Martin Guitar Model Guide For Sale (2024 Update)

Overall: My first thoughts when I took that first strum, was “Guy Clark.,” except I think that man made his own guitars. But if I can describe the first sound I heard or who, that’s what it was, Guy Clark designed this one. It is beautiful and played in tune out of the box. Now I’m just more of a collector than a player, but I some ESP’s, a Yamaha, Taylor 710e, Ovation, an Ibanez, and now this magical Martin D-15M StreetMaster Acoustic. Good luck putting it down before your fingers bleed. At this price point and much above this is a splendid guitar. I can’t wait to hear what it sounds like after it has hours and hours of use on it. Buy one they’ll take it back if you don’t like it, but somehow I don’t see you making that choice. If all the other Martins haven’t convinced you, this one will. If your budget isn’t as high, do yourself a favor and keep saving or pay as you go option.Richard

I literally walked around Sam Ash plucking low E strings listening for a deep rich sound. Martin seemed to have more than anyone else. I liked the look of the Mahogany top/back/sides/neck. The ripples of the grain add a beautiful touch to the color of the wood. The tone has totally warmed up more and grown deeper over the 10 or 11 months she's been home with me. I have the MFX740 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings (Martin strings, they call them Tommy's Choice) on there and it just gives this rich low rumble on the low E and the D strings that if I have my feet up on my desk I can feel on my desk. The ring out is intense and long on this baby. I have not had anyone pick up my Martin and NOT say how much they love the tone of her. I do love the look of no binding… but, I'm going to have to say I do have some dents on the sides where the bindings would be protecting. That said… I'm not sure I care at the same time I think I care. I think that means I want it to be perfect but I also am okay with her getting age marks just as long as it doesn't do some serious damage. I would buy another. I'd buy it for my Dad. I'd buy it for one of my kids if they'd play. If you pick this guitar up you'll probably end up taking it home. Comes with a beautiful martin case with green insides. Acoustic only, don't forget.BasPilot

I have somewhat passively searched for the holy grail of the acoustic/electric bass guitar for years. Most acoustic bass guitars available are less than $500 and sound horrible. I started researching again and found numerous reviews stating that the Martin is heads and shoulders above the rest. I was still hesitant since I didn't know where I could check one out first. I found one in McKinney, TX. I played it unplugged and plugged. I had found it. Since my local music store had recently become a Martin dealer, I was planning to have them order me one. I knew that Martin had recently discontinued production, but they offered to build one and would take about 3 months. I visited a Sam Ash store in Birmingham and another in the Dallas area. I purchased an $8 item and was mildly annoyed as the guy checking me out was asking for everything with the exception of my passport and birth certificate. Now, I'm glad I cooperated. I receive regular emails from Sam Ash. Late one night, I see that they were offering 48 months with no interest. I thought to myself, I wonder if they have a Martin bass. Low and behold, hallelujah, they had a limited stock and was on sale. Well, I applied for the credit and was approved, however, when I tried to check out, I didn't have my new account number. The next morning, I had an email from them announcing a Paul Ash sale. I called Sam Ash and explained my issue during checkout. I asked if there was an additional discount due the sale. He put me on hold for a while and came back and knocked another $70. Two days later, on a Saturday, Fedex delivered the latest addition to my bass family. Of course I would prefer it to be louder unplugged, but it's fine for sitting around playing. Plugged in, it sounds amazing. Too bad Martin discontinued it. I purchased a Thumby and mounted it on the edge of the sound hole. I love this bass and a big fan of Sam Ash.Jeff

This book is well written and illustrated. Very informative and bond in an attractive hard cover. If your a Martin fan or just enjoy guitar history you would be pleased with this book. The book will always be up to date, because history rarely changes. Buy this book.guitars*motorcycles

This book has the Wow factor. This book isnt just if you like or dislike Martin Guitars i. This is a Hardcover coffee table book of great photos and high def to boot gloss photos of the Worlds premier Guitar maker chronologically filling your head with cool stuff about guitars..So glad I spent the $$ Im a fan of guitars I own a Taylor a Fender and the last photo is my Martin GP Rosewood 2013!1213mmartin

This is really a beautifully made guitar. The spruce and rosewood looks and sounds amazing. After spending many hours researching which model would be the right Martin guitar for me, I decided on an HD28V. I was a little hesitant to spend that much money, but I definitely feel like it was worth it. I've been playing quite a bit more since I got this guitar because it is such fun to play and sounds so great. It doesn't seem to have as much treble as some D28s I've played, and I really like the warmth of the lows and mids. It's really well rounded. This guitar is really great for rhythmic playing and sounds good when light or heavy picking or fingerpicking. I've played through a Shure SM57 mic I had around the house and it sounds great. I haven't found a single con yet and would definitely buy another if something happens to this one. This definitely seems like a guitar that will just get better with age.philipt8490

Hands down best guitar I've come across so far. I was set on a Gibson but they just didn't have the magic this guitar has. there's a reason it's five stars everywhere you look. I played some really nice collings guitars that were great, but not any better than this in my opinion. Mine arrived with perfect action and intonation, new strings, gorgeous woods. I played one of these in a store and fell in love, so I was thinking maybe in time mine will sound as good as this. Haha. It sounded better than that one right out of the box. The fretboard feels so good and I love the thicker neck. Craftsmanship is so much better than the competition it's almost unfair. Also, Martin seems to be the most consistent from guitar to guitar that I've seen. All the high end stuff should be this way but sadly it is not. This model is great for strumming, and would be equally as good for finger style I think. Any type of music sounds great on it. Drop d, slide, capo, it invites anything. When I owned a previous Gibson, I could still enjoy my old Washburn jumbo beater. Not the case at all anymore! It's collecting dust and will be for quite awhile I'm sure! I gotta thank Derek and also recommend him, he's been a huge help and an awesome person thru this journey of finding the right guitar. Took three different guitars, but I ended up with the best of the best. Buying something like this online is frightening to say the least, but I trust the guys at private reserve. They'll go play these guitars, get an idea of what you're after, and make sure you get that on your doorstep… For a fantastic price. Very satisfied with my new acoustic and glad the search is finally over! I highly recommend this guitar if you can swing it..Cvd

I bought a Taylor 810 CE a year ago and I thought I had the baddest mambajamba on da block. And I was until I strummed this exact HD 28 model in a competing retailer which is very similar to MF. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. I strummed it for about 10 seconds before I realized my Taylor was good but this was great. I got this same HD for 26hundred, with the case, plus tax using a 15percent discount coupon on a price. Mine had no electronics. Buy a K&K pickup fixed that with minimal intrusiveness. My point is I don't care who you buy it from but to shop it. But this IS what an acoustic is supposed to sound like: deep, rich, full and balanced. Now I can hear that my Taylor is good and its real perty but it ain't this.Senor Arturo Grande

This guitar lives up to the hype. Google the reviews and nary a negative will be found. Sweet dark tone for such a small and light guitar. Beautiful to look at and and the smell is intoxicating. The action is nimble and light. The details in mine were perfect. A classic nod to the past well executed. I added a K&K Mini Pure to mine and it is even better. You won't be disappointed by this one.ravnhaus

By far the best guitar I own. I absolutely love this guitar. I play Acoustic Blues like Mississippi John Hurt tunes and other finger picking songs. The detail is flawless. The spacing on the stings are generous. The sound is rich and full. The setup was perfect. Nice case also. This one is a keeper and I look forward to playing it for many years.Meathooks

This guitar is comfortable in my hands…it just feels good. Finger picking, flat picking, strumming…whatever style you prefer…it'll be fine. Clear and crisp and rings like a bell. Small but mighty. I've played (or tried to play) a bunch of guitars over the last 50 years. I'm a ham and egg player. Electrics and acoustics – Fenders, Gibsons, Martins, Gretschs, Epiphones, Guilds, Dan Electros and on…and this Martin CEO-7 is among the sweetest ever. This one makes me want to play it, and, most important, makes me want get better at playing it. This one makes me lose track of time.Hroogar

After playing guitar for almost 50 years, I finally obtained a job that afforded me the opportunity to purchase, what has turned out to be, the best sounding guitar I've owned. She is so responsive to how you play, dig in for more volume, ease up for someone else's lead.. she does not disappoint. I'm in awe every time I play it. Even my picking buddies are blow away by her. Saddle was a little high, but after a good set up, she plays like she sounds…beautiful.Paul

The box arrived that was originally sealed with big copper staples by Martin. I carefully opened the box, removed the case with guitar. I open the case not knowing what to expect as it was bought sight unseen. I open the case and was immediately hit with the smell of rosewood while my eyes gazed upon a gorgeous flawless work of art. I removed the guitar, tuned it up and was swept away with the huge, harmonically-rich tone. The action was absolutely perfect out of the case (low). It was so comfortable to play I thought the strings were light gauge 11's, but a micrometer confirmed they were medium 13's. The only thing I will swap out is the bridge pins and end piece. They are plastic. I will replace them with bone or titanium. If you do the same, make sure that the taper is 5 degrees, size 2A. This is not my first Martin. I've had a D-28 and D-35S. The last time I owned one was in 1985. The great quality is still the same. What a great guitar from a great company!Mike McLenison

In 1974 a friend of mine got a '65 Brazilian rosewood HD-35 for Christmas. I have wanted one ever since. I have played for 50 years and owned many fine instruments, all the names you know. IMHO this is the BEST acoustic guitar made by anyone! It's drop-dead beautiful, sounds extremely deep and rich, plays like butter, and being all-solid-wood, ages very well. Truthfully it is also a source of great pride of ownership, always recognized by those who are "in the know" about fine guitars. It IS expensive (and how!) but worth every penny. I suggest waiting for the 48-month, no-interest financing.Clint C.

I enjoy my new case. I did have to return the initial case as it was cracked towards the top. Luckily, I have a Guitar Center nearby and they made the return and re-order very easy. The case itself is very functional. It is very common for reviews to point out flaws and for me, the one flaw is that the case does not open very far. It barely goes beyond 45 degrees which makes me cautious when removing or replacing my Martin guitar. This has nothing to do with the service from Guitar Center obviously – manufacturing. Also, the inner compartment is not very deep. Not really an issue just when compared to other guitar cases.James

I have been putting guitars in and out of cases and in and out of cars for more than 50 years. These currentMartin tblack ones are, not near as solid as the old blue ones. Nor are they done well. Poor QC. Nothing lines up. After concentrating and , hopefully, get past the aluminum safety the top has to be forced to mate with the bottom. The aluminum extrusion is not unlike the wheels on Ben Hur's chariot. Not nice to risk my 3 wonderful Martins. For over 50 years I have habitually popped a latch to get a purchase on cases. You know just enough grip to shift the case in the back seat of a car or to move the handle in reach. Well surprise,while shifting the D12-28 off came the latch! Really!? Some room inside or a dedicated place for a hydrator would seem prudent. This seems to be one of those, if it could be made cheaper it would made cheaper deals. It is a shame to put a fine guitar in a third rate case.Wamp

I wanted to offer a "workaround" to one of the negative comments I read before purchasing the case. The user had a problem with the plastic cracking in the vicinity of the center clasp. I will say that I have noticed the fit on the case is quite tight at this location, especially because I have added a peg for fastening my guitar strap to the base of the neck. I have found a simple solution – just fasten the two adjacent clasps first. This distributes any stress on the plastic case and makes it easy to fasten the center clasp without risking damage to the case. I am grateful to the reviewer who pointed out this potential problem so I could address it before it manifested itself on my case.Lizarch5