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I love the sound of rosewood too. My Blueridge is laminated rosewood - not as good sounding as solid wood but still a great sound and a little more forgiving for changing weather conditions and campfire picking. 

I am always on an never ending quest for the perfect strings to suit my ear.  I played Nanos for several years then switched to D'Addario's although they didn't hold their sound near as long.  For the last few years I've been using nothing but Dean Markley Alchemy goldphos as I love the bright sound that lasts a long time.  The last time I ordered some, the on-line dealer had a big sale so I also bought  a set of DR Sunbeams, Dean Markley Helix and Martin Lifespan SP (with Cleartone treatment) to try.  I just sent an order for 4 more sets of the Martins.  All the strings I use these days are 11-52's Martin call them custom lights.

DE

Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Leo Kottke

The acoustic I learned to play on was a Sigma, which cost around $100 back in '74 .  In the early 80's I sold the Sigma and splurged ($400) and bought a used Guild jumbo 12 string.  I loved the sound of that guitar but I suffered a shoulder injury while whitewater kayaking and it became painful to hold and play. So I sold it and bought a used Alvarez ($100).  I played it for years before passing it on to my son after I had bought a Taylor big baby ($350).  I liked the Taylor but it didn't have any bottom (bass) end.  I found a used Martin D-16GT for $500 and it was my main guitar for several years with the Taylor as a "back-up". Walked into a local music store one day and picked up a 000 size Blueridge BR-73 and it "grabbed" me. Traded in the Taylor and bought the BR-73 ($550).  As the shoulder problem came back, the dreadnaught size was painful to play so the D-16GT was sold and I picked up a Martin 000-16GT ($650) off of ebay. I was a little disappointed in the Martin at first, but it has opened up over the last year and I really like the sound now - it's getting played more than the Blueridge these days.  Slowly, over the years my "comfort" level has increased from $100 to around $600-$700. 

A friend told me about a 1937 Martin 00-17 in a music store 40 miles away.  I was in the area a couple of days ago and stopped in to see it.  I was surprised when the store owner handed it to me and asked me to play a couple of the songs I've written.  (I'm guessing my friend might have told him I'd be stopping in to look at it some time and the salesman picked up some info on me that might help with the sale.)  I was amazed at the sound coming out of that little axe, but at an asking price of $2500, it was definitely above my "comfort zone". 

DE

I've always liked what Wayne Henderson - picker and luthier from VA once said. "Guitars are like vacuum cleaners - when you plug them in they suck".

DE

I love the sound of Martins.  A friend is a collector and would bring a couple of his high-end axes to jams at my house.  After playing a few I was hooked, sold my Taylor and bought a used D-16 and then a used 000-16. However, the mahogany doesn't have the low end that I love to hear in the Martin rosewood acoustics. I know bluegrass players who like the sound of the mahogany D-18 because it has a little more treble and "cuts" through the other instruments during solos, however  I hope to get my hands on an OM-21 someday - no fancy trim, just a rosewood body and Martin quality.

DE

Schweeeeeet!!!

Two thumbs up Deadstring.!!  What an excellent way to share your music!

And nice story Zurf.  Certainly a great memory.

DE

A friend sent me a CD of some of his favorite songs and I've spent the last couple weeks trying to learn some of them:

"The Rain" - Scott Miller
"Red Ball Express" - Scott Miller
"Seven Hillsides" - written by Walt Wilkins and recorded by Ricky Skaggs

I'm working on "Dear Sarah" by Scott Miller and can't decide whether I like it better on my Nashville tuned Martin or my normal tuned Blueridge

I also just finished writing a new song "Hard Times" as part of my News Years resolution to write a new one every month.  I've probably played it 30 times over the last week trying to ingrain the lyrics in my dense head so I'll remember how to play it at the next open mic I attend.

DE

Good'un ww55 !!

Here's few of the hundreds of great lines written by the poet of the American working man - Merle Haggard

"I raised a lot of cane back in my younger days, while Mama used to pray my crops would fail"

"If we make it through December, every things gonna be alright I know."

"My hat don't hang on the same nail too long."

"Losin' wouldn't be so bad at all, but I'm always on a mountain when I fall."

"Sing me back home with the song I used to hear and make my old memories come alive."

"I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole, no one could steer me right but Mama tried"

"If you're runnin' down my country, man you're standin' on the fightin' side of me"

"The roots of my raisin' run deep"

"Keep your retirement and your so-called social security - big city turn me loose and set me free"

"Don't you think they'd like to stop complaining and fly like eagles out among the stars"

Hey CJ, I remember!  As I recall, the boy's name was Oblio or something close.

Really sorry about losing your dog Jets60.  I've lost a couple, but I think if something ever happens to either one of our Bichons my wife would go to pieces.  They have filled a part of her life that went void after our kids all grew up and left. 

A buddy of mine told me to find out who loves you the most, lock your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car for an hour and then see which one is glad to see you when you open it.

DE