Love the M36... first time playing one today. The base response is really unbelievable for such a playable profile guitar

Great comparison video! As a current owner of a SCGC OM Grand and a previous Martin M36 owner I can say that the Santa Cruz is my favorite. I am a finger style player and as such I love the body style of these instruments. They are perfect for this type of playing as well as for overall comfort. I have also owned the Martin J40 which is same shape but has the body depth of the Dreadnaught. Huge sound, but it can also be subdued and tasty depending on how one uses their fingers! Would love to see a side-by-side comparison between the OOO, OM, M36 and J40 -- all played finger style primarily with a little strumming to give an idea of its power for accompaniment.

Both Excellent guitars, hard to choose between these two. Great demo fantastic playing bringing out the best in both these fine instruments.

Without having read ALL the comments, I will note MSG's failure to mention the 3 piece back on the M-36...such as the D-35 has. That certainly accounts for the bassier tone without even checking the Santa Cuz's specs. My M-36 is a '95' and it has well opened up. And it has a very specific richness in this configuration.

This is a great comparison of two excellent instruments. The Martin has the dryer & warmer tone, cleaner note separation when strummed. The Santa Cruz is much more lush with overtones, more crystalline in tone value, much more responsive and immediate. For me, M-36 for rhythm/single note played with a pick, OM Grand for fingerstyle.

It is understood David Bromburg may have been the first person to have the Martin archtop converted to a flat top. The M-36 was also known as the 0000. I own a 1997 0000-1, one of 370 made. Though it has laminated sides, very high quality mahogany. The back is solid, it and neck are of very high quality honduras mahogany (far better than what what is currently being used.) .The top is what I call apple crate quality sika, very wide grain to moderate grain. Excellent tone and playability.

The SC grand is just music from heaven

Martin M-36 is a fantastic guitar. It is a a D and an OM at the same time. I have one superb example from 2014...

Wow! Someone who actually knows how to explain the the body differences and makers well. Honestly I thought it would be hands down scgc all the way. I liked the Martin more for overall balance and richness ; I liked the scgc more for high end timbre and clarity. I play fingerstyle only and have owned from all the well known builders and most all body sizes except dread. Overall you can't go wrong with an OM, OM Grand, OO & OOO 12 fret : these the the best of the body sizes in my personal opinion. ❣❣

The Grand by miles. Absolute tonal superiority.

Both Guitars sound Fantastic, I'd like one of each but have to wait till I win the Lotto!

Agreed. Own an M-36. Fantastic guitar.

Both sound great but I pick the M36. I have one and love it!!!

Great demo and comparison. On paper, I'd choose the SC. Tonality? M-36, no doubt for my tastes.

Nice!! I love my Martin guitars. But in this case I prefer Santa Cruz.

Thanks for getting the story right as I knew about the first one Matt Umanov converted from Arch Top to Flat Top for David Bromberg..back in Matt's Bedford Street Days in Greenwich Village NYC.. I have a 1991 M-36 I also had a 1971 000-28..

I noticed Jim Root uses one, I first heard him playing a signature Tele, on a clean channel, it took me down, didn't know him, do now, very versatile, excellent musician. The OMGrand is more open. Both are art.

I use an M-36 for bluegrass. Fiddle tunes sound great from this guitar. More comfortable to play then a dread body shape and it still has great bass response.

The Martin is more sxpressive and to me sounds more guitar like. The Santa Cruz does sound good on fingerstyle, not better per se but really great too. I own an M-36 and get amazed by it every time I pull it out of the case. Can't really go wrong with either it seems. One great thing about this size is that it elliminates the boominees that Dreadnaughts have but they still have a really pronounced and rich bottom end. Add the comfort of a thin body and it's just a winner. Try one.

Both nice. M36 for me.

Martín for strumming, SC for soloing.

I vote for the Martin. This is an interesting body style, I play a dreadnaught and beat it up pretty good. Is it rosewood back and sides?

I have to say the Santa Cruz. Nice demo

Santa Cruz with finger style but Martin with a pick. Both are amazing instruments. Would have liked to hear you play for much longer to get a truer comparison.

My Collings SJ would stomp the crud out of both using bare finger style. Fuller, more musical. I own the M36, and D42. Listen to his video on headphones for a realistic comparison. Great job!

Great comparison! Can you tell me the name of the two songs you played?

The Santa Cruz sounds sexier/silkier -- I immediately get caught up in the sound of the instrument. Can a guitar be too resonant? I actually find all those overtones distracting. On the other hand, The Martin doesn't draw so much attention to itself-- it draws me into the music, which for me, is what counts most of all.

Boy,, this is a tough one. The immediacy of the SCGC is appealing, and would compete well in a band with minimal tweaking elecronically due that quality. I heard the balance you referenced, with a lean toward the brighter side. The Martin is a more intimate sound, if I may be indulged using that language on a public form, but that doesn't mean a wall flower. I personally would favor the Martin as a solo/duet instrument.

If you have the cash, I would say go for the Santa Cruz. Martin sounds great too.

Martin!

The Santa Cruz has more volume but it’s all subjective I personally would choose the Martin I’m sure the Santa Cruz cost a lot more

Wow, both are nice. That Santa Cruz sounds more like a Martin J40.

Great demo. The Santa Cruz look at lot like a Martin M38 with the binding on the headstock. Please correct me if I’m wrong does that one have the 2 piece back? I’m a huge fan of the M36 and M38 model. Both sound amazing and have a unique sound. Thank you for the video

the cruz

Are you still talking?

Never knew there was an M-36… demoe’d it against a Santa Cruz (2x the price of the M-36)… both great but Martin was my preference.

The fingerstyle is a draw but the Santa Cruz wins with a pick. And I'm a Martin guy all the way.

I cant hear a difference. But Im listening through a computer

Hold on, back the bus up. It’s fun to compare the 2 like this, but they are not In the same price bracket.

well the santa cruz is like 3thousand dollars more ....The martin wins

Big difference in price lads...Santa Cruz is almost twic the price of the M36.. IMHO the Santa Cruz has the edge for fullness though.

Too many overtones in the Santa Cruz when strummed...all the notes washed together. It sounded better fingerpicked. I will take the Martin.

SC

is the price the same on both.The Santa Cruz sounds much better to me

So many guitars, so little time & $$$.

Your momma called, she's looking for her earrings.

Hello?... you are demo-ing a guitar for it's fingerpicking qualities and you somehow manage to skip sounding the low E string entirely ( the veritable "money-shot")? ...speechless.

Save thousands and get a Yamaha 😂😂😂.