Product: Martin 000-28ECB
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
04/07/2007
at
09:32am
by
Mikey
Email: FenderBender at cox<dot>net
Features
:
No Opinion
Any interested in this guitar probably already knows all the features of this fairly simply guitar by now, so I will only discuss the most important one, the Brazilian sides and back. The Brazilian wood is extremely desirable for value and resale. An average used EC goes for about $2,500.00. An average ECB goes for about $8,500.00. Years ago, it cost about twice as much to buy an ECB as an EC. Now that gap is widening. Martin just isn't making Brazilian much anymore.
Sound
:
9
I have owned both the 000-28EC and the 000-28ECB and done many side by side comparisions listening to the same person playing, same pick, same strings, same room, same song. (True test..whereas with someone else playing, the sound comes right at you and you can make an objective observations much more easily) The Brazilian wood makes the guitar much "richer" in tone, more so on full chords and the lower strings than flat picked notes. Fingerpicking is a chore on either guitar whereas the guitar needs a bit of pressure to get the notes to happen. Both guitars are basically full strum instruments. The Sitka spruce tops in no way ring as clear as Adirondack tops, but have a very pleasing and mellow tone. Very well balanced range of sound also. Most of the balance comes from the 000 body shape.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Fine, but every guitar is different.
Reliability/Durability
:
7
Since there are 14 frets to the body, there are truss rod issues. I strongly suggest using light guage strings only. The 12 fret to the body design like the Norman Blake guitars is much more desirable for longevity and durability...and sound for that matter. Most ECs that I have seen have a slight "hump" where the neck is no longer directly attached to the body. If you are fanatical about things, this might bother you. But, it usually has no effect on the sound or playability whatsoever, so there you go.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
9
I like the ECB better of course. Richer in tone and increases in value as well. My EC goes everywhere and anyone can beat on it. My ECB is my baby and stays home in the closet. So what's up with that? A guitar you can't use or abuse? Might as well own a piece of antique furniture. BUT.. if you record... different story. Break out the old ECB and a couple of tube mics and we are in business.
