Have you ever owned a Martin guitar? If you have, you’ll know that special feeling that comes with having such a famous and revered brand to play on. If not, then perhaps it’s a future aspiration for you, when the time comes to finally buy that ‘life partner’ acoustic guitar. The ‘one’. Martin are certainly that brand!
Today, I’ll talk to you a little about this subject. I’ll give you my thoughts on why I think every guitarist should have a Martin guitar in their collection if they can. My observations are based on years of learning, playing & selling Martin guitars to players of all styles and backgrounds. I know the range well, and have put many a Martin guitar into the hands of a happy player over the years. I hope this instills some trust in me as I take you through my thoughts on Martin guitar ownership.
Contents
Instant Access to Historical Tones
Nearly 200 Years of Expertise in Craftsmanship
Join the Company of Legendary Artists
Martin Classics, For Players Everywhere
Own an Original
Martin guitars are the most copied acoustic guitar brand in the world. Their original ideas have been taken on and used by pretty much every guitar manufacturer since, which speaks volumes to their effectiveness. Guitars such as the dreadnought and the triple O (000) are Martin inventions, after all.
I say: why not go straight to the original? If you want a great dreadnought, doesn’t it make sense to make your first stop the brand who invented it over a century ago and have been making them non-stop ever since? Makes sense to me!
Instant Access to Historical Tones
Strum a Martin D-28 and you’ll hear history ringing back at you. That combination of body shape, spruce top and rosewood body is ‘the’ Martin sound to many guitar fans. It’s a classic sound as much as, say, a Les Paul into a Marshall or a Strat into a Twin, there’s no doubt about it.
This is true also of the all-mahogany 00 and 000 tones: instant prohibition-era acoustic blues! If you want that ring of authenticity when you play, you have to go to the original: you have to go to Martin.
Nearly 200 Years of Expertise in Craftsmanship
When it comes to trust, any company who has been operating at the top of the game for 192 years has to be a safe bet! Martin & Co has been building since 1833, a full 50 years before the Wild West! They’ve been in their current Nazareth, Pennsylvania location for almost all of that time too (only their first 6 years were in NYC), so the tradition is both long and strong.
Longevity
You know your Martin is going to go the distance with you. Not only have they been building guitars for nearly 200 years (see above), but century-old antique Martin instruments are still played and used by musicians today. There is pretty much nothing more desirable to acoustic guitarists than a ‘Pre-War’ Martin acoustic, thanks to a full 100 years of drying out and ageing to perfection. In fact, the whole concept of torrefied/roasted wood is an attempt by the industry to capture those special sounds that these old, fully seasoned and dried-out antique guitars have!
Join the Company of Legendary Artists
To own a Martin guitar is to rub metaphorical shoulders with these other Martin players…
- Neil Young
- Johnny Cash
- Joni Mitchell
- Tom Waits
- Willie Nelson
- John Lennon
- Joan Baez
- Kurt Cobain
- Eric Clapton
- Bob Dylan
- Molly Tuttle
- Hank Williams
- John Mayer
- Dwight Yokam
- Stephen Stills
- David Grier
- John Prine
- Amanda Shires
- David Gilmour
- John Frusciante
- Steve Howe
- Paul Simon
- Billy Strings
Now, is that group of people some pretty good company to keep? I reckon so! A huge amount of the recorded acoustic music in the world has been created with Martin guitars. It is a rare person indeed who can say they don’t like ANY of those above musicians! The influence of Martin guitars over popular music is huge, frankly.
Something For Every Player
Martin offer a pretty comprehensive selection of guitars. Well, actually, they have something at almost every single price point that exists, outside of beginner instruments. There are various ranges that cater to aspiring players, semi pros, full-on touring players and well-heeled collectors.
There are historical replicas, modern innovations, portable travel guitars, rare heirlooms and all points in between. With so many models available, you don’t have to spend a million bucks in order to sound like a million bucks.
Investment Quality
Whilst I’d never recommend buying a guitar as an investment (they are tools for playing and enjoying), Martin are certainly one of the brands that collectors love. It’s all to do with the heritage and artist association, really. Buying a top-level Martin is an investment in a prized artefact that has significance and a high chance of future value.
Martin Classics, For Players Everywhere
Martin guitars are a classic guitar brand. They have arguably the richest and most star-studded history of all guitar brands. They still built ‘em like they used to, out in Nazareth, PA. If you are a fan of guitars and guitar music, then you will already be enshrouded in the lore and magic of Martin guitars. I believe that this stuff is important, and it reveals itself to you the more you play and enjoy your guitars.
If any of this strikes a chord with you (sorry), then I invite you to visit your nearest guitarguitar store and have a good long sit down with some Martin guitars of your choice. We’ll help you connect with your next musical life-partner. See you then!
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