What is a Martin Guitar? When it comes to acoustic guitars, Martin Guitars are one of the best out there. From the Avett Brothers to David Gilmour, many musicians use this brand and they have a solid reputation. Martin acoustic Guitars have been around since 1833, so their history goes way back and they have made many great guitars.
Pros of Martin Guitars
In terms of the pros, a Martin acoustic guitar will provide a nice sound and they have a lot of great quality guitars. Martin guitars are most famous for their acoustic guitar models, such as D-45 or D-35. They are considered to be great for fingerstyle or acoustic style performances.
1. Quality of Sound
Moreover, with a Martin guitar you tend to get a bright sound when you play in a crowded group performance situation. In terms of recording with a rock band, the Martin guitars stand out well in a recording session with their bright, high end tone. When mixing, they provide ease in this sense. If you like recording your music, you will probably have nice results with a Martin guitar. Whether at home or in a studio, they respond well for many recording situations.
2. String Choice
Furthermore, Martin guitars are really flexible in terms of the string choice you have. Whether you use lighter or heavier string, their guitars tend to accommodate well for different setups. This is a nice feature for guitar players who want to try different strings and experiment with different sounds.
3. Built-in Electronic Systems
The other nice feature of Martin is that some of their guitars have the electronic systems built in, which is nice for tuning, feedback protection etc. This is a really nice feature for live performances as sometimes guitars go out of tune very quickly, or feedback happens when you use a microphone.
4. Free Neck Reset
Another solid feature of Martin is that they seem to provide free neck reset for their guitars. This might be a costly repair task, but it’s really nice of them that they are covering it, which shows that they really trust the instruments they make, even after it’s been a long time!
Cons of Martin Guitars
In terms of cons, it is said that Martin’s signature sound really comes from their Rosewood guitars. Other kinds of wood like Koa, Sapele or Mahogany are said to not have the same effect as Rosewood.
1. Expense
The other con of Martin guitars is that they are a bit expensive end of the price range for an acoustic guitar. They are considered to be ‘pro acoustic guitars’, so unless one has a solid budget, it is unlikely that a beginner will start with a $2000 Martin Guitar. There are always used options though, so you could always get lucky there too!
2. Guitars Without Electronics
In terms of the last con, some Martin guitars do not have electronics, which is a problem for people who want to perform live. Typically, when your guitar has a pickup, you can connect it to a PA system in live music, but if you do not have a pick up all you can do is put a microphone in front of the guitar. This sometimes works well, and sometimes it doesn’t. It also comes with problems such as feedback, so it’s really helpful for live music situations to have some sort of an electronic system in your guitars.
Which Martin Guitar is Right for You?
In terms of specific models, D-35 seems to be a model that stands out a lot. With it’s rosewood back and sides, the single notes are defined really well. Moreover, the chords sound bright and lively. The action and setup are made really well, which makes for a pleasurable playing experience. In terms of recording, it has a full and deep lower end, which makes a very good bass sound.
Martin makes wonderful acoustic guitars, and they are definitely an investment. They are a bit on the expensive end of the price range, but it is said that with age Martin guitars sound better and better.
I think picking guitars is ultimately about the connection between the player and the instrument. You should pick up the guitar and play it to see if you have a good connection. The guitar should be suitable for what the player wants to play, and the player should be able to play the guitar in a way that it is made for. If the guitarist and the guitar match well, then it should be a wonderful experience to make music with it!