May 16, 2024

Category: Review

Acoustic Guitars / Review

Martin 000-30 Authentic 1919 Review

one manby one man0

Classic pre-war Martin mojo lives again in the historic 000-30 A 1919




Colorful and responsive in looks, feel, and tone

Specs include: All-solid wood with hide glue construction throughout; Madagascar rosewood back and sides; Adirondack spruce top with Vintage Tone System torrefaction, high-color wooden marquetry top trim and back strip, torrefied period-correct scalloped 1/4” bracing and torrefied maple bridge plate; one-piece mahogany neck with shallow vintage V profile, slotted headstock with Martin brand at the back; ebony fingerboard with period correct snowflake fret markers, 1-7/8” width at nut, 2-5/16” at the 12th fret; ebony pyramid bridge with 2-3/8” string spacing; bone nut and saddle; StewMac Golden Age reproduction three-on-a side tuning machines with unique engraved plates and pearloid buttons, grained ivoroid binding, extra-thin Vintage Gloss nitrocellulose finish.

“The 000-30 A 1919 offers the kind of sound many luthiers and guitarists have sought to produce since the invention of steel strings.”

Read the Full Review and see the Video Here

USE Martin 000-30 Authentic 1919 fret markers

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM / Review

Martin GPC-15ME Review

one manby one man0

Grand Performance in Martin’s 15 Series’ GPC-15ME


Versatile mahogany top tone at a great price

Specs include: Grand Performance body size with cutaway; solid wood construction; African mahogany back, sides, top; 5/16″ scalloped forward-shifted bracing; mahogany High Performance neck with Modified Low Oval profile, Indian rosewood bridge and fingerboard with High Performance taper, 1-3/4″ at nut, 2-1/8″ at 12th fret, 2-5/32″ string spacing; satin finish, open back tuners with butter bean knobs; Fishman Matrix VT Enhance N2 electronics

“I am pleased as punch at the punch from the GPC-15ME’s midrange, and how it is hugged by a cuddly bear of mahogany warmth in the bass. And my ear loves being tickled by the sweet, sweet laugh of the 15 Series treble notes that make me want to reach out and pluck them from the air.”

Read the Full Review Here

Martin GPC-15ME shoulder 2 NAMM

Acoustic Guitars / Review

Martin CS-Bluegrass-16 Review

one manby one man7

Martin makes a humdinger dreadnought in their CS-Bluegrass-16


Modern Martin playability meets classic herringbone tone

CS Bluegrass 2016 specs include: All-solid woods with hide glue construction throughout; Guatemalan rosewood back and sides; Adirondack spruce top with Vintage Tone System torrefaction, antique toner and fine herringbone purfling, large sound hole, forward-shifted scalloped 5/16” VTS bracing; mahogany High Performance Neck with Modified Low Oval profile, ebony fingerboard with 1-3/4” width at nut and 2-1/8” at 12th fret, white dot position markers; ebony bridge with 2-5/32” string spacing; chrome open back butter bean tuners

“There is something charming to the chime ringing off the unwound treble strings, supported by a palpable cushion of rosewood undertone welling up from the bottom end, where the bassiest string is plump and succulent. Overall, this is a guitar of power and personality.”

Read the Full Review

Martin CS Bluegrass 08 shoulder

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM / Review

Martin 00-18 Review

one manby one man6

New Grand Concert Size Martin, the 00-18 Enters the Standard Series

World-class tone from a small-body mahogany mighty mite

Specs include: 14-fret 00 (Grand Concert size) body; all-solid wood construction; South American mahogany back and sides; Sitka spruce top with scalloped 1/4″ Sitka spruce bracing; short-scale High Performance mahogany neck with Modified Low Oval profile, 1-3/4″ at nut, 2-1/8″ at 12th fret; ebony fingerboard and bridge; bone nut and saddle with 2-5/32″ string spacing; Standard Style 18 appointments including faux tortoise shell pickguard and body binding; mother of pearl dot fret markers, Indian rosewood headstock face plate with vintage style C. F. Martin & Co. gold foil logo; chrome open back tuners with butterbean knobs.

“The new 00-18 provides a relaxing, comfortable playing experience that rewards the guitarist with a prosperous voice, lavish with presence in the undertone resonance and the wafting high harmonics.”

Read the Full Review and See the Video Here

Martin 00-18 bridge

Acoustic Guitars / Review

Martin D-1 Authentic Review

one manby one man2

The flagship of Martin’s 2016 fleet, the D-1 Authentic 1931 is a magnificent dreadnought for the ages

A classic reborn at its birth

Specs include: 12-fret Dreadnought body; all-solid wood construction; South American mahogany back and sides; VTS torrefied Adirondack spruce top with VTS torrefied bracing and bridge plate; mahogany neck with vintage V profile unique to this model; 1-7/8″ at nut, 2-5/16″ at 12th fret; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge; bone nut and glued-in long saddle with 2-3/8″ string spacing; Ditson-style 9-ply rosette and 2-ply top purfling; black binding; faux tortoise shell pickguard; abalone dot fret markers; slotted headstock with Brazilian rosewood face plate; traditional Martin brand on back of headstock; relic tuners with brass side mounts

“The D-1A feels exactly like a pre-war Martin. It’s astounding in just how light it is. And it’s astounding in its sounding so very marvelous.”

Read the Full Review Here

Martin D-1 Authentic 1931 top

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM / Review

Martin D-222 Review

one manby one man0

In honor of the original Ditson Dreadnought

Martin’s D-222 is a terrifically torrefied, modern mahogany magnificence

D-222 specs include: Standard 12-fret body size; all solid wood construction throughout, including traditional Big Leaf mahogany back and sides; Sitka spruce top with M2 level of Martin’s Vintage Tone System, scalloped 5/16″ bracing; grained ivoroid binding on body and neck; Modified V neck profile with 1-3/4″ width at nut, 2-1/4″ at 12th fret; ebony fingerboard and straight pyramid bridge with 2-1/4″” string spacing; bone saddle and nut; vintage Ditson appointments for the fret markers and rosette, tortoise colored pickguard; slotted headstock with Indian rosewood faceplate; StewMac Golden Age tuners.

“A suntanned siren with soft, round shoulders, broad across the top, with wide hips, and a husky yet sultry voice both pleasing and powerful.”

Read the full review of this model with video HERE

D-222 full front large

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM / Review

Review – Martin 000-42 Authentic 1939

one manby one man1

A Rarefied Martin Lives Again in the 000-42 Authentic 1939

The First Affordable Pearl-Trimmed Martin in the Authentic Series is a Beauty

Specs include: All solid woods with hide glue construction; Madagascar rosewood back and sides; Adirondack spruce top, thinned to pre-war specs, treated with Martin’s Vintage Tone System torrefaction; VTS torrefied Authentic Series scalloped bracing and bridge plate; grained ivoroid binding; solid abalone top purfling and rosette; mahogany neck with 1-11/16” width at nut; vintage V profile unique to this model; ebony fingerboard with solid abalone fret markers; ebony bridge with 2-1/8” string spacing; unique reproduction tuners; extra-thin high gloss finish

“It is an emotionally expressive instrument that naturally inspires nice bluesy string bends, and even subtle little waggles of a fretting finger translate into evocative alterations in the tone of each note, which then spawn echoes that radiate within and without the lively 000 body with its scallop-braced VTS top.”

Read the full review with video HERE

000-42 Authentic 1939 pearl

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM / Review

Martin 00-18 Authentic 1931 – Review

one manby one man3

A time machine 12-fretter, the 00-18 Authentic 1931 is superb

The new featherweight champ with heavyweight tone

00-18 Authentic 1931 specs include: All solid woods with hide glue construction throughout, including traditional Big Leaf mahogany back and sides; Adirondack spruce top with M1 level of Martin’s Vintage Tone System, and VTS treated Authentic Series 1/4″ bracing and bridge plate; short-scale mahogany neck with a shape unique to this model, 1-7/8″ at nut; ebony fingerboard and bridge with 2-3/8″ string spacing; bone saddle and ebony nut; Vintage Style 18 appointments for the fret markers and rosette, tortoise colored pickguard and binding; Madagascar rosewood accents; thin, Vintage gloss finish.

“From the first note, I felt that of all the Authentic Series, the 00-18 Authentic 1931 would fool me most easily if I was blindfolded and told I was playing a pre-war Martin.”

Read the Full Review with Video

00 18 Authentic 1931 side

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM / Review

Martin CS-OM True North-16 Review

one manby one man2

The Compass to a Koa Wonderland is Found in Martin’s 2016 CS-OM

Elegant marquetry graces a classic Martin Orchestra Model from the Custom Shop

CS-OM True North-16 specs include: Top Shelf all-solid wood construction, including exceptionally-figured koa back and sides, a master grade Adirondack spruce top with 1/4” Adirondack spruce braces and high color paua shell purfling; unique True North motif with marquetry of a compass rose on the back in flamed Claro Walnut, flamed jarrah and waterfall bubinga with paua pearl accents; genuine mahogany High Performance neck with high gloss finish, Modified Low Oval profile, High Performance taper to the ebony fingerboard with four-point star outline fret markers; ebony bridge with 2-5/32” string spacing; ebony binding on body, neck, headstock; waterfall bubinga rosette with outline star inlay; high color paua pearl top and rosette purfling; ebony headstock face plate with figured koa “parchment” and compass rose, C.F. Martin script logo in paua pearl.

“I love how the True North’s crystalline lens of Adirondack spruce etches such fine detail into the warm koa undertone and shimmery high harmonics, as they sustain, fluctuate, and slowly fade, with each undulating glimmer as languid as lamplight on a tropical lagoon.”

CS-OM True North-16 vid cap

Read the Full Review with Video HERE

Acoustic Guitars / Review

1-23-2016 Guitar Comparison Needs Your Ears

one manby one man4

While I iron out some technical difficulties with my sound editing situation, it will be early next week before I can post any videos or reviews of the 2016 Martins. So I thought I might offer instead something I have wanted to post for some time.

Here is an A/B comparison of two similar guitars, via three short excerpts of music. It is a .wav file that I put on Youtube with a blank background.

I would love to hear what people think, and more importantly what they HEAR.

How are they different? Which has more of X or less of Y? How are they similar? If you think they are in certain ways, a lot or a little.

Hear the guitars and leave your comments HERE