I Hated These Maple Guitars — Then I Played Them • Acoustic Tuesday 282

Today, I’m excited to share two beautiful guitars that, on paper, I hated. Seriously. But sure enough, I bought them. So what changed my mind? Why are they two of my favorite guitars now?

This episode is dedicated to judging a book by its cover, and why you shouldn’t do it. Here’s the skinny: I spent most of my career as a guitarist convinced that maple was not the tonewood for me. I avoided it like the plague. And then I discovered a guitar that turned this aversion completely on its head. 

It was a custom Martin OM with a maple body back and sides. This guitar is a true work of art, with its maple tonewoods and beautiful finish. I’ll be demonstrating its sound and feel, as well as discussing the process of how this guitar entering my arsenal.

Next up is the Huss & Dalton L13 Crossroads Deluxe. This guitar is simply stunning, with a solid Adirondack spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides. I’ll be giving you an in-depth review of its tone, playability, and overall craftsmanship.

As always, I’ll be providing plenty of tips and techniques along the way, so whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, there’s something for everyone in this episode. So sit back, relax, and join me as we explore the world of acoustic guitar!

Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!
https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b

Featured in this episode…
– MusicisWin  
– Chicago Music Exchange  
– Reverb  
– Jody Carroll  
– PRS Guitars  
– Mule Resonator Guitars
– Julian Lage
– Marty Music  

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  1. I guess I started the opposite. I have only maple guitars. Well, both of them anyway. Some day I hope to add a Quilt to the Flame and Birdseye currently on hand. I love me some maple instruments!

  2. I can’t make any suggestions on what guitars I would like to see on your shows because I don’t know what guitars you have. Can you list them and then I can pick some?

  3. Hey Tony, On the Custom Martin OM… what is the headstock material? This has always been my favorite guitar. I cannot seem to find headstock and sound hold design options on the Martin build your own guitar site. Anyway, I am really enjoying your current series of showing and explaining your guitars. Any chance we will find out how many you have? lol Anyway, headstock material on this OM? Thanks!

  4. I must say I am a Maple Wood fan. From the tree to the wood that they provide us. I built a full Maple banjo in high school and boy was sawing and bending the pot wood a tough job. It was wonderful experience and I still think she’s a looker.

    I have an Epiphone Flame Maple Arch-top that lives in open tuning thanks to getting into Hawai’ian Slack Key (more from listening than being proficient at it) but drop tunings sound good on it. So, here’s what I’d like to see: any Arch-Tops you house in your Guitarsenal.
    Thanks!

  5. Oh My Gosh, Tony!!! You make those guitars sing!! You are a fabulous guitar player.
    Those guitars are beautiful. I would love to have a Martin like that some day.
    I was watching the news last week and they introduced a new Indigenous musician. He is amazing. He’s Canadian, as am I. His name is Evan Asanabee. Amazing!! Check him out!!!
    Thanks Tony, for being a fabulous coach.

  6. Last few AT’s have been very informative and enjoyable. The reason I joined the acoustic challenge in the first place goes way back to the days of the acoustic letter and your demo’s of guitars for music villa and the routine instrumentals you performed each week. I was hoping to learn to learn those very tunes from the collection and more like them that so showcases the beauty and awesomeness of acoustic guitar music. Many of the other responses echo this sentiment. Perhaps a future AT episode could feature what to do for those who are ready to move on or graduate from the acoustic challenge 10 minutes each day routine. I play generally about 2 hours per day or more. I’m ambitious to get be a strong and solid guitar player. Perhaps this suggests a path for Tony’s program to grow to another level. Or, perhaps he can suggest other programs to graduate to. I’ve benefitted tremendously from Tonys program but not sure where tom head from here. Any thoughts out there

  7. Truly enjoyed this episode of acoustic Tuesday, specifically about your guitars. Having so many similarities with Mike, who you showcased on this AT, would like to know the the woods and specs on his custom Martin guitar. Thank you in advance for any information.

  8. Great format on this show Tony. I’ve been in lust with the Crossroads Deluxe since you showed it off in a recent episode. Plus, it was so fun to see and hear “Tuxedo” now that it has aged and opened up since some of your early lesson recordings. What I enjoyed most about this show is hearing you play more. We get to see snippets of you playing on AT and in the daily challenges but a bigger dose of TP music was delicious. Your ragtime style riffs on the H & D sounded so sweet! Assuming the alt tuning selections on Tuxedo are your compositions. For those of us who aren’t likely to be in Bozeman to see you live, what are the best options for us to hear you play more? Perhaps an occasional AT performance of a set of entire songs?

  9. Hea Tony, I would like to see the oddball guitars. And sorry about last Sat. night, Thanks your friend Guy B. Tampa bay FL.

  10. What a show!!! Every Tuesday your show gets better. You darn near had me in tears within the first five minutes with the Martin story. Thanks Tony

  11. It’ll be fun going through your guitarsenal. But my question for you, Tony, is why you’ve never found yourself another Huss & Dalton 12-fret slot-head like “the one that got away”??

  12. Thank you, Michael for saying exactly how I feel. I’ve had my Guild guitar my dad bought for me when I was16. Played on and off then stopped. Now 50 years later I discovered TAC and started playing ( learning) again. I don’t need to impress or play in front of anyone. I just go down in the basement to my “music room” and practice my Daily Challenge for me! 10 minutes can run into 90 or more. It’s relaxing. It’s fun. And yes at times frustrating. I own a Guild, a small Martin acoustic/ electric and a Really tired Fender Strat. Someday I’ll get courage enough to go into the local guitar store again and test /play a few to find a new acoustic that sounds and plays easier for my now slightly arthritic fingers. And thank you Tony for Acoustic Tuesday, too!
    Keep on playing Michael and you too RobW!

  13. Great show!! I love the Martin, but I keep going back to the Huss & Dalton. It just resonated in my head and chest. Unfortunately, I have a Chateaubriand taste and ramen resources. I have a very modest and inexpensive guitarsenal. Don’t get me wrong I love my guitars, but want more. I would like to see a show on guitars that you would recommend that do not break the bank or the marriage. If you have one or more, I would like to see them in the above type of review/demonstration. If not, could you recommend/demonstrate some relatively awesome guitars for a meager budget?

  14. Sorry for the typos *Not Indoor but Through the guitarTypo Will you do a lesson on the Strum Picking up the Fretboard? typo I have 2 should be two, Guitars and Photography

  15. Hi Tony
    I also was not a fan of maple. That was until I heard a Gibson j-200 at an open mic. I fell in love. I tried one at a music store but found it too large. Then at another open mic I came across a Gibson j-185. That was it. I own one now. It is slightly smaller then the j-200 and shorter scale. The tone is killer and so balanced. By the way I love your tuxedo guitar.

  16. First my hats off to you. Never realized what a great guitar player you really are. Your heart plays for you and it works like a symphony. Beautiful. I am going to go outside the box after I tell you the guitar I want you to review. The Taylor 214 ce Plus with the East Indian Rosewood back and sides and the solid sitka spruce top Grand Auditorium. The next *This is out of the box question. I am an acoustic member, Would love a lesson on your fret pick strum that you did with the Marin. Love that Martin.. Incredible, You have heart and your soul comes through indoor guitar. It has a conversation with you. Incredible One of the best players I have witnessed. Looking forward to my second year with you on Acoustic Life. trying to get my wife to share the same passions. I have 2 Guitar and Photography. Been doing photography for 15 years., Picked yup guitar 20 years ago, and returned. I have the Taylor mentioned

  17. Today’s segment with Michael really resonated with me. I am a 70 year old newbie. Last year I lost my wife and a very dear friend to the scourge of cancer and I decided I needed to add some things to my life that bring me joy. In high school I dabbled with an acoustic guitar but never took lessons or got past a few basic chords. On a whim, I decided that playing a guitar might just be something to bring some joy back into my life. Like Michael, I was intimidated going into a guitar store. The first one I visited had a nice selection of instruments but no one seemed interested in helping me pick one out. The second store there was a very nice young guy that took the time to help me try several guitars. I ended up buying a Guild Bob Marley inspired guitar. After seeing your ad on FB I immediately liked the teaching style you presented. I started in January of this year and I have very much enjoyed the journey so far and I have committed to staying with the daily challenges for a year and hopefully beyond. My decision to embark on this journey has been validated and I thank you for keeping it fun and bringing some joy back into my life.

    1. Im sorry for your loss.. I lost my sister last year to pancreatic cancer, and a dear friend just got diagnosed with breast cancer. I too dabbled learned unconventional through my brother in kale who owns a music store on Long Island NY. When my sister died (we were very lose wand with her husband he now wants a guitar) I needed to get over t pain of her loss, so I made pictures (Photography been shooting/making for 13 years and decided I needed more went back to doing comedy and was not the same I am not WOKE, I ams already awake) and went back to my first love Guitar, this has given me joy. I joined last April and will renew this April. I practice anywhere from 1 hour to 6 at times. I shuffled the guitar to the side for a few months due to a recent illness and now that I am back to normal I play daily. God Bless and keep up with your playing. It’s a journey. ~Jm Canino TAC Member

    2. JimCanino
      March 14, 2023
      Im sorry for your loss.. I lost my sister last year to pancreatic cancer, and a dear friend just got diagnosed with breast cancer. I too dabbled learned unconventional through my brother in law who owns a music store on Long Island NY. When my sister died (we were very close with her and husband he now wants a guitar) I needed to get over t pain of her loss, so I made pictures (Photography been shooting/making for 13 years and decided I needed more went back to doing comedy and was not the same I am not WOKE, I ams already awake) and went back to my first love Guitar, this has given me joy. I joined last April and will renew this April. I practice anywhere from 1 hour to 6 at times. I shuffled the guitar to the side for a few months due to a recent illness and now that I am back to normal I play daily. God Bless and keep up with your playing. It’s a journey. ~Jm Canino TAC Member

  18. I have always loved the sound of your Martin “tuxedo” when you have used it for lessons, demos, etc. (Of course I am, as you know, a Martin girl through and through!) As for future episodes featuring your guitarsenal, I would vote for the vintage ones.