$6400.00 puts us in the realm of a custom guitar built by a luthier to our own specs and preferences. Both were beautiful sounding with the 42 seeming brighter and clearer to me. Like the difference between Elixer nonoweb compared to D’Addario XS/XT strings. Great guitars, but I’d go custom for that much money.

The difference is huge, I didn't expect this difference, high grade wood is everything

The 42 was definitely more resonant, more sustain, brighter. Listened to your demo on my Bose headphones and was easy to hear the difference.

Nice picking. I personally think you could put a Luna in this guys hands make it sound like a $3000 guitar. They both sound excellent!

For much less extra money, you can get a 000-28 Modern Deluxe (or the OM version) that will also provide more articulation, balance, and “chime” at the high end. With the MD “upgrade”, there are additions for which you can attribute the differences in sound.

Weird how much the 000-42 stands out in this video. What a lively guitar. I wonder if heat/humidity is affecting the 000-28 differently. Who knows

I especially enjoyed your discussion about what factors could be responsible for the difference in sound.

Lovely guitar playing as usual. Both are great.

I played 3 different HD28's when I purchased mine and all 3 sounded different out of the box. The one I chose is amazing I get compliments all the time on the sound coming from that instrument. Great video

Great video guys - and playing. I've noticed big differences among the OM-21, -28, -35 and -42. The -42 sounds more hollow than the -28, Heaven knows why!

When purchasing my OM-28, I compared an American Sitka Spruce top to a European Sitka Spruce top. Both OM-28’s. The European Sitka was louder and a bit brighter. My guess the difference we heard in the OOO-28 and OOO-42 is due to the wood and not the inlays. (Oh yeah, I went with the European Sitka spruce top).

The 42 sounds a lot more open. Nicely played. I own a D28, 000-28 EC, and a D45. The 45 is far and away the best. I believe they are worth it.

I heard a slight difference. Would I still hear the same difference if you played 5 of each? I don't know. The difference isn't significant enough to justify the cost difference as I don't like all the bling on the higher cost Martin's. 28 is Martin's sweet spot. High end enough to get top quality wood and construction but additional money not wasted on bling.

I wached this with pretty great monitor speakers and the difference in the highs and mids is remarkable. Would love to see the comparison with the 000-28 Modern Deluxe.

I'm 44 and a little old school. I still think the best way to buy a guitar is to go into a shop and actually play the guitars. This is the only way you're going to get the best guitar for you. I've literally played 100s of guitars. One thing I will say about Martins is that their processes must be spot on. Over the years, I've noticed that almost every time you pick up the more expensive, higher quality model, they sound better. The other companies have come a long way, but I've picked up Taylors, Takamines, Gibsons, etc. Where cheaper, lower graded guitars were more resonant and sounded better. That almost never happens with a Martin. I've played tons of them. I know people bitch about Gibsons QC but I think they're probably on the second tier. The others are on the third tier. As far as this argument goes. I've played Gibson Doves, Hummingbirds, SJ-200 that sound as good as any Martin. The few Country Weasterns I've played sound as good as the old Martins I've played. I'll be honest, I don't really like the sound of Taylors, so maybe I'm biased. I do think Takamines sound good, but I prefer the classic acoustic sound. If you're going for that, you have to buy a Martin or a Gibson. I've played some custom builds from Luthiers that sound as good as any guitar at any price. But I've had friends order high end custom builds and the guitar not turn out like they wanted them too. And those are not cheap. Once you do that, you're kinda stuck with it. They're hard to get rid of if you don't like how it turns out. You will almost surely take a loss. The best guitar will always be the one you pick up to play and don't want to put down. These purchases are important. Don't settle for anything less than the guitar you know is the one for you(as long as you have the money to get that guitar, of course). Really, if you want the music any guitar will do. But there's also something to be said for having that guitar that will outlast you and become a family heirloom. That's what these Martins are. You'll never be sorry you bought one. It'll be worth more when your grandkids sell it because they have no interest in playing than you paid for it, after you're gone. 😂

I do own the 28 and love it. It is so resonant and super easy to play. I do hear the difference between the 2, and it is significant but I don’t have the extra 3 grand so I am very happy with the one I have. Thanks so much for the comparison, I have wondered about the difference and you brought it in to perspective.

Nice playing man damn

Finally a video where Chris did not mention Taylor,,,,,it a Summer Miracle.!!

I'm getting a 00042 md in the next few day's.. 🎸. It will sit pretty next to my d42. I'd be very tempted to put ebony bridge pins on it. Not a big fan of metal bridge pins, but I'll give them a try. I'm also not a fan of the vintage tone that they've been using on the reamagined series . I prefer a guitar to naturally age in colour. Great video's guy's. Keep em coming ❤

Nice playing! Great guitars.

Fantastic video lads. Martin ❤ btw, where you boys drinking before filming?

Great playing, seriously.

OMG… I watch all of these videos and this was hands down, the funniest one ever! 😂

I too subscribe to the theory that the routing for the abalone around the perimeter of the guitar gives the top a diaphram effect. Ive owned alot of martins over the years and my two current models are an OM42 and a D45. They are the 2 best sounding martins ive ever owned.

Wouldn't be surprised that the 42/45's are built to tighter tolerances with voiced tops. Not to say it couldn't be random, I would just honestly expect a luthier to tone tap the right top, dial in the bracing and put together an overall higher quality guitar for 2x the price. I just would. Now, what was interesting, Chris, was that Skunkworks anecdote and the ceramic takeaway. You might be on to something with the relief + ceramic-like inlay. Very interesting hot take.

Between these two particular guitars there was a clear winner in the 000-42. But as many have stated the price tag is quite a bit 😅, but the 000-28 i bought from you guys was so phenomenal that the sales rep really thought the 000-28 i bought was the custom one yall had in the store. It turns out it was just standard 000-28. Thats how good it sounded 😁😁😁😁😁

Hi, In my opinion, the 000-42 is the winner here. It definitely sounds crisper & a bit brighter. But I have a 000-28EC myself, which, apart from the bling, has a higher spec than the standard 28: better grade rosewood etc solid mahogany neck as opposed to 'select hardwoods' - so it should give a better tone and sustain than the standard 000-28. It would be interesting to hear how the EC signature model would stand up tone-wise if it were compared to the 000-42? Would the difference still be as noticeable? Would love to see that video.

Any different heard is not necessarily a model to model thing. So many factors to consider: setup, string age, wood density. You can find a spruce top guitar that sounds warmer than a mahogany topped one just because that’s how that piece of spruce sounds.

42 had a greater clarity to it. Both sounded great, if I had the unlimited funds, I would go with the 42. BTW, just missed out on your used OMJM by day. Always enjoy your videos.

I'm impressed. Maybe they should sell a 000 with the same wood grade of the -42 but without the fancy abalone, pearls and stuff like that (that I find pretty ugly). So they could lower the price a little bit, halfway the -28 and the -42.

You’re discussing the materials used - what about the material of the pins? I can say there is a difference I sound if you use plastic, ebony or rosewood, or bone. Not to forget the newer Liquid metal pins.

Thanks for adressing the topic! It is the same with Martin dreadnoughts: I hate it when experts in KZfaq videos keep stating that the D-42 and D-45 are exactly the same soundwise as an (H)D-28 and only have additional "bling". To me this is simply wrong. While the (H)D-28s sound great for strumming and flatpicking they lack something when fingerpicking - some sort of "sparkle" (might be a certain amount of brightness or maybe overtones). However, the D-42/45 definately have it! They do sound different. Now, whether that is because the wood is selected even more carefully or whether the purfling plays its part, I'm not sure. I have a luthier here in Germany who is absolutely positive that purfling has a positiv effect on the tone, because the edges of the wood need to be carved even more delicately (or something like that). That's why my Lakewood Customshop guitar has purfling as well (I opted against paying 6 - 7k EUR for a D-42 - saved me a couple of grands. And the result - may Lakewood D-18 Customshop - is at least as good as a D-42 in my oppinion :)).

How would you comapre this body with the D42 or D45? Are there much different and what are the differences, I am trying to decide the 000-42 MD or D42/45 MD. Thank you. Will the D model be much bass heavy, and which one will have more projections in a mix. Thank you

I purchased a OOO28 from Alamo Music Center 6 months ago. I also play a D28 and a Hummingbird. To my ear the ooo28 sounds amazing.

They both sound great! Listening on a pair of lower-end Adam monitor speakers, there is a very noticeable difference between the two. Shocking when considering the specs. Not sure if it's a $3k difference (who am I kidding? of course it would be worth it if I had it...).

The 42 surprised me I was expecting pretty much the same and it wasn't. There was definite difference to the better for the 42. It was more vibrant with clarity, with more dynamic range. I wonder if the bracing is exactly or if more care is done with the 42. Are using the quality of wood for the braces on each model of guitar. There has to be a reason likely its the choice of woods. Just my opinion I would gladly play either one. Actually, I can afford either one.

There was an enourmouse difference in volume, resonance snd clarity and l was just listening to them on my phone.

Love to hear a A/B of 000-43 and D-28e Modern Deluxe.

Difference in the bracing pattern? Nevertheless i need the v-neck and you don't have it as well with the OM models these days. So I went for the 00028ec. The 000-45ec is my dream guitar

Obviously the 42 has greater resonance and volume, but in this case I think you'll hear that you'll like the sound of the 28. I myself prefer the fairer and cleaner sound of the 28, it would be my favorite, but of course the 42 is also incredible.

Ok, for me it's the 000-42. However, can I just pause for a second here and say ... WOW, whatever that song was, that was a beautiful song and beautiful playing by Cooper. Just when I think I'm getting better at playing I hear someone who is really good, and I get deflated (ha ha). Beautiful song! Hey, any thoughts on the Martin J-40?

They both sound great, but u could hear a difference just through my iPhone. Great review and playing.

An OM 45 was always my dream guitar. I can imagine what it would cost if they still built one but they don’t. I guess the OM 42 will have to do….if the day ever comes…. I prefer the sound from the scale length of the OMs. Nonetheless the 000 here sound beautiful. Thanks for the comparison!

do you get a streaked fretboard with the 28 ?? what models do not them ? i like the plain black ebony

Has nothing to do with guitars but when I was a kid bad would give me a quarter to go to the movies. It would get you in the movies and have enough change back to get a coke and a bag of popcorn and a penny left over for a piece of bubble gum. Nice comparison but I will keep my hd-28. Bling is great but it depends on how deep your pocket book is. I was lucky and got my hd-28 for $1800 used from the original owner. Thanks for the review. You guys always do a great job.

Diminishing returns is correct. Absolutely. It’s not twice the quality of other guitar but it’s that much money more if you want that much better guitar. You guys are right.

does cooper have an individual yt? i would like to see him more playing!

Both sounded great but no $3000. difference…but then if money was no object I’d go for the 41…Cooper your playing is remarkable & would make a any guitar sound fantastic. Thanks guys

i've said it before and i'll say it again, i have a martin OOOX1 USA from 2004, HPL and spruce, £350 with case, used, i think it's likely the best guitar in the world, my demos on my channel don't do it justice, it's extraordinary.

Dead trees shouldn't vary. As a Luthier, I tune the tone woods as I build by tapping the soundboard or top after I level sand and especially when I whittle the bracing. If there are variances in sound of a guitar, choc that up to luthiers tuning to their own preferences.

With my fancy headphones on the 000-42 has a bit more bass and depth to my ears. If I see one at at a garage sale, id grab it. 😂 thanks for the demo.

I played a lot of guitars in the last 35 years of playing. I never expected to buy a Martin, let alone a 000-42. In a little shop in the middle of nowhere I stumbled across one. I walked out with it. It is by far the best acoustic guitar I have ever played and I’ve had a ton of Gibsons, Taylors, Luthier built, etc… Magic Martins just can’t be touched

The ooo-42 sounds slightly brighter in tone than the ooo-28.

Been waiting for this. My fg3 needs a big brother in a year or so when funds allow. How much would a stainless steel fret upgrade by a pro be? As this is a huge life long investment, I rather get these at the start.

This has been my experience. I’ve owned both and my 42 sounds substantially better than my 28. Is it worth the price difference? It depends on your priorities.

Hey guys 😃🐦‍⬛. I am looking for a new acoustic Martin ( probably) in the more high-end. Many sound absolutely wonderful , but I wish there would be string-specs info with each guitar. I listen with really good headphones, and check an my high-end stereo - but it would be a bit easier to make choices if I know the name and age of the strings, as very fresh strings usually make the sound more metallic and ringing. Have you considered that ? All the best from Ane in Denmark

2 fabulous guitars.

000-28 sounded amazing….but I could hear a big difference on the first not of the 000-45. I would love to have either.

Guitar voice difference is grades of woid used, glues are different, and increased cost of Cooper's fingers on the strings.

I've always had the 000-28 as a perfect guitar in my mind. After all, if Eric Clapton chose it as a basis for his signature guitar, Martin must've done something right with it.42 sounds great but is just over the top for my taste

I'd say the wood has more to do with it than the pearl and binding. My HD28 has an adirondack top, not Sitka. Would I be able to tell the difference blindfolded? Idk. I personally like a more stripped down acoustic anyway. I'd love a D45 but I could never afford one but there's just something about a good ol D18 or D28. Bunch of pearl being on a tan piece of wood just doesn't always appeal

You really know how to mic a martin. What is the mic you are using?

Cooper - awesome player. 👍👍👍

Having had several 42's over the years in both OM and dred, to my ears the 42's seem a bit brighter. That's not a bad thing, just different.

JUST LIKE WHEN I bought my d 41...on paper same as hd 28...blew away the 28...its the quality of wood selected and binding inlays in my amazing opinion

Sounds like the 42 just had a newer set of strings. Were they both restrung by you guys at the same time or are those the strings from the factory?

I was going to buy my first Martin and was looking at these two... Martin themselves should really explain the difference because I've been steered away from both models because there seems like theres a consistency issue or marketing issue. They should sound more similar and they don't.

I have a 2020 000-28 and the tuners are quite stiff. Any idea how to loosen them up?

Martin is going to reserve the best materials for its higher-end guitars. You get more than just additional decoration.

I just gotta say, Cooper’s playing samples totally do justice to all these guitars. It’s so obnoxious when KZfaqrs want to demo gear but can hardly play. It’s as though they’re beginners who had money to burn. I’ve been playing 26 years and have yet to purchase an acoustic that costs more than $500. I’m finally in the market for my first proper guitar. 000-28 most likely. It’s nice to see and hear them played by such a great picker.

To my ears, the 42 sounded a bit more resonant. I wonder how much of an impact the Liquid Metal bridge pins are having on that 28.

The Collings OM-41 short scale is less then the 000-45 but sounds about the same. Try to compare with a 000-28 Modern Deluxe

I’ve now watched this video twice now and still can’t believe the tone woods are a big difference between them.

I hear some subtle differences but not a significant plus or minus either way. The extra $3k would seem, to me, an unnecessary expense.Bound fingerboards are a pain to refret. Would like to see the 42 compared to a Huss and Dalton 000 - similar pricing.

You guys are a riot ! 🤣🤣🤣 True stuff ! ! 🤣🤣🤣

aesthetically, I love the simplicity of the 28.

Guitars are a life form. The tone changes as the life in the tone woof ages. The neck can move although truss rods can fix it. Even the strings have life that is list.

The 42 seems to have a longer sustain. It’s probably the gold tuners.

Fortunate enough to buy myself a 000-42 at the end of last year. Up until that point, my most expensive acoustic was a Taylor 812ce at a cost similar to 000-28. Of course, it’s apples and oranges with respect to comparing Taylor and Martin although build quality and tonewoods used are very similar. I love both but the Martin is really something special. It seems so effortless to play and get a wonderful sound out of. In my opinion, it has just the right amount of bling to stand out without looking too over-decorated which would put me off. Needless to say, if I could only keep one of my guitars (and I have 10) the 000-42 would be the easy winner.

Good laawd!!

I remember paying 15¢ to watch a Saturday afternoon matinée and buying cigarettes out of a machine for 25¢ a pack. As to the guitar comparison, I agree that the higher quality wood makes a difference. You did not, however, discuss what glue was used in the body of these guitars. I expect hide glue was used in the 000-42 but not in the 000-28. That's my guess. It might be interesting to compare the 000-28 MD, which does use hide glue, to that 000-42. All that aside, what we are getting into is the law of diminishing returns. If money isn't an issue, go with the 42. If money is an issue, you are not missing out on much by going with the 28. As to the bling in the 42, it's just bling.

Much prefer the 28...as I play blues etc...the 28 was perfect....and I go for sound in guitars....dressing up a guitar means little to me..its all about the playability and the sound. ....1st thought was the 42..was moving in the high end Taylor direction..(Like Taylors too by the way..Have 314CE which I love)

I owned a d45 and the opal inlaid d42 and traded them both. They had all the bling, but I just bought a d35 and like it better than either of those guitars. Advise is don't pay for being. It's not worth it. Pay for playability and a tone you like.

No 35? I have an 2016 OMC-35E

I saw Smokey & The Bandit at a matinee showing for 50 cents when I was a kid, so you're not THAT old Chris.

I prefer the 42 sound...much more sustain, greater resonance, better sounding bass. Great comparison. Thank you,

Sure you don't really need all the bling but that binding is going to feel better in some people's hands. The top and sides can be crucial. There's a reason why Stradivarius instruments are still valued. It's not just the materials, it's the kind of materials. So on an acoustic guitar that combination and selection is going to make the difference and you decorate it to accentuate the assertion that this is a better guitar. Although a lot of the people who would buy the 000-42 are really not going to play it all that much. Most musicians are pretty poor. My Martin D-28 cost $1200 in 1991. It's a no thrills guitar visually but it was giving me thrills yesterday as the resonance was so vocal. 34 year old guitar though. I think the main reason someone is going to choose a 000 is the scale and how it affects their playing. You can do fingerstyle better and strumming is easier with 13's. Some people also can't tell the difference, they simply cannot hear enough to justify.

I had a 000-42 that was one of the tinniest, cheapest sounding guitars I’ve ever played at any price. Even to my wife’s ears who knows nothing of guitars, she said, “that one sounds bad.” It was gorgeous though!!

Do they have the exact same strings on them? And also don't forget wood was alive before. And no same guitar sounds alike. Just compare 2 more of the same if you have it. If they still sounds apart then there might be something you said in the binding. Although i really doubt a binding will make a difference that much. Maybe bridgepins, saddle and so on difference as well? The 000-42 does sounds way more bright.

They select better tops for the 42 series than they do for the 28. The top for a D-45 is going to be better than what’s on an 18. A lot of these comparison videos the difference is subtle but you can really hear the difference in this video.

Thought Cooper went to Lamar, like Janice Joplin. It was Lamar State College of Technology when she was there. She went to an entirely different school than my Chemical Engineering school.

I do hear a bit more clarity out of the 42. It may be worth $3,000 to someone out there, but my budget says, the 28 is plenty good enough. If you are playing with a band with drums, vocals, and other instruments, that clarity might be lost in the mix. Don't get me wrong, I would love to own a 42, but a 28 would suit me well for years.

What kind of bridge pins does Martin put on the 42?

42 has a mahogany neck but 28 is select hard wood. the 000-28ec has a mahogany neck, hence the difference.

I was wondering why Martin does not use the Spanish Heel Construction on their higher end guitar's. Alot of high end luthiers build their acoustic steel string guitars with the Spanish Heel Construction here in USA and also in Spain, Germany, etc. The tonal palette is even more better than the Dovetail construction. I own Martin 0-18, 000-16 streetmaster, D-28, D-15M. I also own the Alhambra D-SR which has Spanish Heel and is even better sounding than Martin D-45. I love Martin guitar's but I can not see paying more money for custom guitar's with Dovetail construction. My Alhambra D-SR top wood is German Spruce and back/sides Indian Rosewood with Mahogany neck. And the wood quality is AAA + 30 year old tonal wood. Built hand made in Spain and shipped to me for total of $ 2,550.00 back in 2022. Why can't Martin do this here in Nazareth, Pennsylvania?

Wow big difference much brighter the 42 is

Wonder how my 000 28 Modern Deluxe would compare to the 000 42…

Listened to it again liked the tone of the 28 better than the 42.

I heard some body say he had Martin 000-42 then after experiencing Martin 000-45 he never went back to 42 so the show must go on :) they always come up with a way to empty our pocket :)

Call me crazy, but I’d prefer to hear comparisons of the sample tune jumping back and forth comparing particular sections of the tune rather than trying to compare the end of the tune on guitar A, to the beginning of the tune on guitar B.