{"id":2653,"date":"2013-11-19T21:20:53","date_gmt":"2013-11-20T02:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/?page_id=2653"},"modified":"2025-08-26T22:48:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T02:48:41","slug":"model-designation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/reviews\/acoustic-guitars\/martin\/model-designation\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Martin Model Designations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Leader Board --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 728px; height: 90px;\" data-ad-slot=\"5995692994\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1390874476445023\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h2>A Primer of C. F. Martin &amp; Co. Model Names<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Revised July 16, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Understanding-Martin-Model-Designation-onemanz.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13421 \" src=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Understanding-Martin-Model-Designation-onemanz.png\" alt=\"Understanding Martin Model Designation onemanz.com\" width=\"679\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Understanding-Martin-Model-Designation-onemanz.png 2048w, https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Understanding-Martin-Model-Designation-onemanz-300x153.png 300w, https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Understanding-Martin-Model-Designation-onemanz-768x392.png 768w, https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Understanding-Martin-Model-Designation-onemanz-1536x783.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffeddb;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Model Name &#8211; two sides of a dash<\/h3>\n<p>There are two halves to a typical Martin model name, separated by a dash.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example: D-28<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first half refers to the \u201csize\u201d or physical dimensions of the guitar resulting in the specific shape, and the second half refers to specifications governing the visual appearance of the instrument and the materials used to create it, known at Martin as the instrument \u201cstyle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">[Note: that statement and what follows does not include the designation &#8220;14&#8221;, as in D-14, 00-14, et al (often seen listed by guitar dealers online as D14, 0014.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">This is a modern invention to denote a <strong>14-fret guitar<\/strong> that a Martin dealer ordered with custom specifications in size D, 00, etc. To complicate matters further, Martin recently introduced Style 12 in their Road Series, e. g. models D-12E, 000-12E. This will likely get confused with custom order 12-fret guitars that some dealers will list as &#8220;D12, 00012, etc. SEE BELOW for more information.]<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Size<\/h3>\n<p>Beginning in the 1830s, a Martin body size was designated as a number. Using customary sizing of toolmakers and woodworkers, the higher the number on the left side of the dash, the smaller the size of a Martin guitar. Some models introduced in the twentieth century use letters for their size indicator.<\/p>\n<p>C. F. Martin Sr. founded his business in 1833 and was soon offering guitars in sizes ranging up to a size 1, which still seems amazingly small by modern standards. So, when they needed a larger size, Martin used Size 0 starting in 1854. It was considered large enough for a public concert. Hence the term \u201cconcert model.\u201d He also introduced the tiny Size 5 that same year.<\/p>\n<p>Size 00 followed, as guitarists began to perform in larger halls, alongside banjos and the mandolin. The 00 was deemed an extra-large guitar for a &#8220;grand concert,&#8221; and that term has been used ever since to describe guitars of this or similar sizes at Martin and elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>The 00 size does not appear in the Martin pricelists until 1873, the same year C. F. Sr. passed away at the age of 77. However, recent scholarship has discovered 00s built as early as the 1857.<\/p>\n<p>The 000 first appeared in 1902 and was considered to be enormous at the time. It was dubbed the Auditorium size. It had a string scale one half of an inch longer than previous Martins, to compensate for the wider soundboard, and it put out an accentuated bass register when compared to the tonal balance of the 0 and 00 sizes.<\/p>\n<p>All of these sizes had the traditional 12-fret neck designs similar to modern Classical guitars and typically employed gut strings. Various models were made for certain dealers to accommodate the additional tension of the new steel guitar strings as early as 1915.<\/p>\n<p>In 1923, Martin began offering such steel-worthy guitars to the general public in Style 17, and in 1924 for Style 18, and 1926 for Styles 21 and 28.<\/p>\n<p>Martin made their first 14-fret guitars in 1929. Be they 12-fret or 14-fret guitars, the most common Martins of the twentieth century can be equated thusly:<\/p>\n<p>0 = Concert. The 14-fret version introduced 1934.<\/p>\n<p>00 = Grand Concert. The 14-fret version introduced 1934.<\/p>\n<p>00L = Long Grand Concert, introduced 2013. A 14-fret instrument with the slope shoulder shape inspired by Gibson&#8217;s Size L of the 1930s that was based upon Martin&#8217;s original 12-fret designs.<\/p>\n<p>000 = Auditorium. The 14-fret version introduced 1934 (see below.)<\/p>\n<p>0000 = Grand Auditorium aka size M. Introduced in 1977 as a flattop guitar with the depth of a 000 that uses the body shape from Martin&#8217;s Size F archtop Jazz guitar from the 1930s.<\/p>\n<p>OM = Orchestra Model, shares the same body size as a 14-fret 000, but typically has other differences (see below.) Introduced 1930.<\/p>\n<p>S = Introduced January 2020 as the SC-13E. Martin&#8217;s first 13-fret design, with a unique asymmetrical size coming somewhere between OM and GP.<\/p>\n<p>GP = Grand Performance (similar to Taylor&#8217;s Size 14.) Introduced 2010.<\/p>\n<p>D = Dreadnought (similar to Gibson&#8217;s Jumbo size.) Invented in 1916 but limited to a particular dealer until 1931, when it first appeared under the Martin brand. 14-fret version introduced 1934.<\/p>\n<p>DSS = Dreadnought Slope Shoulders. Introduced 2000. A 14-fret dreadnought with the slope shoulder shape inspired by Gibson&#8217;s 1930s Jumbo shape, which was originally inspired by Martin&#8217;s original 12-fret designs.<\/p>\n<p>J = Jumbo (similar to Gibson&#8217;s Super Jumbo size.) The J is essentially an M with a Dreadnought depth. Introduced 1985.<\/p>\n<p>Grand J = Grand Jumbo (similar to Guild&#8217;s Jumbo.) The Grand J is a flattop guitar adapted from the Martin CF-1 archtop of the early 2000s. Introduced 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Other builders of guitars have adopted terms like OM and Grand Concert for generic use since the 1970s, typically indicating a 14-fret instrument with a smaller size and narrower waist than the Martin Dreadnought or Gibson Jumbo body shapes.<\/p>\n<p>As stated above, &#8220;grand concert&#8221; originated with Martin&#8217;s 12-fret 00 body size popular in the 1870s. But OM for Orchestra Model actually meant <em>any<\/em> 14-fret Martin body regardless of the size, as opposed to their 12-fret guitars originally designed for gut strings, which were referred to as Standard models.<\/p>\n<p>In 1929, the original 14-fret Martins were made for a NYC dealer, the Carl Fischer Company, as a four-string tenor guitar with a smaller upper bout than other Martins. A tenor guitar uses the same tuning as a tenor banjo. The goal was to attract banjoists who were adapting to guitars after they started being braced to use steel strings.<\/p>\n<p>This led one popular bandleader to request a special order six-string instrument inspired by those tenor guitars. That &#8220;000-28 Special,&#8221; created for Perry Bechtel of Atlanta&#8217;s Cable Piano Company, led to the first 14-fret six-string Martins to appear in their official catalog, in 1930. That was also the first year that Martin included the model name on the neck block stamp.<\/p>\n<p>These new 14-fret models were built in the Auditorium size only and were given the name Orchestra Models, or OM for short. Thus appeared the first OM-28 (which included eleven guitars made near the end of 1929,) OM-18, OM-42 (only two made, 1930) OM-45, and the OM-45 Deluxe (1930 only.)<\/p>\n<p>In 1934, the model names and neck block stamp were changed from OM back to 000, when Martin converted all their sizes to 14-fret orchestra models. See further along in this article for the differences between modern Martin OMs and 14-fret 000s.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Martin-body-sizes-with-gpc-added-onemanz.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13509 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Martin-body-sizes-with-gpc-added-onemanz.png\" alt=\"Martin body sizes with gpc added onemanz.com\" width=\"1241\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Martin-body-sizes-with-gpc-added-onemanz.png 1241w, https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Martin-body-sizes-with-gpc-added-onemanz-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Martin-body-sizes-with-gpc-added-onemanz-768x193.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1241px) 100vw, 1241px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Note: This illustration originated in the late 1980s most likely. The MC is shown with the deeper cutaway that was used on the original design, which had an oval sound hole to accommodate a 22-fret neck. The Jumbo size is not listed but it has the same silhouette as the M, only with Dreadnought side depth. The Grand J has the same silhouette as the CF archtop, only without the cutaway. <\/em><em>Sizes 00L, and DSS were introduced in the twenty-first century after this chart was constructed. I added the GPC, for comparison&#8217;s\u00a0sake, which first appeared in 2010.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Other Notes: Sizes F, GT, and DF were used for electric guitars. Size L may refer to the Little Martin, if so, it was added by someone later on, as was Size CF.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Dimensions of Common Martin Body Sizes Available Today<\/h3>\n<h4>14 Fret &#8211; 6 String<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">0<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">00<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">00<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">D<\/span>eep <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">B<\/span>ody, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">00L<\/span> Sloped Shoulder, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">000<\/span>\/<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">O<\/span>rchestra <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">M<\/span>odel, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">SC<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">G<\/span>rand <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">P<\/span>erformance, Grand Auditoriu<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">M<\/span> (0000), <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">D<\/span>readnought, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">J<\/span>umbo, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">G<\/span>rand <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">J<\/span>umbo<\/p>\n<p>Note: The SC-13E is Martin&#8217;s first 13-fret guitar, introduced in 2020, but included here for convenience.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-5\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-5\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">SIZE<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">0<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">00<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">00 DB<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">00L<\/th><th class=\"column-6\">000\/OM<\/th><th class=\"column-7\">SC<\/th><th class=\"column-8\">GP<\/th><th class=\"column-9\">M<\/th><th class=\"column-10\">D<\/th><th class=\"column-11\">J<\/th><th class=\"column-12\">GJ<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Total Length<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">38-3\/8\u201d<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">38-5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">38-5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">39-9\/16\"<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">39-13\/16\"*<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">40-1\/2\"<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">40-3\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">40-5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-10\">40-1\/2\"<\/td><td class=\"column-11\">40-5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-12\">41-1\/2\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Body Length<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">18-3\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">18-7\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">18-7\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">19-7\/16\"<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">19-3\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">20-3\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">19-3\/4\"<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">20-1\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-10\">20\"<\/td><td class=\"column-11\">20-1\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-12\">21\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Body Width<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">13-1\/2\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">14-5\/16\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">14-5\/16\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">14-3\/4\"<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">15\"<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">15-1\/2\"<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">15-3\/4\"<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">16\"<\/td><td class=\"column-10\">15-5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-11\">16\"<\/td><td class=\"column-12\">17\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Body Depth<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">4-1\/4\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">4-1\/8\"**<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">4-5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">4-1\/8\"**<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">4-1\/8\"**<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">4\"<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">4-1\/2\"<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">4-1\/8\"**<\/td><td class=\"column-10\">4-7\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-11\">4-7\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-12\">4-7\/8\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-5 from cache -->\n<p>NOTES:<\/p>\n<p>1)Table reflects Standard Series and other traditional models. Current 16 Series models in Size D, GP, Grand J are made with 000 side depth.<\/p>\n<p>* Short-scale 000s have slightly shorter Total Length than OM due to shorter neck.<\/p>\n<p>** Modern-day 00, 000, 0000 depth is actually more like 4-1\/16&#8243; after final sanding, but the official Martin spec remains 4-1\/8&#8243;.<\/p>\n<h4>12 Fret &#8211; 6 String<\/h4>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-6\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-6\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">SIZE<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">00<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">000<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">D<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Total Length<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">37 3\/4\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">39 5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">37 7\/8\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Body Length<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">19 5\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">20 9\/16\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">21\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Body Width<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">14 1\/8\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">15\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">15 5\/8\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-6 from cache -->\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">NOTE: Starting in 2022, 12-fret Martins have new names. The old convention was to use an S for &#8220;Standard&#8221; body size, as in 00-17S. The new convention puts a 12 on the left side of the dash and removes the S, since the 12-fret neck hasn&#8217;t been the standard design since 1934. The first models to receive the new naming convention are the 012-28 Modern Deluxe and the 0012-28 Modern Deluxe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Style<\/h3>\n<p>The instrument Style is also represented by a number. With few exceptions, the higher the style number on a Martin model, the fancier and more expensive are its materials and appointments.<\/p>\n<p>Typical examples of model names include: 000-18, D-28, OM-45.<\/p>\n<p>A 000-18 stands for Size \u201c<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Triple Oh<\/span>\u201d in Style <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">18<\/span> (or as some older Martin factory workers put it, \u201cTriple Naught\u201d,) which includes mahogany back and sides, and a top of spruce, with dark bindings on the body, an unbound neck and white dots on the fingerboard, etc.<\/p>\n<p>A D-28 stands for a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">D<\/span>readnought body in Style <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">28<\/span>, which includes rosewood for the back sides, a spruce top, white binding, and typically ebony for the fret board and bridge, and white dots or abalone Diamonds and Squares fret markers depending upon specific model and year of production, etc.<\/p>\n<p>An OM-45 is an <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">O<\/span>rchestra <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">M<\/span>odel size in Style <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">45<\/span>, the top of the line for a basic catalog model, which includes top grade rosewood with abalone shell inlaid along the edge of the top-grade spruce soundboard, as well as every edge along the back and sides, in addition to fancy, abalone fret markers, and decorative binding on the neck, etc.<\/p>\n<p>Additional indicators have been added onto some model names in later years.<\/p>\n<p>Examples include: 000-18GE 1937, HD-28VS, JC-12-15E. These translate to:<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">000-18GE 1937<\/span> &#8211; <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">000<\/span> size in Style <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">18<\/span>, with specs designated for the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">G<\/span>olden <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">E<\/span>ra Series of vintage reissues, in this case based upon the 000-<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">18<\/span> made in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">1937<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">HD-28VS<\/span> &#8211; <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">H<\/span>erringbone-trimmed <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">D<\/span>readnought size, in Style <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">28<\/span> with specs of the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">V<\/span>intage Series, using the 12-fret version originally known as the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">S<\/span>tandard body design. More info on the S for Standard body size can be found at the end of this article.<\/p>\n<p>Guitars with the designation H for Herringbone in their name came with scalloped braces, at a time when many Standard Series Martins did not have scalloped braces. Examples include HD-28, HD-35, and the no-longer-made 000-28H. Today, Standard Series 28 models with the H also get the 1930&#8217;s style Zig-Zag back strip, while those without the H get the later Style 28 back strip, even when they have herringbone trim on the top.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">JC-12-15E<\/span>*- <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">J<\/span>umbo size with a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">C<\/span>utaway body, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">12<\/span> string guitar in Style <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">15<\/span> with a built-in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">E<\/span>lectronic amplification system. The designations of 12, C, and E stand for 12 String, Cutaway and Electronics throughout the Martin line, e.g. M<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">C<\/span>-28, D-18<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">E<\/span>, HD-28-<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">12<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>* Martin never actually made a JC-12-15E. A pity; I would have bought one had they done so.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Designation 14:\u00a0 As mentioned above, &#8220;14&#8221; when appearing in shops or online as in D14, 00014, etc. means it is a 14-fret guitar ordered from the Martin Custom Shop. It is used the way &#8220;Orchestra Model&#8221; was once used to mean the 14-fret neck design vs. the Standard 12-fret design. Similarly, 12 refers to the 12-fret design in today&#8217;s parlance, when appearing in shops or online as in D12, 00012, etc.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">A 14 in an advertised model name does NOT denote the guitars &#8220;style.&#8221; Quite the opposite, since it does not give any indication of what wood or non-wood materials were used to build the instrument, what sort of neck joint, neck block, bracing, finish, the instrument has, as would an actual Martin style designation like 18, 28, 45, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">It is not unheard of for some merchants to order customized Martin guitars based on various lower-level Series not represented in this article, which are dressed up to appear like higher-end models, and then sell them as &#8220;D14 Custom&#8221; with a price beyond their merits when it comes to what is under the hood, as it were. So caveat emptor!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">When shopping for Martin guitars and you see something listed as a D14 or OM14 (D-14, or OM-14, etc.) ask the dealer what the base model was or &#8220;starter model&#8221; for the custom guitar in question, which will tell you a lot more about the level of quality and construction than may be obviously apparent. If they do not know, they can look it up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">In 2019 Martin introduced Styles 10, 11, and 12 in their Road Series of more-affordable acoustic-electric guitars. Therefore 12 now has yet another meaning where Road Series models are concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Beginning in 2022, any new 12-fret guitars entering the Martin catalog will be designated 012-xx, 0012&#8211;xx, 00012-xx, D12-xx. The S for Standard 12-fret body size is now retired. There will be some overlap, as the 000-15SM remains in the current catalog.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Important Notice<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>As of 2023, Martin is no longer listing Sitka spruce as the specification for soundboards for most models previously made with that species of spruce. The designation Martin will now be using simply says &#8220;spruce.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Martin is now using Sitka spruce interchangeably with Lutz spruce, (a naturally-occurring hybrid of Sitka and White spruce,) in much the same way they use various species of mahogany interchangeably when making instruments in the 15 Series.<\/p>\n<p>Lutz spruce grows in and in between the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest where Sitka spruce is found and nearby interior regions where White spruce is found. It is supposed to provide greater volume than Sitka while sounding similar. Other people say it sounds like a cross between Sitka spruce and Engelmann spruce, which has also been used interchangeably with Sitka. For example, in the late 1900s Engelmann was used on some Martin guitars like the HD-28, without any indication provided to dealers.<\/p>\n<h3>TABLE: Standard Series Styles and How They Vary Based on the Series<\/h3>\n<p>Martin guitars made in the Standard Series Styles 18 and above are built with all-solid tonewood construction and a traditional, full-size, dovetail neck joint set into a solid wood neck block, as were all traditional Martins dating from the era of C. F. Martin Sr.<\/p>\n<p>Styles below Style 18 have had various types of construction, often not consistent with the traditional techniques still found today in the Standard Series instruments. For details of Martins made in Styles 17 and below, see the table further along in this article.<\/p>\n<p>Notes: In 2025, Martin released a revised Standard Series with construction changes that included GE scalloped bracing (more wood removed for more flexible braces, resulting in a more responsive soundboard; and the GE Modified Low Oval neck that has the narrow neck heel from the Modern Deluxe series instruments and a slightly different neck profile, and the fingerboard depth of the Authentic series instruments.<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, Martin released a revised version of their Standard Series specifications, which homogenized certain features, like the shape of the neck profile, and the use of forward-shifted bracing on all Standard Series models above Size 000\/OM. These models were given the suffix (2018) sometimes still used by Martin dealers &#8211; except for the Standard D-28, which had (2017) and the D-18 and 000-18, which received their makeover in 2016. I will differentiate the current styles with the same suffixes in the table below.<\/p>\n<h4>Electronics<\/h4>\n<p>The Standard Series guitars with E in the model&#8217;s name come with onboard electronics. Currently E models come with either the Fishman Aura VT Enhance system or LR Baggs Anthem system, depending on the preference of the specific Martin dealer.<\/p>\n<p>Guitars in the Standard Series that do not have the E in the name can also be ordered by dealers with onboard electronics. The pickup system options available for such guitars are currently the <span class=\"value\">Fishman Gold Plus Natural I, <\/span><span class=\"value\">Fishman Infinity Matrix, <\/span><span class=\"value\">Fishman Presys Plus, <\/span><span class=\"value\">Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend, or the <\/span><span class=\"value\">LR Baggs Anthem.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>High Performance Neck<\/h4>\n<p>All Standard Series six-string Martins now have the High Performance Neck. As of 2025, this is defined as a GE Modified Low Oval Profile neck shape in combination with a fingerboard that has the High Performance Taper, which starts at 1-3\/4&#8243; width at the nut and is 2-1\/8&#8243; wide at the 12th fret, with 2-5\/32&#8243; string spacing. It offers the nut width of Martin\u2019s traditional 1-3\/4\u201d necks but also has the 12th fret width of their traditional 1-11\/16\u201d neck, making for a sleeker neck overall compared to the 1-3\/4&#8243; necks made prior to this time, and with string spacing a smidgen wider than that on the old 1-11\/16\u201d neck models.<\/p>\n<p>The High Performance taper conforms with what is now the industry standard used by many American guitarmakers. It provides a little more room down by the nut where the wrist and elbow are at placed in the most awkward angles, but only widens 5\/8&#8243; by the time it reaches the 12th fret, making it more like an electric guitar in this respect than an acoustic guitar from previous eras. Martin 12-string models have a modified version of the High Performance Neck.<\/p>\n<p>Some models moved to the High Performance neck before others, starting around 2016. Standardization occurred in 2018. Previous Standard Series models made with 14-fret necks had a 1-11\/16\u201d Low Profile Neck with 2-1\/8\u201d string spacing, except OM models and the 000-42. OMs had a 1-3\/4\u201d Low Profile Neck with 2-1\/4\u201d string spacing.<\/p>\n<p>The 000-42 had a short-scale 1-3\/4\u201d Modified V neck, similar to the Eric Clapton models. The 000-42 was identical to the 000-28 Eric Clapton model in construction, except for higher-grade woods and Style 42 abalone inlay. Both guitars had Vintage Series scalloped bracing and a Modified V neck profile, but were not listed in the Vintage Series, since neither model was based on an actual vintage Martin model. The Clapton combines Vintage Style 28 appointments with a pre-1941 Style 21 rosette, while the Style 42 used since the early 1970s looks like pre-1938 Style 45, minus the abalone inlay on the sides and back of an actual Style 45 instrument.<\/p>\n<p>All current Standard Series Martins have Antique White binding as of 2018, except Style 18 and Style 21, which have faux tortoise binding. All models have a faux tortoise pickguard.<\/p>\n<p>All 0, 00, 000 models in the Standard Series have the 24.9\u201d short-scale neck, while OM, GP, GPC, M (0000), D, J, GJ models have the 25.4\u201d long-scale neck. Prior to 2018 most 000s made in styles below Style 18 had a long-scale neck. Martin has since returned to the short-scale neck for all 14-fret 000s, the scale length now being the one consistent difference between a 000 and an OM. All OM in the Standard Series have 1\/4&#8243; top bracing, while 000s typically have 5\/16&#8243; top braces, regardless of the scale length, but the current 000-18 has 1\/4&#8243; bracing.<\/p>\n<p>All Standard Series styles have 100% solid tonewoods throughout. Style 18 has tropical American Big Leaf mahogany back and sides. All others listed below have East Indian rosewood back and sides.<\/p>\n<p>Not listed are the are seldom made Styles 25 and 37 that featured Hawaiian koa back and sides. Also not appearing are Styles 60, 62, 65, and 68, which were made with maple back and sides. None of these styles are currently in production.<\/p>\n<p>Note: The following is not meant to explain the materials or features of vintage Martin instruments made prior to the 1980s, except where specifically mentioned. Vintage Series and Golden Era\/Marquis Series instruments are now retired, but still frequently seen on the used guitar market. Ditto for several models mentioned which have been retired since the table was first created.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-12\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-12\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">STYLE<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Standard Series<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Modern Deluxe Series<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Vintage Series<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">GE\/Marquis Series<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">18<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Style 18 was revised in 2025.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nSC-18 specs differ due to unique asymmetrical body and heelless neck. See individual reviews of SC models for details.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nGenuine Mahogany (tropical American Big Leaf Mahogany) back and sides, spruce soundboard and bracing, ebony fingerboard and bridge, mother of pearl fingerboard dot markers, open-backed tuners, tortoise colored binding and pickguard, aging top toner, with an overall appearance reminiscent of Style 18 from the 1930s.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nGE Scalloped 1\/4\" braces for 0-18, 00-18, 000-18, OMC-18E, OM-18E.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nForward-shifted, GE scalloped 5\/16\" braces on D-18, D-18E, DC-18E, GPC-18E, GP-18E.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nNot all models above are currently in production.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPrevious Style 18: Rosewood fingerboard and bridge from 1940s until the recent return to ebony. Pickguard and binding were black plastic between 1966 until the 2016 makeover, when it returned to tortoise. Non-scalloped bracing on D-18 and 000-18, each having a 1-11\/16\" neck from 1939 to 2016 makeover. M-18 (1984-88) had scalloped braces.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">D-18 MD and D-18E MD (acoustic-electric version with Fishman Aura HD Blend pickup system.) 000-18MD introduced 2022.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nGenuine Mahogany back and sides, East Indian rosewood binding, Vintage Tone System spruce top, VTS Adirondack spruce Golden Era bracing attached with natural protein glue, composite carbon fiber\/VTS Adirondack spruce bridge plate, Genuine Mahogany neck with Vintage Deluxe profile, titanium alloy neck rod, ebony fretboard with Authentic Series thickness, High Performance Taper, EVO copper alloy frets, Liquid Metal bridge pins.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nMartin's Vintage Tone System is the proprietary torrefaction treatment whereby tonewood is \"baked\" in a high-pressure, oxygen-free kiln to change the molecular structure so that cellular interiors resemble and behave like wood that has seasoned for decades, even centuries.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Limited to D-18V, D-18VS OM-18V, 00-18V. They have a Modified V neck profile (the D has a 1-11\/16\" width at nut and 2-1\/8\" string spacing, the OM has 1-3\/4\" width at nut and 2-3\/8\" string spacing, the 00 has a short-scale 1-3\/4\" neck with 2-5\/16\" string spacing.) Also, all models with scalloped bracing (1\/4\" for OM and 00, forward-shifted 5\/16\" for D and DS. <\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Limited to D-18 Golden Era, 000-18 Golden Era.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nMarquis models replaced Brazilian rosewood appointments with Madagascar rosewood appointments.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nVintage Series styling, add Adirondack spruce top, 1-3\/4\" Modified V neck with '30s Style heel (tubbier overall feel than standard heel,) upgraded tuners, wood fiber inlays instead of plastic, etc.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nGolden Era scalloped bracing has more wood removed compared to Standard\/Vintage Series scalloped bracing, leading to more flexibility and greater resonance under a lighter attack.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">21<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Style 21 (2018)    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nLimited to OM-21.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nIndian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, ebony bridge and fingerboard with mother-of-pearl microdot markers, faux tortoise binding and pickguard. No top purlfing or back strip.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe D-21 Special (2017) has Indian rosewood fretboard and bridge, and black binding and pickguard, Style 28 rosette and fret markers, Style 18 back strip and simple ply purfling, all similar to the late 1960s D-21. Only 300 produced.     <br \/>\n  <br \/>\nPrevious OM-21 1990s - 2012 - Indian rosewood bridge and fingerboard, closed chrome tuners, otherwise same as modern OM-21   <br \/>\n<br \/>\nOld Style 21 was discontinued in 1969. Typically it had Brazilian rosewood back and sides that were too wild or unusual in figuring to use on the stately Style 28 instruments.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAt the start of the 14-fret era Style 21 was limited to the 12-fret 00-21, until 1938 when the 000-21 appeared. Vintage Style 21 had a herringbone rosette and back strip, Diamonds and Squares fretboard markers with one marker at the 5th and 9th fret and two at 7th fret. These features were discontinued in the 1940s, when Style 21 became, basically Style 18 with rosewood for the back and sides instead of mahogany, it traded its ebony fretboard and bridge for rosewood at that time as well. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nD-21 introduced in 1955. By this time Style 21 had Style 28 fretboard and rosette, Style 18 back strip, pickguard and bindings. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe D-21 and 000-21 ceased production in 1969 when Brazilian rosewood was discontinued. The 12-fret 00-21 was made in large numbers from the 1800s through the 1960s, decreasing by the 1970s, but was revived every so often.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe tortoise bindings and pickguard were switched to black in 1966.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nOM-21 Special (int. 2007) and D-21 Special (int. 2008) have many cosmetic features of Style 21 circa 1940, like herringbone rosette and ebony fretboard and bridge. Otherwise, Standard Series OM and Dreadnought models, but made with rosewood bindings, and Spanish cedar necks that lighten up the weight of the guitar and contributes to a more open, airy sound. Also, they have a 1-3\/4\" low profile neck and 2-5\/16 string spacing. <\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">00-21GE was a special edition that predates GE Series, which had features closer to the Vintage Series specs (Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">28<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Style 28 (2025)    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nSC-28 specs differ due to unique asymmetrical body and heelless neck. See individual reviews of SC models for details. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nIndian Rosewood back and sides, spruce top with vintage toner. Ebony fingerboard and bridge, Antique White binding, herringbone top trim, abalone Diamonds and Squares fret position markers, open back tuners. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nGE Scalloped braces on all 28 models.  D-28 has black and white ply purling and mother of pearl white domino dot fret position markers. All others get Vintage Style 28 herringbone trim and Diamonds and Squares fret markers<br \/>\n<br \/>\nDreadnoughts and GP sizes get forward-shifted bracing.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPrevious D-28, along with D-28S (discontinued,) and original GPC-28E (intro. 2017) have 5\/16\" non-scalloped, non-forward-shifted braces.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nAs of 2018 models with H in the model name, e.g. HD-28 (2018) have the 1930's style Zig Zag back strip from the Vintage\/GE\/Marquis Series. Style 28 models that do not have H in the model name get the later Style 28 back strip. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nOM-28 (2018) initially revised with Zig-zag back strip, changed to Style 28 back strip in 2019.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">D-28 MD, OM-28 MD, 000-28 MD, 00-28 MD, 0012-28 MD, 012-28 MD.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAcoustic-electric D-28E MD, OM-28E MD, 000-28E DM and D-18E MD introduced 2020 with with Fishman Aura HD Blend pickup system.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nEast Indian back and sides, flamed European maple binding, Vintage Tone System spruce top with bold herringbone trim, VTS Adirondack spruce Golden Era bracing attached with natural protein glue, composite carbon fiber\/VTS Adirondack spruce bridge plate; Genuine Mahogany neck with Vintage Deluxe profile; titanium alloy neck rod; ebony fretboard with Authentic Series thickness, High Performance Taper (OM models have standard taper,) EVO copper alloy frets, Diamonds and Squares fret markers, Liquid Metal bridge pins.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Higher grade Sitka spruce that Standard Series models, Diamonds and Squares fret position markers, grained ivoroid binding, Zig-zag back strip, tortoise pick guard, bold herringbone top trim, forward-shifted scalloped braces. Modified V neck, with 2-5\/16\" string spacing, etc. Standard Series (2018) adopted many of these features, but not the grained binding or V neck shape.<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Vintage Series styling, add Adirondack spruce top, 1-3\/4\" V neck with '30s heel (tubbier feel overall,) wood fiber inlays instead of plastic, fine herringbone top trim, forward-shifted, Golden Era bracing (see Style 18 above.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">35<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Style 35 (2018)    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nIndian rosewood sides and three-piece back. Spruce top with aging in toner, and forward-shifted, non-scalloped 1\/4\" braces, ebony fingerboard and bridge, white mother-of-pearl dot markers, Antique White binding including neck, faux tortoise pick guard, closed silver tuners with large buttons. OM-35E and HD-35 have scalloped 1\/4\" braces.  <br \/>\n<br \/>\n2025 HD-35 converted to GE scalloped bracing.   <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPre-2018 Style 35 has stark white binding, black pickguard, natural top toner, non-forward-shifted braces. OM-35 has scalloped braces. HD-35 has herringbone top trim and back strips, scalloped braces, faux tortoise pick guard.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nStyle 35 first appeared in 1965 and had Brazilian rosewood (until 1969,) and faux tortoise binding and pickguard, which were changed to black in 1966.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n\"35\" has appeared in the model name of several special or limited editions, with woods or appointments different from above. The defining 35 features being a three-piece back and a bound fingerboard. Example: HD-35 CFM IV 60th Anniversary and D-12-35 50th Anniversary. <\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">36<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Limited to M-36  (retired)  <br \/>\n<br \/>\nSame as Style 35, add rosewood bridge. The M-36 was named M-35 in earliest production models (1978.)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">38<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Limited to M-38 (retired)    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nSimilar to Style 40, but with rosewood bridge, depending upon year of production.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">40<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Style 40 (2025)    Limited to J-40.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nSame wood grades as Style 35. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nIndian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, forward-shifted, GE scalloped bracing, 7-ply black and white strip top trim, abalone rosette and small abalone hex fret position markers, Antique White binding on body and neck neck, Abalone headstock inlay and gold color open back tuners, Style 45 mosaic back strip.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPre-2018 Style 40 had white binding, 1-11\/16\" Low Profile neck, non-forward-shifted scalloped braces, black pickguard depending upon year of production. D-40 was basically an HD-28 with fancier pearl appointments and a bound neck.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nJ-40 also available in all-black finish.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPre-war Style 40 had short snowflake pattern fret markers and abalone top trim like pre-war Style 42, but no pearl around fretboard extension on the top. <\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">41<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Syle 41 (2025)     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nCurrently limited to D-41.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nHigher grade Indian Rosewood and spruce than 28 or 35. Abalone shell trim around top and rosette, but not the fingerboard extension on the soundboard. Abalone hex inlays on neck. Forward-shifted GE scalloped braces. Aging top toner, Antique White binding, open-gear tuners.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPre-2018 D-41 had non-forward-shifted braces, natural top toner, white binding. Earlier examples have black pickguards rather than faux tortoise. Non-scalloped bracing before 1986.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nD-41 from first year of production (1969) has Brazilian rosewood back and sides.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nStyle 41 Special  - Add Vintage Style 45 snowflake fingerboard, grained ivoroid binding, forward-shifted scalloped braces (Size D and Size J) and Modified V neck (1-3\/4\" neck width on OM-41 Special.) Basically Style 42 at that time, with a  V neck and without abalone inlaid around the fretboard extension.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">42<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Style 42 (2025)    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nHighest grade Indian Rosewood and spruce top with aging toner. Abalone rosette and top trim including fingerboard extension. Fretboard has Vintage Style 45 snowflake inlays on fingerboard and bridge, Antique White binding, faux tortoise pickguard, gold-color open gear tuners. D-42 has scalloped forward-shifted bracing, OM-42 has 1\/4\" bracing.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPre-2018 Style 42 has grained ivoroid binding, GE scalloped forward-shifted bracing for D, Low Profile neck, 1-11\/16\" for D, 1-3\/4\" for OM. 000-42 has 1-3\/4\" Modified V neck.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">D-42 MD, 000-42 MD. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nTop grade tonewoods. East Indian back and sides, flamed European maple binding, Vintage Tone System spruce top with bold herringbone trim, VTS Adirondack spruce Golden Era bracing attached with natural protein glue, composite carbon fiber\/VTS Adirondack spruce bridge plate; Genuine Mahogany neck with Vintage Deluxe profile; titanium alloy neck rod; ebony fretboard with Authentic Series thickness, High Performance Taper (OM models have standard taper,) EVO copper alloy frets, Mother of pearl embellished Style 42 fretboard inlays and high-color abalone top pearl, and 1930 Style 45 torch headstock inlay. Liquid Metal bridge pins.<br \/>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Limited to 000-42 Marquis. Add highest grade Adirondack spruce top, 1-3\/4\" Modified V neck with '30s heel, wood fiber purfling around the pearl trim instead of plastic, etc. Short snowflake pattern on fingerboard. 1\/4\" GE, scalloped braces.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nVintage Style 42 can be seen on the 2016 000-42 Authentic 1939 with usual Authentic specs (hide glue construction, VTS torrefied Adirondack top, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">45<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Style 45 (2025) Currently limited to D-45 and OM-15.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nHighest grade Indian rosewood and spruce. Abalone trim on all edges of top, sides and back, abalone hex fret markers. Forward-shifted, GE scalloped braces, Antique White binding, gold color open gear tuners, faux tortoise pick guard.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPre-2018 Style 45 has white binding, natural top toner, non-forward-shifted braces, 1-11\/16\" Low Profile neck.    <br \/>\n<br \/>\nEarliest modern examples (1968-69) had Brazilian rosewood and European Alpine spruce tops with non-scalloped bracing, changed to Sitka shortly thereafter, Indian rosewood from 1970.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nBlack pickguard replaced with tortoise in recent years.     <br \/>\n<br \/>\nScalloped bracing introduced 1986, forward-shifted 2018.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">D-45 MD. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nTop grade tonewoods. East Indian back and sides, flamed European maple binding, Vintage Tone System spruce top with bold herringbone trim, VTS Adirondack spruce Golden Era bracing attached with natural protein glue, composite carbon fiber\/VTS Adirondack spruce bridge plate; Genuine Mahogany neck with Vintage Deluxe profile; titanium alloy neck rod; ebony fretboard with Authentic Series thickness, High Performance Taper (OM models have standard taper,) EVO copper alloy frets, Mother of pearl embellished Style 42 fretboard inlays and 1930 Style 45 torch headstock inlay. High-color abalone pearl inlaid along the edge of the top, back, sides, neck heel. Liquid Metal bridge pins.<br \/>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Similar to Standard D-45 of that era, but add Modified V neck, pre-1938 Style 45 snowflake fingerboard pattern, grained ivoroid bindings, vintage top toner, tortoise pick guard, forward-shifted scalloped braces. <\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Vintage Series styling, add highest grade Adirondack spruce top, 1-3\/4\" Modified V neck with '30s style heel, wood fiber purfling around the pearl trim instead of plastic, Golden Era scalloped bracing (see Style 18 GE above.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tfoot>\n<tr class=\"row-12\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td><th class=\"column-2\">Standard Series<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Modern Deluxe Series<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Vintage Series<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">GE\/Marquis Series<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-12 from cache -->\n<p><em>Table Notes: <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>1) Specs listed are only notable examples.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>2) Sitka spruce was used through 2022. It is now being used interchangeably with Lutz spruce, depending upon what is available at the time a batch of guitars is being made. Lutz spruce is a naturally occurring hybrid of Sitka spruce and White spruce, which grows in more micro-climates than Sitka.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>3) Authentic Series not included in this table. Each Authentic model is an as-close-as-possible recreation of a specific Martin guitar from a specific year. Examples include <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/wp.me\/P3p2sf-ny\"><em>D-18 Authentic 1939<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/wp.me\/P3p2sf-1fn\"><em>OM-28 Authentic 1931<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/wp.me\/P3p2sf-1MT\"><em>00-18 Authentic 1931<\/em><\/a><em>. See specific reviews <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/reviews\/acoustic-guitars\/martin\/authentic-series\/\"><em>HERE<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>4) The Golden Era Series was introduced after the Vintage Series, to offer more-accurate vintage reissues, which included the use of Adirondack spruce tops and also Brazilian rosewood as back and sides on Styles 28GE and 45GE and for cosmetic trim on Style 18GE guitars. Prior to the official series getting under way, a version of the D-18GE was made with a Sitka spruce top, as was a 12-fret 000-28GE.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>5) The Marquis Series was introduced after the shortages of Brazilian rosewood halted GE production. Marquis guitars are basically identical to GE models, except for the substitution of Brazilian rosewood with Indian rosewood on 28 Marquis and 45 Marquis, as well as Madagascar rosewood as trim on 18 Marquis. Some additional, minor changes occurred over time, like the brand of tuning machines, etc.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>All Vintage, GE,\u00a0 and Marquis Series models were retired as of January 2020. The Standard Series Martins absorbed many of the structural and cosmetic features of the Vintage Series instruments, the major exceptions relating to the neck shape, fingerboard taper, and the corresponding string spacing.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Modern Deluxe Series<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Introduced in 2019, the Modern Deluxe Series models are upscale versions of select Standard Series Martins with significant alterations in styling and engineering.<\/p>\n<p>These upgrades include Martin&#8217;s Vintage Tone System (VTS) torrefied Sitka or Lutz spruce tops, VTS Adirondack spruce Golden Era bracing, composite carbon fiber\/VTS Adirondack spruce bridge plate, Liquidmetal bridge pins, wooden bindings, abalone inlay logo and fret markers, gold-color Waverly tuning machines, EVO copper alloy frets, and the exclusive Vintage Deluxe neck profile that was copied from a particular 1930 OM-45 Deluxe but remains low in girth all the way up the neck thanks to a modern guitar heel.<\/p>\n<p>Acoustic-electric versions of these models appeared in January 2020, with the latest generation of High-Def Fishman Aura electronics.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/P3p2sf-33z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Review with Video of Modern Deluxe Models Here<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffeddb;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>TABLE: Modern Martin Styles Below Style 18<\/h3>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-15\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-15\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Series<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Current<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Previous<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Historical<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">17 Series<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Solid wood construction, back and sides of mahogany (typically African sapele\/sipo,) spruce top, with thin satin finish, full compliment of scalloped braces (Size DSS forward-shifted,) High Performance Neck with Simple Dovetail neck joint, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, open-back tuners with white buttons. Available in Black Smoke and Whiskey Sunset motifs, in short-scale 14-fret 000, and long-scale Slope Shoulder Dreadnought.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe 17 Series instruments are made in Nazareth, PA.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Modern Style 17 circa 2000 began as a deluxe version of Style 15 with a mahogany top, back, sides, and neck, with high gloss finish, top purfling and binding, Mortise and Tenon neck joint and Hybrid X Bracing like Style 16 at that time.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAfter it was retired it was briefly revived in satin finish with a Sitka spruce top that had a reddish burst top finish, available only as a 14-fret D and 12-fret 000.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Vintage Style 17 was similar to modern Style 15, being all-mahogany with very little trim, stain finish, rosewood fingerboard and bridge depending upon year of production. The  vintage 14-fret 0-17 and 00-17 most commonly seen today. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">16 Series<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">All Style 16 models are acoustic-electric instruments with Fishman electronics.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n2022 revised specs include all-solid wood construction including Indian rosewood back and sides with satin finish, except were noted below, spruce top with gloss finish and bold herringbone rosette, Antique White binding, full standard scalloped bracing, ebony bridge and fingerboard with Style 28 mother-of-pearl dot markers. Back, sides, and neck have satin finish. High Performance Neck with Simple Dovetail neck joint. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nD, GPC, Grand J, and BC bass models have 4-1\/8\" 000 depth and forward-shifted braces. <br \/>\n<br \/>\n000C12-16E Nylon has mahogany back and sides, spruce top, tortoise binding with white purfling, ebony fretboard and bridge. 1-7\/8\" Low Profile neck and 26.44\" string scale, Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT1 pickup system.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n000-16 StreetMaster introduced 2022. Indian rosewood back and sides, VTS Adirondack spruce top, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, no body binding, StreetMaster finish treatment.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe 16 Series instruments are made in Nazareth PA.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Style 16 was invented circa 1961 as the 12-fret 0-16NY (New Yorker) and was meant to be a less expensive version of Style 18 vis-\u00e0-vis Style 21 being a less expensive version of Style 28, at that time. The New York models were meant to hark back to the 12-fret Martins from the late 1800s that had gut strings and were lightly constructed. The 0-16NY was made to use nylon strings or extra-light steel strings.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nStyle 16 resurfaced in 1986 as the D-16 made with scalloped braces and various back and sides tonewood (mahogany, ash, koa, walnut.) The 000-16 and 000C-16 were the first long-scale 14-fret 000s since early 1934 and had scalloped. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nThis Style 16 had the full dovetail neck joint, gloss finish, tortoise binding and and scalloped braces at a time when Style 18 guitars had black binding and non scalloped braces.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAfter 1994 Style 16 was converted to the Mortise and Tenon neck joint and requisite Hybrid X bracing. The style went through a series of changes in trim and materials, electronics, made primarily in mahogany or rosewood.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nVarious models with Aura in the name were Style 16 construction with early versions of the Fishman Aura electronics.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">15 Series<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">As of 2020, Style 15M and 15M StreetMaster have all-solid wood construction, including mahogany back, sides, top, and neck (typically African sapele or sipo. But tropical American mahogany is still used depending upon availability,) as well as solid neck and end block (also sipo.)<br \/>\n<br \/>\n15 Series instruments have A-Frame X bracing, except the DSS-15M StreetMaster (now retired,) which has full standard forward-shifted, scalloped bracing. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe neck has modified Low Oval Profile. 1-11\/16\" width at nut (000-15SM 12-fret has 1-3\/4\",) rosewood fingerboard and bridge. mahogany back, sides, top, and neck, satin finish.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAs of 2022, 00, 000, 000-S, D listed on website.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe 15 Series instruments are made in Nazareth, PA.<br \/>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Previous Style 15 - Originally made from Genuine Mahogany, Style 15 went through various changes, including rosewood fretboard and bridge, non-wood fretboard and bridge, ebony fret board and bridge. Also it started with white dot markers and was changed to diamond markers, etc.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAvailable in 12-fret D, 14-fret D, Jumbo, 12-fret 000, 14-fret 00, 14-fret 000, OM, OMC, depending on specific years.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Style 15 was limited to the 0-15, circa 1940. Some experimental \"Style 15\" guitars were made prior to this with other woods.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Road Series<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Affordable acoustic-electric guitars made at Martin's Mexico plant with A-Frame X1 bracing, a more supportive and tone-enhancing version of the A-Frame X bracing used on the original Road Series.\u00a0<br \/>\n<br \/>\nSpecial Model introduced 2020, the SC-13E is Martin's first 13-fret model, with a revolutionary heel-less neck, unique bracing, and has many other special features and unique appointments based on the Style 12 Koa models and Style 13 upgrades. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nStyle 10E and 11E have solid sapele back and sides and satin finish. Style 10E Sapele has sapele top.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nStyle 12E has solid sapele back and sides, spruce top, and gloss body finish.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nStyle 12E Koa models have koa fine veneer over solid Khaya core and full gloss body finish.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nStyle 13E has either solid siris or muteney back and sides, depending on specific body size, and full gloss body finish, except SC-13E, which has fine koa veneers over solid Khaya core. 2021 Ziricote models have ziricote veneers over solid Khaya core.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAll Road Series models come standard with Fishman MX-T electronics.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe Road Series instruments are made at Martin's plant in Navojoa, Mexico.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">The original Road Series came out of the old 1 Series instruments of the 1990s, aimed at performing musicians who wanted guitars they could take on the road instead of their heirloom Martin instruments. They had the A-Frame X bracing, originally called D1 or 1 Style bracing.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">X Series<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Martin's X Series represent their most affordable acoustic instruments, many with Fishman electronics (E models.)<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThey are made with HPL - a high pressure laminate of wood fiber and resin, which has highly reflective tonal properties resulting in a very pretty treble ring, even midrange and good bass response.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nHPL allows Martin to use photographic reproductions of beautiful wood grain, or of many other surfaces, artwork, etc.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAs of 2020, Styles X2 and X2E have solid spruce tops. Styles 1X and 1XE have HPL tops. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe X Series instruments are made at Martin's plant in Navojoa, Mexico.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-15 from cache -->\n<p><em>Table Notes:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>1) Sitka spruce was used for soundboards through 2022. It is now being used interchangeably with Lutz spruce, depending upon what is available at the time a batch of guitars is being made. Lutz spruce is a naturally occurring hybrid of Sitka spruce and White spruce, which grows in more micro-climates than Sitka.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Just the Facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Q: Why are there many numbers missing among the Martin Style names?<\/p>\n<p>A: Some styles have gone extinct. The earliest Martins were made in a variety of sizes and cosmetic trim. At one point, Mr. Martin matched one body size with one style of trim. Each was assigned a specific price. A guitar in Size 1 cost $17 and became known as Style 17.<\/p>\n<p>Once prices began to rise, the original Style names stuck, but were associated with the specific trim rather than the price. These set trim styles eventually began to appear on different sizes. C. F. Senior died in 1873. His son and grandsons continued to use and expand upon his methods. By 1900 the current system of Size on one side of the dash and Style on the other was well in place.<\/p>\n<p>Some Style numbers that were gone by 1950 have been resurrected, but with cosmetic specs or woods that are different from their original version.<\/p>\n<p>Example: Style 17<\/p>\n<p>Style 17 had Brazilian rosewood back and sides and a spruce top in the 1800s. It was changed to mahogany back and sides circa 1906 and was retired in 1918, when Style 18 was switched from rosewood to mahogany.<\/p>\n<p>Style 17 was reborn in 1922, in all mahogany (including the top,) with a satin finish, made only in 12-fret Size 2. A semi-gloss finish 14-fret 0-17 and 00-17 appeared in 1930s, the 0 not lasting long. These guitars were similar to today&#8217;s Style 15, which only existed as the 0-15 starting in 1940.<\/p>\n<p>The 00-17 was made in smaller and smaller numbers until retired in 1961 (with a one year resurrection in 1967.)<\/p>\n<p>Style 17 returned again as a fancier version of modern Style 15, with white purfling and a high-gloss finish, etc. before being put to bed yet again.<\/p>\n<p>More recently, Style 17 was revived as basically a 15 Series guitar with a spruce top instead of mahogany, and with a reddish finish tint and sunburst top in a 14-fret D-17M size and a 12-fret 000-17SM. Those have since been retired.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, Style 17 became the 17 Series, and offers spruce-topped instruments in three new size (the 12-fret 00, 14-fret 00L, and 14-fret 000,) with two new cosmetic packages, the Black Smoke (all black with white trim and pickguard) and Whisky Sunset (bronze-orange to black sunburst.) And Style 17 is now re-positioned as quasi-Depression Era budget guitars made of all solid wood with thin matte finish for players looking for a great value with a spruce top.<\/p>\n<p>In 2019 the DSS-17 was introduced and the two 00s were retired. The DSS has the 14-fret Slope-Shoulder Dreadnought body size previously used on some limited editions from the CEO Series of special guitars designed by Company CEO Chris Martin.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, Martin introduced a new D-17 and 000-17 that are now members of the Standard Series, and have the full dovetail neck joint and all other specs of the Standard Series, with the exception of a satin finish and the solid mahogany soundboard of a prewar Style 17 instrument. Back then, only the 00-17 existed as a 14-fret instrument and they never made a prewar dreadnought in that style.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/P3p2sf-2Uy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DSS-17 Review with Video<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>Video reviews of the 2025 17s coming soon.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #fae8d7;\">~:~<\/span><br \/>\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Leader Board --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 728px; height: 90px;\" data-ad-slot=\"5995692994\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1390874476445023\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #fae8d7;\">~:~<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>More details about Martin model designations<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>When compared to current designs, Martins prior to 1930 were similar to modern, Classical guitars in many respects, all having an elongated shape with a wide 1-7\/8&#8243; neck that offered only 12 frets clear from the body and top braces intended for gut strings. In fact, Martins were the preferred choice for American concert professionals performing the classical repertoire in the decades between the Civil War and the Second World War.<\/p>\n<p>Martins moved into a position of prominence in popular, country, and folk music once their 14-fret steel string guitars appeared during the Great Depression. Andre Segovia&#8217;s tours of the US during the 1930s and &#8217;40s shifted Classical guitar firmly toward designs that evolved in Spain at the same time Martins were evolving in America.<\/p>\n<p>Martin shifted their own focus toward steel strings during the early twentieth century, but other than their Hawaiian-style guitars meant for playing with a steel slide, they did not design guitars specifically for steel strings until the OM, which first appeared in the 1930 catalog.<\/p>\n<p><strong>OM \u2013 Orchestra Model<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Orchestra Model was the first Martin guitar to break with the numbered size convention, when its model stamp on the neck block was represented by the initials OM. The new design featured a 14-fret neck and a body braced exclusively for steel strings. The new name was meant to attract members of dance orchestra rhythm sections, who were switching from the banjo now that steel strings were becoming the norm for acoustic guitars.<\/p>\n<p>Although some Jazz musicians played the new steel string Martins, it was actually pop music icons like Gene Autry and Roy Rodgers who embraced the revolutionary guitar design while singing in front of bands that were broadcasting on the new sensation of radio.\u00a0 In later years it was traditional Blues soloists, and eventually New Age fingerstyle guitarists who took the OM into ever expanding genres of guitar music.<\/p>\n<p>Because the OM and the 14-fret 000 share the same body size, there is often confusion about how their modern examples differ and why. (See below for more information about that.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>D \u2013 Dreadnought<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Other model names without numbers include D for Dreadnought. These are the large, now iconic guitar shapes that Martin invented in a 12-fret size in 1916, exclusively for the Ditson musical department store chain, which intended them to be used as the &#8220;bass guitar&#8221; in mandolin orchestras.<\/p>\n<p>Dwarfing all other sizes at the time, Dreadnoughts were named after the British battleship H.M.S. Dreadnaught (sic), but also as an insider joke. Their largest sizes were the Naught, Double Naught, and Triple Naught. This new size was the biggest Naught of them all.<\/p>\n<p>Martin first offered a dreadnought sold under their own brand name in 1931, and three years later, a 14-fret version was released as well, which became the most popular steel-string guitar design in history. For example, the memorable acoustic guitars played by Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Nirvana&#8217;s Kurt Cobain, and Coldplay&#8217;s Chris Martin are Martin dreadnoughts. Almost every major manufacturer of steel string acoustic guitar copied the Martin Dreadnought design.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DSS &#8211; Dreadnought Slope-Shoulder<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Introduced in 2004 as part of the CEO Series of special edition instruments designed by Company Chief Executive Officer C. F. Martin IV, the DSS combines the slope-shoulder body design of a 12-fret dreadnought with the versatility of the 14-fret dreadnought. It is similar to Gibson&#8217;s Jumbo in terms of the silhouette but with many other differences.<\/p>\n<p>The first DSS models in regular production appeared in 2019 and are the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3p2sf-2Q7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset\/Black Smoke<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3p2sf-2Rb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DSS-15M StreetMaster<\/a>. The 15M was retired in 2022.<\/p>\n<p><strong>M or 0000 &#8211; Grand AuditoriuM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The M size was introduced in 1977. It stood for Grand Auditorium and at times is referred to as the 0000, or Quadruple Oh\/Naught. It is a flattop guitar that uses a body shape taken from the mold of a Martin Size F archtop model made during the Jazz Age. They used the actual mold from the 1930s to make the sides of the first Ms.<\/p>\n<p>At its introduction, the M had the widest Martin top, 16&#8243; across the lower bout, matched with sides having the depth of an OM. Ms are known for their even balance, sounding similar to the Dreadnought but with the bass pulled back in line with the other registers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>J &#8211; Jumbo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Martin Jumbo was the brainchild of C. F. Martin IV, the current CEO. It combines the depth of a dreadnought with the shape and top width of an M. To my ear it sounds like a super-sized 000, with balance across the registers, but with considerable volume, and a focused, punchy midrange.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GJ &#8211; Grand Jumbo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like the M, the Grand J takes its body from an archtop, only this time it was Martin\u2019s modern Jazz guitar, the CF-1. But after some prototype examples, they altered the exact shape a bit. It has a 17\u201d wide lower bout, the widest flat top Martin has ever made. The Grand Jumbo has only been around a few years. It has appeared as normal 6-string and 12-string models. But it has also been used on limited edition baritone models, designed with a longer neck for lower tunings. The Grand J-16E 12 String was released in 2021, with East Indian rosewood back and sides, a spruce top, and 000 side depth, rather than the dreadnought side depth of past Grand J models.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GP &#8211; Grand Performance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The company&#8217;s first totally new flat top body size in many decades. With a top slightly wider and rounder than an OM and a deeper body, they are Martin\u2019s version of the &#8220;small jumbo&#8221; models that have grown in popularity in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>While Gibson&#8217;s J-185 from the 1950s might be considered the first true small jumbo, it was in the 1980s that indie luthier Kevin Ryan created the design associated with the term today. But it was a similar design by James Olson that proved most responsible for small jumbo&#8217;s surge in popularity among professional artists &#8211; mainly thanks to James Taylor adopting Olson&#8217;s guitars as his primary concert instruments.<\/p>\n<p>But it was the Size 14 design of the Taylor Guitar Company (no relation to JT) that got small jumbos into the hands of the common guitar player, and in 2017 the small jumbo design outsold dreadnoughts for the first time. And Martin&#8217;s GP with a cutaway is almost identical to the Taylor design in terms of dimensions, even if they do not sound much like a Size 14 Taylor. In general, GPs sound like an OM with a more pronounced bottom end, a thicker mid-range, and with greater volume. Now made with 000 depth for many acoustic-electric models, the shallower GPCs have a more-traditional Martin tone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>00L &#8211; Slope-Shoulder Grand Concert<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The 00L (L for Long) size debuted in 2014 with the <a href=\"http:\/\/wp.me\/P3p2sf-sQ\">CEO-7<\/a>, which was designed by C. F. Martin IV as a nod to Gibson&#8217;s fabled Size L guitars of the 1930s. After a couple of limited edition CEO models that combined Martin&#8217;s original slope shoulder dreadnought shape with a 14-fret neck, he decided to put the elongated slope shoulder shape on a short-scale 14-fret 00, creating a smallish guitar with a slightly larger sound chamber than the normal 00, increasing bass response. It was a sensational success. The more affordable 00L-17 followed in 2016\u00a0 (now retired,)\u00a0 and various special and limited editions have since used the shape.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Size SC<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Introduced in January 2020 on the SC-13E, this is the first truly new Martin-invented body size since 1934. It is also Martin&#8217;s first 13-fret design and has an asymmetrical body shape with an internal cubic area between an OM and a GP. It also introduces Martin&#8217;s first true bolt-on neck, which has a metal tongue and mortise joint that eliminates the need for a neck heel, very much like certain electric guitar necks. It allows access to the entire fingerboard, in conjunction with a deep cutaway in the body. This debut model is designed with electric guitarists in mind.<\/p>\n<p>The S stands for the S-shape to the silhouette edge noticed during the initial design process, making it the first size name that is not a number or initial, as in D for Dreadnought.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Now back to the OM \u2013 000 confusion\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>To make the revolutionary OM, Martin turned to their Standard 12-fret 000, which was the largest size they offered in 1929. Basically, they squashed the slope shoulders down almost flat, which exposed two more frets and pushed the upper bout farther out. This also had the effect of placing the bridge closer to the neck, relative to the overall body length.<\/p>\n<p>Then they narrowed the neck from 1-7\/8&#8243; to 1-3\/4&#8243; for the target audience of banjoists and added bracing designed to work best with the tensions of steel strings &#8230; and viola! They invented the modern, flat top acoustic guitar.<\/p>\n<p>After three years, it was clear Martin was going to convert the bulk of their catalog to the new 14-fret steel string design, so the OM stamp was replaced with 000, sometime in the early months of 1934. This allowed them to get back to their traditional numbered sizes.<\/p>\n<p>During the first few months of 1934, the 14-fret 000-18, 000-28, and 000-45 were identical in all respects to the OM-18, OM-28, and OM-45 made in 1933. After that time the 000 was moved to the short-scale used on the 0 and 00 and at some point the 1\/4&#8243; bracing evolved to be 5\/16&#8243; bracing. It remains a question of history as to exactly which came first, the change to 5\/16&#8243; tone bars, or the short-scale neck, or if they arrived at the same time.<\/p>\n<p>All 14-fret Martins went to a narrower 1-11\/16&#8243; neck in 1939 and the company stopped using scalloped bracing in 1944 (Actually this was transitional, as 1945 Martins have what is now called tapered bracing.)<\/p>\n<p>So, by the mid 1940s the 14-fret 000 had an auditorium body size and a short-scale neck like the 0 and 00 sizes, but with bracing of the size and density found on the larger dreadnoughts.<\/p>\n<p>The Martin 000s of the 1950s and 60s continued this overall design, as they stood up well to the thick flat picks and steel fingerpicks popular at that time. And they fit well in group playing, as the guitars&#8217; punchy notes could cut through an ensemble without upstaging other instruments.<\/p>\n<p>At Martin, at least, any guitar made from 1930 onward with a 14-fret design is an \u201cOrchestra Model.\u201d Guitars that retained the elongated body and 12-fret neck were referred to as Standard models. In fact, during the first years that the 14-fret dreadnought was offered in the Martin catalog, it was listed as \u201cOrchestra Model, Size-D\u201d. The 12-fret versions were retired, with a few exceptions, like the 00-21. Some dealers did order the occasional 12-fret Martin, but the future clearly belonged to the 14-fret Orchestra Models.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Modern OMs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Starting in 1969 Martin answered the call for guitars made in the tradition of the original OM-stamped guitars, with sporadic special editions. The \u201cOM\u201d became an official model type in 1990, which has the same shape as the 14-fret 000. But otherwise, several differences separate the two designs.<\/p>\n<p>The traditional 14-fret 000 had evolved to have a narrow, short-scale neck and 5\/16\u201d non-scalloped bracing.<\/p>\n<p>Modern OMs were given a wider, long-scale neck and 1\/4\u201d scalloped bracing to help simulate the lighter overall build of pre-war Martins. (The OMs made in the 1930s actually had a center X-brace that was 5\/16,\u201d surrounded by 1\/4\u201d tone bars.)<\/p>\n<p>The lines dividing the 000s and OMs have since blurred, due to all the vintage reissue models and limited editions that have come out in the past 30 years.<\/p>\n<p>Traditional 000 necks have the short scale, while 000s below Style 18 had a long-scale neck until quite recently, since that is now the industry standard. But the new 000-17 returned to the short scale and also acquired the modern High Performance neck. Martins shall ever and always continue to evolve.<\/p>\n<p>As of 2021 all 14-fret 000s have a short-scale neck and almost all have 5\/16&#8243; top braces. OMs have always had a long-scale neck and almost all OMs made since 1969 have had 1\/4&#8243; bracing.<\/p>\n<p>Vintage-style 000s often have a 1-3\/4\u201d neck, like the Eric Clapton models and the pre-2018 000-42. But they are different than the 1-3\/4&#8243; High Performance neck, which is narrower in the upper frets and has a much lower profile.<\/p>\n<p>The modern 000-18 and the retired 000s from the Marquis\/GE series also have 1\/4&#8243; OM-style bracing to help make them sound like the lighter, more resonant 000s from the 1930s, and this included the original 000-18 Authentic made before the modern Authentic Series. This is partly because modern guitars are made with thicker wood and finishes to withstand the rigors required of a lifetime warranty.<\/p>\n<p>Some Limited Edition\/Custom Artist OMs, like the John Mayer and Paul Simon models have necks narrower than 1-3\/4\u201d and so on. If one thing is carved in stone at Martin, it is that everything has its exceptions.<\/p>\n<p>To confuse matters more, as of 2018 most every OM and 000 has been converted to the modern High Performance neck. It has a 1-3\/4&#8243; width at nut, but the overall neck is closer in width and string spacing to a traditional 1-11\/16&#8243; Martin neck. It is just cheated a bit wider down in the &#8220;cowboy chords&#8221; area below the 5th fret.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the many exceptions, it is safe to say that typical Martin OMs have lighter, scalloped bracing matched with a long-scale neck that has a 1-3\/4\u201d width at nut. Any other defining characteristics depend greatly on the specific year or era of construction.<\/p>\n<p>OMs are recognized today by their small, roundish pickguard, often called a \u201ctear drop,\u201d even though the original OMs from the 1930s switched to the longer Martin pickguard about six months into production.<\/p>\n<p>How do they sound? To my ear a typical 000, with 5\/16\u201d bracing, has a focused, punchy voice that cuts well as a lead guitar but on the whole is a more intimate instrument.<\/p>\n<p>The OM has different dynamics leading to a different kind of voice. With its lightly braced top matched with the string tension of a long-scale neck, the OM has a more open voice with greater fundamental note separation, a wavering resonance and greater projection, sounding clearer farther away than a 000, which can sound just as loud as an OM to the guitarist, but drops off over distance. Overall, an OM has a lot more going on behind and around the top voice (fundamental string notes and high harmonics,) while the 000 puts most of the energy and sound into that fundamental top voice while the undertone plays more of a supporting role.<\/p>\n<p>But compared to other sizes and types, Martin OM and 000 remain closely related in look, feel and tone. They are famous for having a more-perfect balance to the volume of each string, compared to all other 14-fret guitars.<\/p>\n<p>This quality is also the hallmark of the 12-fret 00 and the 12-fret D sizes, even though the dynamics and volume vary greatly between the three designs.<\/p>\n<p>Read More at: <a href=\"http:\/\/wp.me\/p3p2sf-12F\">Martin&#8217;s 000 vs. OM, What&#8217;s the Diff?<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>The Return of the 12-Fretters and the Pesky S in the Model Stamp<\/h4>\n<p>As mentioned above, the \u201cS\u201d at the end of model names like D-28VS stands for the &#8220;Standard&#8221; body design, meaning the traditional 12-fret Martins with slope-shoulder bodies, as opposed to the 14-fret &#8220;Orchestra Model&#8221; design introduced in 1930. (And not to be confused with the S size, limited to the SC-13E (see above.))<\/p>\n<p>It has <em>never<\/em> meant &#8220;Slotted Headstock&#8221; nor &#8220;Sloped Shoulders,&#8221; despite uninformed claims to that effect. But that usage of S for Standard only began in the mid-1960s, because Martin had practically ceased to make 12-fret steel-string guitars after 1934.<\/p>\n<p>In 1954, Martin made one 12-fret D-28, which had an S added to the stamp for Standard Body Size. This is sometimes confused with guitars made up through the 1950s that had an S added for \u201cSpecial Order,\u201d typically meaning some sort of customized Martin guitar from before they had an official custom order policy.<\/p>\n<p>But when it comes to S for Standard 12-fret design, a total of 8 D-28S guitars were made through 1958. Similarly small production numbers continued in the early 1960s. Production picked up in 1965, the year that the D-35S was introduced. The return of the D-45 12-fret took place as a single guitar in 1969, with a total of 24 being built between that year and 1994. The 000-28S appeared in the 1970s. After that, the Vintage Series and many limited and special editions used the 12-fret design and the S in the model stamp.<\/p>\n<p>There are ledger records of guitars stamped D-28 S in the 1950s. But that S would have meant \u201cSpecial Order,\u201d and the only examples I have seen consist of a normal 14-fret D-28 made with custom fingerboard inlay. And the S is obviously added with a second stamp, so it may appear slightly crooked or set apart from the D-28.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise the 1936 D-45 S that inspired two D-45S Authentic 1936 editions was also a 14-fret Martin &#8220;Special Order.&#8221; In that case the guitar had a wider top, back, and deeper sides (the Authentic version has normal side depth.)<\/p>\n<p>And I have recently been introduced to the existence of a 1959 00-21 S, which the Martin ledgers showed to be a special order made a great deal like a nineteenth-century Martin. It has an ebony fingerboard and bridge instead of the standard rosewood, was originally built with a truly flat fingerboard with no position markers, like a Classical guitar, as well as having no headstock logo, and an ebony neck rod! It is possible this may have been the inspiration for Martin coming out with the 0-16NY and 00-21NY less than two years later. (See Below)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">As of 2022, the S for Standard body size meaning the slope shoulder body with the 12-fret neck has been retired to history. Martin guitars with a 12-fret neck now have a 12 on the left side of the stamp, starting with the 012-28 Modern Deluxe and the 0012-28 Modern Deluxe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Here are known examples of S meaning Standard Body Size (e.g. 12-fret slope-shoulder body.)<\/p>\n<p>* Available figures end 2005<\/p>\n<p>000-45S \u2013 1974-1976, 11 made<\/p>\n<p>000-28S \u2013 1974-1977, 31 made<\/p>\n<p>000-18S \u2013 1976-1977, 3 made<\/p>\n<p>000-17S \u2013 2002-2004, 196 made<\/p>\n<p>000-15S \u2013 2000-2005, 1918 made*<\/p>\n<p>000-15SM (released post 2005, no figures available)<\/p>\n<p>D-15S \u2013 2001-2005, 557 made*<\/p>\n<p>D-15SM (released post 2005, no figures available)<\/p>\n<p>D-45S \u2013 1969-1994, 24 made (includes SD-45S)<\/p>\n<p>D-41S \u2013 1970-1994, 14 made (includes SD-41S)<\/p>\n<p>D-35S \u2013 1965-1994, 1832 made<\/p>\n<p>D-28S \u2013 1965-1994, 1777 made (I am assuming the 14 D-28S examples made between 1954 and 1964 are 14-fret \u201cSpecial Orders\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>D-18S \u2013 1967-1994, 1640 made<\/p>\n<p>D-15S \u2013 2001-2005*, 551 made<\/p>\n<p>D-15SM (released post 2005, no figures available)<\/p>\n<p>For some reason, Martin chose to not add the S to the stamp of the 12-fret 00-21, which remained in production from the 1800s to 1994. This may be due to the fact it was not offered in a 14-fret version after they converted their entire line to the Orchestra Model design, and it remained only 12-fret Martin regularly available, until small numbers of 12-fret guitars started being produced in the Folk Boom of the 1960s.<\/p>\n<p>This is also why the 12-fret 00-21GE (Golden Era) did not get an S in its stamp. Nor did the 000-28GE for that matter.<\/p>\n<p>But remember, the C for Classical models and the G for Gut String models were all 12-fret guitars that did not get the S suffix.<\/p>\n<p>And then there are the \u201cNew Yorker\u201d models that were 12-fret slotheads as well, but did not have the S suffix.<\/p>\n<p>These included the 0-16NY (6140 made 1961-1994,) the 00-21NY (906 made 1961-1965,) 0-28NY (2 made 1968-69,) the 000-28NY (2 made in 1962.) They were introduced before Martin decided to use the S for Standard designation, and thus named because Fred Martin felt they hearkened back to the 12-fret slothead Martins made in the 1800s, when Martins were sold through one dealer in New York City, even though the guitars were made in Nazareth, PA since the 1840s.<\/p>\n<p>And none of this includes special editions, limited editions, or artist signature editions, several of which do have the S in the stamp, for Standard Body Size.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the 1992 D-45 S Deluxe (the space before the S is intentional and similar to the Special Order S used in the 1950s.) This guitar is a 12-fret D-45 with a solid peghead and extra abalone trim along fingerboard and headstock, etc. A total of 50 were made for Martin\u2019s sporadic Guitar of the Month editions (plus an additional 10 made for export.)<\/p>\n<p>And that is one man&#8217;s word on&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Martin Model Designation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>More About&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/reviews\/acoustic-guitars\/martin\/\"> C. F. Martin &amp; Company<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/P3p2sf-3rT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2023 Guide to Martin Soundboard Bracing<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onemanz.com\/guitar\/reviews\/acoustic-guitars\/martin\/authentic-series\/\">Martin Authentic Series<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>This article was originally published in 2013 and revised many times. If you have found this article of use to you, please consider buying me a cup of coffee, or a set of guitar strings, by donating to oneman@onemanz.com. The COVID-19 pandemic upheaval has taken a heavy toll on my ability to meet basic living expenses like rent, healthcare, and guitar strings.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">~:~<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Leader Board --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 728px; height: 90px;\" data-ad-slot=\"5995692994\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1390874476445023\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Primer of C. F. Martin &amp; Co. Model Names Revised July 16, 2025 . The Model Name &#8211; two sides of a dash There &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":166,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2653","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Understanding Martin Model Designations | One Man&#039;s Guitar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Since they can seem confusing to those unfamiliar with the arcane hieroglyphs, here is a primer of C. F. Martin &amp; Co. 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