Dear Ranger, I'm really glad to receive an answer. Imagine, even I am jealous counting my guitars, and having some guitars (US Fender strat 1964, and a Gibson LP custom 1968=first year they started the production).
In which country do you live? I am from Belgium. How old are you? and what kind of music do you play? My English now, compared to a year ago has improved a lot.
What I told, was the story how the collection started. As told: I am blessed to have these guitars. I know 1 thing: the value of these guitars is 3x more expensive since I bought them but they aren't for sale this isn't also our question. I wrote that it all started with a MARTIN HD-28, and I thought you purchased a HD-28 too?
This MARTIN GIBSON TAYLOR guitars are really great, and if you should ask 100 people, playing guitar, and they have the opportunity, most of them would buy one.
SO MY PERSONAL OPINION = these brands, in particular MARTIN & GIBSON, are burned in our collective memory. You go too a concert, or you read about it: the most famous guitar players do play on these brands. Even more in "electric guitars" GIBSON versus FENDER"
They were also associated with a "guitar god" see Clapton, Hendrix. WORSE these guys get guitars for free '(ENDORSEMENT), see PRS versus SANTANA.
YOUR QUESTION IS SO GOOD, but I am afraid that the "WHY" isn't easy, but since decades MARTIN was the number one. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY "MARTIN or GIBSON" sucks. Almost every professional player has one of those, and the why? PROBABLY SO PROMOTED AND WELL-KNOWNED that we associate these brands with guitar players, and that this "HOLY TRINITY" turns into A MUST HAVE. You bought a Martin HD-28 too, so I can ask you the same question. I promess, since I have time, to look on the net to see if there is another reason.
Why are we obsessed to drive a MERCEDES PORSCHE BMW? Other cars are even better. I do hope we keep in touch, and/or you can mail me (see email address). I try everything to find other reasons for the WHY, besides my opinion.
[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color] AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]