5 String Acoustic Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

. Now let me set the scene… I am a guitar lover (I can even play a little too) and a quality professional so My expectations are somewhat higher than most looking at this product. An absolutely beautiful instrument, this is my second SA360 and although they are no longer. Made in Japan, be assured they have not lost any of the build quality or attention to detail. The guitar was really well set up, is great to play, feels good in the hand and sounds the bee’s knee’s. If you are looking to start out in guitar playing get yourself an Ibanez Gio to start as a first upgrade from that, then the SA series is where you want to be at.Timbo

Bought this guitar as my first step in to nylon strings, coming from steel. I chose this guitar because it was beautiful in the pictures and had a smaller neck. However when the guitar arrived I was disappointed to find the that colors of the wood were much darker and more muted then what the pictures showed. The electronics were dangling around in the body because the adhesive broke free in transit or something. I was willing to look past these things if it sounded good, however I found the sound to be very flat and unimpressive. I also didn't like how rough the fretboard was, it was almost as if the wood had not been sanded at all. The guitar has generally cheap and poor craftsmanship. Overall pretty disappointing for a $450+ guitar, ended up returning it and getting a cheaper Lucero with better build quality.Cory

I have several steel string guitars that I play (mostly acoustic fingerstyle), but last year I began to explore some classical pieces. The steel strings worked just fine, but I wanted a softer sound than any of my guitars could deliver. I tried a traditional classical guitars but realized I'd have a hard time getting used to the geometry of the fingerboard unless I was willing to give up my steel strings – which I'm not. My instructor suggested that I try the Cordoba Fusion, so I visited a Guitar Center (where I've bought all my other guitars) and tried it out. It fit and felt so natural – the fingerboard size felt like an acoustic, but the nylon strings produced a soft, mellow sound.Gil C.

I was looking around for an acoustic bass so I could practice at home without the need of an amplifier. I have a Fender Electric (Passive) Bass and a Dean Electric (Active) bass and anytime I want to practice I have to go to my home studio. With this one I can practice anywhere in the house. Despite of that, none of the acoustic basses I tried at different stores match the sound or the body shape. This Goldin has the perfect size body and extreme quality sound whether you play it acoustically or plugged into an amplifier! No regrets and I think I'll have it for the rest of my life.Gigio

The looks of the instrument are gorgeous. When I was buying there were very few reviews for this instrument on internet. I took a leap…. This guitar will not give you real classical sound unplugged. When you plug it in you can play with the sound settings depending on what you have available. I play classical guitar in an ensamble and can add some reverb and even a bit chorus. Being a classical musician I wanted depth and warmth, so you need a good EQ. I use just a bit of piezo and a lot of inside mic but right off the bet with such set up you have feedback issues with volume on the guitar all the way down. So there is the need for anti feedback feature. During live concert I had no choice but to bring the Low frequency down and it was very uncomfortable. The guitar is hot. Despite all of it I like the guitar and I suspect there is a lot of potential with this instrument. When you finally set the sound to your liking it's very rewarding! This combo of under the bridge Pic up and inside mic gives you a lot of room to explore the sound. I took the guitar to my Luther to try to eliminate some bazz especially on 4th string, he was able to somewhat do it via bridge and he said that the freeboard is done quite good and does not need adjustment. I like the playability as well. I have another Yamaha trans acoustic that is absolutely amazing and deep but wanted to expand the range of sound variations. Hope this info helps those on the fence about buying it. I was looking at this instrument ever since it came out and am glad that I got it.Natasha

My first guitar was a nylon-string classical guitar made in Spain. The neck was wide as expected, but that wasn't an issue for me when I was 11 years old. However, this guitar's neck is thinner and that's one of the reasons I went with this model. The action is also low right out of the box which I like. It is a joy to play. The sound when unplugged it's good, but the guitar really comes alive when using an amplifier. The built quality is great. And the case that comes with it is very, very good as well. If you want that nylon-string guitar sound with a friendly neck profile and low action, then this is a great choice.Carlos

Excellent instrument . It takes a while to get used again to a wide fingerboard but very good for finger style. I particularly liked the strap button near the heel and first class protective gigbag.. Very good tone and upper sring accessibility with cutaway. Refined appearance and a relief that batteries are easy to fit.John C.

I thought getting back into professional music would be easy, no problem-BUUUUUT what I didn't take into account was all those years of abuse to my hands (in workshops all my life) took a toll. The love I have for acoustic guitars has given way to the love I now have for my new T5z. Talk about easy to play! It is more electric than acoustic, of course, but I play it all the time and am now taking a "commercial guitar" course and loving it. Without amplification, it's the best practice tool EVER! (Mine is the spruce top version) Through an amp it has more sounds and tones than can be imagined. It eventually will be replacing my acoustics for both five piece country band and twin guitars duo. I will be playing it through a Bose L-1 and Fender Blues Jr. They both sound great carrying this guitar-I'm the only thing holding it back-but that's changing. The quality, beauty, fit and finish from Taylor couldn't be better. My hands thank me every day for trading my HD28 for this inspiring T5z! I still have a lot to learn, but the T5z Standard is taking me where I want to go. Love it!!SuperJeff

FIRST AND FOREMOST: I'm just starting to play it, but my first impressions are very positive. THAT SAID: It's very flexible and interesting as an electric depending on how it's switched, and warm but crisp as an acoustic. It has a great neck and quick action, and the look-and-feel are beautiful and solid. The mahogany top is gorgeous. ALTHOUGH: It's a little light … I wish it had a bit more heft. AND: Those Taylor gig bags aren't impressive. It's not a cheap instrument and should include a hard case. IN BRIEF: Unplugged, it delivers a lovely acoustic sound; plugged in and pushed, it can certainly get wiry and crunchy. I think it's an excellent guitar and I'm delighted to own – and play – it.RICHARD

#5)Ease of use. I bought this guitar 5 months ago. After becoming blind with all of its "psychological warfare", having the jumbo frets, the spacing of the strings and the thinness of the neck has made playing guitar much easier. I like the placement of the controls. The navigation process like playing a rhythm acoustic switching to an electric lead can become quite seamless. #4) Say goodbye to cumbersome, clumsy, awkward and sore shoulders. The size and weight of this guitar is fantastic. #3) The Sound. Unplugged it's amazing, plugged in it's magical. The versatility of sound on this is unmatched. #2) Synergistic! When you combine all of the qualities mentioned, it's a no-brainer for a guitar that can do it all. #1) It's a Taylor! Couple this with a great company like AMS. #1 This was a very easy transaction from beginning to end. They have a knowledgeable staff in both sales and customer service. (Dan sent me 3 different pictures so the people with me could describe the guitar. Thank You Dan!). #2. The financing and the automatic payment plan was quick and easy. #3. The quality of the AMS company and staff exceeds all expectations before, during and after each transaction. I enjoy doing business with AMS. Thank you.Candice

Bought this guitar as my first step in to nylon strings, coming from steel. I chose this guitar because it was beautiful in the pictures and had a smaller neck. However when the guitar arrived I was disappointed to find the that colors of the wood were much darker and more muted then what the pictures showed. The electronics were dangling around in the body because the adhesive broke free in transit or something. I was willing to look past these things if it sounded good, however I found the sound to be very flat and unimpressive. I also didn't like how rough the fretboard was, it was almost as if the wood had not been sanded at all. The guitar has generally cheap and poor craftsmanship. Overall pretty disappointing for a $450+ guitar, ended up returning it and getting a cheaper Lucero with better build quality.Cory

I have several steel string guitars that I play (mostly acoustic fingerstyle), but last year I began to explore some classical pieces. The steel strings worked just fine, but I wanted a softer sound than any of my guitars could deliver. I tried a traditional classical guitars but realized I'd have a hard time getting used to the geometry of the fingerboard unless I was willing to give up my steel strings – which I'm not. My instructor suggested that I try the Cordoba Fusion, so I visited a Guitar Center (where I've bought all my other guitars) and tried it out. It fit and felt so natural – the fingerboard size felt like an acoustic, but the nylon strings produced a soft, mellow sound.Gil C.

The Maton 808 fits perfectly. Usually the 4" will fit most guitars but, not this one. I had noticed a few questions concerning this so I thought I would post this. A 4" cover can be ground down to size but, it's a chore that you may not want to tackle. The size here is actually pretty close to 3 3/4". The Maton is 95mm which translates very close to 3.75". A few thousands of inch at best. Pretty snug fit but, you don't want it slop around at all. Just FYI.Terry

I purchased this guitar twice because the first one had a bend to the neck, so the strings would buzz and not play properly on higher frets. I returned it and then ordered another one assuming the first was a fluke. The second one came in and was fine, but within a month the same issue occured. Still have it and just play the lower frets, but still was a waste of money. Looks amazing and sounds great when it works properly.Matthew

I played guitar for 15 years back in the day and owned 6 acoustic guitars in my lifetime. From mid-priced Takamines to cheap Washburns. I went to Guitar Center for a "learn how to play again cheap guitar" and tried all the cutaways in the $150-400 range. Fender, Yamaha, Alvarez, Ibanez and even above my price range. A salesman said one sentence. Try the Mitchell Guitars, they are the best bang for the buck. I went home that night and did my research. I looked at wood quality, body/bracing styles, neck sizes/wood types, hardware. Made a list and went back with 7 guitars in stock I wanted to feel/hear. Yes, Mitchell guitars absolutely had the best materials for the money. But how were their playability and actual sound? I tried a few models and they were either soft/flat sounding or had a sloppy fretboard. Other brands in the same price range had much cheaper materials. It came down to the Alvarez Regent (wish they had the Artist series to try) and this Mitchell guitar. I was able to buy the MX430QAB on sale but this guitar plays above its actual price. I tried a few $600 dollar guitars and the quality is much closer to those guitars. Bass tones are deep/rich/punchy (not dreadnought deep but enough). The mid-tones really shine and the highs pop without being too bright or overwhelming. A wide-ranging rich-toned balanced Orchestra guitar. The neck is so playable. I have read that about other guitars. The Talman series, or Festival series. Maybe they just needed to be setup. This guitar was set up perfectly. Going up and down the fretboard doing scales or chords was a total breeze even for someone who hasn't picked up a guitar in 5 years. It holds the tuning very well and I am sure this guitar will settle in and have an even richer tone over time. Guitars all have different personalities, so trying them out is recommended. But this is a good bet for the 300-400 price range.Myles

Chitarra che desideravo dal momento in cui uscì sul mercato, uno strumento favoloso, preciso e con un suono da pelle d’oca! Una più che degna alternativa alle sorelle ben più costose di casa Lowden. Nella sua categoria di acustiche small body e nella fascia di prezzo non ha rivali! Mastro George non delude mai!Riccardo Natale Pirrotta

Great guitar, terrible action. Had to lower the bridge by 1mm and file the nut by approx half the diameter of the bottom E string and for fun the battery pack for the mic came unglued after a week and partially stuck stuck to the back board leaving blobs of black glue visible through the sound hole. Once setup correctly and the battery pack reglued it’s a very nice guitar but for the price it should have been spot on coming out of the factory.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: So, I have owned this guitar for several months now. It is without a doubt a very good sounding guitar, it's up there with my Gibson's and Martins. Strumming or finger picking it just sounds amazing. I did not love the string spacing, so I replaced the nut with a bit wider spacing for my style of playing. The whole point about me taking the plunge on this guitar was that it was all solid woods, ebony fingerboard and bridge, and one of Yamahas absolute best acoustics available. I have no regrets buying this guitar at all. My friends are amazed at the beauty and sound of this very well-built guitar. The electronics do a good job plugged into the PA for playing live, and it will amaze you how good it sounds unplugged all by itself. I never thought I would buy anything but Martin or Gibson's…. this changed my mind completely. if you're thinking about one of these just buy one!! My honest opinion is the price will go up on these as the solid woods and craftsmanship are stunning.Michael

I’ve had my A3M for three years now. I still look at mahogany wood grain in awe. This guitar has a nice rounded tone that can compete with Taylor and Martin guitars made from mahogany. Plugged into an acoustic amp sounds even better. I notice the price point has increased $100 (not sure of due to inflation) which shows that it is a respected instrument. I spent months spinning around for a acoustic guitar and I was truly pleased with the Yamaha A3M. I think it can keep up with Martin and Taylor on stage as a reliable gig machine.bryan nuñez

I really liked this little guitar, BUT…I read the reviews and decided to buy in-store so I could play the guitar before buying, and I'm SO glad I did. I went into my local Guitar Center and played THREE of these Martin LX1E guitars, including one that had been specially unboxed so I could try it after two others failed my examination. All three guitars had a very pronounced buzz in the frets. It was not that noticeable when I played them acoustically, but the buzz was very noticeable when I plugged them in to an amp. I even tested the amp with other guitars, to make sure it wasn't the amp. It wasn't. Its a great little guitar, great tone and very playable, BUT my advice would be not to buy this one on-line. Play it first. Play up and down the whole fretboard, and plug it into an amplifier and play again. I have been playing for more than fifty years and have never experienced playing three brand new Martins that were simply not up to snuff. Weird!Tele Playr

The guitar itself can have five stars. Nothing wrong with it. The problem I have is that it is not the old LX1E lefty that Martin used to make and I used to own. It is advertised incorrectly here as containing the Fishman I-sys electronics that contained a volume, base/treble controls and a phasing button for feedback. It also no longer contains the tuner. This is basically the LX1 Little Martin with a Sonitone pickup under the bridge and tone/volume control in the sound hole, which I despise. I prefer the old version where the tuner and controls were on top side (as shown in the picture variety). This needs to be updated!!! I now have no tuner on this guitar when I fully expected one. I would recommend the Little Martin guitar but it needs to be advertised correctly.Jules

I bought this guitar for my son so he can have a smaller guitar to lug around in school. We were surprised when we received the product that the pickup that was installed is a Sonitone pickup instead of what's advertised – an Isys T preamp. The Isys preamp has a tuner, phase and tone control whereas the Sonitone is built into the sound hole and only has the volume and tone control. I brought this up with customer support saying I only wanted the product that I thought we were buying. I received excuses and a repeated offer to return the guitar. We chose to keep it because we need it and like the Martin sound. However MF does not stand up to what they advertise and could not provide a reasonable explanation why the product was switched. Even as I write this review, the description still says it has the Isys pickup. Good luck to future buyers and know that you are buying a different product.Pasigenyo

Overall: Acoustic Basses are quiet when unplugged and this one is no exception. However, it is loud enough for practice in the living room and maybe with an acoustic guitarist playing softer. The tone unplugged is above average, very woody with some brightness.BUT this thing absolutely shines when plugged in. I was blown away at the crisp tones and ballsy lows I was hearing. I usually play a Fender 5-String American Standard Jazz so I’m used to lots of sizzle and growl. I am beyond happy to add this acoustic bass to my lineup. The Fishman Presys+ is amazing. You have so much control over your time and can almost get anything you want out of it. The notch and phase features are especially useful for maintaining clarity and tone at high volume and eliminating feedback and distortion. The fit and finish of this bass is exceptional at the price point. It’s like a piece of artwork and even more beautiful in person. Definitely gets bonus points for style.I’m giving this bass and bass alone 5 stars but I must also say this. If you get a case with it, pony up the cash for the hard shell. I got the gig bag and the quality is questionable. It arrived with a small tear and some frayed stitching. It will be adequate for protection for now but I may upgrade to the hard shell eventually. Also the stock tuning pegs aren’t the best but they work and have held tune fine so far, just feel cheap.Tyler

I am a worship director and songwriter. I use this bass in tracking things in my home studio and occasionally when gigging. It sounds fantastic, has good intonation, and is an absolute stunner to look at. I couldn't be happier. The box was a little beat up upon arrival, but the bass was packed well and I damaged in shipping.Zoo Station Studios

Overall: I've been playing music for over 50 years and when I first saw this instrument, just by the looks, I knew exactly what I was getting into!When I played this bass, It left me with a"smile that you can't buy"!! When I was able to say something,all I could say was Wow.I recommend this multi-facet , guitar to both pro and starter level musicians.I can guarantee that the new owners of these basses will be completely satisfied and will tell everyone about this wonderful stringed masterpiece.Andrew

Simply put, this bass is a lot of bang for your buck. Whether your plugging it in or just noodling around with friends the clarity of each note fills the area around you. The upgraded presys plus system is incredibly versatile and extremely user friendly when trying to dial in any tone. Right our of the box between the looks and how rich and full it sounded, it blew me away. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good, playable acoustic bass that plays as good as it looks.Nick

Great looking 5 string acoustic bass. Setup was playable out of the box, no truss rod adjustment needed. Only thing that I feel is definitely needed is upgraded tuning keys as there is too much play in the stock ones. I replaced with Gotoh GB707 which are much sturdier and 20:1 ratio which is much improved. Stock holes need a tiny sanding out to accommodate these tuners but only takes a couple minutes and then an easy drop-in replacement. Since I am playing primarily through an amp, I inserted one of those rubber feedback eliminator discs in the soundhole and changed strings to La Bella white tape wound to eliminated lots of finger noise when amplified. Now plays great, maintains tune and sounds wonderful. With a little tweaking this bass is a welcome addition to my gear.JL

I am so happy with my new Michael Kelly 5 String Fretless bass. Grandon your Luther at our local Sam Ash store here in Indy, did an amazing job. Grandon replaced the strings and completed the set up on this bass and now it is my favorite bass. Grandon has this guitar sounding amazing, with no string buzz. Thank you Grandon! and Thank you Sam Ash.KEN

Simply put, this bass is a lot of bang for your buck. Whether your plugging it in or just noodling around with friends the clarity of each note fills the area around you. The upgraded presys plus system is incredibly versatile and extremely user friendly when trying to dial in any tone. Right our of the box between the looks and how rich and full it sounded, it blew me away. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good, playable acoustic bass that plays as good as it looks.Nick

Great looking 5 string acoustic bass. Setup was playable out of the box, no truss rod adjustment needed. Only thing that I feel is definitely needed is upgraded tuning keys as there is too much play in the stock ones. I replaced with Gotoh GB707 which are much sturdier and 20:1 ratio which is much improved. Stock holes need a tiny sanding out to accommodate these tuners but only takes a couple minutes and then an easy drop-in replacement. Since I am playing primarily through an amp, I inserted one of those rubber feedback eliminator discs in the soundhole and changed strings to La Bella white tape wound to eliminated lots of finger noise when amplified. Now plays great, maintains tune and sounds wonderful. With a little tweaking this bass is a welcome addition to my gear.JL

I am so happy with my new Michael Kelly 5 String Fretless bass. Grandon your Luther at our local Sam Ash store here in Indy, did an amazing job. Grandon replaced the strings and completed the set up on this bass and now it is my favorite bass. Grandon has this guitar sounding amazing, with no string buzz. Thank you Grandon! and Thank you Sam Ash.KEN

I own several USA-made martins and I was a little unsure if I should roll the dice on this one. I'm glad I did! If sound and playability are more important than bling and country of origin, you'll be very happy. This guitar is extremely well made, perfectly set-up out of the box, includes one of the nicest soft cases I've seen. Definitely would purchase again.GD

I'm sure this one is not representative of all the entry level Martins but I'm really suprised this got past quality control. Packed nicely with a nice gigbag. Well finished and the fretboard and bridge were clean and dark in color. The action was high with a ridicoulous amount of relief. The trussrod nut was completely loose with no tension at all which I thought a little strange. Once the neck was adjusted I saw/heard why the factory let the rod nut loose. There are high frets and buzzing all over the neck.as well as a droning high e string from the saddle. I know this is an entry level guitar in the Martin line-up but I've had acoustics that have cost a tenth of the price of this one that have played better. I'm so surprised that this left the factory that I'm hesitant to get a replacement.Frank

If you're looking for the best acoustics, best pre amp, best build quality and everything you look for in a guitar this is the one. The acoustics are the best i've heard in any 12 string and would purchase this guitar over and over again. This is a very good guitar for all your uses. Very comfortable and has great resonation.This is my favorite guitar in my collection.alex

I typically play steel string acoustics. I wanted a quality nylon string guitar without the wide flat neck of a standard classical guitar. This is it. Extremely well made with quality woods (no laminates) that has a great sound (both amplified and unplugged). It does not have a large body and projection is somewhat limited when playing unplugged but has incredible sound both amplified and not amplified. Can be played quietly when everyone else has gone to sleep, or can flood the house with music if they're awake. The action and intonation on this guitar was fabulous right out of the box and I didn't have to make any setup adjustments. This is an awesome guitar and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nylon string acoustic.John

In 1981 I had three guitars, two of them acoustics, and one of those was an Ovation Country Artist–a nylon-string guitar with a 14 fret, comparatively narrow neck. It was my first good guitar, but when I left for grad school, I kept only a Martin OO-18, and sold the Ovation. In the 30 years since, I have been trying to find a replacement, I tried various Ibanez and Yamaha guitars, but they didn't have what it took. Then, a couple of months ago, needing a brain break, I left work and took myself to the acoustic room at Sam Ash. There was another guy in there playing, so I looked for a quiet instrument, and took this one down off the wall. Immediately, I knew that it was special. The clarity of the tone, and the richness of the bass, it was all there. The other guy liked the sound too, and soon we were jamming and telling stories. Both of us tried other neoclassical guitars, and agreed that this one was best. I loved the guitar at first note, but when I looked at the price tag, I knew I could never own it. So I bought (online) a similar guitar, but it lacked the feel and sound of this one. My wife heard me playing, asked what I thought about the similar guitar I'd bought, and I explained that it wasn't the same. Then she told me to buy this one. So I did, And I have been playing it daily since then. The OO-18 is still with me and still gets some time, but right now my fingers itch to play and hear this one. Did it replace my long-gone Country Artist? Not exactly–this Takamine is significantly superiod to the Country Artist in all respects. Even if I don't play it plugged in 🙂Andy M_S

I came in to sign up for guitar lessons as an old man. I could barely spell guitar. First thing — I would need a guitar. Soon, I was in a room full of guitars, and I had no idea what I needed. Sam Ash's man knew. Not too cheap; not too expensive; not too gaudy; try this one, try that one. After a while we decided on the Baby Taylor. What a joy he was to work with, explaining, suggesting, leading, helping. A great experience. And, I love my guitar.Ralph

Purchased in 2002 for practice and travel when I didn't want to take a full-sized guitar. I was impressed with the rich sound and ease of play. It stays in tune, even when not played for long periods of time. It's always been stored in the Baby Taylor gig bag that came with it, in a closet, when not in use. I recently took it out to practice and discovered a crack in the top near the bottom, and that the top has separated from the body all across the bottom. It's been stored in a closet, protected from humidity fluctuations, along with 3 other acoustic guitars, one of which is vintage, and none of the other guitars have any issues. I also had a vintage, hand-made, late 1800's era mandolin stored with my other instruments, and it had no issues. I have loved this Baby Taylor for many years, and I'm heartbroken to discover the quality is so poor. The sound of acoustic guitars improves with age, so a new one won't sound the same. Sadly, I can no longer recommend this guitar.CJ

Oh my gosh I love my Baby Taylor! The koa wood makes it look as good as it sounds. My main goal was to have a guitar to travel with. I have so many guitars, but I wanted something small to take on the airplane. I've always heard great things about Taylor guitars…this is my first. It did not disappoint. I didn't expect it to have the sound quality that it does for its size. So that was just a bonus to me. It doesn't have the deep, full sound like my full bodied acoustics, but it is still good enough to play under any circumstance without being embarrassed. I don't play live anymore, but I wouldn't hesitate to play my Baby Taylor on stage. The case is great too. Compact backpack style with enough padding for protection.BK

Overall: Played one 10 or so years ago but didn’t get because of other obligations. Never forgot how it played and sounded! Finally got one and it is a truly excellent guitar. I have a Gibson CJ165EC, which I love, and the 000-15M is a totally different sound, which I wanted. Needed some Martin jangle! Out of the box fantastic. The mahogany tone is unmistakable and rich! Neck is a thin Martin neck, which I’m fine with. I’ve been playing for 53+ years so I kinda know what I’m talking about. Putting in a Fishman rate earth soundhole pickup and this will be my busking guitar! Really happy with the guitar and with zZounds. Delivery was fast and purchase was flawless. Highly recommend both the Martin 000-15M and zZounds!!Reverend

I ordered this online after discussing the purchase with Sam Ash Staff, it was in short supply, they scouted all Sam Ash Stores, they found one and it arrived two weeks early just after christmas. My wife loves it! It's her 2nd Martin Guitar and this one is her prize instrument. The staff at our local store were really helpful both with the Order process and preparing the the guitar upon arrival at the store. I asked about the 1st year instrument maintenance option and they were able to update our purchase to include that. The guitar sounds great, my wife loves playing it even though she is a novice. Totally satisfied with the instrument and the staff that helped obtain it. Thanks guys.Britinusa

I have wanted a triple-aught mahogany guitar. I preferred the Guild D20 dread to the Martin D15, but was open-minded about which 000 brand. Didn't like videos on Taylor and Alvarez all hog orchestra models and was very impressed with the Martin videos. So ordered this. Was also a big fan of Kenneth Pattengale and I'm With Her who use the 00-15 model. Let the box sit half a day. Upon opening it I was greeted by this amazing scent. The guitar came set up with low action, slightly detuned. The bridge and fretboard appeared to be stained morado (a very hard and valid wood, harder than rosewood but not quite as much as ebony). Tuners are Grover Statites. They are firm and perhaps a little too sensitive to sometimes dial in. The body was a gorgeous chocolate with amber-orange highlights. The guitar was immaculate. Martin Lifespan 2.0 PB 12-54 strings. It sounded really nice with the ebony pins which were fit absolutely perfectly. However, I had already purchased Blisstime unbleached bone pins which fit perfectly too. I got even more sustain and a more melodic tone, along with greater volume. This improved the strumming tone immensely. May switch to nickel-bronze 12-56 strings, but I will wait for now. The guitar is super-light and weird to hold after dreads. The tone is dark (as expected) but ringing. There is the hog compression, but I was amazed how great this sounded brand new. I did humidity it overnight. Intonation was spot on. The frets were dressed wonderfully with no protruding ends. No truss rod wrench, nor polishing cloth like with my DSS-17. The case had a small ding in the tolex which I was able to bond into place cleanly and disguise. The case is very nice, but without built-in humidification like my Guild. The tone is beautifully even and not bass-heavy like the D15. The treble keeps up with the expected mids. The end pin was not pushed in all the way by me as it was very tight. May opt to have that professionally assessed. I don't gig, so a pickup is not for me. I did get a tortoise pickguard. This is definitely a keeper which I will pamper.Tom

This is a great Martin that doesn’t break the bank! The finish and Cash details make this guitar standout anywhere from a living room session to a gig. The Fishman pickup makes this guitar sound great plugged in and it has that Martin warmth that fills a room playing acoustic only. The laminate makeup holds up great in moisture and the added Cash gig bag is a plus for sure. If your like me and are looking for a Martin that stands up to it’s name and keeps you within your budget this is the guitar for you. I’ve gotten nothing but compliments while playing for both the sound and look! Truly is a great guitar for warmth, resonance, and tone and the strings that come standard are pretty great too!Ross B

I wanted one of these since they came out. I finally got one & I am a bit disappointed in it. It plays well & intonates fine, but the description is misleading. The specs say it has a gloss finish & shows a whit trim around the body. It has no trim at all & the finish is a very dull black which makes it look "cheap." There isn't much 'unplugged' volume, but it sounds great plugged. Action is a little higher than I like & there was no truss rod wrench with it. I'll probably keep it because Johnny Cash was my all time favorite entertainer. I'm suprised Martin & Co, didn't take more pride in this particular instrument.picker 49

Epiphone really built a solid performer, especially for a workhorse studio guitar. It is also performs very well unplugged or plugged in for those small to medium gigs. Should be a staple for any song writing guitar player. Unbelievable value for a guitar of this quality. This is my third one (gave first two over time as gifts to my son and a good guitar playing friend).koby1947

This is a wonderful guitar, especially at this price point! I got a really good deal from Musician's Friend. I expected a great guitar (I have several Epiphone acoustics and electrics, and am very happy with the quality of the Epiphone brand) and I was not disappointed. Great finish, great sound, especially through an amp. I especially love the on-board pickup/electronics- what a great sound! After changing strings to Earthwood .10s, the string height and action were just great- no adjustments needed. The workmanship was flawless, and the finish was beautiful. I already had a case that I had purchased for a PR4e, but a quality hardshell case is still available for a remarkably cheap price.. All in all, a quality guitar at a great price.huston