Martin HD-28 or Lower end Taylor(414ce or 514ce)?

[BrighamO]

I 'm thinking about buying an HD28 or a Taylor 414ce or 514ce
any suggestions from owners of any of these guitars or have any of you played both ?
Would a higher end taylor 800 or 900 series be better than a HD28.
I'm going to play before buying but just want some opinions
if i go with a martin i'm getting the hd28 but not sure about taylors(people have said they all sound the same)

[scoot_14]

I don't own either, but I've played them all in stores and would have to say that the Taylors have better playability (action, easier to slide barre chords, etc).

Definitely play first and see what fits your style.

[USCThrilla34]

I have a 514c/e and it's a damn fine guitar. I've never played a Martin, so I can't really compare. I can say that my Taylor is the best sounding, most playable guitar I've ever laid my hands on.

[Mike83]

I have a 414 rosewood ce, and i love it. You really do have to sit down with both and play them for a while. I feel like you'll probably get a brighter, crisper sound from the taylor and a more mellow wood sound from the martin. It's all up to personal preference. I like taylors better for live band stuff because it cuts through a little more. Martins are probably better for solo stuff.

[soups41]

Amplified sound has little to do with a guitar's body when playing though an undersaddle pickup. The likes of Fishman and I Beam pick up the string vibrations- and very little else. If you want onboard control of your EQ and Volume, the Taylor will be better if you get one with onboard electronics. However, getting a Fishman pickup installed on a 414 and an HD will basically give you the same amplified sound- of course assuming that action, etc, is similar. Many reasons people use the 14 series of Taylor for live playing is that the guitar is relatively nice, has easy to work electonics, and is light and smaller- easy to hold onstage for 3 hours +. Taking the very same guitar to a jam session in your room with 2 other people, the sound might be less than desirable. The Martins of which you're talking are big guitar- not necessarily heavy, but bulky. They give you a great big acoustic sound. I don't have any problem playing my D-35 at all my gigs- I like the size and it's very comfortable. If you really don't have a problem with size, and you want to get a pickup installed, I would go with the Martin.