For me, Boucher for strumming, Martin for flatpicking & Furch for fingerstyle. I’d say Boucher as the overall winner. But the real star is the guitarist- well played sir !
I agree about the guitar player. Best guitarist I've seen in any of these demos for bringing out the tone of each guitar, and with very clean picking! I think the Furch lacked the warm overtones of the other two, I was most impressed with the Martin overall but the Boucher was very close and may have taken the prize for fingerstyle.
The Boucher just blew the other two away for me... Though i may have liked the Martin overall more than the Furch.... Warmer... The Furch has a more balanced thing going though... And sounded more open..... I'd have to play them. But the Boucher just sounded like a class above the others...
@@ramspencer5492I the reason is because of how the torrefy their entire guitar not just the top wood. One of my clients just brought in me their guitars and it blew me away how resonant it sounded!
I have a Boucher OM on order. Can’t wait. Every one I have tried has beat the others and I think even better than Collings/Bourgeois at least to my ears
I’m 35 now and I bought a Taylor GS8 when I was 20. For the last 15 years I’ve played every brand of acoustic for one I liked more than my Taylor. I never found one until today when I played and then purchased a Furch Yellow D CR. It’s the nicest guitar I’ve ever played or heard by a large margin. I’m addicted to playing it and will have it my whole life. Thank you so much to this wonderful company. Thanks to all the men and women who work at Furch. Greatly appreciate it with all my heart 🙏❤️
Good for you I'm hoping to get the Furch red master series as my 60th birthday present next year, I'm only a basic player so it's very indulgent of me , just hope I grow old with it lol. They are such good value. Enjoy your new baby.
Same, absolute beauty of a guitar. The Martin sounds interresting too though for cords and stuff but the Boucher is interresting too for that, the Furch definitively sucks in that category. Will definitively try out a boucher for cords and fingering. For flatpicking, well the furch is just the best. Flat out.
Boucher my pick overall but both the Furch and Martin are stunning instruments. However when you think you could purchase the Furch for half the price of the others it really is some value for money.
Thank you very much for providing this comparison. I find that the Martin's sound harkens to an older style guitar, on which individual strings are not equally distinguished from one another and the overall impression is a wee bit compressed or 'boxy' while the Boucher, to my ear, offers both greater distinction between strings and a more open sound than the HD-28. Bear in mind that each of these instruments is being captured by a microphone and heard --most often-- through the limited sound capability of a computer. While I like the sound of all three instruments, I would also like to hear how they blend with the human voice; that's diagnostic for my use of the guitar. I have a 2020 D-28 Standard, play it regularly and prefer the sound --as presented here-- of the Boucher, and I will soon travel to audition the new Boucher torrified maple guitars of the SR series. In my experience, Martin guitars can vary quite considerably from one instrument to another within the same model designation. If you audition a Martin, may I suggest that you play several of the same model before making a choice? Had I known that a couple of years ago, I would have saved myself quite a lot of time, inconvenience and some money, too. Cheers
The Boucher kills it! The guitars they’ve made in the last ten years are fabulous! There is a distinct advantage to having the best Adirondack in the whole wide world! Also, they have mastered the torrefication process! I’m Canadian, and an acoustic guitar builder and I think the Bouchers produced now, are among the very best boutique guitars in the world! Peace
Yeah they're nice. But it had an Adi top, so if you're looking for that sound it's clear the Adi had alot to do with it. Put a authentic Martin up here and you'd hear that Boucher on steroids
The Martin is on a class of its own in the Strumming and Flatpicking sections with the Boucher coming 2nd. The Fingerstyle belongs to the Furch, its clarity and tone sets it above the others with the Boucher 2nd. That Boucher....I frankly have never heard of them before but I want to hear it again! Really quite an outstanding guitar. Great video. Thanks.
I enjoyed the demo and find that the 3 guitars all sound very similar. I own 2 vintage Martins and just sold a Boucher Goose. 2 days ago Luke sold me a Furch Vintage 1 rs-sr and so far I'm very happy with it's strong voice and excellent articulation. Just so you know where I'm coming from, I started playing guitar in 1964 at the age of 12 and have owned well over 100 guitars in my mostly professional, playing life. I would not hesitate to recommend Furch guitars to anyone.
Thanks for the recommendation. You can’t go wrong with any of these guitars. Except, the warranty and how it feels when you play it. Martin beats the Furch on the warranty for limited life time. The Furch has 3 years only. But I think the Furch feels better when you play it, more live, vibrating in your gut, maybe a little more volume and possibly just a bit easier to play. I have never played a Boucher. I don’t know what the warranty is on those and how they feel when you play it. The cost difference should be considered also. Since their tonal qualities are so close. You could throw customer service in case they come up with issues that need repairs. But, let me just go back to the most important thing that they all have, a wonderful tone. The number one thing for Martin guitars is tone, the number one thing for Furch is tone and it sounds like Boucher too. Will your ears tell you to fall in love for a very minimal tonal difference between one another?
@@josejcastaneda5826sadly Martin has long abandoned actually carrying out their life long warranty, so it really isn't different to the others in that regard.
The HD28 sounds like what an acoustic guitar should sound like to me. Then I heard the Boucher and the low end growl and ovetones blew my mind. Would be nice to own both
I'd say the Furch is definitely the best value! All sounded beautiful, and sounds like a great reason to test drive each one. In the end, it's all about which one speaks to you!!!
Never heard of Boucher before and I'm impressed! It sounds the deepest out of these 3, most resonating and bigger sound. Their "B" letter looks similar to Breedlove's, I don't know why they didn't avoid that. Anyway, I love Martin, was going to get HD-28E, but suddenly I'm interested in trying out Boucher SG52.
I tried a Boucher about 15 years ago... when I was a beginner guitarist and when there was no chance in hell I could afford it... I remember being sooooo impressed, it was instant love... I'm wondering how I would feel about it if I could retry the same guitar. Was i just impressed by the price tag or was it really a gem! Back then I probably just strummed an Oasis song on it! Now this video really makes me want to go try a Boucher again!
Hello, Essayer tout plein de guitares est une bonne idée. Ceci dit, il faut un certain temps pour apprécier certaines. Cela demande du temps, il faut que l'oreille se fasse. C'est comme le vin ou les cigares !
What i heard was really nice balance from the Martin, maybe the best singer/songwriter of the 3. Nice high end shimmer from the Furch that sounded great fingerstyle. But the power and overtones from that Boucher are something you get from a special guitar, and i cant ignore that. if i had to take one (oh, poor me) id have the Boucher.
I've preferred Furch in other comparison videos I've seen, but in this one, I found the Martin to be best. It sounded a bit warmer to me. But they're all pretty close.
They all sound like all great guitars! I'd want the Boucher or Martin myself. 1. Martin seems to have deepest fullest bass tones. 2. Furch has more of a nice flatter mid-tone sound [didn't like that high note rattle @ 4:02 ]. 3. Boucher seems to have the fullest tones on all frequencies, not just the bass side. It resonates even in mid and high tones which is pretty cool.
No doubt they are all cool guitars. Disclaimer, my own 'go to' guitar is a Furch Om; it is sweet for finger style and playing on the porch, mind you I don't have the talent or chops that Corey Heuvel has in his left pinkie toe. He could undoubtedly make an $80.00 Washburn Disney Hanah Montana model sound like an Ervin Somogyi custom masterpiece... I was impressed that Furch for the most part held its own in the reviews, seeing the Martin has had ten years to open up, the Boucher features a different species top... I wonder (question) if their value's are actually equal to the $800.00 and $1,300.00 price differentials above the Czech model? Are their tones and responsiveness significantly superior to the Furch? Is name recognition playing a part in the ratings - and in the price tag? Before I made my choice, I'd have to hold them in my hands and see if there is one of them I couldn't leave the building without taking her with me.
I was absolutely blown away by the HD-28! The others sounded great but IMO there was a huge gap between the Martin and the other two. Strumming was the Martin easily, flatpicking Martin, fingerpicking was the closest out of the three but I still would go with the Martin for fingerpicking with the Furch in a very close second. Overall hands down the Martin. Just my opinion--they all sound wonderful!
I believe the Furch is the most versatile of the three. The mids and high are the most clearly articulated. They seem to kind of jump out, especially the strumming around the seventh fret. The boomy sound of the other two is a little overpowering, but some of that could be coming from the mic setup.
I tried so many guitars but Martin never clicked with me. In a small store I tried some Furch guitars, 2 of them didn't click but the 3rd was like when Harry Potter got his wand in HP1. Amazing. It's exceptional for fingerstyle, just like in the video and with harder strumming it still has amazing depth.
I have two Martins which I love, just tried a Boucher at the music store and was really impressed. Feel like going back to buy it now I know more about it.
Loved the demo! Great playing and wonderful sounding guitars! For a time I owned a Boucher Spruce Goose. It was a nice guitar. Beautiful to look at and had a unique tone. The neck was a little too chunky for me. Same with my Martin D18v. I loved the sound of the D-18v, but the neck profile wasn't great IMO. I do love my Simon and Patrick Showcase Rosewood, however. It sounds fantastic (I sold my Martin the week after I got this S&P) and was always reliable for performing live. I would be interested in another Boucher if they slimmed their neck down.
Putting sound differences aside for a second... it seems the player (excellent BTW) has an easier time working through the fast lead sections on the Martin than with the Furch or Boucher that seem a little stiffer. Lower action maybe? He's really digging at 2:20
Martin has an extra something to the sound you don't usually find in other guitars. The Furch would likely sound the best in a recording room since the sound is so clean. Never heard of Boucher but will now check them out since it was impressive.
Ok. You sold me on the Boucher. I never heard of this brand before this video. I have acoustic and electric guitars from Martin, Yamaha, Cort, Larrivee, Godin, Fender, Kramer, Charvel, Gibson, Washburn, Cole Clark, Supro, and Ibanez...I am not saying this to boast, but just to say that the Boucher sounds like nothing else I have ever heard before. It’s amazingly beautiful. Maybe I love it so much because I do not have anything with Adirondack spruce! lol...you’re inspiring more GAS!! Cool video, great guitars, and wonderful playing! 🐰❤️🎸🎶✌️
Thanks for sharing your comment. All three are great guitars. The Boucher is a force to contend with. Many aspects are simply subjective at this level. Cheers.
I liked the Martin and Boucher. I really liked the Boucher for finger-style, with the beautiful bell ringing highs. Perhaps it's the Adirondack shining through. Do they all have the same make/age strings?
If I was honest they were all exceptional in my opinion. There were variants between them all. I love listening to good guitars and I could usual notice significant differences. But it was hard to determine in your video which was more outstanding from the others. I've known the reputation and quality of Martin guitars but had never heard of the other 2 makes before today. They're all excellent guitars in sound, depth, quality and finishing quality.
I'm biased. I have three Furchs and absolutely adore them all. Having said that, you couldn't go wrong with any of these guitars. They are all remarkable. I just found home a long time ago and am very in love with my Furchs.
All 3 spectacular instruments really, each with it's own vibe... I actually purchased a HD28 (not the anniversary model) and after a couple of weeks a D-41 showed up at the local guitar shop where I got the HD28 and I swapped for the D-41. I'd have my D-41 up against the Boucher, no mic/amp needed btw on the Boucher... lol Each have their own beauty and character , All winners really and the Furch was quite impressive ... If push came to shove I'd probably go for the Boucher, coming from a Martin fan. Cheers...
As a lefty, its hard to get anything without waiting a year. Found an Hd28 Ambertone at Adirondack guitar in NY state. The guitar is amazing and addictive to play.
Hi Luke! Greetings from Sacramento. Still living my Furch. But in comparison in this video I was surprised that in the strumming, it didn't have nearly as much volume as the other two. Loved them all. I may get a Martin OM at some point.
Three instruments from the top shelf, for sure. It mostly comes down to this: which is to YOUR taste? Which floats your boat? Which FEELS the most natural under your hands?
Thanks for the video. I agree the Boucher sounded the best with Martin second. I wonder if the Furch did not have quite as new strings as lacked some percussiveness. Maybe the new Furches are not as good as the older series. What with Furch senior taking a back seat.
@@johnnycmajor umm, only a few of the Furch models have laminate back and sides. This particular furch is all solid. Probably 80% of the furch lineup is all solid
To my ear in the fingerstyle the Boucher was so much in a class of its own that I went back to the Martin and Furch to confirm they were actually playing the same piece....
Very beautiful "Boom" sound from the Boucher. I hope I have a chance to try it one day (living overseas), though for flatpicking and strumming Furch seems more for my taste - brighter. Between these two I think my choice would depend on a song. Martin sounds okay, but that's all it seems to be :)) Would be keen to hear all on the same wood though!
Plectrum styles: Martin all day long. What surprised me was how I also preferred the Martin for fingerstyle. Didn't see that coming at all. Can't say it's superior, just works better for my ears. Playing the guitars yourself could of course lead to different results, but I've learned something about Martins here at least.
revisiting 3 years later. Still same opinion. Man, Martin just slayed this comparo. such distinct mids. Almost OM type mids.They've really got that prewar bracing brought into the modern era. I wanted to prefer the Boucher but this particular example is quite midbass heavy.
Old post, so I realize I may not get a reply, but -- are the strings identical on all models in the video? The Martin sounds much brighter on my PC speakers.
The 3 of them were lovely and you'd be happy owning any of them. I just felt the Martin sounded more open. It was like it had been played for 10 or 15 years, whereas the other 2 were just out of the factory.
I agree with you. That Martin looks like a standard HD28 (pre-reimagined) series. The top looks like its aged as well and looks like it's probably it's at least ten years old.
Great video with three great guitars. I feel like the Boucher cheated a bit with it's Adirondack though :) Strumming around a campfire: 1. Boucher 2. Martin 3. Furch Fingerstyle solo playing: 1. Furch 2. Boucher 3. Martin. Bang for your Buck: 1. Furch 2. Boucher 3. Martin
For me the Martin was best for strumming and flat picking, which means it’d be the best for me. There was some surprising power from the Boucher and I bet it could be magical in the right setting.
What a comparison. They are all 3 really good with very minor differences between them. The Martin takes it on the Lows with its dark tone. The Furch takes it on the highs with its clarity and I guess the mids are left for the Canadian Boucher guitar that sound really good too.
Oh I forgot to mention the guitarist. He too was very good. I liked the way he played the same music on each guitar. Which probably made the decision more difficult to choose which was better than the other, well done.
Very true! The issue is Boucher only makes Adi tops, and we didn't have a Martin or Furch with an adi top at the time. I admit you have a great point! Exactly the same tonewoods would be key.
I'll trade a high end guitar for that ability any time. But ... for strumming I'd take the Martin or the Furch (being more pronounced) as the Boucher sounds very heavy, but for fingerpicking I'd take the Boucher (for the same reason). I don't like flatpicking :)
I liked the Martin the best though when I hear a good 28 I always harken back to the 1969 D-28 I had right after I got my first real job out of college. It was one of the last Brazilians. I can still hear it in my head.
The Martin and the Boucher, sound almost identical. The first seem to have a little less Bass and a little more of a crisp and high range. All of them sounded beautiful. Nice picking!
enjoyed the Bouchet for its bass, the Martin for its midrange, and the Furch was just not that involving .. though its clean articulation and relative lack of overtones would do well in the recording studio. I'm listening through Sennheiser HD660s.
The Martin had a beautiful "shimmer" on the stimming segment, and got my vote for strumming. The Furch was a great and I preferred it to the Martin for flatpicking and fingerstyle, as the Martin seem to "overload" in flatpicking and didn't seem to have the great balance of the Furch. The Boucher is my winner in both flatpicking and fingerstyle. It just seemed to speak with such sweet clarity and balance, that it surpasssed the other two guitars, in my opinion. So, Boucher, Furch, Martin. They are all great. I am primarily a fingerstyle player, and my opinions are quite likely biased toward a guitar that excels in that area.
Really showed the diffet er nce, they each have a very distinctive voice. Boucher on strumming, the Martin on flatpicking, possibly the Furch on fingerstyle. None of them ever sounded bad, but the Boucher has more bass, the Furch is the sweetest tone, and the Martin has decent clarity, with that Martin sound. Any of these would be welcome in my home.
I'm really amazed at the comments here. After I posted my comment I decided to read some and I'm shocked at how many different opinions there are on this subject. I know that everything is subjective and people have different tastes but I also think that it has something to do with the sound quality of the device they are using to watch the video, because clearly people aren't hearing what I'm hearing based upon these comments I just read
I think it is not “fair” to compare a new guitar (Furch and Boucher) to a 10 year old guitar (Martin) especially with sitka spruce top, which is rather hard and needs time to settle and warm up. I own among others a Lakewood 32 CE ( not sure about the letters) which has a European spruce top and it took some time before the tone changed from bright and resounding to rich and warm. In this comparison the Furch didn’t come out great.
You are absolutely right, it is easy to hear the difference between a well "seasoned" guitar to a freshly built one. The comparison cannot be fair, but I am 100% sure that both the Boucher and the Furch will age very well. 3 great instruments, I woul'd go for the Boucher, just because it is made here in Québec! ;)
Just remember folks each one of these is a unique guitar that can sound almost as different from another just like it as it does compared to different builder's models. I like the Martin here... that's a sweet sounding HD, but all three are really nice sounding guitars. Good comparison. Thank you!
I have a friend (yes, I really do! ;) ), who has a REALLY good ear, and when he sat down and bought what he wanted... after much listening, testing, etc.... there were 4 or so of the SAME model that he tried. He insisted that all 4 sounded quite different! He decided after playing and listening for quite some time. The lesson for me from this was EACH guitar is unique... which makes sense! The wood may come from different trees. The bracing is "the same", but just a touch here and a touch there of the sandpaper may make a slight change which you can hear. So, it is complicated, and exacting. I just have to be thankful that I DON'T have that good an ear to really pick out those differences. I enjoyed listening to all three guitars. I'm NOT a Martin "fan", but I slightly perferred the sound of THAT Martin over THOSE other guitars. Not by much, though... they all sounded quite acceptable. My klutzy playing would make them all sound... un, equally ok, but certainly not "great". I learned my limitations decades ago. I just have fun playing! Always someone way better than I am. I've learned to be humble and appreciate whatever guitar I have, but would happily take any of those if it were offered to me.
For me, Boucher for strumming, Martin for flatpicking & Furch for fingerstyle. I’d say Boucher as the overall winner. But the real star is the guitarist- well played sir !
I agree about the guitar player. Best guitarist I've seen in any of these demos for bringing out the tone of each guitar, and with very clean picking! I think the Furch lacked the warm overtones of the other two, I was most impressed with the Martin overall but the Boucher was very close and may have taken the prize for fingerstyle.
The Boucher just blew the other two away for me... Though i may have liked the Martin overall more than the Furch.... Warmer... The Furch has a more balanced thing going though... And sounded more open..... I'd have to play them. But the Boucher just sounded like a class above the others...
Yep same here
You don’t have to make it equal just for the sake of it. 😂 Just name your winner.
@@ramspencer5492I the reason is because of how the torrefy their entire guitar not just the top wood. One of my clients just brought in me their guitars and it blew me away how resonant it sounded!
My God, the Boucher blew me away! I was not expecting that.
I have a Boucher OM on order. Can’t wait. Every one I have tried has beat the others and I think even better than Collings/Bourgeois at least to my ears
I had preconceived notions of which I was going to choose… but the Boucher blew my mind! Clear and loud! Wow! 🤯😱🤯
I’m 35 now and I bought a Taylor GS8 when I was 20. For the last 15 years I’ve played every brand of acoustic for one I liked more than my Taylor. I never found one until today when I played and then purchased a Furch Yellow D CR. It’s the nicest guitar I’ve ever played or heard by a large margin. I’m addicted to playing it and will have it my whole life. Thank you so much to this wonderful company. Thanks to all the men and women who work at Furch. Greatly appreciate it with all my heart 🙏❤️
Good for you I'm hoping to get the Furch red master series as my 60th birthday present next year, I'm only a basic player so it's very indulgent of me , just hope I grow old with it lol. They are such good value. Enjoy your new baby.
Three fantastic and distinctive guitars. I feel the Martin is most ‘friendly’ sounding of the three.
Furch is my absolute favourite, rich modern sound!!
Thanks for your comments! Roger
Same, absolute beauty of a guitar. The Martin sounds interresting too though for cords and stuff but the Boucher is interresting too for that, the Furch definitively sucks in that category. Will definitively try out a boucher for cords and fingering. For flatpicking, well the furch is just the best. Flat out.
Boucher my pick overall but both the Furch and Martin are stunning instruments. However when you think you could purchase the Furch for half the price of the others it really is some value for money.
Thanks for sharing your impressions. Cheers. Roger
I preferred the Martin, which was somewhat surprising to me. It had the best balance of bottom end and top end, and just sounded right to me.
the Martin sounds evenly full and rich highs and lows
Thank you very much for providing this comparison.
I find that the Martin's sound harkens to an older style guitar, on which individual strings are not equally distinguished from one another and the overall impression is a wee bit compressed or 'boxy' while the Boucher, to my ear, offers both greater distinction between strings and a more open sound than the HD-28. Bear in mind that each of these instruments is being captured by a microphone and heard --most often-- through the limited sound capability of a computer.
While I like the sound of all three instruments, I would also like to hear how they blend with the human voice; that's diagnostic for my use of the guitar. I have a 2020 D-28 Standard, play it regularly and prefer the sound --as presented here-- of the Boucher, and I will soon travel to audition the new Boucher torrified maple guitars of the SR series.
In my experience, Martin guitars can vary quite considerably from one instrument to another within the same model designation. If you audition a Martin, may I suggest that you play several of the same model before making a choice? Had I known that a couple of years ago, I would have saved myself quite a lot of time, inconvenience and some money, too. Cheers
The Martin is 10 years old, that’s why. The other two are brand new.
@@acousticsong-guitarco964 Agreed. It sounds way warmer than the other 2 and that's the reason. It will be interesting to see how the others age.
@@acousticsong-guitarco964 It's nothing to do with the age. The HD just projects the mids better. They're all like that.
Totally prefer the Boucher no second thought about it .
I own a Furch and it's the best guitar I've owned. I am drawn to the Boucher for strumming, still like the Furch for finger picking.
The Boucher kills it! The guitars they’ve made in the last ten years are fabulous! There is a distinct advantage to having the best Adirondack in the whole wide world! Also, they have mastered the torrefication process!
I’m Canadian, and an acoustic guitar builder and I think the Bouchers produced now, are among the very best boutique guitars in the world!
Peace
Agreed!
Boucher all the way !
Yeah they're nice. But it had an Adi top, so if you're looking for that sound it's clear the Adi had alot to do with it. Put a authentic Martin up here and you'd hear that Boucher on steroids
All 3 sounded amazing but that Boucher, my goodness, what on earth? Did a choir of angels build that? I'm just speechless.
The Martin is on a class of its own in the Strumming and Flatpicking sections with the Boucher coming 2nd. The Fingerstyle belongs to the Furch, its clarity and tone sets it above the others with the Boucher 2nd.
That Boucher....I frankly have never heard of them before but I want to hear it again! Really quite an outstanding guitar. Great video. Thanks.
And when you think that "boucher" in French means butcher!🤔😊
Right On
I enjoyed the demo and find that the 3 guitars all sound very similar. I own 2 vintage Martins and just sold a Boucher Goose. 2 days ago Luke sold me a Furch Vintage 1 rs-sr and so far I'm very happy with it's strong voice and excellent articulation. Just so you know where I'm coming from, I started playing guitar in 1964 at the age of 12 and have owned well over 100 guitars in my mostly professional, playing life. I would not hesitate to recommend Furch guitars to anyone.
Thanks for the recommendation. You can’t go wrong with any of these guitars. Except, the warranty and how it feels when you play it. Martin beats the Furch on the warranty for limited life time. The Furch has 3 years only. But I think the Furch feels better when you play it, more live, vibrating in your gut, maybe a little more volume and possibly just a bit easier to play. I have never played a Boucher. I don’t know what the warranty is on those and how they feel when you play it. The cost difference should be considered also. Since their tonal qualities are so close. You could throw customer service in case they come up with issues that need repairs. But, let me just go back to the most important thing that they all have, a wonderful tone. The number one thing for Martin guitars is tone, the number one thing for Furch is tone and it sounds like Boucher too. Will your ears tell you to fall in love for a very minimal tonal difference between one another?
@@josejcastaneda5826sadly Martin has long abandoned actually carrying out their life long warranty, so it really isn't different to the others in that regard.
The HD28 sounds like what an acoustic guitar should sound like to me. Then I heard the Boucher and the low end growl and ovetones blew my mind. Would be nice to own both
I have a hd-28 but the boucher seams to have more low end punch like my d-35. Don't think you can go wrong with either.
--------------------Martin Furch Boucher
Strumming: 0:47 1:17 1:48
Flatpicking: 2:21 2:38 2:57
Fingerstyle: 3:16 3:40 4:05
Thank you so much! I'll include this in the description.
The hero we needed. 👏
I'd say the Furch is definitely the best value! All sounded beautiful, and sounds like a great reason to test drive each one. In the end, it's all about which one speaks to you!!!
When you consider best value, it's hard to beat right? Thanks for the comment.
The Furch is my long-time companion, live or recording, first choice , never regret !
Never heard of Boucher before and I'm impressed! It sounds the deepest out of these 3, most resonating and bigger sound. Their "B" letter looks similar to Breedlove's, I don't know why they didn't avoid that. Anyway, I love Martin, was going to get HD-28E, but suddenly I'm interested in trying out Boucher SG52.
Thought the Boucher sounded beautifully warm, that would be my favourite, followed by the Furch.
Yes, the 2 were very close. The Martin was the best flatpicking, but the other two sounded really better overall.
You're right
I tried a Boucher about 15 years ago... when I was a beginner guitarist and when there was no chance in hell I could afford it... I remember being sooooo impressed, it was instant love... I'm wondering how I would feel about it if I could retry the same guitar. Was i just impressed by the price tag or was it really a gem! Back then I probably just strummed an Oasis song on it! Now this video really makes me want to go try a Boucher again!
same here...
Hello,
Essayer tout plein de guitares est une bonne idée. Ceci dit, il faut un certain temps pour apprécier certaines. Cela demande du temps, il faut que l'oreille se fasse. C'est comme le vin ou les cigares !
What i heard was really nice balance from the Martin, maybe the best singer/songwriter of the 3. Nice high end shimmer from the Furch that sounded great fingerstyle. But the power and overtones from that Boucher are something you get from a special guitar, and i cant ignore that. if i had to take one (oh, poor me) id have the Boucher.
Ok, what's your shipping address? LOL!
I was passively listening to the video and the Boucher perked my ears up. That warm, but powerful base is unbelievable.
James Banuelos Yeah, Boucher sounds amazing, powerfull and in some spots almost like a piano! It reminds me a bit of Lowden guitars.
Adi top on the Boucher. Grab a Martin GE or Authentic and you have that same if not more power.
The Boucher has definite sweet sound above the others I love Martin but you can’t ignore what you’re hearing
would have liked to see a Collings in the mix, they are amazing guitars too. All sounded amazing, how could you go wrong owning any of the three?
I've preferred Furch in other comparison videos I've seen, but in this one, I found the Martin to be best. It sounded a bit warmer to me. But they're all pretty close.
I've never really been a Martin fan, and while all 3 guitars sounded nice, I preferred the D-28 the best.
Strumming
0:47 Martin HD-28
1:17 Furch Vintage 2 D-SR
1:48 Boucher SG-52
.
Flat Picking
2:21 Martin HD-28
2:38 Furch Vintage 2 D-SR
2:56 Boucher SG-52
.
Fingerstyle
3:15 Martin HD-28
3:40 Furch Vintage 2 D-SR
4:05 Boucher SG-52
They all sound like all great guitars! I'd want the Boucher or Martin myself.
1. Martin seems to have deepest fullest bass tones.
2. Furch has more of a nice flatter mid-tone sound [didn't like that high note rattle @ 4:02 ].
3. Boucher seems to have the fullest tones on all frequencies, not just the bass side. It resonates even in mid and high tones which is pretty cool.
I agree; they're all great. Listen at 0:48 then at 1:48 the Boucher even beats the Martin on deeper fuller bass tones.
No doubt they are all cool guitars. Disclaimer, my own 'go to' guitar is a Furch Om; it is sweet for finger style and playing on the porch, mind you I don't have the talent or chops that Corey Heuvel has in his left pinkie toe. He could undoubtedly make an $80.00 Washburn Disney Hanah Montana model sound like an Ervin Somogyi custom masterpiece...
I was impressed that Furch for the most part held its own in the reviews, seeing the Martin has had ten years to open up, the Boucher features a different species top... I wonder (question) if their value's are actually equal to the $800.00 and $1,300.00 price differentials above the Czech model? Are their tones and responsiveness significantly superior to the Furch? Is name recognition playing a part in the ratings - and in the price tag? Before I made my choice, I'd have to hold them in my hands and see if there is one of them I couldn't leave the building without taking her with me.
I was absolutely blown away by the HD-28! The others sounded great but IMO there was a huge gap between the Martin and the other two. Strumming was the Martin easily, flatpicking Martin, fingerpicking was the closest out of the three but I still would go with the Martin for fingerpicking with the Furch in a very close second. Overall hands down the Martin. Just my opinion--they all sound wonderful!
That HD-28 sounded amazing. The Boucher was great - and possibly the Furch for fingerstyle.
I believe the Furch is the most versatile of the three. The mids and high are the most clearly articulated. They seem to kind of jump out, especially the strumming around the seventh fret. The boomy sound of the other two is a little overpowering, but some of that could be coming from the mic setup.
Absolutely. Mic placement, the unsung hero of acoustic guitar recording.
Had a guy in playing a Boucher today in my session and it really blew me away! Amazing powerful sound. A serious contender for my next guitar.
To me it seems that the Boucher has more bass, the Furch more highs and that the Martin is the most balanced
Agreed
Agree.
@@davidlove827 Agree!
Yeah bro u are right
No, Martin more high tones.
I tried so many guitars but Martin never clicked with me. In a small store I tried some Furch guitars, 2 of them didn't click but the 3rd was like when Harry Potter got his wand in HP1. Amazing. It's exceptional for fingerstyle, just like in the video and with harder strumming it still has amazing depth.
I've had the exact same experience. I just bought a Furch Red Deluxe Gc SR.
I preferred the Boucher overall. It did fall down a little to the Furch in the fingerpicking, but was definitely better for strumming & flatpicking.
Nice battle, I do own a Boucher and it is outstanding. Thank you.
No fair! Anything Corey plays sounds amazing!
Yes, that dude is amazing… I could only dream of playing that cleanly.
I have two Martins which I love, just tried a Boucher at the music store and was really
impressed. Feel like going back to buy it now I know more about it.
Loved the demo! Great playing and wonderful sounding guitars! For a time I owned a Boucher Spruce Goose. It was a nice guitar. Beautiful to look at and had a unique tone. The neck was a little too chunky for me. Same with my Martin D18v. I loved the sound of the D-18v, but the neck profile wasn't great IMO. I do love my Simon and Patrick Showcase Rosewood, however. It sounds fantastic (I sold my Martin the week after I got this S&P) and was always reliable for performing live. I would be interested in another Boucher if they slimmed their neck down.
Putting sound differences aside for a second... it seems the player (excellent BTW) has an easier time working through the fast lead sections on the Martin than with the Furch or Boucher that seem a little stiffer. Lower action maybe? He's really digging at 2:20
Hey that's Corey Heuvel - check out his RUclips channel!
Martin has an extra something to the sound you don't usually find in other guitars. The Furch would likely sound the best in a recording room since the sound is so clean. Never heard of Boucher but will now check them out since it was impressive.
I'm no pro but Boucher all the way for me. Had a lot going on sound wise. Almost like there was a second guitar in the mix at times.
Me too
Ok. You sold me on the Boucher. I never heard of this brand before this video. I have acoustic and electric guitars from Martin, Yamaha, Cort, Larrivee, Godin, Fender, Kramer, Charvel, Gibson, Washburn, Cole Clark, Supro, and Ibanez...I am not saying this to boast, but just to say that the Boucher sounds like nothing else I have ever heard before. It’s amazingly beautiful. Maybe I love it so much because I do not have anything with Adirondack spruce! lol...you’re inspiring more GAS!! Cool video, great guitars, and wonderful playing! 🐰❤️🎸🎶✌️
Thanks for sharing your comment. All three are great guitars. The Boucher is a force to contend with. Many aspects are simply subjective at this level. Cheers.
I liked the Martin and Boucher. I really liked the Boucher for finger-style, with the beautiful bell ringing highs. Perhaps it's the Adirondack shining through. Do they all have the same make/age strings?
If I was honest they were all exceptional in my opinion. There were variants between them all. I love listening to good guitars and I could usual notice significant differences. But it was hard to determine in your video which was more outstanding from the others. I've known the reputation and quality of Martin guitars but had never heard of the other 2 makes before today. They're all excellent guitars in sound, depth, quality and finishing quality.
I'm biased. I have three Furchs and absolutely adore them all. Having said that, you couldn't go wrong with any of these guitars. They are all remarkable. I just found home a long time ago and am very in love with my Furchs.
All 3 spectacular instruments really, each with it's own vibe...
I actually purchased a HD28 (not the anniversary model)
and after a couple of weeks a D-41 showed up at the local guitar shop
where I got the HD28 and I swapped for the D-41.
I'd have my D-41 up against the Boucher, no mic/amp needed btw on the Boucher... lol
Each have their own beauty and character , All winners really and the Furch was
quite impressive ... If push came to shove I'd probably go for the Boucher, coming from
a Martin fan.
Cheers...
I own a few Martins and that Boucher sounds like heaven. I plan on getting one even if I have to give up a Martin.
I have to say that I have become a huge fan of the Boucher Guitars. I'm going to own one personally very soon too!
I own a Boucher Goose, those guitars sound great, so alive, buy one if you can
The sound of Boucher strummed at 1:51 was extraordinary
Sounded like yamaha f310 (a plywood guitar) lool
As a lefty, its hard to get anything without waiting a year. Found an Hd28 Ambertone at Adirondack guitar in NY state. The guitar is amazing and addictive to play.
Hi Luke! Greetings from Sacramento. Still living my Furch. But in comparison in this video I was surprised that in the strumming, it didn't have nearly as much volume as the other two. Loved them all. I may get a Martin OM at some point.
3 beautiful guitars. Martin sound best overall to my ears, of course. Most defined lows,mids and highs.
Three instruments from the top shelf, for sure. It mostly comes down to this: which is to YOUR taste? Which floats your boat? Which FEELS the most natural under your hands?
I recently bought a Furch Red Pure - blows me away how it plays and sounds. Second to none.
Thanks for the video. I agree the Boucher sounded the best with Martin second. I wonder if the Furch did not have quite as new strings as lacked some percussiveness. Maybe the new Furches are not as good as the older series. What with Furch senior taking a back seat.
Well you can't compare the Furch with its laminated back and side to a Martin or Boucher.
@@johnnycmajor umm, only a few of the Furch models have laminate back and sides. This particular furch is all solid. Probably 80% of the furch lineup is all solid
To my ear in the fingerstyle the Boucher was so much in a class of its own that I went back to the Martin and Furch to confirm they were actually playing the same piece....
Yep. I aslo did that. Seems like he plays some other melody
I am guitar player born in Czech republic, but I am living in Waterloo, Ontario...:-)
1. MARTIN
2.BOUCHER
3. FURCH
Yep
Can u do a same comparison with OM models for same 3 brands
this guy plays very nice, i keep coming back to listen him playing, relatively simple but pretty melody!
Main Profile he has a RUclips channel, Corey heuvel. He is extremely talented.
Im a Furch guy, but Boucher sounds awesome. And the Martins are always good..never played a bad one. Gonna check into Boucher!
I'm looking for guitar I can play some fingerpicking blues and folk but I also play some punk songs with a lot of strumming? Any advice?
Sure. We would love to assist you. Just get in touch with us at sales@brickhouseguitars.com and we will go from there. Cheers. Roger
IMHO the Furch is the most balanced of this trio. You get a lot for your money with a Furch. I also love the warm Bass sound of the Boucher.
Very beautiful "Boom" sound from the Boucher. I hope I have a chance to try it one day (living overseas), though for flatpicking and strumming Furch seems more for my taste - brighter. Between these two I think my choice would depend on a song. Martin sounds okay, but that's all it seems to be :)) Would be keen to hear all on the same wood though!
Plectrum styles: Martin all day long. What surprised me was how I also preferred the Martin for fingerstyle. Didn't see that coming at all. Can't say it's superior, just works better for my ears. Playing the guitars yourself could of course lead to different results, but I've learned something about Martins here at least.
Enjoyed the Martin the most, but that Boucher certainly draws you in!
revisiting 3 years later. Still same opinion. Man, Martin just slayed this comparo. such distinct mids. Almost OM type mids.They've really got that prewar bracing brought into the modern era. I wanted to prefer the Boucher but this particular example is quite midbass heavy.
Great playing, all three sounded pleasant to my ears! Want them all!
Old post, so I realize I may not get a reply, but -- are the strings identical on all models in the video? The Martin sounds much brighter on my PC speakers.
I'd take that Boucher for sure! The bass and presence of that sound is amazing.
An open-ended question: how old was each instrument when this video was made? Thanks, David
Please do another with OMs.
Great comparison,very well done, thanks guys !
The 3 of them were lovely and you'd be happy owning any of them. I just felt the Martin sounded more open. It was like it had been played for 10 or 15 years, whereas the other 2 were just out of the factory.
I agree with you. That Martin looks like a standard HD28 (pre-reimagined) series. The top looks like its aged as well and looks like it's probably it's at least ten years old.
All things guitar, the Martin had been played. It was pre -owned
The Martin probably has been played already for over 10 years, makes quite a difference.... possibly not the fairest comparison :-)
Three excellent guitars, but Furch is my personal choice - especially for fingerstyle.
Great video with three great guitars. I feel like the Boucher cheated a bit with it's Adirondack though :)
Strumming around a campfire:
1. Boucher 2. Martin 3. Furch
Fingerstyle solo playing: 1. Furch 2. Boucher 3. Martin.
Bang for your Buck: 1. Furch 2. Boucher 3. Martin
For me the Martin was best for strumming and flat picking, which means it’d be the best for me. There was some surprising power from the Boucher and I bet it could be magical in the right setting.
What a comparison. They are all 3 really good with very minor differences between them. The Martin takes it on the Lows with its dark tone. The Furch takes it on the highs with its clarity and I guess the mids are left for the Canadian Boucher guitar that sound really good too.
I have been looking at guitars, and I wanted Boucher to come out on top in the fingerpicking style, but the Martin had a warmer tone to me.
Fitch is definitely my favorite but all are so close!
Boucher sounds the best to me
Oh I forgot to mention the guitarist. He too was very good. I liked the way he played the same music on each guitar. Which probably made the decision more difficult to choose which was better than the other, well done.
how come I've never heard of Boucher- omg what a great sound!!!!
vey good video! thanks, but you cannot do a comparison between sitka spruce and adirondack.. also with a different grade class,
Very true! The issue is Boucher only makes Adi tops, and we didn't have a Martin or Furch with an adi top at the time. I admit you have a great point! Exactly the same tonewoods would be key.
Brickhouse Guitars sure, video and staff are perfect. But you understood that 👍 what was my point. Keep up good work done! Greetings
I'll trade a high end guitar for that ability any time. But ... for strumming I'd take the Martin or the Furch (being more pronounced) as the Boucher sounds very heavy, but for fingerpicking I'd take the Boucher (for the same reason). I don't like flatpicking :)
IMOP The martin has the warmer tone. A very nice and balanced comparrison.
I liked the Martin the best though when I hear a good 28 I always harken back to the 1969 D-28 I had right after I got my first real job out of college. It was one of the last Brazilians. I can still hear it in my head.
These are great guitars, well built. Thanks for the demo.
My God , Boucher is such à canon !! The strumming part was just unreal , it blew my mind !!!
This is how comparisons should be done.
The Martin and the Boucher, sound almost identical. The first seem to have a little less Bass and a little more of a crisp and high range. All of them sounded beautiful. Nice picking!
enjoyed the Bouchet for its bass, the Martin for its midrange, and the Furch was just not that involving .. though its clean articulation and relative lack of overtones would do well in the recording studio. I'm listening through Sennheiser HD660s.
The Martin had a beautiful "shimmer" on the stimming segment, and got my vote for strumming. The Furch was a great and I preferred it to the Martin for flatpicking and fingerstyle, as the Martin seem to "overload" in flatpicking and didn't seem to have the great balance of the Furch. The Boucher is my winner in both flatpicking and fingerstyle. It just seemed to speak with such sweet clarity and balance, that it surpasssed the other two guitars, in my opinion. So, Boucher, Furch, Martin. They are all great. I am primarily a fingerstyle player, and my opinions are quite likely biased toward a guitar that excels in that area.
Really showed the diffet er nce, they each have a very distinctive voice. Boucher on strumming, the Martin on flatpicking, possibly the Furch on fingerstyle. None of them ever sounded bad, but the Boucher has more bass, the Furch is the sweetest tone, and the Martin has decent clarity, with that Martin sound. Any of these would be welcome in my home.
I'm really amazed at the comments here. After I posted my comment I decided to read some and I'm shocked at how many different opinions there are on this subject. I know that everything is subjective and people have different tastes but I also think that it has something to do with the sound quality of the device they are using to watch the video, because clearly people aren't hearing what I'm hearing based upon these comments I just read
It's true. So many factors at play. All three are great guitars! Cheers. Roger
I think it is not “fair” to compare a new guitar (Furch and Boucher) to a 10 year old guitar (Martin) especially with sitka spruce top, which is rather hard and needs time to settle and warm up. I own among others a Lakewood 32 CE ( not sure about the letters) which has a European spruce top and it took some time before the tone changed from bright and resounding to rich and warm.
In this comparison the Furch didn’t come out great.
Precisely. I love Martins but this is not fair test
You are absolutely right, it is easy to hear the difference between a well "seasoned" guitar to a freshly built one. The comparison cannot be fair, but I am 100% sure that both the Boucher and the Furch will age very well. 3 great instruments, I woul'd go for the Boucher, just because it is made here in Québec! ;)
FACTS 💯
When strummed, that Martin is wild!
Just remember folks each one of these is a unique guitar that can sound almost as different from another just like it as it does compared to different builder's models. I like the Martin here... that's a sweet sounding HD, but all three are really nice sounding guitars. Good comparison. Thank you!
I have a friend (yes, I really do! ;) ), who has a REALLY good ear, and when he sat down and bought what he wanted... after much listening, testing, etc.... there were 4 or so of the SAME model that he tried. He insisted that all 4 sounded quite different! He decided after playing and listening for quite some time. The lesson for me from this was EACH guitar is unique... which makes sense! The wood may come from different trees. The bracing is "the same", but just a touch here and a touch there of the sandpaper may make a slight change which you can hear. So, it is complicated, and exacting. I just have to be thankful that I DON'T have that good an ear to really pick out those differences. I enjoyed listening to all three guitars. I'm NOT a Martin "fan", but I slightly perferred the sound of THAT Martin over THOSE other guitars. Not by much, though... they all sounded quite acceptable. My klutzy playing would make them all sound... un, equally ok, but certainly not "great". I learned my limitations decades ago. I just have fun playing! Always someone way better than I am. I've learned to be humble and appreciate whatever guitar I have, but would happily take any of those if it were offered to me.
Furch... for its power. But the Boucher is quite amazing with a really warm and elegant sound.
Martin is best overall sound to me. Beautiful chime and unique sound as well as base response.
Furch is the best one in finger style