Martin & Co Acoustic Guitars

Purchased privately in the UK s/h £500. I have several beautiful accoustic guitars, including a vintage Guild F50(1972) and Fylde Orsino(1979). I have been interested in the tonal quality of Martin Guitars, and have spent considerable time playing right accross their range. The best one easily was the 00028 Custom, which beat all the others for tone. Next in line was the D16GT. This guitar is not fancy, but the tonal quality is amazing, and it's easy to play, accepting light gauge strings (Martin extra light) without significant loss of volume/overall sound...a massively important feature for one who has light sensitive fingers.The tonal spectrum is responsive and sensitive too, and the mahogany back and sides drive those tones deep into my body as well as the room, giving me a feeling of being massaged by sound,wonderful! If this is what she sounds like now, a few years down the line with mellowing in... As I currently often play without amplification with louder instruments I appreciate the volume. the only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it feels so new! At first glance a bright an cheerful looking instrument, but then so many these days look so great on the wall, until you come to play 'em! The spruce top wood grain is reasonably close and tight(not anywhere near as tight as the Fylde Orsino),and at least they've used matching sets.Gloss is a bonus, as I know several friends with the non-gloss models and these do mark easily. Amazing that modern design and construction can bring such a quality versatile instrument into a price bracket that makes them accessible to many more people. Wish they'd had these when I was a kid! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The story of this guitar goes back to 1975 when my favorite traveling companion, a 1940's vintage,LG-2 Gibson was stolen out of my Bus on a foggy, depressing evening in San Francisco. I was heartbroken and without much forethought I replaced it with a brand- new, shiny and very, very expensive Guild dreadnought. I was on the rebound so to speak. Friends, that Guild spent the next ten years in its' case because It (with no fault of the folks at Guild) and I just weren't meant for each other. Kind of like a whirl-wind, Las Vegas romance. You wake up next to that Special Woman (that you met three hours previously) and, yes she's attractive and has a great body, but you've got nothing in common, and you will never under no circumstances ever mix Tequila and an unknown frothy, green liquid together again. The Martin came into my possession when a luthier friend in Santa Monica told me that someone had consigned an old D-28 with him and would I be interested in trading my Guild? Its' lacquer was dull, but the neck was fairly straight and I was told that this particular Martin had spent time as a studio instrument. I picked it up and strumnmed a Gmaj chord; what a voice. It rang, it was like a chance meeting of an old friend that you haven't seen in years. I guess the Guild was worth, maybe $1500.00 in 1983 and I've never regretted the trade. What's not to like about an old guitar? Sure it's not as pretty as the newest D-45 for $15K, but then again I don't have to treat it like a museum piece. Occasionally, the ancient Grovers slip, and she goes out of tune when I'm trying to channel some obscure Mississippi John Hurt tune, but the same thing happens to me when I forget where I put my keys. Vintage Martin. A different feel than a contemporary guitar, even a new D-28. The market in vintage guitars has skyrocketed to a point that their value as collectibes overshadow what they were manufactured for in the first place, to be played. Not to disappear in some climate controlled wherehouse in London or Tokyo. I remember hearing an old 78, years ago, of Huddie Leadetter (Leadbelly) playing his version of "Midnight Special". He was playing an old Stella 12-string which had an action that could make your fingers bleed, and what we'd consider a plywood guitar. It goes to show you that in the hands of a virtuoso, it's the man not the instrument. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Bought from a (good) friend for $500 altho it needed some work. Once I added a few hundred dollars to enhance the bracing, bridge plate, add inlay, and other minor enhancements, it plays like no other guitar I've ever owned. Deep, rich tone, and after adding a Sunrise pick-up, the quality of this guitars tone amplifies quite nicely. I've since played new D-35's, which are also very fine instruments, but I would talk to a qualified guitar craftsman to enhance the beauty and sound. There are no dislikes. I recommend the D-35 to any advanced guitarist. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought the DX 1 in Fort Smith Arkansas for 479.oo,, plus tax 520.19. I learned later that others have gotten it for around 450.00...That's okay with me,,i love it, Best sounding guitar i ever had,, It's simple,, Not pretty,,But has excactly what i want! The sound is unmilstakable,,, sounds like lead and butter combined! The guitar is of the best craftsmanship i have ever seen, every detail of the seams and joints are incredibly precise. The action is a little high,, little hard to play,, but this is pretty much the standard on most guitars,, if you want it any better, you have to do it yourself,, but over all,, nice action for coming off the showroom floor. construction is absolutely first rate! i have played guitars ranging from 399.00 to 2100.00. You will not find a guitar in any price range that has this incredible sound and fine construction! No matter what the guitar costs, no matter what the name,, no matter how pretty it is,,, this guitar is as good as good gets! I'm gonna pick now! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I've looked forward to writing this review for a long time. I have allways dreamed about having a Martin (maybe partly because my name is Martin :-)), but I could not afford it untill two weeks ago. I paid 8000 danish kroner (1190 USD) for a 2 month old C.F. Martin D-16 RGT with an L.R. Baggs Ibeam Active pickup installed. Price for a new in Denmark are aprox. 2530 USD (yes I know it's expensive, but we have a serious tax problem in Denamrk :-)). I had a Washburn D10SCE which I was happy with, untill I started recording. The Washburn piezo pickup sounded like paper, and the bass was none existing. You can really feel that this is good quality guitar. Even with the dead strings it had on when I bought, it was LOUD. I restrung it, and it sounded like a dream. A high and clear bass and pretty low action. It even got better when I started to record. The Ibeam simply sounds fantastic. I used a cheap preamp (Art TUBE MP) and connected it directly to a cheap and crappy soundcard (Maya 44, still WAY better than soundblaster). I recorded some singer/song-writer-style fingerpicking licks and flatpicking licks, and they all sounded great, even with this cheap setup. The Ibeam makes a natural sound with a good reverb from the guitar top. I was really surprised. L.R. Baggs did some test with some really expensive Neumann mikes vs. Ibeam active, and the difference was marginal. The looks are a bit basic, but it suits my taste perfectly. The brigde and fingerboard are made of some artificial wood unlike rosewood on the standard series. I can't hear the difference but I guess it means thats my Martin D-16 RGT (mmm..... music to my ears: "MY Martin D-16 RGT") won't hold it's price tag as long as a standard serie (ex. D-18). The sides and back have some kind of satin finish which looks fragile, but I have damaged it yet. It's great quality all round, and has a good hard gigcase. Sounds great and even get's better when amplified/recorded with the L.R. Baggs Ibeam active pickup. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

When I purchased the guitar over the Internet, I broke the cardinal rule of guitar buying: play it before you buy it. But all the reviews, including those I found at the Music Gear Review site, said it had a great sound and great playability. And since I live overseas, I didn't have the opportunity to do a lot of comparative in-store shopping. So I plunked down my $550 and several days later it showed up in the mail. It looks and smells nice,and the included hardshell case is a real bonus. The first and second strings have a nice ringing tone. It stays in tune for long periods of time. Maybe I just got a lemon, but contrary to all the reviews I read, this guitar is not easy to play nor, except for the first and second strings, does it sound all that great. The action is too high for easy playability, and even when I bear down hard, the third and fourth strings sound deadened, i.e., you get more of a "plunk" than any real sustain, from the third fret all the way up to the twelfth. The fifth string just sounds out of tune sometimes, even when it's properly tuned. Believe it or not, it got considerably easier to play and sounded better when I left the strings on way beyond their normal time. I've since played a much cheaper Takamine and a slightly more expensive Guild, and both sounded great and were much easier to play. When I get back to the States, I'll take it to a luthier for adjustments. Not that I'm thrilled about having to spend a lot of extra money on a guitar that, by all accounts, should have been ready to play, but, hey, them's the breaks. It appears to be solidly built. It's not the worst guitar I've ever played, but I think you could spend less money and do better, or spend a little more money and do much better. Please don't make my mistake and just order a guitar over the Internet. Play before you buy. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I wanted to upgrade my acoustic guitar, and my test-playing search lead me consistently to the Martin D15. In music store after music store, I played all the available selections, as well as the Martin D15 if available, and time and again it gave me the sound I was looking for. After about three months of this, I knew it was the guitar I had to have. My price was in the $500.00 range, and the local music stores sell it for close to $700.00. I finally found it online, at musiciansfriend.com for $579.00. Sweet! With free shipping and no sales tax, I couldn't be happier, and so I ordered it. The Martin D15 delivered the perfect sound I wanted, plenty of low-end with volume and resonance. I needed an acoustic guitar that could punch through the street noise, as I moonlight as a street musician. The D15 delivers clear tone, and in-tune articulation like a cannon! The sound just flows out easily, sweetly; making it a real joy to play. The Martin D15 is not "a looker", as guitars go. With it's plain mahogany, and no frills mat finish, it deceives the eye and understates its true ability. But in my comparison to other, more finished instruments, I became convinced that the D15 owes part of its superior sound to the low-finished mahogany tonewood. I have come to believe that the more finish a guitar has, the less it resonates. The Martin D15 resonates more powerfully than any other guitar I tested! Although it may not be attractive in looks, it humbly speaks of its folk and blues origins, evoking the nostalgia of its past! The Martin D15 is constructed of the best quality tonewoods, with a solid mahogany top, bottom and sides. It has one serious drawback in that it lacks binding to protect the edges. My guitar had just a bit of a sharp grain edge, causing it to catch on a shirt sleeve and splinter off along the grain on the top edge, just where your arm lays across the front of the guitar. But Martin stood by its warranty, sending me to a luthier for free repairs. Although I am disappointed at the apparent fragility of the Martin D15, I couldn't be happier with its sound and affordibilty. Bottom line: own one with pride, but baby it, son, baby it! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this guitar on line for $150. The Backpacker is small and easy to travel with. It comes with a gig bag which is handy and so far even after 9/11 I have had no problem with airlines allowing me to carry it on. The sound is great for it's size which is the key. The natural wood looks really nice. I was bothered by the quiet sound at first but after playing a Baby Taylor I realized what I had. The Taylor sounded a lot like the Backpacker and seems like it is quite a bit larger because of the shape of the body. The construction is great BUT when I recieved it the action was too high for me and I had a bit of trouble with a few chords muting. An adjustment by a local dealer for $35 and now it is great. I feel that the Backpacker is exactly what it is cracked up to be. Travelling from Hawaii to Washington D.C with this baby was a joy. When I was bored at the airport or anywhere else I broke it out and had a blast. Price, quality, style...if it is small and value you're looking for this is the one. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I inherited this guitar from my guitar pickin Uncle who recently passed. I figure he is up there pickin and grinnin with Chet and the boys. This is the best built acoustic guitar I have ever seen. There are no flaws in the material or the construction. It plays like a dream and has the most wonderful sound you ever heard, and great sustain. It has awsome lows and brilliant highs. A Picker's dream. The only way I could ever afford this guitar is the way I got it. It isn't affordable by the common old plucker like me. I would have to say the price is the one thing I don't like. This guitar is hand built with the very best wood and the best components. It is quality throughtout. This is the guitar that all the others try to copy. It is at the very top of the guitar pecking order. Nothing better anywhere. If you were to list all the guitars from the best to the worst, this guitar would be at the top of the list. If you want the best, this is it. But be ready to pay the price. unless you have a rich uncle like me.... This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Wanted to add guitar playing skills to augment bass playing. Picked this one year old guitar (2001 model) up second hand at a local specialty shop - perfect condition(seems like it never came out of the case) for $2,100. This is a vintage reproduction of the original Martin om 28. Indian rosewood back and sides, sitka spruce top, ebony fretboard - impeccable workmanship resulting in excellent tone and playability This particular guitar was perfectly set up with fresh strings allowing you to get a really good feel for tone and playability. Tone is really well balanced. The low end is there, but doesn't boom like a dreadnought. The mids and treble are excellent but the balance between all strings up and down the fretboard is really good The nut is 1 3/4 allowing a little more room for fingerstyle playing - or in my case, ham fisted playing. Neck is in the vintage style with a sharper V radius allowing my thumb to rest against it comfortably but is small enough to disappear in your hand. This box is fun to play because it sounds and feels so good I'm beginning to develop overuse injuries in my elbow and wrist. I like playing this guitar so much I haven't picked up a bass in weeks. Indian Rosewood back and sides and sitka spruce top - waverly tuners, ebony fretboard and scalloped bracing. Workmanship is excellent - it is a Martin. Great little guitar. Reccommend patronizing the smaller independent specialty shops for acoustic instruments. The price may be a little higher at the outset, but the ability to try out guitars that are properly set up will save big in the long run. Equally important is the after sale service which, in my experience, the chains cannot deliver. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Recently, I had the misfortune of buying a vintage 1967 Gibson J-45 which had a cracked head. The luthier did an excellent job with the repair, but it was left with a rather flat tone and minimal resonance. Luckily, an independent music shop in Atlanta, GA was willing to take it off my hands for credit. That is when I saw the Martin D-15. With the trade-in, I payed a mere $175 plus tax. Likes: Solid mahogony body, with satin finish, with a simple herringbone ring around the center. It plays as well as my D-28, which I recently gave to my father for his birthday. The hard case was the kicker. Very well padded, green, & fuzzy. It fit inside quite snug. Dislikes: The SP+ stings take a minute to break in, giving the unit a brassy sound. And, all my friends want to play it. Solid mahgony body, headstock, and solid head. Two piece back. Tortoise shell, teardrop pick guard. Herringbone rossette. Satin finish. 20 frets. Silver tuning machines. Both fingerboard & side position dots. Lightweight. Happy. Kudos to Martin for finally making "poor man's" guitars (priced under $1000) once again! This sentiment was expressed by the Martin rep, who coincidentally was at the shop while I was. "Two thumbs up! Gladly would I give greater praise, would but that I possessed more thumbs." -Bill & Ted- This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The Martin D-45 is the guitar that every acoustic player wants... the true holy grail from the Caddy of acoustic guitar builders. It sells new for about $7,000, so it's not for the faint of heart, but it's well worth the coin if you know that it's the one for you. It features a spruce top, Indian rosewood back, and sides, beautiful abalone accents and inlays, Waverly tuners, a rosewood bridge and the typical dreadnought body style. It's built in the USA and is the top of the line production Martin instrument made... definitely the real deal here. UTILIZATION The design of this guitar is pretty simple. It's the classic dreadnought, but adorned with the best woods, the best craftsmanship and some beautiful features. The dreadnought body might be a bit big for some players, but it's worth it to get that big booming tone. The neck is a nice comfortable profile that is like a cross between a C and a soft V and it definitely feels amazing. The finish isn't super glossy either, which is great for playing fast up and down the neck. It's a fairly light guitar too which is awesome. The upper fret access is not great, but it's not too bad considering that it's a non cutaway acoustic. Getting a good sound is very easy... you just strum it and the sound comes alive. It's a very rich guitar in all frequencies, and it is perfect for a variety of acoustic styles for the truly discerning players. SOUNDS The sounds out of this guitar are basically the holy grail of acoustic tones. It has a very rich and clear low end, strong and authoritative mids, and slinky, piano like highs that all blend together to create an acoustic tone that works well for many styles. I tend to like this one best for really dynamic rhythm chord work (especially up higher on the guitar) as well as for bluegrass style flatpicking, because every note is clear and not dead sounding, perfect when you're playing a mile a minute. It's also good for basic chords in the lower register, as well as for more dynamic slower lead work as well, whatever you want, it's there and sounding awesome. OVERALL OPINION All in all I think the Martin D-45 is truly a sight to behold. Sure, it's VERY expensive but it's well worth it for the tonal quality. It's got beautiful craftsmanship and looks, the classic Martin feel, and a very full sound that any serious player would love. I'm fortunate to have a relative who owns one of these so I do get a chance to play one and really get to know it and I'm sure that if I had to have the best acoustic in the world, I would go for the gold and get the Martin D-45!