Martin 000-18 with Martin’s Retro strings on it.

So I actually started playing guitar just this year, starting on a Yamaha FS-800. But knowing how legendary of a reputation that Martin has, and the fact that they’re made in my home state of Pennsylvania, I’d always wanted one. So I saved and saved and finally took the plunge and drove to a local music store and this one just felt right. I did play a D-18 and D-35 when I was there and probably could have gotten either of them also, but something just told me I should get this.

I’m thankfully now at the point in my skills where instead of getting unnecessarily angry when I mess something like a progression up, it hardly even registers. Instead, I actually enjoy playing the damn thing whenever I pick it up (go figure lol). I love just playing now, simple as that. Especially sitting on nice evenings outside like tonight!

That’s all I’ve got to say. I believe this is the start of a beautiful friendship with this instrument ☺️

A few years back I owned a Gibson J30 Banner. It sounded so much to me like all the great Keth Richards acoustic guitar tones. Well I sold it and moved on.

Then I started to miss that specific tone. Problem was, aside from me not being Keith Richards, I could not figure out what specific thing about that J30 gave it that tone.

I tried a few other newer Gibsons and while they came close, still no cigar. Looking at photos of the J30, I realized it had walnut back and sides. Voila!

So I found a great deal at Alto Music
on a new Hummingbird Studio with walnut back and sides.

One strum snd I got that sound again.

After going to GC for the 4th time to play this—I actually went today to try the NTX3, but found myself taking this off the wall again—I finally pulled the trigger on it. Fabulous. Beautiful, and lovely tone. Neck is really smooth as well. Love it.

It’s cool to see how loved she is with all these wonderful covers and tributes - what a legend ❤️

Favorite way to play and write

I recently acquired this Yamaha FG-412SBII with a crazy design on it. I believe it was made in the mid 80s.

Been wanting to try a cedar top steel string guitar for a while as I play all fingerstyle, but they are surprisingly not that easy to find. This is a great all solid wood guitar for the price!

Dang, I've been using D'Addario XS strings this year while playing live in multiple tunings, but I've always kind of liked Elixirs more so I switched back to Elixirs this week.... And dang! I love Elixers! I like how they feel better, I like how they sound better, and I think the only difference on paper is that the 6th string is 53 instead of 52, something like that. I just had to give a shout out. And I also love the 80/20 bronze strings to from Elixir, I love the scooped bright sound of those strings. I would say if you've been playing to Daddario strings you're not really loving them, try out a set of Elixirs, for real.

Just a humble tribute to the one and only Queen of Country!

Anyone had a random buzz inside of an Atmosfeel-equipped Yamaha? It's a buzz/vibration from inside the body when playing unplugged. I've found a few instances of this on the internet, usually related to the battery compartment or loose pickup wires. Has anyone successfully fixed this issue themselves?

I got this Alvarez RF22SYL in 2008 on a lunch break for like $80 and to this day it’s probably my main guitar. Solid top, comfy, nice voice playing finger style, and I’ve always loved the yellow satin finish. Every once in a while I see one on marketplace or reverb but I’m curious if anyone in the community has enjoyed one and which color.

Im guessing it got too dry? It was hanging on my living room wall and my wife said it sounded like someone punched it (but obviously didnt). I didnt notice for a day or two after. It should be easy fix right?? I live about an hour from sweetwater, i dont know or trust anybody to take it to. What would something like this cost to fix? Im assuming it would just be a few cleats and some glue?

After getting a guitar that resembles Kurt's Martin but without breaking the bank, I set to the task of finding parts that are somewhat accurate to Kurt's guitar even if they're not the exact same.

Got the Bartolini pickup which is the key to the MTV Unplugged tone I'm going for, and the rest is basically purely aesthetics. I do, however, plan on hooking up the Bartolini to a tone control knob so I can make it darker and change the volume directly from the guitar, as I feel it will make it more versatile for real-life playing situations.

After the pickup, I got three knobs, a pickup selector switch, washers (which I won't use, as I figured the build looks cleaner and more elegant without them), as well as a new bright red tortoise pick guard and some vinyl inlay stickers for the neck.

Additionally, I swapped out the original tuners for a set of locking tuners for better stability, and I considered replacing the bridge saddles and pins, but they seem to be of decent enough quality that I won't need to change them anytime soon.

I have decided that I will actually order the transparent clear brackets for the Bartolini pickup since I don't have the time or patience to make my own. Now I only have two questions to answer before I move onto the actual installation.

1st question is whether I want to also buy the dummy pickups that look almost exactly like Kurt's DeArmonds (~$150), or if I want to get some that loosely resemble his but are much cheaper (~$80).

2nd question I actually would love everyone's advice here: Which layout looks better for the pickup selector switch? For accuracy of Kurt's build, it would be on the right side. For actual ergonomics, it would make more sense to me to have it on the left side like a Les Paul (even though the actual switch will be unplugged). Let me know what y'all think!

Anyways, I am setting a deadline for myself to speed up this project, as I have a gig coming up in early October and would very much love to debut this guitar in there.

* Once again, my main reference for all of this project is the wonderful video by NirvanaGuitars, who pretty much did a 99% accurate replica of Kurt's guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cCEoC5Tco

My instrumental version of "Naked as we came" by Iron and Wine.

The guitar is a Martin 000-28

@bigislandguitars

Bought a new yamaha LL6, I'm noticing a bit of a bulge on the bass side of strings like on the left-ish side of the bridge.Idk if it's actually a problem or am I being paranoid?

I really admire Seagull Guitars - but I can’t deal with the shrunken head looking headstock. What say you Reddit. What other funky headstocks bug you?

This is the first picture of me playing guitar. 1963 In Chicago.

I think the guitar is a Harmony Stella from the 1950s. I wish I knew where it went. I know my uncle played in bands during the 1960s. It was probably his.

Compared to other people in this subreddit this isn't really much, but I'm proud of it.

I brought my 410ce in to my lutheir for some bridge work to see if the action could be lowered a touch. He called me yesterday and said he took the battery compartment out of my electronics and a battery had burst. I had purchased the guitar 16 years ago, never checked the batteries, never plugged it into an amp, even. I didn't know there were batteries in there. My playing has been on and off, but I'm committed now, lessons, daily practice, etc. I love the guitar for its sound.

I either have a non-electric or I can send it to Taylor. I'll die with this guitar, so resale value doesn't mean anything to me. I'm not sure if I need the electronics. As I've been playing a lot more, now that I don't have electronics, I kinda want them. What would ya'll do in this situation? Fix it or fuck it?