Isha, your right to have them wait for some good Mad Rose to come along, rather than going with what's "readily" available these days. I hadn't even heard of Mad Rose until I played what was to become my Mad Rose Juber at Eric Schoenberg's shop in March '07. A great sounding OM, and while Mad Rose isn't Braz, this one came very close at a fraction of the cost (Mad Rose/Adi with a cutaway for under $4200; could even have gotten one for less at one of the big internet places, but there was no way I was buying a Martin without playing it first). Not only did this one sound great, John Arnold took a look at the pix from Eric's site and said it was one of the better sets of Mad Rose he'd seen.

The point is that since buying mine, over just about one's years time, I've read many a posting that states Mad Rose is already getting depleted, and the quality of what you see in the "readily" available form is not too hot. Looks like there is a fairly short window to get the good stuff, so if Collings gets you a good set at a decent price, consider yourself lucky. Be sure to tell us how it turns out.

For sure Tom

I had a super Goodall 000 made with Mad/Ad that worked well but didnt care for Cocobolo in the same confiquration, left a metallic tase in my mouth if thats a good explanation.

Mad Rose with Collings is $2000 upcharge add $1000 for Adirondack and whatever for a 3 model instead of 2 and adirondack braces etc, even without a flowerpot you are grooving with the price of a bargain Brazillian. So lets see, I would rather have good alternative then tonally inferior option on Braz.

Due around Sept.
Isha

oh did I mention extra for cutaway,

Those L.J. Martins come in at a good deal, just never heard or tried one.

It's a very sweet deal (on the Mad Rose Juber) but the trick is finding the right one. I played a whole mess of Martins before I came across this one, and I was sold in the first five minutes of playing. Two customers in the shop came by to listen after I started up, and they both commented on how great it sounded (the guitar, not my playing ).

The Mad Rose gives you a slightly reverby, slightly metallic aspect to the tone, which if overdone would turn me off, but when it's just right, it's a great tone. Also, perfect for me, since I don't use a thumbpick or nails for fingerstyle, just bare skin. And it has plenty of bass, again without being overdone. It also has the most sustain of any guitar I've played. Contrasts very well with my other OMs. A really fine fingerstyle guitar at a great price (relatively)

And what was surprising about the appearance of this one was the Mad Rose was relatively straight grained, with just enough variation to also be visually interesting; I'm not much on those wild looking sets. Mine (#93) is still on Eric's site (in the sold instruments section), so you can check it out if of interest. Hey, and on the mojo side, I understand LJ played it for a few minutes when he was at Eric's shop. At no extra charge!

And LJ played for Paul, so you're a Beatle by three degrees of separation. When I first learned "When I'm 64" it was 44 years away. Now, it's two and a half. Geez. tom

Yes it is rewarding to find a good MARTIN.

I only wish I were related to either CF or to George Martin, the real fifth Beatle, one of the best recording engineers (along with Tom Dowd) in the history of popular music. Alas, I'm just another witness protection name in the phone book. There are at least four Tom Martins in this small town.

Not to worry
You are a Legend on this Forum

how kind, sire. I'm positive there are dissenting voices, but that's okay too. tom

Your my favorite Martin....Or wait, was that Ray Walston?

my head is pointed, but not my ears. gawd, we're old. tom

Flatpickr....That Addy top guitar of your ain't never gonna open up sitting in its case. LOL. Good guitars are only good if they are played. No offense to Mr. Gruhn, but he is just a broker, and his opinion doesn't really matter anymore than yours or mine concerning sound and quality, only financial values of said instruments . IMHO a guitar should be judged on the merits inherent to that guitar. Collings does not endorse anyone, or pass out brochures, and all the hipsters that play them do so because they are the best. One cannot say with any objective validity that a new Collings is not built as good or better than an older Martin with any scientific merit. The tolerances and level of finishes, adhesives and so forth, are superior now more than ever. There is the " coolness" factor of an old guitar, but the sonic qualities
and construction are not, IMHO, superior. Modern Technology combined with the knowledge of the strengths of old instruments, and eliminating the mistakes, in skilled builders hands, modern instruments are better than ever. I would love to see Mr. Gruhn prove scientifically that the sonic properties are any way superior, I think not.
Great topic, thanks,
Michael