April 25, 2024

Tag: Cutaway

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM

Martin Guitar New X Series Models for 2024

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New for NAMM 2024! Many Martin Models in the X Series

Revamped Martin X Series models include a thinner, beveled fingerboard

(click photos to enlarge)

onemanz.com

With just over a week to go to the NAMM Show, Martin Guitar announces their least pricey models, even if they all come with world class aesthetic charm. While some of these acoustic-electric models exit already, they have been revamped with a redesigned bridge, a thinner fingerboard with a “gently beveled comfort edge,” “refined string spacing” and fantastic-looking XPL back and sides featuring glorious visual reproductions of choicest tonewoods including figured Brazilian rosewood,  ziricote, mahogany, koa, and the cocobolo pictured above in size 0, 00, and GPC.

The full lineup of the new X Series models includes the 0-X2E Cocobolo, 00-X2E Cocobolo, GPC-X2E Cocobolo; GPC-X2E Ziricote, D-X2E Ziricote Burst; 000-X2E Brazilian, D-X2E Brazilian, D-X2E Brazilian 12-String; D-X2E Mahogany; D -X1E Koa; GPC-X1E Black.

These affordable (by Martin standards) acoustic-electric guitars are made at their plant in Navojoa, Mexico from rugged high-pressure laminate back and sides. The 1 models have an HPL top with a either a koa, mahogany, or black pattern and a birch laminate neck. The 2 models have actual solid spruce or sapele soundboards and select hardwood necks and bridges.

The X Series bridges have been reshaped with a soft slope rather than the defined edge on either side of the bridge pins seen on traditional Martins. The electronics have been upgraded to the Martin E1 system that has a built-in turner and phase control in addition to the volume and tone controls.

 

While the cosmetic HPL patterns will not change the sound of the X Series instruments, they do offer excellent choices in terms of stunning visual appeal.

D-X2E Ziricote Burst (Do you see the lama sticking its tongue out at you? Or the viper’s fangs??)

 

GPC-X2E Ziricote (with solid ribbon sapele soundboard)

 

D-X2E Brazilian 12-String

 

000-X2E Brazilian

 

00-X2E Cocobolo (available in 0 and GPC sizes)

 

The popular D-X1E Koa with the upgraded fingerboard and electronics

 

Colorful and affordable, the new additions to the C. F. Martin & Co. X Series are a bevy of beauties to be sure.

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM

NAMM 2023 – Taylor Builder’s Edition 814ce

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Latest Builder’s Edition in their Flagship Size

Grand Auditorium with a Cutaway and Four-Piece Top

The latest edition in the Taylor Builder’s Edition series has elegant styling and ergonomic features like the beveled arm rest on the bass side of the lower bout, and a bevel built into the cutaway. The Builder’s Edition 914ce has 800 Series specs including an East Indian back has an attractive burst shading and no center seam, wood bindings and wood fiber purling, and a pearl sound hole rosette.

The soundboard on the Taylor Builder’s Edition 914ce made with four panels of Adirondack spruce. This seems to take a page from Chris Martin’s playbook of putting non-traditional woods or construction techniques on a showcase special edition guitar, as if to say, “Would we put this on such an important, expensive instrument if there was something wrong with it?”  Mr.s Taylor and Martin are passionate about responsible management of natural resources and this new Builder’s Edition furthers that cause by showing how four-piece soundboards can look lovely and help create beautiful music.

More information at:

Taylor Builder’s Edition 814ce




Acoustic Guitars / Indie Artists

T Spoon Phillips – Music for a Socially Distant Audience – May 6

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Live from Brooklyn, It’s T Spoon Phillips with his Martin Guitar

Edited for Length, and With a Bonus Song from the Afternoon Set

May 6, 2020

Every Wednesday, 8 PM Eastern Daylight Time on YouTube Live onemanzguitar channel.

With a run through at 3:30 PM for those across the sea (8:30 British Summer Time, 9:30 Central Europe Summer Time)

Acoustic Guitars

Petros Guitars New Short Scale 12-Fretter!

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The Walnut Creek Fingerstyle Model From Petros Guitars

I have loved every Petros guitar I have ever seen in person. And this 12-fret Claro Walnut and Redwood beauty promises to be spectacular.

Bruce Petros and his son Matt have forged a unique path as modern American luthiers. Their guitars are incredibly lush in tone, very much the opposite of the overtone-less, fundamental sound of many contemporary, small shop luthiers.

Petros guitars are not just good, they are glorious. And this one appears to fit that description once again.

As per the official Petros Guitars press notice:

This is a short scale instrument (24.5”) which makes it a joy to play. The shorter scale has much less string tension which makes it much easier to play. The Petros Walnut Creek (formerly our Ultra-Light) is a wonderfully light weight guitar with a thunderous sound. It is made from gorgeous curly Claro Walnut with a master grade Redwood top and a Butternut neck. Our arched soundboard, meticulously tuned braces and graduation creates a top that produces those full bass fundamentals while simultaneously enabling ringing trebles and lush overtones. This guitar will growl or sing softly. It will give you whatever you ask of it.

“For any of you with aging or arthritic hands, this is the answer.”

(click to enlarge)

12_fret_Walnut_Creek_FS copy

Many more mouthwatering photos of this gorgeous instrument at Petros’ Official Website

12_fret_Walnut_Creek_FS_sound_port