Latest Acoustic Guitar Reviews and News

Martin 190th Celebration – New Limited Edition Model

by one manNovember 8, 2023November 11, 20230

Martin Celebrates the 190th Anniversary with D-19 LE

Special Event in New York City

Martin Guitar Marks 190 Years with Limited-Edition D-19 Model

NAZARETH, PA, November 8, 2023… C. F. Martin & Co. is proud to mark its 190th anniversary in the industry. As part of the 190th anniversary celebrations, Martin Guitar hosted a special event at the location of C. F. Martin’s original workshop in New York City. This historic site is now memorialized with a bronze plaque at 196 Hudson Street on the corner of Hudson and Vestry Streets in the Lower West Side of Manhattan.

Chris Martin (C.F. Martin, IV) praised, “Six generations and 190 years is a milestone for any family business. If you look at the logo on the headstock of our guitars, it says “C.F. Martin & Company, Established 1833.” It’s the “& Company” that has been as important as family ownership. I want to thank, all of the generations of Martin co-workers, who have helped to keep my family’s business in business.”

At the event held on the 190th anniversary of the date C.F. Matin arrived in America from Germany, Martin Guitar executives and friends gathered on Hudson Street to honor the company’s rich history and vision for the future. It was followed by a celebratory dinner at Tribeca restaurant Locanda Verde.

As Martin Guitar celebrates 190 years of excellence, the company remains focused on sharing its passion for quality craftsmanship and the enduring power of music for many more years to come. Since its founding in 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin, Martin Guitar has been a trailblazer in the world of acoustic guitar craftsmanship. Over the course of nearly two centuries, the company has become synonymous with quality, innovation, and enduring musical heritage. The Martin name has graced countless stages and recordings around the world, earning a place of distinction among musicians and collectors alike.

THE D-19 190th ANNIVERSARY

In honor of this 190-year legacy, Martin Guitar is thrilled to introduce the limited edition D-19 190th Anniversary – a stunning guitar that pays tribute to tradition, while embracing innovative design and quality craftsmanship.

“One hundred and ninety years ago, on November 6th, my great, great, great grandfather and grandmother and their two children arrived in New York City from Germany. They came to America seeking opportunity and freedom. They initially settled at 196 Hudson Street and opened the first Martin Guitar workshop in the New World. I was looking for a way for us to celebrate this milestone.

In 1976 (the bicentennial anniversary of the founding of our nation) we introduced the D-19. It was designed as an upmarket D-18. We stained the top to utilize spruce that was cosmetically challenged. An early nod to sustainability. I thought it would be appropriate to dust off that model designation and make 190 contemporary D-19s to honor our 190th anniversary. This model also embraces sustainability by utilizing cosmetically challenged Adirondack spruce tops that we have had in inventory for a while. We sent them through our Mimaki printer to achieve a figured mahogany look for the top. Hope you like it.” – C. F. Martin IV, Executive Chairman

See more photos of the D-19 190th Anniversary model HERE.

For more on the D-19 190th Anniversary, visit martinguitar.com.

C.F. Martin & Co. Launches Four New Models for Summer 2023

by one manAugust 25, 2023August 24, 20230

Two John Mayer Signature Artist Edition Martins

An all-sapele SC hybrid model and a new D-15E with onboard electronics also released.

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa.—Friday August 25, 2023—C. F. Martin & Co. announced today the release of four new models, including two signature artist edition models that celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Grammy Award-winning artist John Mayer’s popular OM-28JM model. This launch also includes an affordable addition to the popular SC lineup, and an oh-so-appealing alternative to those who’ve been eyeing up an all-mahogany 15 Series guitar.

John Mayer 20th Anniversary Models

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of John Mayer’s popular OM-28JM model, Martin collaborated again with John Mayer to offer two stunning anniversary models. They are limited to the calendar year 2023, so make sure to check them out soon.

OM-45 John Mayer Anniversary

On John’s first signature model with Martin, he chose to include an aluminum border around the headplate and bridge. For this anniversary model, the border is expanded to the fingerboard and pickguard and the border has been upgraded to a fine silver that will look amazing for the life of the guitar. Like Mayer’s previous models, it includes a thinner 1 11/16th width at the nut for comfort and speed. It also includes stunning satin nickel Waverly tuners. This edition includes a unique label with Mayer’s signature. $18,499

OMJM John Mayer 20th Anniversary

This tasteful Orchestra model exhibits the same versatility for today’s diverse contemporary musical styles and includes a unique label with Mayer’s electronic signature. This edition is limited to the calendar year 2023, so make sure to check it out soon! If you’re looking for something with a little more bling, check out the OM-45 John Mayer Platinum Anniversary Model, which is also new for 2023. $3,999

Mahogany Family Tree Grows Branches

SC-10E-02

The SC-10E-02, with its patented Sure Align® neck system, gives you full access to all frets so you can comfortably reach those high notes. It’s also equipped with a low-profile velocity neck barrel that ergonomically accommodates your hand as you move up the neck, giving you the comfort and playability of an electric. The affordably priced SC-10E-02 includes a satin finished sapele top, back, and sides for a warm, yet crisp tone. It features a Richlite® fingerboard and bridge with mother-of-pearl pattern inlay that is complemented by a rosewood pattern HPL headplate, and chrome enclosed gear tuners. To top it off, it comes with a softshell case for ultimate portability. $999

D-15E

If you’ve had your eye on a Martin 15 Series guitar, the D-15E is going to knock your socks off. This 14-fret Dreadnought is crafted with sapele back and sides and a mahogany top with non-scalloped bracing, so you’re going to hear bright, airy trebles and a punchy midrange. The Dreadnought body provides plenty of volume so this baby can handle whatever music scenario you can dream up. To top it off, this model comes equipped with Martin E1 electronics and a softshell case to make it super easy to take with you on all your adventures. $1,299

NAMM 2023 – Fishman Acoustic FX Mini Pedals

by one manApril 13, 20230

Fishman Electronics offers killer pedals made just for acoustic guitars

Pocket Blender, Acoustic Reverb, Acoustic Looper, Acoustic Preamp/EQ

Professional quality at hobbyist prices make these new small-footprint pedals immensely attractive. Each was developed specifically for acoustic guitars and offers solo artists and band members expansive options.

(press each pedal to learn more)

The blender lets create two separate mixes of two different audio sources, the reverb three adjustable options, Hall, Plate, and Spring. The looper has WAV file transfer via USB and 24-bit / 44.1kHz recording quality, and the EQ/preamp has five bands, including Low Cut and Brilliance, and phase control. Plus, they are all conveniently small in size.

One Man's Guitar onemanz.com

NAMM 2023 – Fishman AFX Pocket Blender Mini

by one manApril 13, 2023April 13, 20230

Create separate A and B mixes from two audio sources

AFX Pocket Blender Mini A/B/Y + DI Changes Everything

Fishman AFX Pocket Blender Mini Features include:

* Balanced D.I. Output with Ground Lift

* Innovative Dual Path Routing

* Super Compact Design Fits Almost Anywhere

* 9V External Power Required (sold separately)

All the essential tools in one compact pedal. A level-adjustable A/B pedal. A built-in DI output with ground-lift. A boost pedal. An output Y-splitter. A two-channel mixer. The AFX Pocket Blender is the ultimateA/B/Y pedal combining four essential tools:

1 – an Input Mixer that lets you continuously adjust the level of audio source(s) connected to the TRS input

2 – a D.I. output featuring Fishman’s balanced line driver circuit that can be used to send to a house PA or amplifier

3 – an ABY output to split a signal or connect to one or two stage amps

4 – an A/B Mode switch determines the overall behavior when the footswitch is pressed

This is the classic Pocket Blender in a small footprint.

Without even touching the A/B features, it’s a mini two-channel mixer allowing you to connect two audio sources and blend them together. This is perfect for dual-source systems such as Fishman sound hole pickups that feature a mic or body pickup.

Build on the simple blender by setting up an “A mix” and a “B mix” where pressing the footswitch toggles between one mix and the other. You could balance your onboard pickup (50%) with your onboard mic (50%) on mix A. Then on mix B, which you use to take solos, you could boost the pickup to 75% while leaving the mic on 50%. All with a single stomp of the footswitch.

(press each pedal to learn more)

Learn more at Fishman Electronics

NAMM 2023 – Fishman AFX Acoustiverb Mini Reverb Pedal

by one manApril 13, 2023April 13, 20230

Multiple reverb options with intuitive decay time

Hall, Plate & Spring provide ambiance while preserving acoustic tone

The Reverb Time knob controls how long you hear the effect, and ranges from short to very large spaces. Tone knob affects only the reverb and not your direct sound. Similarly, the Level knob adds the effect into your signal chain without overwhelming the sound of your instrument.

Three reverbs designed for acoustic guitar

Spring

Recreates the classic sound of a spring type reverb found in many electric guitar amplifiers

Hall

An all-around reverb with natural, resonate spaces capable of replicating rooms both small and large, with long reverb decay times

Plate

Recreates the dense reflections and metallic characteristics of mechanical plate reverbs used throughout the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s

(press each pedal to learn more)

Learn more at Fishman Electronics

NAMM 2023 – Fishman AFX Broken Record Looper Pedal

by one manApril 13, 2023April 13, 20230

Designed by Fishman Specifically for Acoustic Guitar

Fishman high-quality 24-bit, 44.1kHz audio recording of up to 6 minutes

Loaded with Features

Drag ’n Drop WAV File Transfer via USB
True Bypass with Buffered Bypass Option
24-bit / 44.1kHz Recording Quality
Intuitive Record/Play Footswitch & Loop Level Control
Innovative Dual Path Routing
Super Compact Design Fits Almost Anywhere
9V External Power Required (sold separately)

Looper and Sampler Pedal with 6 Minutes of Audio Recording!

AFX Broken Record packs high-quality audio looping and sampling into a tiny, yet deceptively-simple stompbox package. It features intuitive one-button operation, endless overdub capability and offers easy transfer to a computer.

A single footswitch is all it takes to record, overdub, and play along with your coolest riffs and patterns.

Featuring high-quality 24-bit, 44.1kHz audio recording of up to 6 minutes, AFX Broken Record let’s you capture cool ideas and build on them, or even play along with pre-recorded audio you transfer from your computer.

Built-in memory will retain what you recorded even after the power is disconnected. So, you can unplug at your gig and transfer your loop to your computer later. This also means that the backing track you transfer from your computer will be ready and waiting for you to play back at your next performance.



(press each pedal to learn more)

Learn more at Fishman Electronics

NAMM 2023 – Fishman AFX Pro EQ Mini Pedal

by one manApril 13, 2023April 13, 20230

Acoustic Guitar Preamp & EQ Acoustic Pedal

Five Bands Include Low Cut and Brilliance, Plus Phase Control

Features Include:

(press each pedal to learn more)

Learn more at Fishman Electronics

NAMM 2023 – Gibson Keb Mo – J-45 50s Faded

by one manApril 13, 2023April 13, 20230

Gibson Acoustics for 2023

Keb Mo 3.0 12-fret J-45

New for 2023 is the third Keb Mo signature model from Gibson guitars. It has a torrefied Sitka spruce soundboard with forward-shifted hand-scalloped braces, mahogany back and sides, traditional nitrocellulose gloss finish, and L R Baggs onboard VTC electronics. The traditional dovetail neck joint is set with hide glue. The guitar has a 25″ scale and the rosewood fingerboard has a width at nut of 1.805″(roughly 1-4/5″) to go along with the proprietary Keb Mo neck profile shape.

$4,299.00

More Gibson Keb Mo “3.0” info HERE.

J-45 50s Faded

One Man's Guitar onemanz.com

The latest edition in Gibson’s satin finish models is the J-45 50s Faded, which offers similar construction to the traditional gloss lacquer version, including the rounded 1.725″ neck with a 24.75″ string scale and a hot hide glue set dovetail neck joint. It also comes with LR Baggs VTC electronics. The satin finish and faded sunburst evokes a “vintage vibe.”

$2,499.00

More J-45 50s Satin info HERE.

NAMM 2023 – LR Baggs HiFi

by one manApril 13, 2023April 13, 20230

HiFi Game Changer from L. R. Baggs

High-Fidelity Acoustic Bridge Plate Pickup System

If this is truly only the direct signal heard in this video, I must say this could be a game changer. This ship to dealers in May 2023. I look forward to the independent reviews.

Baggs claims that their new HiFi system offers two bridge plate sensors in a non-invasive design featuring high-fidelity electronics. The holy grail of dynamics, definition, and balance, is promised to be achieved with good feedback resistance. Peel-and-stick installation seems similar to the K&K method and the pickups are light of weight, enough to have no discernible effect on the natural acoustic tone. The onboard preamp is designed to get the best tone from these new pickups. It also comes with a tone and volume control accessible along the rim of the sound hole. $199.

NAMM 2023 – Taylor Builder’s Edition 814ce

by one manApril 13, 2023April 13, 20230

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:

Martin Celebrates the 190th Anniversary with D-19 LE

Special Event in New York City

Martin Guitar Marks 190 Years with Limited-Edition D-19 Model

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Two John Mayer Signature Artist Edition Martins

An all-sapele SC hybrid model and a new D-15E with onboard electronics also released.

John Mayer 20th Anniversary Models

Mahogany Family Tree Grows Branches

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Like this:

Fishman Electronics offers killer pedals made just for acoustic guitars

Pocket Blender, Acoustic Reverb, Acoustic Looper, Acoustic Preamp/EQ

Share this:

Like this:

Create separate A and B mixes from two audio sources

AFX Pocket Blender Mini A/B/Y + DI Changes Everything

Fishman AFX Pocket Blender Mini Features include:

Share this:

Like this:

Multiple reverb options with intuitive decay time

Hall, Plate & Spring provide ambiance while preserving acoustic tone

Three reverbs designed for acoustic guitar

Spring

Hall

Plate

Share this:

Like this:

Designed by Fishman Specifically for Acoustic Guitar

Fishman high-quality 24-bit, 44.1kHz audio recording of up to 6 minutes

Loaded with Features

Looper and Sampler Pedal with 6 Minutes of Audio Recording!

Share this:

Like this:

Acoustic Guitar Preamp & EQ Acoustic Pedal

Five Bands Include Low Cut and Brilliance, Plus Phase Control

Features Include:

Share this:

Like this:

Gibson Acoustics for 2023

Keb Mo 3.0 12-fret J-45

J-45 50s Faded

Share this:

Like this:

HiFi Game Changer from L. R. Baggs

High-Fidelity Acoustic Bridge Plate Pickup System

Share this:

Like this:

Latest Builder’s Edition in their Flagship Size

Grand Auditorium with a Cutaway and Four-Piece Top

Share this:

Like this: