Best Martin for the Money?

U

uhhuhhim

New member
Hey everyone,

It's been AGES since I logged in here, but the time has come for me to purchase a new guitar.

For the last 10 years, I've played a Fender DG20CE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric that was given to me on my 16th birthday (purchased for $600 in 1999).

However, like all good things, they get worn. It has a few scrapes, scratches and holes in the finish, but I consider them to be battle scars.

I plan to keep it for songs that I may write using alternate tunings.

I've been searching online for a couple of days now, but have ruled out Taylor and Gibson simply because they're unaffordable at the lower end, which is where I'm looking to buy. The only other brand that I do not want to look at is Ovation, simply because I find the bowed back rather ugly (no offense).

Granted, the more money you spend, the better your guitar will be (so more power to all of you who have those beautiful guitars).

Martin seems to have a great reputation, especially for their DC-28's, but they also have a lot good options around $1,000, which is the maximum I'm probably willing to spend.

I'd like to find something in that price range that is solid wood, without laminates of any kind, which I suspect my DG20CE may have (at least on the sides and back). After all, even if I can't afford one of the best, I might as well get something that's solid wood (at least for tone).

I could go in circles online looking, but I'd rather hear from some owners.

So, to all of you who own a Martin that's not a DC-28 (or a variation), what is the best guitar for around $1,000 or lower? And, even if you do have a DC-28, please feel free to suggest a cheaper option in the Martin line.

The more info, the better.

Thanks,

uhhuhhim :)
 
What's the DC designation? Dreadnaught Cutaway I presume? I'm not familiar with any cutaway D-28 guitars from Martin, though I don't doubt that they exist. So I presume that you're looking for a cutaway then?

I always see forum member and experienced luthier Light suggesting a particular Martin as the best bang-for-your-buck. I believe that it's the D-16 but I'm not 100% sure. Unfortunately, that's still $1600.

There's the D-15 that has a mahogany top for right at $999, but the mahogany top would probably be pretty dark sounding. But it's an all-solid Martin dreadnaught for < $1000 so you will probably want to play one during your search.

The D-1 is all solid except for the sides, which are laminate East Indian rosewood. There's an OM-1, which is an orchestra-style body instad of the dreadnaught. It has solid Sitka spruce top and solid Sapele back and sides, no laminates. Not sure if an orchestra style body is in your thoughts or not.

It's tough to find a good Martin in that price range that doesn't use HPL materials or that isn't travel-sized or 3/4 size. Anything with an 'X' in the model number is going to have HPL materials on the top or sides. I understand if you gotta have a Martin, they're terrific guitars. I'll treasure mine for the rest of my natural life, and it's bound to only appreciate in value by the time I've died and left it to my children. If it hasn't increased in monetary value by then, it will have at least appreciated in sentimental value. There's just nothing like a Martin if you have your heart set on one.

But I have a feeling that with a budget of $1000, you'll be better served looking at other brands. There are a ton of great 100% solid wood dreadnaughts out there, and I'm sure that people here will have lots of suggestions for you once they catch wind of this thread.

Happy hunting!
 
Tadpui said:
Anything with an 'X' in the model number is going to have HPL materials on the top or sides.
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Wow, I didn't know that. Does that include all guitar brands or just Martin?

I understand if you gotta have a Martin, they're terrific guitars. I'll treasure mine for the rest of my natural life, and it's bound to only appreciate in value by the time I've died and left it to my children. If it hasn't increased in monetary value by then, it will have at least appreciated in sentimental value. There's just nothing like a Martin if you have your heart set on one.

But I have a feeling that with a budget of $1000, you'll be better served looking at other brands. There are a ton of great 100% solid wood dreadnaughts out there, and I'm sure that people here will have lots of suggestions for you once they catch wind of this thread.

Happy hunting!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your post, BTW. I don't necessarily have to have a Martin, but for me, $1K is a good lump of money. But to all who have read the title of this thread: I am open to other brands! I'm not a "brand snob" in the slightest...was just hoping for an opinion on Martins before I decide to buy.
 
I've got the DCX-1E and think it sounds great. Of course, I'm no conniseur of guitars, but it has the sound I like. And that's what matters, oh and the price too. I think the 'X' notation is just a Martin thing.

I've heard a few Laviree's (sp?) on this site before and they sound great recorded. You should check them out as well.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Are the newer ones as boomy as the old Martins?
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Some of the Dreadnaughts that I played while shopping for my Martin were pretty bassy. I'm not sure that I'd call them boomy, but the bass was pretty pronounced on them. The D-28 had a strong low end, the HD-28 had an even more powerful low end, and the HD-35 was just a cannon across the whole frequency spectrum.

But the D-41 was the one I settled on. It has a nice, tight low end that isn't boomy at all. It's just tight and focused across the whole spectrum. I love it to pieces.

Of course the orchestra models from Martin are all very balanced. I thought that the John Mayer signature was one of the best sounding guitars I've ever played. If I were a fan of OM guitars and/or John Mayer, that may have been the guitar I chose. But I'm just a dreadnaught fan through and through. I just love the big sound.

And yeah, the 'X' designation being a HPL guitar is a Martin thing as far as I know.
 
I was just at my local store trying out acoustics. I'm in the market as well. I found a couple of diamonds in the ruff. They had a Godin Seagull Performer series and a Godin Seagull Maritime series. The performer has electronics. The Maritime is no electronics, but is solid wood series mahagony. I was trying all sorts of guitars, Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, but I kept going back to the Seagulls. They sounded awesome, and here's the best part. The Maritime was on sale for $588 Canadian and the Performer was $650 Canadian. Have a look:
http://www.seagullguitars.com/intro.htm
 
+1 for Seagulls - I don't have one, but I've got one of their cheaper Art & Lutherie line parlor sized. I always like the Seagulls in that price range in the stores.

My main acoustic is a 1972 D28, which I think was less than $1k back then (my uncle bought it) - it's only boomy if you point a mic at the sound hole. I can't get the sound I want from the new ones (below $2k or so) when I play them in the store, but I'm not sure if that's just an aging thing or strings or the room or what - they sound thinner and "stiffer" to me, if that makes sense.
 
000-15

Definitely not a dreadnaught. Solid Mahogany (great Mahogony scent each time you open the case). Beautiful tone not at all boomy, very nice highs and good mids, doesn't need a lot of EQing and considering it's size surprisingly powerful.
Sort of entry level high end Martin and a little under $1000.00. Very nicely put together and solidly made.
Plays fingerpicking and light strumming like a dream
No electronics so needs to be mic'd
I'm loving mine had it about 4 months and it's really inspiring me to play more

Check one out if you can find them
 
I just got a 000-M (discontinued) and it sounds better, and is louder, than my D-15. The back and sides are also laminated, whereas the D-15 is solid wood. Go figure.
 
Keep saving and scour Craigslist. There is so much great stuff available right now used and a lot of it is pretty cheap compared to what it sold for new.

Depending on your style you should be able to find just about any Martin imaginable. I live near Seattle and find something I want to buy almost daily, not necessarily Martin guitars, but there are some really great deals on used instruments and gear right now.

Everybody else is just as broke as you, if not more.

And don't be afaid to make offers. Cash in hand speaks volumes.
 
I've got a MC16-GTE I grabbed used for comfortably under a grand. It's a great sounding guitar, but after I played the DC16 counterpart, I kinda wanted to upgrade. :p
 
How about an OM??

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/msg/1577216983.html

Or maybe a nice New Yorker. Damn that looks sweet as hell.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/1576935147.html

Here's a 16-something or other cutaway. Still not down to $1000.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/1576981419.html

Martin Backpacker for $100. Can't go very wrong at that price.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/1575910820.html

Here's another one of those D-16's, a bit cheaper than the first one.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/1573410171.html

Here's a sub-grand dread.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/1569098531.html

And just for kicks how about something pre-war. Man, Craigslist has everything!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/1567102868.html
 
c7sus said:
How about an OM??

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/msg/1577216983.html

Or maybe a nice New Yorker. Damn that looks sweet as hell.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/1576935147.html

Here's a 16-something or other cutaway. Still not down to $1000.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/1576981419.html

Martin Backpacker for $100. Can't go very wrong at that price.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/1575910820.html

Here's another one of those D-16's, a bit cheaper than the first one.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/1573410171.html

Here's a sub-grand dread.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/1569098531.html

And just for kicks how about something pre-war. Man, Craigslist has everything!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/1567102868.html
Click to expand...

This is great. Thanks for the list...off to explore :)
 
RE: Best Martian for the money?

martain2a.gif


OH you said Martin.... My Bad Here ya go
Steve_Martin_Biography.jpg



:p:D:laughings:
 
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