The Collings sound bright, punchy, and crispy. Maybe it will age with time. But the Martin sounds like aged fine wine with the dark, broken in, deep tone
They both sound phenomenal. It’s hard to dispute Collings being the more clear/loud and beautiful sounding guitar. I think the Martin is just so ingrained in my head as what an acoustic is supposed to sound like. Which is why I have a Martin.
i own both. Collings OM42 and a Martin OM custom shop. They are both amazing. I play the Collings way more often. For me, I like the Martin for cowboy chord country stuff and rhythm. The Collings excels at fingerstyle, lead, recording, and soloist work. I really love both.
It’s amazing how much clearer and more open the Collings sounds. Seems to have more volume as well. It makes the Martin sound like it’s being played inside a metal bin.
This is unfair. How can you compare these two perfect guitars? There are so many good guitar builders in the market today. A very good comparison. A man would be fortunate enough to own either. Just beautiful.
I have had both and now have a Martin HD35. I think the Collings to my ear have always sounded more sterile without the warm vintage overtones like the Martin. I have 2 Collings electrics. An I30LC and and I35LC and they are killer.
You can really hear the impact of the Rosewood sides and back on the Martin. It punches out the bass. In the end they are both superbly crafted instruments and pieces of art, but I swing towards Martin & Co.
I was about to buy a Collins before deciding on martin hd28e. Perhaps I'm just accustomed to that martin sound but the Collins sounds much brighter (brasher) whereas the martin sounds more mellow/balanced(mature). Fingerstyle on a martin is heavenly. It's hard to put down my martin sometimes...
i have since moved on and settled on an OM28e. The HD28 was just too boomy and sides a bit too deep for me although the lows and mids were so beautiful and resonant. @@G_Demolished The OM28e is my forever guitar, rip...
Go find a Collings and play it! Or, on second thought, DON’T…unless you are planning to buy and have the $$$$$!!! I met Bill at the race track and then toured his first big factory (I think it was the one just before they moved to the one they are in now) and I had NO PLANS to buy a guitar…. LOL! Rolled out with a SWEET sounding OM1! Then I toured the factory they are in now and bought an SJ! LOL!
I have both in dreadnought models and to me. As for the video, to me, the Collings just has much better note separation and volume. I've always thought Collings is a "take no prisoners" guitar and they will be heard. Collings are loud and cut through in a bluegrass jam. The Martin has the more traditional tone (especially for bluegrass) and it has the edge if you want a warmer dryer tone and extra ++ bass. Both are great guitars. But if I had to choose, I'd go with the ........... no ................. maybe ............. OK, the Collings. BTW, I enjoyed your playing.
I played an OM-28 Modern Deluxe which was the most impressive OM I heard so far. It's never thinny, it's so dynamic and it can get SO loud I couldn't believe it. The 2 downsides to it for me were the weird neck and that sometimes the bass overpowered the melody strings. Now, I never played a collings, but I do have a Boucher SG-51 sitting behind me and though it's not as loud it's definitly more balanced with a richer tone and a more expressive guitar. Both would serve different purposes in my arsenal but the martin would take the backseat due to the neck alone.
A beautiful soul making beautiful music on two incredible guitars. Your talent is under rated. I think you should do brief covers of classic songs on the guitars they were recorded on and then played on a guitar that you think is equally special for that tune.
I thought I’d vote for the Martin as my ears have become sensitive to trebly tones but the Collings is so much clearer that I’d have to go with it. The Martin might benefit from having the same bridge pins as the Collings, Ebony, or FWI or bone might sparkle it up a bit to go with its looks.
They sound equally good to me for strumming, but I’d choose the Collings for fingerpicking for the slightly better clarity, which is what I did when I was comparing Martins with Collings’ (I didn’t have an OM42 available to demo). Back in 2018 when I was comparing Collings OM2Hs with Martin OM28s, the Collings had more sparkle in the overtones. And of course, these guitars mellow with age.
You can make a load of guitars out of the same batch of wood and they will always have the slightest differences . And of course it depends how you play it too 😊😊😊😊
Martin all day.... warm adn love the separate distinct note feel. Collins all the strings blend together too quickly, compactly. Perhaps depends on your goal : band backup, solo, singer songwriter, etc.
Many more people own Martin's and they are bias to their own guitar. They are both great but look at the tops you know the Collings is not even close to being broken in yet while the Marin has aged. Collings are built better and has the best finish in the business. They also sound great but you can buy a nice used truck for the price of one.
For this video, Colling is the winner, very clear and sweet like heaven. But question is I also have a Martin OM42 myself and the one in ur video should have been brighter based on what I hear from mine. Could it be the strings?
Great review Jarvis! Love your playing and reviews. How often does one get to compare such high end guitars? Either one is a keeper? However in this case I give a slight edge to the Collings simply because the intonation on the more modern Collings seems more precise. However if given a choice short of the ultra expensive dream guitars I would prefer a master grade torrified Boucher triple 0 or OM. I think they make a better Martin for less money?
Collings in any case (beside of tone) ... if you need neck reset its much easier. Bolt-on neck will take you 45 minutes to do perfect neck reset . Luthier will ask you 100 bucks and for Martin (if you are lucky) 1,000 and huge risk that something goes wrong.
Although a lot of people say collings is better I prefer the Martin after listening to you play , the collings to me sounds harsher whereas the Martin seems more gentle with feeling , more natural;. So definitely the Martin for me.
Collings have that clarity on the highs the trebles and the bass are more contained - martin have that bold Rich bassy tone and the trebles are more matured or played in
06/24/2022: What is the difference in the quality and tone between the Guild D-150ce Guitar Westerly Collection Acoustic-Electric Guitar, and the same guitar made in China?
Collings are on another level to Martin, if thats even possible. But hats off to Martin, they invented the steel string guitar, and the body shape the Collings is emulating and without them Collings would not exist
Excellent Comparison! May I ask what are the songs and are the guitars in Standard or D Modal tuning? They both sound perfect (but different…) to my ear. I’d be unable to choose one and would love to own both of them! The Martin sounds a bit more ‘True’, ‘Serious’ or ‘Professional’, like James Taylor to my ear, while Collings sounds ‘Brighter’ and more emotionally positive, ‘Happy’, or modern. Cheers from 9 January on ‘24.
It’s as if the Martin was using cedar. Seems to be warmer but lower top end. Could be strings or too age difference. Not sure what would make such a big difference in tone in this case.
Collins very bright, which I like (bright); but once the capo came on, Martin just sounded sooo good. Collins sounded good to, very clear, very bright, but the Martin just did something, for me..
Odd gear comment here. They both sound different. They both sound absolutely amazing. I'm about to jump on the Collings. I'm just getting into capos (I know. I held off for no good reason) and I don't recognize the model but I like the lack of protruding grips. Any ideas on the model? Totally appreciated
Give me the Collings and not just because I knew Bill either!! I usually like a more mid heavy guitar but the Martin seems to be missing some high end.
Seems like the Martin sound is deeper and more reflective. The Collings is brighter and projects more, especially on trebles and mid. They both sound great. I have a Martin but wouldn't mind a Collings, or both if I could afford that. For songwriting, I would use the Martin for more reflective songs, and the Collings for brighter songs. Same with performing.
as a confirmed drummer/treble freak i definitely go w Martin.Collings is a one trick pony (relying on treble)to me and in no way is able to justify the price considering they are copies of Martins.greed plays in to that one. I have played every acoustic guitar around and it’s just whatever one likes in the moment whether on stage etc.The Martin is the more versatile and mature of the two.🎼
I bought a new Martin for a few thousand dollars couple of years ago. The tortoise binding fell off. Martin did a shabby repair. Purchase the Collings, otherwise, good luck.
The Collings sounds similar to a Taylor but not as much high end sparkle the trebles. I prefer the Collings. But then again Jarvis you can make almost any guitar sound good.
I have to disagree here..... I own two Martins, and tried out a few Collings and compared them with the Martins and a few different Taylors. Collings sound nothing like Taylors, as well as sounding nothing like Martins. Taylors I find are easier to play than Martins and so are Collings guitars which are very well set up from the factory. The Taylors are generally quieter and have a more twangy, less low mid heavy sound than most Martins and less bass. The Collings is somewhere between Taylors and Martins, but different. Collings have an extremely well balanced sounds across all the strings, amazingly so!, and guitars I use for fingerpicking are easier to play when they have a very balanced sound. The Collings have a lovely resonant and clear sound when fingerpicked, without the accentuated highs of the Taylors. I love my Martins for flat picking or strumming, you can't beat that power of that more bass heavy sound for strumming. But for fingerpicking the Collings beats the Martins for clarity and beats the Taylors for balance. One Collings I played had an Engleman spruce top which gave it noticeably more richness in the mids than a Sitka spruce top, so it was great for both strumming and fingerpicking. I'm happy to sell both my Martins and get that Engleman spruce Collings if I can find one still (and selling both Martins would just manage to pay for a Collings). As for Taylors, they are beautiful guitars which record very well, but I've never been blown away by their sound, not to say that some of the high end Taylors don't sound amazing, but still I'm more impressed by the Collings. That's my personal preference.
Yep. You could tell he autonomously was smiling from the core of being with the Martin. Hey hey, all about the instrument you resonate with. Both beautiful guitars. I’d say the more mature percentage of guitarists might go for the Martin. Be happy you have an instrument to play. In closing, my preference is to drum on. 😎🎵
I have both of them. I could say that are different guitars. Martin is more "clear", but Collings is more "strong" in their sound. So,i think it's difficult to choose one of the other. I feel lucky that i could have both of them!! Excellent video. Thanks a lot.
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The Collings sound bright, punchy, and crispy. Maybe it will age with time. But the Martin sounds like aged fine wine with the dark, broken in, deep tone
They both sound phenomenal. It’s hard to dispute Collings being the more clear/loud and beautiful sounding guitar. I think the Martin is just so ingrained in my head as what an acoustic is supposed to sound like. Which is why I have a Martin.
to sound warm? :)
Beautiful guitars, but the Collings... It sounds so heavenly
i own both. Collings OM42 and a Martin OM custom shop. They are both amazing. I play the Collings way more often. For me, I like the Martin for cowboy chord country stuff and rhythm. The Collings excels at fingerstyle, lead, recording, and soloist work. I really love both.
Agreed….Collings !
You would know?
They both have their place. The Martin in the back blending away, the Collings up front voicing away.
Both sounded great. I preferred the Martin. Thank you for doing such a great video!
It’s amazing how much clearer and more open the Collings sounds. Seems to have more volume as well. It makes the Martin sound like it’s being played inside a metal bin.
Both great in their own right. It would be interesting to hear them from the other side of the room. I bet the Collings sounds better in ten years.
Pretty sure I followed the channel close to a decade ago. Jarvis does not age.
My wife takes good care of me
2021 vs 1996 Jarvis 914c
Always Martin🙏 I Keep trying and buying other brands, but I end up selling them because I only play my Martin custom
Buy what you will play the most that’s what I would suggest and what you like
Wow. Great to see you still doing your thing.
Nice comparison and playing! Thanks!
Great sounds and Beautiful play!
This is unfair. How can you compare these two perfect guitars? There are so many good guitar builders in the market today. A very good comparison. A man would be fortunate enough to own either. Just beautiful.
I have had both and now have a Martin HD35. I think the Collings to my ear have always sounded more sterile without the warm vintage overtones like the Martin. I have 2 Collings electrics. An I30LC and and I35LC and they are killer.
You can really hear the impact of the Rosewood sides and back on the Martin. It punches out the bass. In the end they are both superbly crafted instruments and pieces of art, but I swing towards Martin & Co.
I was about to buy a Collins before deciding on martin hd28e. Perhaps I'm just accustomed to that martin sound but the Collins sounds much brighter (brasher) whereas the martin sounds more mellow/balanced(mature). Fingerstyle on a martin is heavenly. It's hard to put down my martin sometimes...
But did he use the same type of strings? Because if not it´s hard to say that "Collings is brighter" might just be the strings
I agree. I always hear the Collings as though someone tried to build a Martin in the Taylor factory. 🤷♂️
i have since moved on and settled on an OM28e. The HD28 was just too boomy and sides a bit too deep for me although the lows and mids were so beautiful and resonant. @@G_Demolished The OM28e is my forever guitar, rip...
I enjoyed the brighter tone of the Collins. I have played Matins all of my life and have never has the pleasure of playing a Collins.
Go find a Collings and play it! Or, on second thought, DON’T…unless you are planning to buy and have the $$$$$!!! I met Bill at the race track and then toured his first big factory (I think it was the one just before they moved to the one they are in now) and I had NO PLANS to buy a guitar…. LOL! Rolled out with a SWEET sounding OM1! Then I toured the factory they are in now and bought an SJ! LOL!
Both guitars are great! Martin for me. Thanks
I prefer Martin, but they both sound great. The Martin has a warmer sound to me . The Collings is brighter a you stated in the beginning.
Difficult to put that Martin in second place. So I can't I tried but can't do it.
Collings has some amazing instruments though.
I have both in dreadnought models and to me. As for the video, to me, the Collings just has much better note separation and volume. I've always thought Collings is a "take no prisoners" guitar and they will be heard. Collings are loud and cut through in a bluegrass jam. The Martin has the more traditional tone (especially for bluegrass) and it has the edge if you want a warmer dryer tone and extra ++ bass. Both are great guitars. But if I had to choose, I'd go with the ........... no ................. maybe ............. OK, the Collings. BTW, I enjoyed your playing.
Collings for me.
love your chord progressions
ooh I'm early, those guitars sounds awesome!
Enjoy !!! Let me know which one you like better COLLINGS or Martin
Love these two brands very much ! But still prefer Martin sound more deeper . Between Martin 0-28vs and Collings 02h, I prefer Collings !
The second example was so much richer on the Martin...surprisingly so.
I own two Martins but I have to say I prefer the clarity of the Colins.
Well
I played an OM-28 Modern Deluxe which was the most impressive OM I heard so far. It's never thinny, it's so dynamic and it can get SO loud I couldn't believe it. The 2 downsides to it for me were the weird neck and that sometimes the bass overpowered the melody strings. Now, I never played a collings, but I do have a Boucher SG-51 sitting behind me and though it's not as loud it's definitly more balanced with a richer tone and a more expressive guitar. Both would serve different purposes in my arsenal but the martin would take the backseat due to the neck alone.
Theyre both amazing and different.
A beautiful soul making beautiful music on two incredible guitars. Your talent is under rated. I think you should do brief covers of classic songs on the guitars they were recorded on and then played on a guitar that you think is equally special for that tune.
I’m just love doing reviews and not covers but thanks for your suggestions
I thought I’d vote for the Martin as my ears have become sensitive to trebly tones but the Collings is so much clearer that I’d have to go with it. The Martin might benefit from having the same bridge pins as the Collings, Ebony, or FWI or bone might sparkle it up a bit to go with its looks.
They sound equally good to me for strumming, but I’d choose the Collings for fingerpicking for the slightly better clarity, which is what I did when I was comparing Martins with Collings’ (I didn’t have an OM42 available to demo). Back in 2018 when I was comparing Collings OM2Hs with Martin OM28s, the Collings had more sparkle in the overtones. And of course, these guitars mellow with age.
You can make a load of guitars out of the same batch of wood and they will always have the slightest differences . And of course it depends how you play it too 😊😊😊😊
It you want to impress your peer, then go for the brand Martin.
But if you just want to enjoy playing your lovely song, then go for the Collings!
Martin all day.... warm adn love the separate distinct note feel. Collins all the strings blend together too quickly, compactly. Perhaps depends on your goal : band backup, solo, singer songwriter, etc.
I’m bluegrass so Martin all day for me, but props to Collings sound. Just too tingy & sustained for Bluegrass
Thank you sir!
Welcome
I'd prefer it to see the models on the title to know if I'm interested to watch the review. Cheers
Many more people own Martin's and they are bias to their own guitar. They are both great but look at the tops you know the Collings is not even close to being broken in yet while the Marin has aged. Collings are built better and has the best finish in the business. They also sound great but you can buy a nice used truck for the price of one.
Collings !
For this video, Colling is the winner, very clear and sweet like heaven. But question is I also have a Martin OM42 myself and the one in ur video should have been brighter based on what I hear from mine. Could it be the strings?
better clarity with the Collings. Martin definitely has more lows, but can sound muddy at times.
Collings out "Martin-ing" the Martin
Martin!
Great review Jarvis! Love your playing and reviews. How often does one get to compare such high end guitars? Either one is a keeper? However in this case I give a slight edge to the Collings simply because the intonation on the more modern Collings seems more precise. However if given a choice short of the ultra expensive dream guitars I would prefer a master grade torrified Boucher triple 0 or OM. I think they make a better Martin for less money?
Boucher rock!
i'll take the collings ... some like the softer bassier sound of a martin but to me the word is 'muddy'.
Collings in any case (beside of tone) ... if you need neck reset its much easier. Bolt-on neck will take you 45 minutes to do perfect neck reset . Luthier will ask you 100 bucks and for Martin (if you are lucky) 1,000 and huge risk that something goes wrong.
Is the age of the guitars similar? The Collings sounds more mature and opened up.
Thanks to the owners of these guitars for having Jarvis review them for us. :-) I'd like to own both ! !
Although a lot of people say collings is better I prefer the Martin after listening to you play , the collings to me sounds harsher whereas the Martin seems more gentle with feeling , more natural;. So definitely the Martin for me.
Collings have that clarity on the highs the trebles and the bass are more contained - martin have that bold Rich bassy tone and the trebles are more matured or played in
well said.all the treble wears a crowd out as well. kind of gimicky and no justification for the price. Martin all the way.
I like the Martin especially if you are a soloist acoustic player you need more Bass woody sound I’m hearing that on martin
Collings sounds better in this comparison to me. I love Martins, but Collings for me on this one. nice playing
It's not a question of which is better, it's which you prefer, I prefer Martin.
06/24/2022: What is the difference in the quality and tone between the Guild D-150ce Guitar Westerly Collection Acoustic-Electric Guitar, and the same guitar made in China?
Can you do a review on the Larrivee D40R Legacy?
Both very nice ! Thanks Jarvis . :-)
Collings are on another level to Martin, if thats even possible. But hats off to Martin, they invented the steel string guitar, and the body shape the Collings is emulating and without them Collings would not exist
it does sound much more alive than the martin
Excellent Comparison! May I ask what are the songs and are the guitars in Standard or D Modal tuning? They both sound perfect (but different…) to my ear. I’d be unable to choose one and would love to own both of them! The Martin sounds a bit more ‘True’, ‘Serious’ or ‘Professional’, like James Taylor to my ear, while Collings sounds ‘Brighter’ and more emotionally positive, ‘Happy’, or modern. Cheers from 9 January on ‘24.
standard tunings
It’s as if the Martin was using cedar. Seems to be warmer but lower top end. Could be strings or too age difference. Not sure what would make such a big difference in tone in this case.
Honestly the both sound killer, just depends on your taste
Martin of course.
That Collings is so damn impressive. Can I ask which one is cheaper Martin or Collings?
Martin is cheaper
Please compare yamaha ls36
Attraxtive chords and play. I am satified with OM28 but in this case Collings might be easier to play in my style.
Collins very bright, which I like (bright); but once the capo came on, Martin just sounded sooo good.
Collins sounded good to, very clear, very bright, but the Martin just did something, for me..
Odd gear comment here. They both sound different. They both sound absolutely amazing. I'm about to jump on the Collings. I'm just getting into capos (I know. I held off for no good reason) and I don't recognize the model but I like the lack of protruding grips. Any ideas on the model? Totally appreciated
It looks like a G9 capo 😎
@@BobK5 thanks so much
Collings. Hands down.
both
I think the action on martin was a bit low.. I could hear the 6th string buzz a little
I can't help but notice that the strings on Martin sounds a little muffled. Maybe it's because it's harder to play?
Martin kills it.
Martin, totally
As a Nazarene growing up I’ll always love Martins.
I don’t know the Collings but it sounds great. Al
Give me the Collings and not just because I knew Bill either!! I usually like a more mid heavy guitar but the Martin seems to be missing some high end.
Seems like the Martin sound is deeper and more reflective. The Collings is brighter and projects more, especially on trebles and mid. They both sound great. I have a Martin but wouldn't mind a Collings, or both if I could afford that. For songwriting, I would use the Martin for more reflective songs, and the Collings for brighter songs. Same with performing.
I agree.
The collings is clear the Martin has the Martin rumble.
I prefer Collings, a bit more balanced tone for both strumming and fingering.
I like the Martin sound better this time 👍🏻🎸☮️
Thanks for your response
The Collins has the Taylor mid & treble sound, the Martin is more balanced, I’m 73, Alvarez yairy from the 70’s rules.
as a confirmed drummer/treble freak i definitely go w Martin.Collings is a one trick pony (relying on treble)to me and in no way is able to justify the price considering they are copies of Martins.greed plays in to that one. I have played every acoustic guitar around and it’s just whatever one likes in the moment whether on stage etc.The Martin is the more versatile and mature of the two.🎼
Collings!!!❤
reading a lot of comments favoring the collings but I don't hear it. martin sounds noticeably better to me.
You never play your strings like square ,makes it twacky so you twist your pick 25 degrees so it plays the string rather than hearing the pick 😊😊😊
I bought a new Martin for a few thousand dollars couple of years ago. The tortoise binding fell off. Martin did a shabby repair. Purchase the Collings, otherwise, good luck.
I’m a Martin guy, but that Collings really jumped out at me.
Callings for me
Mass produced Martin or hand crafted Collings 🤔 hard choice.....not 😅
The Collings sounds similar to a Taylor but not as much high end sparkle the trebles. I prefer the Collings. But then again Jarvis you can make almost any guitar sound good.
I agree and that's why I prefer Martin.
I have to disagree here..... I own two Martins, and tried out a few Collings and compared them with the Martins and a few different Taylors. Collings sound nothing like Taylors, as well as sounding nothing like Martins. Taylors I find are easier to play than Martins and so are Collings guitars which are very well set up from the factory. The Taylors are generally quieter and have a more twangy, less low mid heavy sound than most Martins and less bass. The Collings is somewhere between Taylors and Martins, but different. Collings have an extremely well balanced sounds across all the strings, amazingly so!, and guitars I use for fingerpicking are easier to play when they have a very balanced sound. The Collings have a lovely resonant and clear sound when fingerpicked, without the accentuated highs of the Taylors. I love my Martins for flat picking or strumming, you can't beat that power of that more bass heavy sound for strumming. But for fingerpicking the Collings beats the Martins for clarity and beats the Taylors for balance. One Collings I played had an Engleman spruce top which gave it noticeably more richness in the mids than a Sitka spruce top, so it was great for both strumming and fingerpicking. I'm happy to sell both my Martins and get that Engleman spruce Collings if I can find one still (and selling both Martins would just manage to pay for a Collings). As for Taylors, they are beautiful guitars which record very well, but I've never been blown away by their sound, not to say that some of the high end Taylors don't sound amazing, but still I'm more impressed by the Collings. That's my personal preference.
For me the Martin still best all round guitar in the world.
The Martin was - for want of a better word perhaps - subdued I think. The Collins was a much better sound.
Martin
By your smile I see you like more Martin 😉
yes i do
Yep. You could tell he autonomously was smiling from the core of being with the Martin. Hey hey, all about the instrument you resonate with. Both beautiful guitars. I’d say the more mature percentage of guitarists might go for the Martin. Be happy you have an instrument to play. In closing, my preference is to drum on. 😎🎵
Martin has thicker tone with more bass
Isn't ?
yes man fatter tone
Collings every time
I have both of them. I could say that are different guitars. Martin is more "clear", but Collings is more "strong" in their sound. So,i think it's difficult to choose one of the other. I feel lucky that i could have both of them!! Excellent video. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for your feedback and how you felt
Martin..
The Collings sounds better to my ears..
The Martin just sounds more "alive" than the Collins. But both are wonderful, in their own way.
Collings
6:42