"THANK YOU MARK GLAD TO BE A MEMBER...I LOVE ARIZONA. I LIVED IN TUCSON WHEN I WAS A TEEN IN THE EARLY 70'S THATS WHERE I LEARNED TO PICK AT...I WAS ALSO STATIONED AT YUMA PROVING GROUND IN THE LATE 70'S WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY.WE WERE…"
Welcome to the Acoustic Guitar Community.
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Mark Baker
- 54, Male
- Phoenix, AZ
- United States
- Blog Posts (2)
- Discussions (31)
- Events
- Groups (4)
- Photos
- Photo Albums
- Videos
Mark Baker's Groups
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Fingerstyle players
945 members
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Martin Owners
455 members
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Guild Owners
103 members
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Taylor Owners
205 members
If you play acoustic guitar you're the depressed, sensitive guy. (Elliott Smith)
Latest Activity
Mark Baker commented on James Sennett's group Martin Owners"Greetings and welcome to the group, Scott Collins. How long have you had your D-15? Do you have photos to post?"
Mark Baker commented on James Sennett's group Martin Owners"I replaced the plastic pins in my 2001 OM-28V with bone, along with the nut and saddle, which were micarta back then, and I think the sound was improved significantly. Exactly how much of that was due to the pins themselves, hard to say."
Mark Baker commented on Jim Handsfield's group Taylor Owners"@William... I don't own a Taylor jumbo, but I think they make some of the best 12-string guitars I've ever tried (spruce over maple jumbo 12-string is my ideal). I'm sorry to see Taylor remove the jumbo body shape from…"
Mark Baker commented on Jim Handsfield's group Taylor Owners"JB - Taylor Grand Auditorium guitars (like the 414CE) come from the factory set up for 12's. I've been told by the Taylor service department that there is no structural problem with using 13's on a GA, but that it might be…"
Mark Baker replied to Joe Zagerman's discussion Martin D28 vs D28P in the group Martin Owners"I haven't had a chance to try a D-28P yet; however, all else being equal, I would generally prefer the slightly wider nut. Based on the specs listed on the Martin web site all else does appear to be equal, and the string spacing at the…"
Mark Baker replied to Carmen D. Barone's discussion 1971 Martin D12 20 in the group Martin Owners"In that last statement, did you mean to say Martin and Taylor use only light gauge strings on all their 12-string guitars? If so that's true; otherwise not. For 6-string models Martin recommends light gauge for smaller bodied…"
Mark Baker commented on Marlene Hutchinson's blog post Thursday "tip""Thanks, Marlene! For those interested, the top row, left to right, are 1991 Guild D25, 2010 Taylor Custom GS (all mahogany), and a 2001 Martin OM-28V. Bottom row are: 2009 Carvin SH550, 2011 Gibson ES-335, and 2009 American…"
Mark Baker commented on Marlene Hutchinson's blog post Thursday "tip""I couldn't agree more, Marlene. The one on a stand is so new I haven't gotten a wall hanger for it yet.
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Maurice Condie commented on Mark Baker's blog post To Buy American Or Not - That is the Question"I agree Cameron. My coment about Sobell guitars was purly a personal oppinion. One of the best guitars I ever played was a Collings but, for me Sobells work better ( if unforgiving at times).
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cameron commented on Mark Baker's blog post To Buy American Or Not - That is the Question"The Alvarez Yari are some of the best factory made acoustic guitars, even the far east have the quality shops. The lower cost of labor and production just draw in a lot of the lower end economy guitar makers , even the top american factorys…"
Maurice Condie commented on Mark Baker's blog post To Buy American Or Not - That is the Question""the best guitars in the world are produced here" I might contest this point. My view is that Stefan Sobell makes the best guitars in the world, and he does it 30 miles from my house in the norh east of England.
However I agree with your…"
Mark Baker commented on Mark Baker's blog post To Buy American Or Not - That is the Question"I understand that completely, Richard. I don't play gigs so it's not a concern for me - but if I did I wouldn't be using my $3400 J-40. I have a '91 Guild D25 that I bought for $700 a couple of years ago that I would…"
Mark Baker commented on Mark Baker's blog post On Guitars and Wives"Agree, Phil - it's not about need. If it were really about need, I wouldn't own any guitars, actually. I play all of mine and enjoy them thoroughly. I'm not a gigging musician, but if I weren't gainfully…"
"@Mark, I've got a similar blog post about my wife. Good to hear about yours too.
@Richard, sounds like you got things worked out too. As far as who needs a $3000 guitar, for me it's not about need so much as it is about…"
Richard Rambler commented on Mark Baker's blog post On Guitars and Wives"My wife drives a new Toyota. I drive a 15-year-old pickup. She gets her toenails done every 2 wks, I don't even cut mine untill they're growing through my shoes. I never touch the milk money for my guitar addiction, but I DO cycle every…"
Profile Information
- Which one of the following describes your involvement in music? (Check all that apply)
- Amateur or recreational musician, Guitar student
- How many years have you been playing guitar?
- 5-7 years
- Which of these instruments do you own or play?
- Flattop steel-string acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- The make and model of your guitar(s) and/or other instruments and gear.
- '91 Guild D25NT
'01 Martin OM-28V
'09 Taylor Custom GS
'09 Fender American Standard Strat
'10 Carvin SH550
'11 Gibson ES-335
'11 Martin J-40
- What type of music do you like to play?
- rock, country, folk, blues
- Do you subscribe to or regularly read Acoustic Guitar?
- I subscribe
Mark Baker's Blog
To Buy American Or Not - That is the Question
For those of us who live in the United States, this is a question of nearly-endless debate. There are those who believe American-made guitars are always better; and, conversely, that guitars made in China are invariably inferior. Others believe one should choose a guitar based on sound and price alone, ignoring where it's made. Some folks are virtually married to a particular manufacturer and wouldn't consider buying anything else. To still others it's an ideological thing; they…
ContinuePosted on April 26, 2012 at 1:00pm — 9 Comments
On Guitars and Wives
I hear guys who play guitar complain about their wives' lack of understanding of their gear acquisition syndrome (GAS) all the time. Seriously, how many times have you heard a guy say, "I'd love to have that guitar, if only I can get it past the wife"? I've even said it myself a time or two in the past. If your wife doesn't play, she may not understand why you need (or want) more than one guitar, because they all seem the same to her. Add to that the cost (the guitars I like to buy…
ContinuePosted on April 25, 2012 at 4:00pm — 4 Comments
Comment Wall (4 comments)
- At 2:07am on November 16, 2012,
Scott Collins said… THANK YOU MARK GLAD TO BE A MEMBER...I LOVE ARIZONA. I LIVED IN TUCSON WHEN I WAS A TEEN IN THE EARLY 70'S THATS WHERE I LEARNED TO PICK AT...I WAS ALSO STATIONED AT YUMA PROVING GROUND IN THE LATE 70'S WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY.WE WERE TESTING THE NEW ABRAMS TANK AT THE TIME...I WAS PLAYING IN SCOTTSDALE THE NIGHT BOB CRANE FROM HOGAN'S HEROES WAS MURDERED...BUT YES I HAVE SOME PICS POSTED AND WILL POST MORE AS I GO AND I EVEN HAVE A FEW SONGS FROM MY SECOND ALBUM...ON ACOUSTIC GUITAR.COM
- At 12:04pm on February 10, 2011,
Michael & Kody said… - Mark, I looked an played those at GC a few weeks back an they are really nice. I don't know how you feel about shopping online, but you can find the models that interest you. It's Not as scary if you only have to pay 1/3 or 1/2 up front on some 3 Pmt or 60day pay arrangement an have a credit card like Aerican Exp or other, but Amex extends your Waranty anntheybwill go to bat with you if an issue arises. Anyway, yes, I like the finger style, also. However, for personal reasons, I have always wanted the D35 an always get side tracked, so this time I bought it an it came yesterday, Yea, watch for the pics, soon
- At 10:08pm on January 19, 2011, Michael & Kody said…
- Mark, u responded to my convo... & insisted u were getting a New Martin in a few months. Vwhich one are u looking at? I would like to move up myself, singer/ songriter model but I do love the aesthetics of the Gibson Dove! Like u, since the 60's all me & my friends wanted Martins, finaly, just now got one at 62 yrs old. Great Sound but not as much ornaments as other brands. I didn't think I would care as long as I had a Maartin, but now I would seriosly like to hold/play that Gibson Dove! It's georgeous! So is the price, but I think at that level, a few years douwn the road it's value should remain or even appreciate, what do u think?
U really have to lay out some $ to get a Martin with any pearl or abalone, etc. My Dc-1E is Plain w/ stratbond neck, satin/natural finish, no bells & Whistles except the Sound! Which, really adds a certian elegance to it. However, have u looked at that Gibson Dove! Wow! Now that's a Keeper!
- At 10:05pm on January 19, 2011, Michael & Kody said…
- Mark, u responded to my convo... & insisted u were getting a New Martin in a few months. Vwhich one are u looking at? I would like to move up myself, singer/ songriter model but I do love the aesthetics of the Gibson Dove! Like u, since the 60's all me & my friends wanted Martins, finaly, just now got one at 62 yrs old. Great Sound but not as much ornaments as other brands. I didn't think I would care as long as I had a Maartin, but now I would seriosly like to hold/play that Gibson Dove! It's georgeous! So is the price, but I think at that level, a few years douwn the road it's value should remain or even appreciate, what do u think?
U really have to lay out some $ to get a Martin with any pearl or abalone, etc. My Dc-1E is Plain w/ stratbond neck, satin/natural finish, no bells & Whistles except the Sound! Which, really adds a certian elegance to it. However, have u looked at that Gibson Dove! Wow! Now that's a Keeper!
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