If you could only own ONE acoustic for the rest of your life ...

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Permalink Reply by John Chambers on June 26, 2012 at 10:36am

Jud, 

I find this to be a horrific question...  I am becoming quite distressed at the suggestion of being left with only one guitar.  I am so conflicted... If I choose one that I already own and love - what will I be missing out on down the road...???  If I choose one that I do not own yet and pass over the lovely ones I own, am I being disloyal??? What if the unknown to me guitar doesn't feel/smell/sound like I imagined??  Have I wasted my opportunity??  If I choose one of my precious guitars - what happens to the rest of them???  It is like choosing which one of your children should live!!!  

On the other hand I played a Taylor 514ce one day that just reached out to my soul.  The feel, the tone, the touch - everything just came together to make a very magical moment. We were in perfect sync.  I could have played her all day...  I was head over heels in love!!!  Alas, I could not buy her at the time and I left her at the store.  But I have thought of her often.  Oh my, how often I have chided myself for not rushing right back to the store to make her my own...  I have tried to find one like her everywhere I go... I have played numerous other 514ce guitars but have never had the same moment.  

So I would choose to have that perfect guitar moment for the rest of my life - with that special Taylor 514ce - with a humidity/temperature controlled room/case to protect it - of course...

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Permalink Reply by Mike Jorgensen on June 29, 2012 at 10:05pm

For me it would be a Yairi. Personally I love the feel and the sound, but also they are the most resiliant guitars I have ever seen. Even their all solid wood models. I have owned many and sold many in my retail  establishment for years and have never seen one succumb to humidity damage. But mainly (in my opinion) I don't think you can find better craftsmanship out there. (again that's just my opinion)

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Permalink Reply by Maurice Condie on July 6, 2012 at 5:21am

Sobell MS African Blackwood.

The most versitile acoustic, and loudest, I have ever had.

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Permalink Reply by cameron on July 8, 2012 at 6:56pm

I thought a lot about this after seeing the post, I think I would have to keep the old alvarez that I've had for 30 years. I have  had dozens of guitars through the years and own a couple martins now but if i could only have one i would have to keep the alvarez.

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Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on July 9, 2012 at 5:58am

I just noticed a year later, that I never even answered my own question ... :-0

Anyway, that's good because I've had a year to think about it and I've played a lot of different guitars over that time period.

The one guitar that I have played that I think would fit all my needs for the rest of my life would be the Martin D-18GE "Golden Era" ... it has pretty much everything that I want in a guitar.

First and foremost, it's a Martin Dreadnought ... it's made to last a lifetime and that's an important point.  Next, it has a wide 1 3/4 inch nut, something I must have on all my guitars.  It also has a 2 5/16 string spacing at the bridge.  For me, combining those dimensions with a modified V neck and makes it an ideal "strummer / fingerstyle" combination.

Lastly, I love the 1934 "vintage" build and appointments.  The Adirondack spruce top and the classic bracing close the deal.

This is the guitar for me if I could only have one. 

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Permalink Reply by michael rommel on July 9, 2012 at 7:17pm

I played with a guy last week who had a D-18 Clarence White edition. That was a dandy! Nice!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Bengston on July 29, 2012 at 8:25pm

If i could only own one acoustic the rest of my life, it would have to be my Rickenbacker 730S Shiloh.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Ballantyne on August 1, 2012 at 6:52pm

I'll post an uninteresting reply.... I'll take the one I know and love, my Seagull Maritime. I've played Martins and Taylors, but like the Maritime better.  Perhaps not rational, but true...

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Permalink Reply by Maurice Condie on August 2, 2012 at 2:37am

Not uninteresting. Some people adapt and learn to work with a particular guitar. End up they get their own best sound from that guitar.

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Permalink Reply by Dane Whitley on August 5, 2012 at 5:02pm

Kinda there with you. I've been playing my Seagull Performer for a couple years now, I'd be okay with it, if it came down to one guitar. 

On the other hand, a Taylor 914 would be nice too. I'd adjust eventually. 

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Permalink Reply by David Batchelor on September 22, 2012 at 6:40pm

The "only one" git is the Martin 1930 000-45 on page 82 of the October issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine!  Or maybe a mint Martin 1-17.

Ok...sorry...but I'm a sucker for nostalgia!

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Permalink Reply by Jack Blackwell on January 3, 2013 at 11:18am

I have 3 that each fulfill different roles. The BTO Taylor LKSM would be the first to go because it's such a niche instrument. Deciding between my McAlisters would be utter torture. The D-18 clone is easily the finest dred ever and the 1 3/4" neck makes it versatile flatpicked or finger picked. If I *had* to make one guitar do all things I'd probably choose that one but the guitar I'm bonded most to is my McA 12 fret slothead cutaway Lucas body. Fortunately I don't *have* to make that choice.

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