I started playing in 1962. I've had a plethora of guitars over the years, Fender(I had a 1951 Telecaster& 3 other acoustic models), Gibson, Martin, Rickenbacker & now, an Epi DT-100. I had stopped playing about 18 years ago as I have multiple physical disabilities. My hands & fingers were very arthritic & I didn't think I would ever play again My last guitar back then was a Martin D-28. One day, I just happened upon this Epi DT-100 on Prime. I thought "what the heck", the price was right, so I gave it a try. I was very surprised at the sound for such an inexpensive guitar. I did some neck work, sanded down the saddle & the nut & it's now easier for me to play. I pretty much have to keep in a limited, minimal range of simpler chord structures, but I can do things with my right hand I never could before. It's my left hand that is the weaker. I can no longer play bar chords(I've done all types of hand exercises), but I can still make some beautiful music. I was able, many moons ago, to jam with Richie Havens & Joe Walsh(he wanted my Tele. haha) ! I'm just happy to play again !
You sound like you love playing, may I make a suggestion that will sound crazy but may allow you to play again? Try Grounding - I do it while I sleep, my hands and body feel miles better I can do things with my hands now I couldn't before. Give it a shot - it's free (earth grounding, you can even plug into the ground outlet in the wall)
What an interesting comparison. Honestly, the Epiphone held it's own well. I bought an Epiphone DR-100 last October and it's been nothing but enjoyable to play. Setup was excellent with good low action right out of the box which made barre chords a lot easier.
Exactly. I was also able to get a very low set up on my dr 100 it seems like it’s meant to be played. I never could get my martins action low enough. And the epiphone starling I used to gig with has held up well I sold it to a friend and it’s still holding up well.
@@aaronmason3086 it will transfer resonance to the bridge the bridge then sends the resonance to the top of the guitar and that is how sound is made. a plastic saddle that sits in the bridge doesn't resonate as well as bone or wood. Great question BTW and i hope you stick with guitar , its frustrating at first but it pays off .. all good things take time
Yeah I have an Epiphone hummingbird performer pro and I put a bone saddle on it but not the new nut I have too I will put it on later. However it did transfer the tone a great deal. You are absolutely right about that a new bone saddle will surprise you every time and completely transform your tone
@@aaronmason3086it makes a much deeper sound and a little brighter tone on my Epiphone hummingbird performer pro a 500$ guitar in 2020. It came with a fake bone saddle and a bone nut I believe but I bought a new one to make sure because it all felt like plastic from the factory so I'm replacing both but for the time I just replaced the saddle and I have a deeper brighter bass tone and the resonance is so much better
Which isn't necessarily better in most scenarios. Obviously the microphone has a role in this example, but the cheaper guitar sounded like it would fit in more instances than the more expensive one.
I have a DR-100 and it plays very well, it is a very good entry level guitar and it feels great for fingerstyle. I’m sure the Martin is much better, however for a difference of $2800 it just doesn’t sound worth it. There is definitely a guitar much cheaper than the Martin with a very similar tone and playability to it that would be a better alternative
@@manfx7 it’s all laminate with mahogany back and sides and I think a spruce top. Ebony fingerboard. After 9 more months with this guitar I still believe it is a fantastic entry level but I’ve noticed it doesn’t play as great as I thought it did. Still highly recommend for beginners
That Martin sounds SO good. Epiphone surprised me for the price. I think where the Epiphone was really weak was father down the neck. No sustain or good intonation there. Epi also had this droning effect at times where as the Martin is so smooth and almost dampened, like it sounds like it’s in a sound proofed room at all times. So clear and balanced. I imagine with capos the Martin will be intonated a lot better. Martin is absolutely worth the price (can find used for $2200-$2500 with an older model that’s already aged a bit). If you only have $200, that Epiphone is great!
Fun fact:- most people aren't musicians so they won't be able to tell any difference. My suggestion would be to get a solid top which fairly comes around $300. It will sound nice, won't break your budget, lasts long. Practicing is the key to success. All the best everyone.
The D-28 sounds more mellow, however, I have been playing guitar for 50 years, and I may be going deaf, 😊 but I definitely did not think the Martin sounded 20X better. The Martin name grabs people and a lot of times skews their true thinking. Personally, I think Taylor guitars have a much better tone than Martins. Also, I have an Epiphone EJ-200 Artist that has a wonderful sound. I play it almost as much as my Taylor depending on what I am playing. I bought it used at my local music store and they also had a Gibson J-200 which I compared to the Epiphone. Once again, the tones were a tad different, but the Gibson wasn't better, just different. Both Guitars sounded great, so I decided to pay $3500 less for the Epiphone. In a blind test I don't think many guitarists could tell me which one I was playing.
I've heard a bunch of Taylors and it just doesn't seem to do for me what a Martin D-18 and above does. Taylors are nice sounding I guess it just depends on what style of music you you're playing. I haven't seen a lot of Taylors in bluegrass bands but I'm not sure if that's just player/industry preference.
The Epiphone has a really nice bright tone plus the neck is very very nice. The Martin has a beautiful tone. In some situations the epiphone might work better in a mix if you need the guitar to cut through.
A couple things. A cheap guitar won’t inspire you like a good guitar. Also, in the long term, the Martin will cost you nothing to own. Martins will hold their value over time, and if you buy an older one, will likely rise in value so, you basically get to play a great guitar for nothing in the long run. When your playing days are done, you’ve got a valuable investment you can sell, or even better leave as a legacy to your family.
@@mikeg.9238 No it it won't, but it's also false economy. If you can't afford better than a $149 guitar, then you have more important things to spend money on or spend time on.. If you are buying cheap because your not sure you'll like playing, then it's a waste of money as a cheap guitar won't inspire you. Best to borrow a good guitar then decide if you want to get a decent guitar. I have lent guitars to friends myself. I have also given instruments to friends and family.
The price of the Martin doesn’t just matter in sound, which it obviously will win here too.. but it also goes to quality of construction, woods chosen, and a lifetime warranty from one of the most prolific acoustic guitar brands in existence. A Martin guitar truly is (if you desire it to be) a family heirloom that will outlast you if taken care of. Is the price difference “worth it”? Well.. it depends on what the buyer is looking for. As for sound, the Martin to me sounds sweeter, rounder, warmer, and will definitely be louder with much friendlier bass response. The Epi is def a great starter / student guitar, though. Good comparison!
Well put. It is also nice to know that when you buy a fine American instrument, your money is going supporting workers who are looked after by the company. I have heard nothing but great things about working for Martin. I've been to the factory twice myself.
Well, clearly the Martin is going to win this. It's got more overtones in the sound and it's rounder. But I'm frankly surprised the Epiphone sounds as good as it does to be that cheap. I dare say that if you used it at a show, nobody would come up to you after and tell you it sounded bad. The question of whether $3000 is worth it is subjective, of course. But I feel like you can get an excellent acoustic for half that. Brands like Breedlove, Yamaha or Blueridge make really good guitars that are cheaper than the Martin, but still sound great.
Jazz Guitar Noob The Epiphone really surprised me too. I’d love to compare something a little more in the middle sometime - maybe from Eastman if I get a chance.
I don't know if it's just me or not , but the dr sounds much crisper and more pronounced. I just bought the dr as my first acoustic , all my others are electric and i didn't want to spend a lot just in case i wasn't into it. But after this demo i'm glad i did. It sounds great for $149 IMO!
@@AlexPriceMusician Thanks , but I have one question. I adjusted the truss rod but the action is still way to high. Is there a shim under the saddle or am I going to have to sand it down?
Great playing and comparison. All I can say is that when you played the Epi I thought it sounded good, and when you played the same thing on the Martin, my heart moved. That for me justifies the price difference. Someone earlier said that his Martins called him and cheap guitars don’t. I believe that is true. Someone who is at a progressed level of playing should for sure be looking into the best instrument they can afford so that the guitar can really take their playing beyond expectations sonically, as the Martin does.
Agreed. The Epiphone sounded great until mimicked on the Martin. String by string the Martin only seemed noticeably different on two of them, but it was much more deep and rich on pretty much everything he played. The thing is whether you want THAT much depth and richness ... and have $3K to throw around. :)
Been practicing on a wine red dr-100 for a couple of years and I love the high-end sustain and bright sound, medium bronzes, has good low end, the Martin in this vid seems almost like its muted, though it seems to have a more musical tonality over-all I think the Epiphone gave it a good run. One of the things that impressed me about the Epi is is decent build for a cheap guitar, great finish/fit, solid (so far), stays in tune, and I'm sure it has much more potential if I had it properly set up. The Martins are beautiful guitars no doubt, the sound is impressive as well, but I'd take the Epi to the beach, the Martin, hm, not so much :)
Change nut and bridge to bone or tusq and it will greatly change the tone and volume. You're comparing plastic vs probably bone. I own the Ebony DR 100 and also purchased a Epiphone piezo pickup system and it sounds fantastic.
The Epiphone DR-100 was the first guitar I ever got, and every time I play it I'm still pleasantly surprised at how well it's held up for the price I got it at, after 3-4 years of semi-regular play. The string quality can drastically change the way this thing plays, so if you want a guitar like this for cheap, splurge on the strings a little. The Epiphone definitely has trouble resonating with deeper notes compared to higher notes, but again, it's only a $140 guitar, so you can't expect perfection. I'd say for anyone getting into guitar, this thing is perfect. Not pricey by any means in terms of guitar, but it doesn't play like you dragged it out of a dumpster as well 😂
bought one recently and it sounds about as good as my fender fa100 that has 9 year old strings on it and has a broken saddle lol... hard to play as well .. is it the strings?
In my opinion, the most important considerations (especially for a beginner) are how well it stays in tune and playability. But if you catch the guitar bug, you can overlook a lot of defects. That being said, an intrument with great tone is a joy to play. And it is difficult to describe what makes a tone good.
bought one recently and it sounds about as good as my fender fa100 that has 9 year old strings on it and has a broken saddle lol... hard to play as well
A cheap guitar in skilled hands sounds better than an expensive guitar in unskilled hands. $2,000 for guitar? I don't think so. Your money is better spent elsewhere.
Being a personal owner of the HD28, I will say that there is much more music shade and potential represented in the HD28, which a good player will be able to draw out in his or her approach to the strings. There's just more richness, color and variation to be tapped into.
Hi Alex. I am very late to the party, but just subscribed to your channel based on this video. I can't praise you enough. This is how guitar comparison videos should be done. I'm an old fart that's been playing guitar for over 45 years, and the fact that you are so young (compared to me) makes me even more impressed. My first guitar was one of those bolt-on-neck all-laminate Epiphones. (I just did a major repair on one last year for a good friend of mine.) He has been playing it at my monthly guitar group and it sounds pretty darn good for what it is. My second guitar was a nicer Epiphone with a solid top. I have had many different guitar brands since then (Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Yamaha, Martin, etc.), so I'm not married to Epiphone guitars. That said, the Epiphone stood up quite well against a Martin D28, which is really saying something. Does the Martin sound better? Of course. Is the Martin worth the extra money? Yes, if you can afford it. Could you get along with the Epiphone? Yes, for as long as you needed or wanted to.
Love your comment. I'm 66.I been playing since I was 16.My first guitar was a GuildD35.My last guitar I've bought last week is a Epiphone P150.Is it as good as a 3000 dollar guitar? NO.But mannnn does this 60 dollar Epiphone sound greatttttt......Yep.🤣
Yeah the martin was mostly low end and boomy . In just about every comparison through 7:40 the cheap epi was king .. granted I streamed via a lower end surround system (Sony that sound very decent and full range to my ears ) maybe it made the difference . But for my ears I’m glad I just ordered a lefty epi dr 100 song maker .. which is in back order btw
@@vicpnut1 You won't be disappointed , I bought it a few months ago. Around the time I watched this review , the only thing I did was sand about an 1/8th of the saddle/bridge down. Because the action was to high for my preference even after I adjusted the truss rod. Now it's perfect for me and sounds great , I'm not a big acoustic guy. But I wanted one to use occasionally to play some Johnny Cash. P.s. You might want to try zZounds , if you don't want to wait. They had it in stock✌
@@mikeg.9238 thanks for the suggestion but , yeah ,oh I’m well acquainted with zzounds. They were the first place I bought guitars from (1 or two I badly wish I still had now , but $$ issues dictate if my hobby continues at times) but they actually estimate a 4 day longer wait than where I ended up ordering @AMS. It’s a lil tougher , all around actually for me as I’m a lefty . Usually it’s just the lack of options / models for us lefties but lately a lot of usually stocked guitars just aren’t in stock as of now . In fact I ordered 3 guitars this time on AMS’s awesome payment plans (very similar to zzounds ) and all 3 are on back order …. This epiphone which claims more expected 8/10/21 , a Luna acoustic which is expected late in September and a gretsch g5230 that doesn’t even have a date listed just “expected soon” as a time frame … it kind of sucks that ams has already started processing the first payment when the order isn’t even set to go out yet . Zzounds would wait and give me the option to cancel the order ahead of processing payment 1. Ams did offer to refund and cancel afterwards though … sorry for the lil tangent , just getting excited about the upcoming ngd , hopefully not to far off
@@mikeg.9238 thanks for the suggestion but , yeah ,oh I’m well acquainted with zzounds. They were the first place I bought guitars from (1 or two I badly wish I still had now , but $$ issues dictate if my hobby continues at times) but they actually estimate a 4 day longer wait than where I ended up ordering @AMS. It’s a lil tougher , all around actually for me as I’m a lefty . Usually it’s just the lack of options / models for us lefties but lately a lot of usually stocked guitars just aren’t in stock as of now . In fact I ordered 3 guitars this time on AMS’s awesome payment plans (very similar to zzounds ) and all 3 are on back order …. This epiphone which claims more expected 8/10/21 , a Luna acoustic which is expected late in September and a gretsch g5230 that doesn’t even have a date listed just “expected soon” as a time frame … it kind of sucks that ams has already started processing the first payment when the order isn’t even set to go out yet . Zzounds would wait and give me the option to cancel the order ahead of processing payment 1. Ams did offer to refund and cancel afterwards though … sorry for the lil tangent , just getting excited about the upcoming ngd , hopefully not to far off
I just purchased a wine red DR-100 Epiphone for around the house and for some studio work. It will do the job but man, that Martin just has that ringing tone and resonance that can’t be found in a budget guitar. I’d bet it’s a hell of a lot smoother to play as well.
Agreed. Although, I have a cheaper Martin with the laminate neck and sides/back, and it sounds as good as the expensive models. Personally, if I were to buy an expensive guitar, I'd buy vintage.
The 4 bases strings resonates much deeper for martin for the 2 others i ear no differences. So it's exact it's the solid wood who make all the differences. But i'm really very impress by this DR-100 it have nothing to be affrayed is thid duel. It's very good demo sound.thanks a lot 🙏😉👍
Ran across this video because I just bought a dr-100 after reading 59 out of 61 rave reviews on Sweetwater. There are very few guitars with the creamy fullness of your Martin. However, the dr is a legitimately fine sounding instrument. And I'm not going to qualify that statement with 'for the price'. Important things for a new player are: ease of play, intonation, pleasant timbre, and affordability. The dr-100 checks all these boxes IMHO. The Martin is well worth the money if you have the skills and talent to bring it's fine qualities to the listener. A great comparison. Certainly not a fair comparison. Nice work, by the way.
Last Christmas I got the DR100, special edition solid top matte sunburst. I love it! Very fast neck (reminded me of a Kramer shredder neck that I once tried in a pawnshop) there were couple of frets with slight buzz, I sanded them, and now sounds clean, but even with the slight buzzing, it was sounding like a slightly overdriven Les Paul, like a built in effects pedal. I also love it's ease of playing, specially great for strumming or playing lead parts. Not good for fingerstyle, string spacing is tight. Not just for beginners, but for everyday playing, so as to save your more expensive guitar from wear and tear.
Now, I'm not a huge fan of the standard Martin sound envelope as I prefer a bit more presence in the high end than most Martins. (Though I've found that Martins with scalloped braces are much more to my liking.) I have a mid-70's Yamaha (laminate) and 6 acoustic Taylors, from dreadnought to tiny Grand Concert. In the demo, I found the Epiphone lacked the pure tone of the Martin. I actually cringed when the single G and E strings were played around the 4:00 mark. While the Epiphone sounded better when fully "played", I had no difficulty telling the difference between the two sounds. The Martin just had purer tones that sounded just so much more "solid" to me. As to whether the difference in price is worth it? I too am amazed at the sound of the $140 guitar, though I *do* wonder how it would have sounded with it's original strings. Not that I'm arguing against using the same strings in the comparison, but I warrant the sound would have been even more pronounced with the original strings.
David Schmidt it actually did have the original strings on it before I restrung it, but they were very old so I didn’t want to shoot the video with them. Thanks for your thoughts!
@@AlexPriceMusician My point is though, that with a $140 guitar you KNOW they didn't put a $20 set of strings on it. So I'd guess at least a bit of the sound on the Epiphone was the new strings and that someone purchasing one probably wouldn't get *quite* the sound until they put better strings on it. There are times I *wish* I couldn't hear the difference. I'd be buying cheaper guitars. But on the other hand, I love the different tone woods and even nicer inlays and perfling so I'd still like the more expensive, but I don't think I could bear the sound of the Epiphone very long. Great first guitar though, when you're not sure if someone will keep playing. Once you can feel and hear the difference you can *then* spend more (and use the Epiphone as a backup, travel guitar, camping guitar or pass it on to someone starting guitar).
Speaking as a DR-100 owner here...there's definitely a difference in tone, the Epi is brighter, the Martin has a fatter, midrangey tone, a sweet tone. There's probably no comparison in build quality or fit and finish. In other words, Epi=a functional instrument, Martin=a fine instrument. Is it worth the enormous premium? It depends. For all but the most discriminating pros who are performing solo or recording a high profile album, I'd argue no.(Guitar collectors and Martin enthusiasts are a whole other matter.) For a giggng musician playing local clubs or indie recording in a home studio, the DR-100 would be more than completely adequate (I've done plenty of recording with mine),, and a Martin is total overkill except for the prestige of the brand. Calling the Epi a "beginner" guitar is unfair imo, as the term carries certain connotations; I'd prefer "entry level".
I spent some money on a Gibson Hummingbird 12 years ago, when I had played guitar for 5 years or so. I dont regret that for a second. I think once you realize you'll be playing for the rest of your life in some capacity or form, I think the investment is worth it for the sound quality and feel of the guitar. If you are just starting out, however, there is really no reason to buy an expensive guitar. It wont make a real difference in the sound until you feel very comfortable playing whatever tune you're attempting - in my experience anyway.
Exactly, Jamie Johnson dosent play a Dr 100 he uses an AJ 200 $399 and has went platinum and uses it every live show. I have a worked DR100 I use everyday because of the feel. The sound has been improved but was never bad in the first place to me. I love mine.
@@shojimujoshojimujo3315 lowered action, filed frets, changed saddle bone out and slapped ernie ball medium lights on and it's been a champ since. And upgraded machine heads and bridge pins.
Headphones, sounds great! Martin has more warmth and sustain. I think you could get most of that for around $500.00, the epiphone masterbilts are a good middle of the road solid wood guitar, Blueridge guitars also makes A great solid wood Matin clone. I think if someone is a serious player, and loves Martin and can afford one, it's always worth the money!
I own a early 70s d45 and also have a 200$ fender dg7 from the late 80s and I love the Martin more however the fender has a more bright ring to it I’ll admit but build quality is an obvious answer who wins but both are great guitars that have their individual pros
Epiphone sounds really good & Martin sounds excellent but the price difference between the both it's huge. Martin sounds more warm & deeper but not worth $2,860 more. It's basically due to the Martin manufactured in States & Epiphone somewhere in Asia...🤘😀🤘.....🙏🙏
Oh my Goodness. I'm listening to this video through my Seinheiser 598SRs. I can hear some distinct differences between these guitars, which I'll explain as best as I can through some imagery: If both of these guitars were wolves, the Epiphone would be growling, while the Martin is howling. The Epiphone's sound is rugged like ice from an outdoor hockey rink, that's been skated on for weeks without a fresh layer. The Martin's sound is as smooth and satisfying as that first stride on an indoor rink, right after the zamboni has layed a fresh layer of water. The Epiphone's sound tastes like cereal that have been soaked in milk for over 5 minutes; they soggily sink to the bottom of the bowl. The Martin's sound is like Honey Nut Cheerios™️ on which milk was freshly poured; they still have their strong rounded shape, they float harmonically on the milk's surface, and they taste like real honey. The Epiphone's color gamut is like watching this very video at 240p resolution; you can see the image, but detains are faint (go, try it). The Martin's color gamut is like watching this video at 1080p, and noticing little details like the oscillation of the guitar strings after each of Alex's strum's (also try it). Great video!
I actually liked the Epiphone cheap version.though I'm a fan of both guitars .I had an ft-79 Texan I miss so much but as long as that x braced body under epi .even cheaply made sounded beautiful
i think the martin is brighter and when comparing it think it is more of preference in what sound you like. i see it like this i would rather buy some ting i can work with rather them some ting i have to insure. There both great instruments
To my Joe Six-pack ears, the DR-100 has a surprisingly competitive tone as heard through a set of Grado SR-80e phones. The HD-28 has a mellower, more refined, and less brash sound overall than the DR-100. The upper frequencies on the cheaper guitar seemed a bit off, where the pricey box rang true. No player would mistake one for the other. But for the price, the Epiphone model would be a good investment as a starting point for say, a drummer, who might want to give strings a try. It’d be interesting to compare this Epiphone with a Yamaha FG-700; heard about both for years being great starter instruments.
I have a 1981 Martin HD-28 that I've owned since 1992, so I'm super biased but I have to say that the Epiphone didn't sound terrible. Just brighter, less resonance, and depending on what style you played. I love my Martin and it's the only guitar I own and don't have any desire to own another unless I find a pre-1969 D-28 Brazilian for less than $3k (I don't think that will happen in this l ifetime). Great comparison by the way, you seemed to eliminate most of the variables when playing each guitar.
I listened on Sennheiser headphones. I just bought a DR 100. It has too much high. The Martin clearly has a more mellow sound with rich mid and bass. You can definitely use a DR 100 for some things, for example slide guitar would be great. Otherwise the Martin definitely is worth the extra. As a tip, I found a real cheap guitar called an "Academy", made in China. Cost like $30 so I bought 3 as beaters for campfires and such. Could have been the manufacturing batch and others won't be like it , but I was surprised that after I changed the cheap strings it came with, it the sound was awesome. Mellow and rich like a Martin, the neck was flat with zero buzzing frets and it just sounded good. They must have properly cloned a Martin because it plays that way, or just an act of God on the production line of cheap guitars. Do check one out though if you come across. About the only cheap guitar I've ever found that I like.
You can get 2 high end Martin guitars of the same year and model and they will not sound the same. Each guitar will have its own sound like a finger print. They also change tone over time as they are played.
Really like the video. I’m curious about something. You mentioned you’d just put the strings on a couple minutes ago, did they get a full stretch cycle to the point that that wouldn’t stretch out of tune anymore? That makes a pretty big difference in tone. They will sound extra bright and tinny until they’re stretched. Like a 10 minute process.
I just realized that expensive guitars have dampened and kinda solid with the low and the cheaper one have bright high tones and a little too bright low tones, but again.. one without the other is great, and we can't really sure which is better until we bought both guitars. so I will stick with epiphones for it's more affordable and I am not really earning any money with my guitar.
To my ear the Epiphone sounds pretty good. Add a Bone Nut and Bone Saddle, Ebony Bridge Pins, Best Quality Strings on the Epiphone,,, and then i don`t think the Martin price difference would be worth it.... :)
Proving once again that it's not what your money can buy but your experience.A good guitarist can make a stick with strings sound great.In 1979 I started out with a guild D40 and it sounded better than anyones guitar no matter what they were playing but I did not have the skills that I have now and you guessed it, I can no longer afford a Guild D40 so I play whatever I can get my hands and fingers on.Currently its a Epiphone masterbuilt Frontier thats almost a 3rd of the price a a guild D40 traditional but it's a good sounding guitar in its own right.
I was looking for videos to just listen to the DR-100 a little more before buying it, as I've just gotten into it and want to move away from this awful nylon string brandless thing I've got but I don't want to go crazy just yet - it's fascinating seeing the difference and you can definitely hear it!! One day I'll work up to being able to justify a Martin, but for now the DR-100 sounds like the perfect beginner / entry level steel string acoustic for most people! Thanks a bunch!! EDIT: Also, was listening on pretty high end noise cancelling Sony's - this comparison was so dope!
I appreciate the testimony! Let me know how you find it. Another great option if you have a bit more to spend is an Eastman PCH series, which has a solid top. I have one also and it rocks 🤘🏼
@@AlexPriceMusician I noticed ya mention it and did see you've done so previously - it does look great!! But I think I'm pretty satisfied staying super budget friendly at the moment and the Eastman is a little harder to come by where I am (England, UK). Maybe in a year or so, I can treat myself to an upgrade! (Also, a MUCH smaller factor but one I can't deny, the DR-100 in black is just really sweet looking, haha!)
@@sleepykyokoxoxo Agreed , plus if you play electrics like me and just want a decent acoustic to strum while watching tv or whatever , this seems like a better option. Plus for the price of a martin i can buy 2 very nice electric guitars that will last forever!
I have dr100. I replaced all bridge pins sadle and nut to brass. And kaboom!!! I'll never gonna buy another acoustic anymore. Try it.. it's badass. Definitely it's up there with the big guys like Martin and Taylor. Infact I think it's sounds even better. Just try it. Full brass
I think the Epiphone DR 100 is a great value guitar. Of course the Martin is better, warmer with more depth, but the Epi is a good value guitar to start off with.
Just happened upon this video is great and it is very informative, I am a total newbie on the guitar and I actually just purchased a DR-100. One thing that really stuck out to me in the video was the difference in the brilliance of the middle strings between the two guitars (The DR-100 had very high mids). That leads me to this question...Would you recommend mixing the strings on the DR-100 to have more of a balance from top to bottom like the Martin does and if you did what brand, size, etc.. would you recommend to achieve that goal?
Well, the Martin is a better instrument in every way. Tone, build quality. However, two things stand out. First, that Epi is a heck of a good guitar for the price. Can't see it being as well set up out of the box as the Martin, but tonewise it's outstanding for the price. Second, as with everything, the law of diminishing returns applies, so a $300 guitar might sound twice as good as the Epi, but a $3000 one won't sound 20 times as good! A sad fact of life. There are other advantages with the more expensive guitar, though. As I suggested. probably better set up with better fretwork, higher quality parts, better finish, more handmade processes, made in the USA.
I have an Ibanez AC340L ($340.00), am getting a Martin 000-10E ($800.00), but you know what? for that price, now I want one of these Epiphone ($150.00 on Sweetwater Music) DR100s..Love that they put the "E" on their pick guard.
One thing that you'll notice immediately when you have a cheap guitar like this is how demanding it is for new strings. It sounds decent in this video because the strings were brand new. Give the Epiphone and Martin each 3 days with the strings and the Martin will still sound great, the Epiphone not so much. I think if you already own a few nice acoustics you might be disappointed with this one.
@Alex Price Hello again, your video came across my feed, and I noticed that I had commented on it. Well, I ended up with a Martin D-10 Road Series Dreadnought all Sapele, with the Fishman electronics at just under $1K. Took some time for it to break in and warm up to. A few days ago, I replaced the bridge pins with Martin liquid metal alloy pins, their cheapest set at $100. Also some new Martin 2.0 strings and took a few days to set. Worth noting that one of the first things I did to my Martin was to sand down the saddle so that the strings sit lower. Martin fretboard are already amazing out the box. I sand down all the saddles to my acoustic because I favor lower action. My Ibanez AC340 opn sounds tinny, but probably needs a good setup since there is terrible buzzing at around the 11th fret on the on strings G & B. And a few days ago, my lefty Epiphone DR-100 in Natural finish arrived. First thing I did after playing it for a few hours out the box was mod the saddle, and replace the strings with Martin's 2.0 12g. Took several tunings and stretching for the strings to settle. So far, I'm very much impressed. The Epiphone sounds amazingly beautiful. Much brighter than my Martin, and the neck feels perfect in my hands. I don't anticipate it sounding bad anytime soon tbh. I've learned that apparently bridge pins don't dramatically change the tone much. For my Martin, those liquid metal pins didn't overly change her tone much, so I'll leave the Epi stock. I actually love how the Epiphone feels, plays and sounds. For less than 1/5th the cost. I'm not a pro level acoustic player, I've just recently gotten into them quite heavily as they showcase your playing but I am more chords n finger strumming right now but coming along better than I thought. I love both those Dreadnoughts more than the Ibanez. Props to Epiphone acoustic guitars!
Martin is dulcet compared to Epiphone. Martin resonates better with lower notes than the Epiphone. I almost "hear" the better Martin woods ringing better than the Epiphone. But the Martin isn't 20 times musically better than the Epiphone. Not to me. How am I watching your video? I put on my hearing aides and broadcast your video on my Samsung TV. A few days ago I strummed an Epiphone DR-100 at a used guitar store. It's made in 2013 (10 years old). The luthier had put new strings on it and shaved down the bridge. Low action. I strummed it with my thumb. Very good. I strummed with a pic. Wow. It rang out wonderfully throughout the store. So it won my heart. It even inspired me to finish a riff I had been working upon. Cool. After your great video I'm walking in chilly Chicago to buy it for $100 and find a decent case for it. A persuasive video (thank you) and a great $100 guitar when set up professionally.
Richard, congrats on the new guitar! I agree - the Epiphone is certainly a fine instrument for the price. It's hard to beat the Martin, but if it inspires you to play, that's all that matters.
@@AlexPriceMusician I did buy the Epiphone DR-100. It's nickname is "Boomer". I'll never my first strum on it and how it sang out filling the guitar store.
You can get some nice solid top guitars for 300-1000 dollars, and for around 1000-1500 dollars you can get some nice all solid wood guitars, including epiphone masterbilt, yamaha all solid wood guitars, and many more. No need to spend martin prices for a quality instrument in my opinion.
have you compressed/normalized the volume between the two guitars? One would expect the martin to be louder, especially with a lighter touch, but it's not the case. I'd be curious to see a test where you play both guitars with very aggressive strumming, it wouldn't surprise me if the epiphone could actually get louder, with its stiffer top being able to hold up better to heavy picking.
Of course the Martin sounds better xD but it is true that beginner and cheaper guitars are pretty good. That Epi sounds really nice, it costs about 100 euros so what we can expect? I own a Tanglwood Union folk now because dreadnoughts are too big for me. 200 euros, solid top, all mahogany... really happy with it :) thanks for sharing and keep rockin!
Thanks for your thoughts! I haven't played a Tanglewood before but I'd love to try one sometime. I've heard good things. The solid top on more affordable guitars really can make all the difference.
The Epiphone is kind of bright and harsh. The Martin is mellow and warm. As for the price split, if you've got the money or you're a pro, it seems to be worth it to me. I'm listening on speakers. Obviously a beginner should go with the Epiphone and hope not to get a defective one.
You add a fishman or other good pickup to the dr-100 and it will sound even better than the martin's tone when adjusted and plugged and will not hurt when adding the mod.
I have the Epiphone DR-100, and it's an amazing guitar for the price. I have had Gibsons and Taylors but this guitar sounds great and I really enjoy the neck, perfect fit for my hands.
Make sure you close your eyes before listening because the price will lean you towards the more expensive one because you expect it to sound better, so close your eyes and listen, it also depends on what sounds you like.
I play a vintage sunburst dr-100 with Ernie ball light phospher bronze strings, take the e pick guard off and replace it and u can fool alot of people. I never owned or played a Martin long enough but I'll take my semi set up Dr 100 over most of my $400-800 guitars. I play my Dr daily
I think it all depends on what you want out of an acoustic guitar. I own a Martin HD-35 and know that I'm keeping it till I die (hope to pass it on). I've also have had a chance to play a decent amount of guitars over the last handful of years (started taking the guitar more seriously a couple of years removed from college). What you get when you spend that type of money is quality and long-term ownership (on top of sound). Epiphone DR-100 like guitars are vital for the guitar industry as it gave/gives all of us to enter to world of guitar playing. But once you personally play a higher-end guitar, you really don't know what your missing. It was playing my worship leader's 1970s Martin D-41 that did it for me. Nothing wrong with cheaper guitars but it ain't the same. Playing the guitar in person makes a world of difference. Its a good video nonetheless.
Hi. Im total noob :) but is that mainly the wood type that the Martin sounds much...warmer and clearer? Although the cheaper is okay too. In general the wood type gives a guitar different sound signature?
The Martin is made of solid wood and the Epiphone is made of laminate so that is a big factor in the difference in tone. Also just the general built quality will have a lot to do with it also. In the violin world we have so many expensive and mass-produced instruments that flaunt expensive woods but are made by workers who don’t care to put the effort in to cross all the T’s and dot the I’s. An instrument made of lesser wood but to a higher standard by a true luthier will be a better instrument.
Out of all the martins iv played those dr 100’s plays better and mine is my primary gig guitar. Just put elixir strings and grover tuners on it. Maybe ever put a d28 style pick guard on it. The only problem is it does not have a pre amp installed. But you still can’t beat it for the price.
The Epi is a great bargain and projected some higher notes louder. The Martin had a much richer sound, smoother and less jangley. Unless you make a good living as a musician, the Martin a silly purchase. I will be getting the Epiphone. To be my only acoustic. Thanks.
I found the Epiphone DR-100 much brighter than the Martin HD-28. I can't compare the difference in price, In that region the Epiphone wins hands down. I have been playing guitar for 70 years & I think expensive guitars are a waste of money. I have an Encore acoustic I bought for £28 & I love it. Just my opinion of course.
Alex ..your channel is really great and I hope it grows and grows !! ...Also ...with your long fingers you could probably play an ..eight string.. classical guitar ..😄
Both sounded decent tho the martin has a superior sound, but I think the martin is for the people who wants the highest quality of acoustic guitars, and the epiphone for people who wants a decent guitar.
I mean obviously the martin sounds better...as it damn well should. But the epiphone did not sound bad at all considering its a fraction of the price. For a beginner guitar you cant beat the dr100. The masterbilt series are a nice middle of the road guitar.
The DR 100 is an awesome entry level guitar while the Martin is well….a Martin, they obviously got their name because they produce high quality instruments, not an ideal comparison cause both these guitars are targeted at a difference audience, for me if u have the cash to spare then obviously no one is going to chose the Epiphone over the Martin however most people don’t and then it’s awesome that there is a great quality and build guitar like the Epiphone. In my opinion you are comparing apples with oranges, anybody who knows anything about guitars will tell you that, great video none the less
I started playing in 1962. I've had a plethora of guitars over the years, Fender(I had a 1951 Telecaster& 3 other acoustic models), Gibson, Martin, Rickenbacker & now, an Epi DT-100. I had stopped playing about 18 years ago as I have multiple physical disabilities. My hands & fingers were very arthritic & I didn't think I would ever play again My last guitar back then was a Martin D-28. One day, I just happened upon this Epi DT-100 on Prime. I thought "what the heck", the price was right, so I gave it a try. I was very surprised at the sound for such an inexpensive guitar. I did some neck work, sanded down the saddle & the nut & it's now easier for me to play. I pretty much have to keep in a limited, minimal range of simpler chord structures, but I can do things with my right hand I never could before. It's my left hand that is the weaker. I can no longer play bar chords(I've done all types of hand exercises), but I can still make some beautiful music. I was able, many moons ago, to jam with Richie Havens & Joe Walsh(he wanted my Tele. haha) ! I'm just happy to play again !
I'm happy for you!
@@maryamkhan4341 Thank you. I also love an occasion to use the word "plethora" because there are too few !! hahaha
@@pizzaman5169 loool I know exactly what you mean
You sound like you love playing, may I make a suggestion that will sound crazy but may allow you to play again? Try Grounding - I do it while I sleep, my hands and body feel miles better I can do things with my hands now I couldn't before. Give it a shot - it's free (earth grounding, you can even plug into the ground outlet in the wall)
happy to hear that :)
Keep going ^_^
What an interesting comparison. Honestly, the Epiphone held it's own well. I bought an Epiphone DR-100 last October and it's been nothing but enjoyable to play. Setup was excellent with good low action right out of the box which made barre chords a lot easier.
I have a Martin D18 and this DR100. I love both of them for different applications. The D18 doesn’t leave my room but the DR goes everywhere with me.
Exactly. I was also able to get a very low set up on my dr 100 it seems like it’s meant to be played. I never could get my martins action low enough. And the epiphone starling I used to gig with has held up well I sold it to a friend and it’s still holding up well.
I do the same thing. My Martin stays home and my epiphone is the road warrior.
Throw a bone saddle on the Epi and you'd be amazed at the improvement. This is the biggest and easiest tone upgrade you can do on a budget acoustic.
i am new to guitar...what does the bone saddle change about it?
@@aaronmason3086 it will transfer resonance to the bridge the bridge then sends the resonance to the top of the guitar and that is how sound is made. a plastic saddle that sits in the bridge doesn't resonate as well as bone or wood. Great question BTW and i hope you stick with guitar , its frustrating at first but it pays off .. all good things take time
Yeah I have an Epiphone hummingbird performer pro and I put a bone saddle on it but not the new nut I have too I will put it on later. However it did transfer the tone a great deal. You are absolutely right about that a new bone saddle will surprise you every time and completely transform your tone
@@aaronmason3086it makes a much deeper sound and a little brighter tone on my Epiphone hummingbird performer pro a 500$ guitar in 2020. It came with a fake bone saddle and a bone nut I believe but I bought a new one to make sure because it all felt like plastic from the factory so I'm replacing both but for the time I just replaced the saddle and I have a deeper brighter bass tone and the resonance is so much better
Let me just judge both of these guitars with my $100 phone speakers real quick
Nate Strings that’s your call brother 😎
The basses set them apart. The Martin has such deep resonant basses.
Agreed
Which isn't necessarily better in most scenarios.
Obviously the microphone has a role in this example, but the cheaper guitar sounded like it would fit in more instances than the more expensive one.
The Martin sounds fuller and richer in tone whereas the DR-100 seems rather thin and plastic-ky to the ears
DDynamite is awesome thanks for your thoughts!
Im sure you used your eyes
Yeah, the thing that it's not worth 2860$ more. Considering that i prefer the "plastic" tone a hundred times
@Tony Berkopes agreed but still
@Tony Berkopes i just bought a 5500 dollar custom martin and I also love my yamaha!!!
I have a DR-100 and it plays very well, it is a very good entry level guitar and it feels great for fingerstyle. I’m sure the Martin is much better, however for a difference of $2800 it just doesn’t sound worth it. There is definitely a guitar much cheaper than the Martin with a very similar tone and playability to it that would be a better alternative
Thanks for your thoughts!
What's ur dr100 made from?
@@manfx7 it’s all laminate with mahogany back and sides and I think a spruce top. Ebony fingerboard. After 9 more months with this guitar I still believe it is a fantastic entry level but I’ve noticed it doesn’t play as great as I thought it did. Still highly recommend for beginners
That Martin sounds SO good. Epiphone surprised me for the price. I think where the Epiphone was really weak was father down the neck. No sustain or good intonation there. Epi also had this droning effect at times where as the Martin is so smooth and almost dampened, like it sounds like it’s in a sound proofed room at all times. So clear and balanced. I imagine with capos the Martin will be intonated a lot better.
Martin is absolutely worth the price (can find used for $2200-$2500 with an older model that’s already aged a bit). If you only have $200, that Epiphone is great!
Completely agree !
Fun fact:- most people aren't musicians so they won't be able to tell any difference. My suggestion would be to get a solid top which fairly comes around $300. It will sound nice, won't break your budget, lasts long. Practicing is the key to success. All the best everyone.
The Eastman PCH series is a great option for a solid top in that price range
The D-28 sounds more mellow, however, I have been playing guitar for 50 years, and I may be going deaf, 😊 but I definitely did not think the Martin sounded 20X better. The Martin name grabs people and a lot of times skews their true thinking. Personally, I think Taylor guitars have a much better tone than Martins. Also, I have an Epiphone EJ-200 Artist that has a wonderful sound. I play it almost as much as my Taylor depending on what I am playing. I bought it used at my local music store and they also had a Gibson J-200 which I compared to the Epiphone. Once again, the tones were a tad different, but the Gibson wasn't better, just different. Both Guitars sounded great, so I decided to pay $3500 less for the Epiphone. In a blind test I don't think many guitarists could tell me which one I was playing.
A great summary. Thanks for listening and writing!
I've heard a bunch of Taylors and it just doesn't seem to do for me what a Martin D-18 and above does. Taylors are nice sounding I guess it just depends on what style of music you you're playing. I haven't seen a lot of Taylors in bluegrass bands but I'm not sure if that's just player/industry preference.
The Epiphone has a really nice bright tone plus the neck is very very nice. The Martin has a beautiful tone. In some situations the epiphone might work better in a mix if you need the guitar to cut through.
The expensive one sounds better but the cheaper one gets the job done and probably most people couldn't tell any difference right away anyway
Kind of my thoughts too
This is so true..
A couple things. A cheap guitar won’t inspire you like a good guitar. Also, in the long term, the Martin will cost you nothing to own. Martins will hold their value over time, and if you buy an older one, will likely rise in value so, you basically get to play a great guitar for nothing in the long run. When your playing days are done, you’ve got a valuable investment you can sell, or even better leave as a legacy to your family.
@@capohd28 Yeah but if your'e buying your first acoustic , $149 isn't gonna break the bank.
@@mikeg.9238 No it it won't, but it's also false economy. If you can't afford better than a $149 guitar, then you have more important things to spend money on or spend time on.. If you are buying cheap because your not sure you'll like playing, then it's a waste of money as a cheap guitar won't inspire you. Best to borrow a good guitar then decide if you want to get a decent guitar. I have lent guitars to friends myself. I have also given instruments to friends and family.
The real question is - does $2860 price difference really justify the sound difference?
No.
No 😞
Not enough to justify an extra $3K.
The price of the Martin doesn’t just matter in sound, which it obviously will win here too.. but it also goes to quality of construction, woods chosen, and a lifetime warranty from one of the most prolific acoustic guitar brands in existence. A Martin guitar truly is (if you desire it to be) a family heirloom that will outlast you if taken care of. Is the price difference “worth it”? Well.. it depends on what the buyer is looking for. As for sound, the Martin to me sounds sweeter, rounder, warmer, and will definitely be louder with much friendlier bass response. The Epi is def a great starter / student guitar, though. Good comparison!
Well put. It is also nice to know that when you buy a fine American instrument, your money is going supporting workers who are looked after by the company. I have heard nothing but great things about working for Martin. I've been to the factory twice myself.
Alex Price fun fact - in their entire existence, they’ve never laid off a worker.
Well, clearly the Martin is going to win this. It's got more overtones in the sound and it's rounder. But I'm frankly surprised the Epiphone sounds as good as it does to be that cheap. I dare say that if you used it at a show, nobody would come up to you after and tell you it sounded bad.
The question of whether $3000 is worth it is subjective, of course. But I feel like you can get an excellent acoustic for half that. Brands like Breedlove, Yamaha or Blueridge make really good guitars that are cheaper than the Martin, but still sound great.
Jazz Guitar Noob The Epiphone really surprised me too. I’d love to compare something a little more in the middle sometime - maybe from Eastman if I get a chance.
I don't know if it's just me or not , but the dr sounds much crisper and more pronounced. I just bought the dr as my first acoustic , all my others are electric and i didn't want to spend a lot just in case i wasn't into it. But after this demo i'm glad i did. It sounds great for $149 IMO!
It’s definitely a great guitar for the money. Congrats!
@@AlexPriceMusician Thanks , but I have one question. I adjusted the truss rod but the action is still way to high. Is there a shim under the saddle or am I going to have to sand it down?
Agreed!
You made the correct choice
Great playing and comparison. All I can say is that when you played the Epi I thought it sounded good, and when you played the same thing on the Martin, my heart moved. That for me justifies the price difference. Someone earlier said that his Martins called him and cheap guitars don’t. I believe that is true. Someone who is at a progressed level of playing should for sure be looking into the best instrument they can afford so that the guitar can really take their playing beyond expectations sonically, as the Martin does.
Agreed. The Epiphone sounded great until mimicked on the Martin. String by string the Martin only seemed noticeably different on two of them, but it was much more deep and rich on pretty much everything he played. The thing is whether you want THAT much depth and richness ... and have $3K to throw around. :)
They both sound good... The Epiphone with a bit more cut and brightness, the Martin is rounder and warmer...
Been practicing on a wine red dr-100 for a couple of years and I love the high-end sustain and bright sound, medium bronzes, has good low end, the Martin in this vid seems almost like its muted, though it seems to have a more musical tonality over-all I think the Epiphone gave it a good run. One of the things that impressed me about the Epi is is decent build for a cheap guitar, great finish/fit, solid (so far), stays in tune, and I'm sure it has much more potential if I had it properly set up. The Martins are beautiful guitars no doubt, the sound is impressive as well, but I'd take the Epi to the beach, the Martin, hm, not so much :)
Well said.👍
Change nut and bridge to bone or tusq and it will greatly change the tone and volume. You're comparing plastic vs probably bone. I own the Ebony DR 100 and also purchased a Epiphone piezo pickup system and it sounds fantastic.
True. The saddle and nut are one of the most important pieces of the puzzle as they make direct contact with the strings
The Epiphone DR-100 was the first guitar I ever got, and every time I play it I'm still pleasantly surprised at how well it's held up for the price I got it at, after 3-4 years of semi-regular play. The string quality can drastically change the way this thing plays, so if you want a guitar like this for cheap, splurge on the strings a little. The Epiphone definitely has trouble resonating with deeper notes compared to higher notes, but again, it's only a $140 guitar, so you can't expect perfection. I'd say for anyone getting into guitar, this thing is perfect. Not pricey by any means in terms of guitar, but it doesn't play like you dragged it out of a dumpster as well 😂
bought one recently and it sounds about as good as my fender fa100 that has 9 year old strings on it and has a broken saddle lol... hard to play as well
.. is it the strings?
In my opinion, the most important considerations (especially for a beginner) are how well it stays in tune and playability. But if you catch the guitar bug, you can overlook a lot of defects.
That being said, an intrument with great tone is a joy to play. And it is difficult to describe what makes a tone good.
bought one recently and it sounds about as good as my fender fa100 that has 9 year old strings on it and has a broken saddle lol... hard to play as well
Excellent comparison demo. Great the way you compared every string tone. Thank you.
Thank you Donald 🙏🏼
A cheap guitar in skilled hands sounds better than an expensive guitar in unskilled hands. $2,000 for guitar? I don't think so. Your money is better spent elsewhere.
I have a fender CD-100 LH Nat, its all laminate... But i prefer it over a martin. I agree with you!
Being a personal owner of the HD28, I will say that there is much more music shade and potential represented in the HD28, which a good player will be able to draw out in his or her approach to the strings. There's just more richness, color and variation to be tapped into.
casually playing day in a life. i love it
Hi Alex. I am very late to the party, but just subscribed to your channel based on this video. I can't praise you enough. This is how guitar comparison videos should be done. I'm an old fart that's been playing guitar for over 45 years, and the fact that you are so young (compared to me) makes me even more impressed. My first guitar was one of those bolt-on-neck all-laminate Epiphones. (I just did a major repair on one last year for a good friend of mine.) He has been playing it at my monthly guitar group and it sounds pretty darn good for what it is. My second guitar was a nicer Epiphone with a solid top. I have had many different guitar brands since then (Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Yamaha, Martin, etc.), so I'm not married to Epiphone guitars. That said, the Epiphone stood up quite well against a Martin D28, which is really saying something. Does the Martin sound better? Of course. Is the Martin worth the extra money? Yes, if you can afford it. Could you get along with the Epiphone? Yes, for as long as you needed or wanted to.
Love your comment. I'm 66.I been playing since I was 16.My first guitar was a GuildD35.My last guitar I've bought last week is a Epiphone P150.Is it as good as a 3000 dollar guitar? NO.But mannnn does this 60 dollar Epiphone sound greatttttt......Yep.🤣
Meant PR150
For some reason, the Epiphone sounds more delightful to me. I guess that's a good thing, as I won't need to get an expensive guitar to sound good.
I agree , sounds crisper to me!
Yeah the martin was mostly low end and boomy . In just about every comparison through 7:40 the cheap epi was king .. granted I streamed via a lower end surround system (Sony that sound very decent and full range to my ears ) maybe it made the difference . But for my ears I’m glad I just ordered a lefty epi dr 100 song maker .. which is in back order btw
@@vicpnut1 You won't be disappointed , I bought it a few months ago. Around the time I watched this review , the only thing I did was sand about an 1/8th of the saddle/bridge down. Because the action was to high for my preference even after I adjusted the truss rod. Now it's perfect for me and sounds great , I'm not a big acoustic guy. But I wanted one to use occasionally to play some Johnny Cash. P.s. You might want to try zZounds , if you don't want to wait. They had it in stock✌
@@mikeg.9238 thanks for the suggestion but , yeah ,oh I’m well acquainted with zzounds. They were the first place I bought guitars from (1 or two I badly wish I still had now , but $$ issues dictate if my hobby continues at times) but they actually estimate a 4 day longer wait than where I ended up ordering @AMS. It’s a lil tougher , all around actually for me as I’m a lefty . Usually it’s just the lack of options / models for us lefties but lately a lot of usually stocked guitars just aren’t in stock as of now . In fact I ordered 3 guitars this time on AMS’s awesome payment plans (very similar to zzounds ) and all 3 are on back order …. This epiphone which claims more expected 8/10/21 , a Luna acoustic which is expected late in September and a gretsch g5230 that doesn’t even have a date listed just “expected soon” as a time frame … it kind of sucks that ams has already started processing the first payment when the order isn’t even set to go out yet . Zzounds would wait and give me the option to cancel the order ahead of processing payment 1. Ams did offer to refund and cancel afterwards though … sorry for the lil tangent , just getting excited about the upcoming ngd , hopefully not to far off
@@mikeg.9238 thanks for the suggestion but , yeah ,oh I’m well acquainted with zzounds. They were the first place I bought guitars from (1 or two I badly wish I still had now , but $$ issues dictate if my hobby continues at times) but they actually estimate a 4 day longer wait than where I ended up ordering @AMS. It’s a lil tougher , all around actually for me as I’m a lefty . Usually it’s just the lack of options / models for us lefties but lately a lot of usually stocked guitars just aren’t in stock as of now . In fact I ordered 3 guitars this time on AMS’s awesome payment plans (very similar to zzounds ) and all 3 are on back order …. This epiphone which claims more expected 8/10/21 , a Luna acoustic which is expected late in September and a gretsch g5230 that doesn’t even have a date listed just “expected soon” as a time frame … it kind of sucks that ams has already started processing the first payment when the order isn’t even set to go out yet . Zzounds would wait and give me the option to cancel the order ahead of processing payment 1. Ams did offer to refund and cancel afterwards though … sorry for the lil tangent , just getting excited about the upcoming ngd , hopefully not to far off
I like the epiphone being brighter. The bass sounded kind of muddy on the Martin when in a mic.
I bought a used Epi DR-100 for 30 bucks and it made me hundreds of dollars. Can't afford a Martin yet but definitely will consider. Awesome video btw!
Thanks Michael! Congrats on the purchase
That arrangement and your playing on a day in the life sounds great! Great playing in this entire video!
I just purchased a wine red DR-100 Epiphone for around the house and for some studio work. It will do the job but man, that Martin just has that ringing tone and resonance that can’t be found in a budget guitar. I’d bet it’s a hell of a lot smoother to play as well.
Agreed. Although, I have a cheaper Martin with the laminate neck and sides/back, and it sounds as good as the expensive models.
Personally, if I were to buy an expensive guitar, I'd buy vintage.
the epiphone has more volume the martin has a richer tone. both sound just fine. i actually have an epiphone pr 150 and its a really nice guitar.
Me too. I'm an Epiphone fan and they sound great. Martin sounds great, obviously, but Epiphone won't hurt your pocket 😁
The 4 bases strings resonates much deeper for martin for the 2 others i ear no differences. So it's exact it's the solid wood who make all the differences. But i'm really very impress by this DR-100 it have nothing to be affrayed is thid duel. It's very good demo sound.thanks a lot 🙏😉👍
Ran across this video because I just bought a dr-100 after reading 59 out of 61 rave reviews on Sweetwater. There are very few guitars with the creamy fullness of your Martin. However, the dr is a legitimately fine sounding instrument. And I'm not going to qualify that statement with 'for the price'. Important things for a new player are: ease of play, intonation, pleasant timbre, and affordability. The dr-100 checks all these boxes IMHO. The Martin is well worth the money if you have the skills and talent to bring it's fine qualities to the listener. A great comparison. Certainly not a fair comparison. Nice work, by the way.
Last Christmas I got the DR100, special edition solid top matte sunburst. I love it! Very fast neck (reminded me of a Kramer shredder neck that I once tried in a pawnshop) there were couple of frets with slight buzz, I sanded them, and now sounds clean, but even with the slight buzzing, it was sounding like a slightly overdriven Les Paul, like a built in effects pedal. I also love it's ease of playing, specially great for strumming or playing lead parts. Not good for fingerstyle, string spacing is tight. Not just for beginners, but for everyday playing, so as to save your more expensive guitar from wear and tear.
Great to hear your experience! I didn’t know that Epiphone made a solid top DR-100
@@AlexPriceMusician yup, got it from Sweetwater. Model name: DR-100S/VSS
Now, I'm not a huge fan of the standard Martin sound envelope as I prefer a bit more presence in the high end than most Martins. (Though I've found that Martins with scalloped braces are much more to my liking.) I have a mid-70's Yamaha (laminate) and 6 acoustic Taylors, from dreadnought to tiny Grand Concert.
In the demo, I found the Epiphone lacked the pure tone of the Martin. I actually cringed when the single G and E strings were played around the 4:00 mark. While the Epiphone sounded better when fully "played", I had no difficulty telling the difference between the two sounds. The Martin just had purer tones that sounded just so much more "solid" to me.
As to whether the difference in price is worth it? I too am amazed at the sound of the $140 guitar, though I *do* wonder how it would have sounded with it's original strings. Not that I'm arguing against using the same strings in the comparison, but I warrant the sound would have been even more pronounced with the original strings.
David Schmidt it actually did have the original strings on it before I restrung it, but they were very old so I didn’t want to shoot the video with them. Thanks for your thoughts!
@@AlexPriceMusician My point is though, that with a $140 guitar you KNOW they didn't put a $20 set of strings on it. So I'd guess at least a bit of the sound on the Epiphone was the new strings and that someone purchasing one probably wouldn't get *quite* the sound until they put better strings on it.
There are times I *wish* I couldn't hear the difference. I'd be buying cheaper guitars. But on the other hand, I love the different tone woods and even nicer inlays and perfling so I'd still like the more expensive, but I don't think I could bear the sound of the Epiphone very long.
Great first guitar though, when you're not sure if someone will keep playing. Once you can feel and hear the difference you can *then* spend more (and use the Epiphone as a backup, travel guitar, camping guitar or pass it on to someone starting guitar).
David Schmidt Well said, David. I think the Epi is a great starter guitar.
You're very good at these vides. You're charismatic and quick on your feet. Thanks for this video and you earned a new subscriber.
Pleasure to have you!
Speaking as a DR-100 owner here...there's definitely a difference in tone, the Epi is brighter, the Martin has a fatter, midrangey tone, a sweet tone. There's probably no comparison in build quality or fit and finish. In other words, Epi=a functional instrument, Martin=a fine instrument. Is it worth the enormous premium? It depends. For all but the most discriminating pros who are performing solo or recording a high profile album, I'd argue no.(Guitar collectors and Martin enthusiasts are a whole other matter.) For a giggng musician playing local clubs or indie recording in a home studio, the DR-100 would be more than completely adequate (I've done plenty of recording with mine),, and a Martin is total overkill except for the prestige of the brand. Calling the Epi a "beginner" guitar is unfair imo, as the term carries certain connotations; I'd prefer "entry level".
Love these videos. Keep making them and I'll keep watching them. Every time.
Craig Harper thanks so much Craig
I spent some money on a Gibson Hummingbird 12 years ago, when I had played guitar for 5 years or so. I dont regret that for a second. I think once you realize you'll be playing for the rest of your life in some capacity or form, I think the investment is worth it for the sound quality and feel of the guitar.
If you are just starting out, however, there is really no reason to buy an expensive guitar. It wont make a real difference in the sound until you feel very comfortable playing whatever tune you're attempting - in my experience anyway.
Couldn’t agree more
Nothing about the sound of the martin says, "yea I better pay an extra $2,860"..... to me anyway.
Chris Snyder thanks for your thoughts!
Exactly, Jamie Johnson dosent play a Dr 100 he uses an AJ 200 $399 and has went platinum and uses it every live show. I have a worked DR100 I use everyday because of the feel. The sound has been improved but was never bad in the first place to me. I love mine.
@@CharlieRootsMusic How did you improve the sound?
@@shojimujoshojimujo3315 lowered action, filed frets, changed saddle bone out and slapped ernie ball medium lights on and it's been a champ since. And upgraded machine heads and bridge pins.
@@CharlieRootsMusic Thanks for the info.
Headphones, sounds great!
Martin has more warmth and sustain.
I think you could get most of that for around $500.00, the epiphone masterbilts are a good middle of the road solid wood guitar, Blueridge guitars also makes A great solid wood Matin clone. I think if someone is a serious player, and loves Martin and can afford one, it's always worth the money!
I own a early 70s d45 and also have a 200$ fender dg7 from the late 80s and I love the Martin more however the fender has a more bright ring to it I’ll admit but build quality is an obvious answer who wins but both are great guitars that have their individual pros
Epiphone sounds really good & Martin sounds excellent but the price difference between the both it's huge. Martin sounds more warm & deeper but not worth $2,860 more. It's basically due to the Martin manufactured in States & Epiphone somewhere in Asia...🤘😀🤘.....🙏🙏
Yamaha fg800, and Epiphone Dr 100 one of the two best guitar around $200 by far
That Yamaha is fantastic. I’ve played it too.
Oh my Goodness. I'm listening to this video through my Seinheiser 598SRs. I can hear some distinct differences between these guitars, which I'll explain as best as I can through some imagery:
If both of these guitars were wolves, the Epiphone would be growling, while the Martin is howling. The Epiphone's sound is rugged like ice from an outdoor hockey rink, that's been skated on for weeks without a fresh layer. The Martin's sound is as smooth and satisfying as that first stride on an indoor rink, right after the zamboni has layed a fresh layer of water. The Epiphone's sound tastes like cereal that have been soaked in milk for over 5 minutes; they soggily sink to the bottom of the bowl. The Martin's sound is like Honey Nut Cheerios™️ on which milk was freshly poured; they still have their strong rounded shape, they float harmonically on the milk's surface, and they taste like real honey. The Epiphone's color gamut is like watching this very video at 240p resolution; you can see the image, but detains are faint (go, try it). The Martin's color gamut is like watching this video at 1080p, and noticing little details like the oscillation of the guitar strings after each of Alex's strum's (also try it).
Great video!
Wow, very true
I actually liked the Epiphone cheap version.though I'm a fan of both guitars .I had an ft-79 Texan I miss so much but as long as that x braced body under epi .even cheaply made sounded beautiful
i think the martin is brighter and when comparing it think it is more of preference in what sound you like. i see it like this i would rather buy some ting i can work with rather them some ting i have to insure. There both great instruments
Fantastic review! Thanks for posting
🤙
Once you install better tuners and better strings, the DR-100 is a solid player. I have Grover tuners and DR Veritas phosphor bronze strings on mine.
To my Joe Six-pack ears, the DR-100 has a surprisingly competitive tone as heard through a set of Grado SR-80e phones.
The HD-28 has a mellower, more refined, and less brash sound overall than the DR-100. The upper frequencies on the cheaper guitar seemed a bit off, where the pricey box rang true. No player would mistake one for the other. But for the price, the Epiphone model would be a good investment as a starting point for say, a drummer, who might want to give strings a try.
It’d be interesting to compare this Epiphone with a Yamaha FG-700; heard about both for years being great starter instruments.
Thanks for your thoughts Kevin! Appreciate it
I have a 1981 Martin HD-28 that I've owned since 1992, so I'm super biased but I have to say that the Epiphone didn't sound terrible. Just brighter, less resonance, and depending on what style you played. I love my Martin and it's the only guitar I own and don't have any desire to own another unless I find a pre-1969 D-28 Brazilian for less than $3k (I don't think that will happen in this l ifetime). Great comparison by the way, you seemed to eliminate most of the variables when playing each guitar.
Thanks! I’ve been playing my HD-28 a ton lately, and I have to agree.
I listened on Sennheiser headphones. I just bought a DR 100. It has too much high. The Martin clearly has a more mellow sound with rich mid and bass. You can definitely use a DR 100 for some things, for example slide guitar would be great. Otherwise the Martin definitely is worth the extra.
As a tip, I found a real cheap guitar called an "Academy", made in China. Cost like $30 so I bought 3 as beaters for campfires and such. Could have been the manufacturing batch and others won't be like it , but I was surprised that after I changed the cheap strings it came with, it the sound was awesome. Mellow and rich like a Martin, the neck was flat with zero buzzing frets and it just sounded good. They must have properly cloned a Martin because it plays that way, or just an act of God on the production line of cheap guitars. Do check one out though if you come across. About the only cheap guitar I've ever found that I like.
You can get 2 high end Martin guitars of the same year and model and they will not sound the same. Each guitar will have its own sound like a finger print. They also change tone over time as they are played.
Really like the video.
I’m curious about something. You mentioned you’d just put the strings on a couple minutes ago, did they get a full stretch cycle to the point that that wouldn’t stretch out of tune anymore? That makes a pretty big difference in tone. They will sound extra bright and tinny until they’re stretched. Like a 10 minute process.
I just realized that expensive guitars have dampened and kinda solid with the low and the cheaper one have bright high tones and a little too bright low tones, but again.. one without the other is great, and we can't really sure which is better until we bought both guitars. so I will stick with epiphones for it's more affordable and I am not really earning any money with my guitar.
To my ear the Epiphone sounds pretty good. Add a Bone Nut and Bone Saddle, Ebony Bridge Pins, Best Quality Strings on the Epiphone,,, and then i don`t think the Martin price difference would be worth it.... :)
Proving once again that it's not what your money can buy but your experience.A good guitarist can make a stick with strings sound great.In 1979 I started out with a guild D40 and it sounded better than anyones guitar no matter what they were playing but I did not have the skills that I have now and you guessed it, I can no longer afford a Guild D40 so I play whatever I can get my hands and fingers on.Currently its a Epiphone masterbuilt Frontier thats almost a 3rd of the price a a guild D40 traditional but it's a good sounding guitar in its own right.
I was looking for videos to just listen to the DR-100 a little more before buying it, as I've just gotten into it and want to move away from this awful nylon string brandless thing I've got but I don't want to go crazy just yet - it's fascinating seeing the difference and you can definitely hear it!! One day I'll work up to being able to justify a Martin, but for now the DR-100 sounds like the perfect beginner / entry level steel string acoustic for most people! Thanks a bunch!! EDIT: Also, was listening on pretty high end noise cancelling Sony's - this comparison was so dope!
I appreciate the testimony! Let me know how you find it. Another great option if you have a bit more to spend is an Eastman PCH series, which has a solid top. I have one also and it rocks 🤘🏼
@@AlexPriceMusician I noticed ya mention it and did see you've done so previously - it does look great!! But I think I'm pretty satisfied staying super budget friendly at the moment and the Eastman is a little harder to come by where I am (England, UK). Maybe in a year or so, I can treat myself to an upgrade!
(Also, a MUCH smaller factor but one I can't deny, the DR-100 in black is just really sweet looking, haha!)
@@sleepykyokoxoxo Agreed , plus if you play electrics like me and just want a decent acoustic to strum while watching tv or whatever , this seems like a better option. Plus for the price of a martin i can buy 2 very nice electric guitars that will last forever!
I have dr100. I replaced all bridge pins sadle and nut to brass. And kaboom!!! I'll never gonna buy another acoustic anymore. Try it.. it's badass. Definitely it's up there with the big guys like Martin and Taylor. Infact I think it's sounds even better. Just try it. Full brass
Thanks for sharing!
I like the twang of the epiphone a bit better than the warmth of the Martin. Dr 100 for me
Thanks for your thoughts!
I think the Epiphone DR 100 is a great value guitar. Of course the Martin is better, warmer with more depth, but the Epi is a good value guitar to start off with.
Just happened upon this video is great and it is very informative, I am a total newbie on the guitar and I actually just purchased a DR-100. One thing that really stuck out to me in the video was the difference in the brilliance of the middle strings between the two guitars (The DR-100 had very high mids). That leads me to this question...Would you recommend mixing the strings on the DR-100 to have more of a balance from top to bottom like the Martin does and if you did what brand, size, etc.. would you recommend to achieve that goal?
Awesome variable isolation. Impressive test.
I think the Epi would stand out better in a mix. My understanding is the FT-100 is solid wood @ $259 cdn Nitro finish and torrified fret board.
Well, the Martin is a better instrument in every way. Tone, build quality. However, two things stand out. First, that Epi is a heck of a good guitar for the price. Can't see it being as well set up out of the box as the Martin, but tonewise it's outstanding for the price. Second, as with everything, the law of diminishing returns applies, so a $300 guitar might sound twice as good as the Epi, but a $3000 one won't sound 20 times as good! A sad fact of life. There are other advantages with the more expensive guitar, though. As I suggested. probably better set up with better fretwork, higher quality parts, better finish, more handmade processes, made in the USA.
I have an Ibanez AC340L ($340.00), am getting a Martin 000-10E ($800.00), but you know what? for that price, now I want one of these Epiphone ($150.00 on Sweetwater Music) DR100s..Love that they put the "E" on their pick guard.
One thing that you'll notice immediately when you have a cheap guitar like this is how demanding it is for new strings. It sounds decent in this video because the strings were brand new. Give the Epiphone and Martin each 3 days with the strings and the Martin will still sound great, the Epiphone not so much.
I think if you already own a few nice acoustics you might be disappointed with this one.
@Alex Price Hello again, your video came across my feed, and I noticed that I had commented on it.
Well, I ended up with a Martin D-10 Road Series Dreadnought all Sapele, with the Fishman electronics at just under $1K.
Took some time for it to break in and warm up to. A few days ago, I replaced the bridge pins with Martin liquid metal alloy pins, their cheapest set at $100. Also some new Martin 2.0 strings and took a few days to set. Worth noting that one of the first things I did to my Martin was to sand down the saddle so that the strings sit lower. Martin fretboard are already amazing out the box. I sand down all the saddles to my acoustic because I favor lower action.
My Ibanez AC340 opn sounds tinny, but probably needs a good setup since there is terrible buzzing at around the 11th fret on the on strings G & B.
And a few days ago, my lefty Epiphone DR-100 in Natural finish arrived. First thing I did after playing it for a few hours out the box was mod the saddle, and replace the strings with Martin's 2.0 12g. Took several tunings and stretching for the strings to settle.
So far, I'm very much impressed. The Epiphone sounds amazingly beautiful. Much brighter than my Martin, and the neck feels perfect in my hands. I don't anticipate it sounding bad anytime soon tbh. I've learned that apparently bridge pins don't dramatically change the tone much. For my Martin, those liquid metal pins didn't overly change her tone much, so I'll leave the Epi stock.
I actually love how the Epiphone feels, plays and sounds. For less than 1/5th the cost.
I'm not a pro level acoustic player, I've just recently gotten into them quite heavily as they showcase your playing but I am more chords n finger strumming right now but coming along better than I thought.
I love both those Dreadnoughts more than the Ibanez.
Props to Epiphone acoustic guitars!
Martin is dulcet compared to Epiphone. Martin resonates better with lower notes than the Epiphone. I almost "hear" the better Martin woods ringing better than the Epiphone.
But the Martin isn't 20 times musically better than the Epiphone. Not to me.
How am I watching your video? I put on my hearing aides and broadcast your video on my Samsung TV.
A few days ago I strummed an Epiphone DR-100 at a used guitar store. It's made in 2013 (10 years old). The luthier had put new strings on it and shaved down the bridge. Low action.
I strummed it with my thumb. Very good. I strummed with a pic. Wow. It rang out wonderfully throughout the store.
So it won my heart.
It even inspired me to finish a riff I had been working upon. Cool.
After your great video I'm walking in chilly Chicago to buy it for $100 and find a decent case for it.
A persuasive video (thank you) and a great $100 guitar when set up professionally.
Richard, congrats on the new guitar! I agree - the Epiphone is certainly a fine instrument for the price. It's hard to beat the Martin, but if it inspires you to play, that's all that matters.
@@AlexPriceMusician I did buy the Epiphone DR-100. It's nickname is "Boomer". I'll never my first strum on it and how it sang out filling the guitar store.
Martin has a warmer sound and and more harmonic overtones but to my ears the epi projected better and had a more clear tone.
You can get some nice solid top guitars for 300-1000 dollars, and for around 1000-1500 dollars you can get some nice all solid wood guitars, including epiphone masterbilt, yamaha all solid wood guitars, and many more. No need to spend martin prices for a quality instrument in my opinion.
I wonder how the epiphone would sound if you scalloped the braces, or is that pointless on a laminated top?
For guitar in between both get the yamaha fg830
The Martin is sweeter not as flat... But HOW DO THEY FEEL TO PLAY???
have you compressed/normalized the volume between the two guitars? One would expect the martin to be louder, especially with a lighter touch, but it's not the case. I'd be curious to see a test where you play both guitars with very aggressive strumming, it wouldn't surprise me if the epiphone could actually get louder, with its stiffer top being able to hold up better to heavy picking.
What's the song or chords that he's playing at 6:13?
🤔Thank you for doing this comparison, now I understand.
I have one of the yamaha $150 guitars and my friend has a Martin. I played on it and it was sooooooo smooth. I think you have to feel the difference
There definitely is a big difference in feel. That much doesn't come through the video
Of course the Martin sounds better xD but it is true that beginner and cheaper guitars are pretty good. That Epi sounds really nice, it costs about 100 euros so what we can expect? I own a Tanglwood Union folk now because dreadnoughts are too big for me. 200 euros, solid top, all mahogany... really happy with it :) thanks for sharing and keep rockin!
Thanks for your thoughts! I haven't played a Tanglewood before but I'd love to try one sometime. I've heard good things. The solid top on more affordable guitars really can make all the difference.
@@AlexPriceMusician the union series is really nice, all mahogany, solid top and different sizes: dread, folk and parlor. Check them out when you can!
Awesome. Thanks for the recommendation!
The Epiphone is kind of bright and harsh. The Martin is mellow and warm. As for the price split, if you've got the money or you're a pro, it seems to be worth it to me. I'm listening on speakers.
Obviously a beginner should go with the Epiphone and hope not to get a defective one.
You add a fishman or other good pickup to the dr-100 and it will sound even better than the martin's tone when adjusted and plugged and will not hurt when adding the mod.
I’d like to see you make them sound the same. Maybe use an amp. With some tone controls?
I have the Epiphone DR-100, and it's an amazing guitar for the price. I have had Gibsons and Taylors but this guitar sounds great and I really enjoy the neck, perfect fit for my hands.
Me too!
Make sure you close your eyes before listening because the price will lean you towards the more expensive one because you expect it to sound better, so close your eyes and listen, it also depends on what sounds you like.
Now between the two . The Epiphone sounds like the 1800's guitar .
I have ear buds in . Plus I have an Epiphone DR 100 and love it .
They’re not suppose to sound the same. It’s like comparing a honda to bmw, both will get the job done, but not everyone can afford a bmw or wants to.
I play a vintage sunburst dr-100 with Ernie ball light phospher bronze strings, take the e pick guard off and replace it and u can fool alot of people. I never owned or played a Martin long enough but I'll take my semi set up Dr 100 over most of my $400-800 guitars. I play my Dr daily
RiFFMeiSTeR 90 great to hear! The Epi really did surprise me. It sounds great with a new set of strings
@@AlexPriceMusician I think as a seasoned player you can hear the difference but to a crowd at a high with backing instruments they never know.
I think it all depends on what you want out of an acoustic guitar. I own a Martin HD-35 and know that I'm keeping it till I die (hope to pass it on). I've also have had a chance to play a decent amount of guitars over the last handful of years (started taking the guitar more seriously a couple of years removed from college). What you get when you spend that type of money is quality and long-term ownership (on top of sound). Epiphone DR-100 like guitars are vital for the guitar industry as it gave/gives all of us to enter to world of guitar playing. But once you personally play a higher-end guitar, you really don't know what your missing. It was playing my worship leader's 1970s Martin D-41 that did it for me. Nothing wrong with cheaper guitars but it ain't the same. Playing the guitar in person makes a world of difference. Its a good video nonetheless.
Couldn't agree more!
That Martin is a sweet sounding guitar!
Mike Bottiaux yes it is!
Thanks for the comparison!
Thanks for commenting Stephen
the martin sounds very clear, soft and smother
Hi. Im total noob :) but is that mainly the wood type that the Martin sounds much...warmer and clearer? Although the cheaper is okay too. In general the wood type gives a guitar different sound signature?
The Martin is made of solid wood and the Epiphone is made of laminate so that is a big factor in the difference in tone. Also just the general built quality will have a lot to do with it also.
In the violin world we have so many expensive and mass-produced instruments that flaunt expensive woods but are made by workers who don’t care to put the effort in to cross all the T’s and dot the I’s. An instrument made of lesser wood but to a higher standard by a true luthier will be a better instrument.
Out of all the martins iv played those dr 100’s plays better and mine is my primary gig guitar. Just put elixir strings and grover tuners on it. Maybe ever put a d28 style pick guard on it. The only problem is it does not have a pre amp installed. But you still can’t beat it for the price.
The Epi is a great bargain and projected some higher notes louder. The Martin had a much richer sound, smoother and less jangley. Unless you make a good living as a musician, the Martin a silly purchase. I will be getting the Epiphone. To be my only acoustic. Thanks.
I found the Epiphone DR-100 much brighter than the Martin HD-28. I can't compare the difference in price, In that region the Epiphone wins hands down. I have been playing guitar for 70 years & I think expensive guitars are a waste of money. I have an Encore acoustic I bought for £28 & I love it. Just my opinion of course.
Alex ..your channel is really great and I hope it grows and grows !! ...Also ...with your long fingers you could probably play an ..eight string..
classical guitar ..😄
Ed Petrik Thank you! I appreciate the support.
At one point I had a teacher who played 10-string classical.
F# B E A D G B B E A
Both sounded decent tho the martin has a superior sound, but I think the martin is for the people who wants the highest quality of acoustic guitars, and the epiphone for people who wants a decent guitar.
I mean obviously the martin sounds better...as it damn well should. But the epiphone did not sound bad at all considering its a fraction of the price. For a beginner guitar you cant beat the dr100. The masterbilt series are a nice middle of the road guitar.
My thoughts as well! The Epi surprised me
The DR 100 is an awesome entry level guitar while the Martin is well….a Martin, they obviously got their name because they produce high quality instruments, not an ideal comparison cause both these guitars are targeted at a difference audience, for me if u have the cash to spare then obviously no one is going to chose the Epiphone over the Martin however most people don’t and then it’s awesome that there is a great quality and build guitar like the Epiphone. In my opinion you are comparing apples with oranges, anybody who knows anything about guitars will tell you that, great video none the less