then throwing an OM or Auditorim sized rosewood Taylor that was not either a dread, OR a Grand Pacific?? Sorry... what a crappy test, if just for that error alone. That's just comparing a WOOD with no other control. Nope!! Apples and Oranges, or walnuts....

Tom, Paul did say at the beginning of the video that the comparison wasn't based on any strict principles.

 

[chazmo]

Hey, bring it on! I love comparisons of any type.

I'd like to get my hands on one of the Taylor Grand Pacific models to try. I really enjoyed an early 2000s Grand Symphony model that I had for a while. And I still own a jumbo 12-string of Taylor's from the '80s.

As for dreads, I only ever played one Taylor dread that I really liked, and that was made of walnut and cedar top. A Guild D-50 (totally different materials of course) would be the winner for me.

 

[crank]

Martin, Guild, Eastman, Gibson, Taylor in that order for me.

I agree with the guy that the Taylor sounded good and not really like most Taylors.

 

[Bernie]

I had seen a couple blindfold tests before, and it's really difficult to identify the various guitars that are involved ; but I think it will come with time...It's better to use headphones though. I think it's quite a funny game, and that is what counts for me : it seems it's not easy to have enough different but similar guitars at the same time, as to compare them nicely...

 

[geoguy]

They did a similar blindfolded review a few years ago.

When Quentin did his first blindfolded strum of a D-55, he actually sat up straight and said "whoa!".

That D-55 really grabbed his attention.

 

[Br1ck]

I think many miss the point of the test. That was that he could not with certainty tell which was which . He only ever said this is either or, until the huge low end of the D 55 stood out. I think it would be a very good thing to wear a blindfold when buying a guitar, but it would take a willingness to jump off the cliff of pre conception. The D 55 will appeal a lot to the HD 35 crowd. Anyone should be able to tell a D 18 from a D 28, right? Yet I've seen videos where people could not. We like to think we could, but how many have tried? how many videos have you watched with a 38 D 28 and several quality others, such as a pre war or an Authentic? All I can do is say that one is different and I like it, then that one sounds different but I like it too, etc. Then it's YouTube, another ball of wax.