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Location: Phoenix AZ | Nobody cares, and you'll post a lot of negative comments, but so what. In case 2-3 of you might be interested, here's what I saw of interest at the Martin booth at NAMM. There's photos and specs of all these on their website.
1. $40,000. D28 reissue is nice, but not $36,000. nicer than a plain D28
2. Martin are finally starting to figure out how to make a decent looking sunburst. The Richie Sambora 6 and 12 strings looked very nice.
3. The black Johnny Cash model was very nice. One of my favorite sounding guitars there, not that you could really tell.
4. A nice 000-18 Kenny Sultan model. Great guitar for the bucks.
5. The $5000. uke is beautiful, but honestly the only reason to buy one would just be to say you did. For a fraction of that you could buy any number of ukes that sound far better, but not as pretty.
Dave |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I was really surprised by the number of non-traditional designs Martin now offers. |
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Location: East Tennessee | Dave,
Thanks for the update. I have three Martin guitars. I think they, along with Ovation, make great guitars. |
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Location: SoCal | It also appeared that they cleaned Clifford's p*ss off of their sign.... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | If it's chemically similar to my brother's dog's, who pisses on my tires, it never really cleans off..... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I thought you cleaned it off with yours, Paul. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Thanks Dave. I'm glad you share. |
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Location: south east Michigan | I wouldn't worry about the OFC piling on Martin. I think "we" are rather open minded to them. (If I may use the proverbial "we".)
Off topic??? Not in my opinion.
I mean it's not like it's a Taylor thread. |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Originally posted by Gospel Guitar Guy:
I have three Martin guitars. I think they, along with Ovation, make great guitars. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I have 4 Martins -- the HD-28 being the baby, and the DM, DX-1 and LXM as my entry level workhorse/beater models -- and all of them get along with my one and only Ovation guitar. :) |
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Location: Scotland | Dave, everthing in your post is right on the money. I'd add that Martin's recreations of thier "golden era" models are stunning and from a relatively high volume manufacturer are almost as good as small shop builders like Collings, Bougoise and Goodall. The vast majority of the rest of their line I'm sure must have ol' CF1 spinning in his grave.
No-one needs a round shoulder sunburst Martin D. Gibson got it right and Collings got it better. |
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Location: NJ | I have 2 martins and have sold a bunch over the years. I really only seem to like what I call the core models d 18 28 35 45 the oo and triple ooo
I see a ton of average sounding martins now. they use pressboard for tops and sure they are ecologically sound but they SOUND like crap. All the low end martins are horrible. really horrible. they play well and are built fine but have no soul.
edited to add that what Martin does understand is how to get the equity out of their brand and how to package artist instruments and bank on those individuals. they understand the value of case candy certificates and vibe. That is why you see 40K martins and not ovations. |
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Location: Midland, MI | The only thing that keeps me from buying a Martin is the price tag. The ones I could justify spending caish monies on have HPL tops and the ones that are built the way I would want one cost more than I paid for my first three cars...put together. I'd rather spend the coin on an Adams with a red top and a deep bowl (did they ever make those?) or that planets wood-top of Als or...even a Guild dread. ;) |
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Location: Scotland | The only thing that stops me buying a Martin (except that I don't need one) is that there are significantly better guitars out there for around the same money. Check out Bougoise, Santa Cruz, Collings, Goodall, Larivee |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I still don't like their sunbursts, way too dark. Maybe the Sambucca models are better. Overall they make good guitars. I'd buy any of their older ones. I agree with Temp, for a new guitar there are lots of better ones out there.
And Slipkid is right, no flames from me, it's not like it's a Taylor thread. |
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Location: SoCal | I've played exactly 2 Martins in my life that really wowed me.The first was an early 40's D-35 (I think it was early 40's) and the second, oddly enough, was a modern recreation of the first. Both were spectacular.
But for the money, there are a number of other guitars that I would buy first. This same comment could be applied to any Taylor I've ever played. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by alpep:
edited to add that what Martin does understand is how to get the equity out of their brand ... Gee that sounds familiar!
Don't know dick about martins in general, I must admit.
(do we have a dick here? any dick?)
(don't answer that) |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | Taylor? anyone mention Taylor? unbuckle your firehose and put the flames out! |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I've played exactly 2 Martins in my life that really wowed me.The first was an early 40's D-35 (I think it was early 40's) and the second, oddly enough, was a modern recreation of the first. Both were spectacular.
But for the money, there are a number of other guitars that I would buy first. This same comment could be applied to any Taylor I've ever played. The D-35 was introduced in mid '60s. Perhaps you meant D-45. |
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Location: chicago | I own a 1943 Martin in great condition no truss rod with a perfect neck(family airloom)but I never play it because it just doesnt have that sound that I jones!OVATION
www.guitaroffire.com |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Accidentally saw this slideshow, and checked it out ... really cool Martin photographs.
http://entertainment.webshots.com/slideshow/557101797cmFoKm?&track_... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | WOW, thanks for sharing. That's amazing. Shot at the new visitor center and museum which I hope to visit soon. One could argue that a lot of them are way over priced but they seem to have no trouble selling them. I was told that orders were taken for ALL 50 of the D-28 Authentics ($40k list) by the end of the second day of the show. I guess some people invest in these like art. Dave |
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Location: south east Michigan | When BrianT and I did the Martin tour thing, we missed the opening of the new store / museum by about 2 months. It might be worth a trip back sometime. |
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Location: SoCal | Colt, I'm pretty certain that they were D35's. Maybe I had the year wrong....
Beautiful slide show. |
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Location: Central Florida | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
Martin's recreations of thier "golden era" models are stunning and from a relatively high volume manufacturer are almost as good as small shop builders like Collings, Bougoise and Goodall. The vast majority of the rest of their line I'm sure must have ol' CF1 spinning in his grave. It sounds like you're suggesting the only guitars Martin builds these days that are worthwhile are the Golden Era, Authentic, and Marquis series reissues. If that's what you're saying, then I must soundly dissagree. I own two Standard Series Martins that are, IMHO, the two best sounding acoustic guitars I've ever had the privilege to own. |
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Location: Las Vegas, Nevada | Tupperware, guess I will join the 2 or 3, then. I spent a lot of time at NAMM in the Martin booth when I could get out of my booths. Not only did they have a new booth, but I felt they really put the emphasis on the high-end products and one-offs/customs they are masters at building. Tupperware, did you put your hands around the multi-layer bound neck of the CSN Gerry Tolman Tribute? Totally different profile, but I did not ask anyone about it. While I appreciate the Martin Artist stuff and understand why it exists, they are not my thing, rather I prefer the standard, foundation models. I also made several visits to the Ovation part of the Kaman booth. The 2007 Collector's is spectacular. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Yeah I picked up the CSN tribute. I didn't notice the neck profile, however. Dave |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Colt, I'm pretty certain that they were D35's. Maybe I had the year wrong....
Beautiful slide show. I figured you had the year wrong. The '67 D-35 I've talked about here before is hands down the most impressive guitar I've played or heard. Simply awesome!!!
And you're right; that's a beautiful slideshow. |
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Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Jeff:
It sounds like you're suggesting the only guitars Martin builds these days that are worthwhile are the Golden Era, Authentic, and Marquis series reissues. If that's what you're saying, then I must soundly dissagree. I own two Standard Series Martins that are, IMHO, the two best sounding acoustic guitars I've ever had the privilege to own. Actually I was using "golden era" as a generic term rather than quoting from their marketing. I think some of their entry and mid-level traditional stuff is pretty damn good for the money. I was refering to their formica/aluminum/reso junk. They are really doing themselves a disservice putting the Martin name on that crap. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Maybe in the UK they didn't watch "Felix" when they were children ...
I have to agree with Paul. The cowboy stuff, betty boob, felix and the formicas are a joke. On the Martin board I wrote that I did not consider them "real" martins. They banned my IP address.
Dave |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Bit touchy are they? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Fascists.
(. . . but at least they have standards :-/ ) |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Paul, altho I understand what you are trying to say, I believe you are failing to recognize that there is a whole segment of society that could care less about fine guitars. They have no interest in what makes a great guitar. In fact they are oblivious to the benifits reaped from such instruments.
No matter what product, there will be those who know, understand and appreciate the upper end of a product line and those who are satisfied with the lower end, thinking it will get them by for what they need.
The latter is the target for the stuff you wouldn't look at twice. Me either. But it will sell and that is the bottom line for many companies; there is a reason they call it "Market Share" and companies want their share.
I suspect that many of us here did not start out playing guitar on a high end instrument. I know I sure didn't. I started on a $16 swap shop used special. Strings high enough to make a damn fine cheese slicer but I didn't know any better and to my 8 year old eyes oooh it was sooo cool. I no longer have it but fondly recall it is where I started to learn.
Over the years the guitars I've purchased have been progressively better than the one before. Evolution has to start somewhere. If the formica/aluminum/reso junk, allows financialy or its' uniqueness inspires, someone to start playing, then that junk may just be the perfect instrument for them.
We need not agree with someones choice but we should respect it.
Well that was long winded! Sorry.
Dave |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | No Dave, it was quite perfect...they can't all be punchlines. We need a set-up once in a while to fuel the fire.
For her first guitar, I bought my niece a nice little Yamaha 1/2 scale that cost about 3 times as much (in current, not adjusted dollars) as my first guitar and is at least five times the instrument!
You're quite right, of course. But we'd never let something like that get in the way of a good arguement.... |
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Location: Scotland | Originally posted by colt357:
. If the formica/aluminum/reso junk, allows financialy or its' uniqueness inspires, someone to start playing, then that junk may just be the perfect instrument for them.
That would be cool, the problem is that Martins formica/aluminum or whatever guitars are not good value. You are paying a lot of money for a headstock logo. The fact is there are much better guitars than Martins HPL or whatever for a lot less money. What they are doing is fooling the newbies into thinking they are buying a quality product because it says Martin on the headstock. If the newbies were experienced enough to trust their ears instead of believing the marketing hype they could buy a Crafter or whatever that plays as good and sounds better and invest the money they save in some lessons. |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
I think some of their entry and mid-level traditional stuff is pretty damn good for the money. I was refering to their formica/aluminum/reso junk. They are really doing themselves a disservice putting the Martin name on that crap. I can see your point there Paul. It was however, through that formica/aluminum/reso junk that first introduced me to Martins, after years of owning Chinese and Korean-made garbage guitars [although that's not the case in the here and now].
After acquiring my first DM model from the road series, I never realized that I would end up owning three more, which includes the HD-28 that I value highly.
Unfortunately, the formica/aluminum/reso junk was also too much of a good thing that went sour. These days, entry level Martins are far more affordable to own than a Gibson, and it puts them in the same level as the Asian-made imports. Also, the once "Made in USA" labels had been replaced with "Made in Mexico." |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by colt357:
I suspect that many of us here did not start out playing guitar on a high end instrument. I know I sure didn't. I started on a $16 swap shop used special. Strings high enough to make a damn fine cheese slicer but I didn't know any better and to my 8 year old eyes oooh it was sooo cool. I no longer have it but fondly recall it is where I started to learn. Memories. I thought I had the only one.
Martin does their advertising well.
They focus on the history. Pull a lyric from a hit song and say it was written on a Martin. Which it probably was.
I would love to see Ovation put out some ads featuring the many great artist's who have used Ovation over the years. :cool: |
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Location: Omaha, NE | The problem I have with Martin is that their gestalt is all about preserving an idealized past. I'm not interested in that. I want a guitar company that looks forward. That's one of the reasons I have always been attracted to Ovation. Its also one of the reasons I am attracted to Taylor. Funny how that works. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | What Martin does with HPLs and DM and stuff, is no different than what Ovation does with Celebs. Sell 'em by the truckload and pay to keep the doors of the factory open.
The "value" proposition of these entry level guitars with famous brand names on them probably goes out the window. I suspect a significant number of entry level Martins are purchased for spoiled brats by guilt ridden parent/adults who own very expensive guitars by the same maker. If I had a 7 year old and there was an entry level guitar that said "adamas" on it, I guess I'd buy it no matter how poor a value it was.
Dave |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | I think that a large segment of society refuse to educate themselves when getting into something new.
Altho I don't like to see it, the choices of some bring to mind the old saying, "A fool and his money, are soon parted!" |
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Location: Central Florida | Originally posted by Tupperware:
On the Martin board I wrote that I did not consider them "real" martins. They banned my IP address.
Dave They banned you because of that one comment???? :eek: |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by Jeff:
Originally posted by Tupperware:
On the Martin board I wrote that I did not consider them "real" martins. They banned my IP address.
Dave They banned you because of that one comment???? :eek: |
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Location: Central Florida | Paul T, thanks for the clarifcation on your initial comment.
I agree that that the novelty guitars and the HPL stuff are not exactly what I'd consider real Martins either (gee, I hope nobody from the UMGF sees this and gets ME banned too!). :cool: |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | OK, slight exaggeration. Actually they banned me for suggesting that Martin should build a guitar with a round plastic back. OK, OK, still joking. I was not banned, and I have NEVER mentioned one sniff about Ovation over there. They are far less open minded. Dave |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | I left the Martin board for two reasons:
1) Some jerk sent me a PM -- the exact words were "well it's a Martin, but it's not a D-28" with regards to the DM [with laminated mahogany back and sides] that I owned at that time.
I gave it a shadow of a doubt, for the reason that the tone of the responses changed when I acquired the HD-28. Suddenly, I felt that I was given some authority to express my opinions ...
2) I got in a somewhat heated argument with a member who was bashing Ovation/Adamas guitars. After defending Ovations, the "dude" went as far as not only taunting non-M guitars, but also the content of the character of individuals who own(ed) them.
That was more than enough for me to leave that board for good. It's been almost a year since leaving it, and I don't miss it one bit. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Ummmm, Gil ... that was YOU ???
Sorry about that. Dave |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Crazy people like you scare some of us, Dave. |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | I applied to the Martin Country Club, but my application was rejected... |
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Off Topic - Flame me if you must. NAMM Martin Observations