Martin Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

very happy with this guitar……but it was delivered to me NOT set-up AT ALL!!!!!!! made in MEXICO. I am confused, a Martin from Mexico, so we'll see…I've got a Mexican Stratocaster it's great!! I haven't had this one very long but the sale off the list price goes for set-up work… think about it..Long time player

Great price for a good guitar. Has a Martin tone and with the correct strings is a joy to play. I like seeing others play it and not be concerned about damage. Outstanding for playing outdoors. Stays in tune well and with a little love out of the box (20 minutes) it's spot on.Pops

This is another addition to my earlier post I still like the guitar as I mentioned before but when I just now went to record using the pickup system I was not pleased. At least to my ears it sounds like a very low end piezo under the bridge like the earliest kinds in the 80's buzzy and thick lacking in any of the subtle sounds I get playing it acoustically.Petros

This case is great! The quality is really good, super protective, deep front pocket fits everything youd need and more! Really happy with it. Straps are comfortable, zipper seems super sturdy and looks like it will last a while!stratant1

Up front I like brighter sounding acoustics (and electrics) and this model Martin was a real revelation. It feels like an electric neck to me so easy to play and the workmanship is outstanding. I was a little thrown by the bolt in neck but I get it now, it allows for owner adjustments (though I would still take it to a luthier) but what floored me was how singing this guitar is all the way up, even chords up at the 12+ frets sound full and loud. This is a pretty darn loud guitar. It has a nice deep penetrating low end but not a fat low end like a more traditional expensive Martins it has bite but a very appealing musical bite. (Think P90 as opposed to Humbuckers) (I'm speaking only played acoustic have not plugged it in yet) again I like it because it sings with a great sustain but not too much low end which can be difficult to record and sing against. Notes just seem to push tone out I was able to push this guitar until it seemed like the strings were rubber bands but it never quit it just kept the tone clear and ringing. Love the design of the bouts feels great to have on your lap. It sounded great flat picked finger picked nail picked strummed hammered pulled nothing did not sound excellent to my ears. I also tried a Taylor 214 CE K which I thought sounded great on videos but wow it sounded choked in many ways and chords that barked out and shouted on the Martin sounded muffled and pretty weak on the Taylor. That's when I decided this Martin was it. (In some ways this guitar sounds like a 12 string because of the bell like clarity and definition just what I was looking for).Petros

Overall: I'm 62 years old and have been playing for 50 years . Unfortunately I had to stop playing for the last 2 due to wrist pain which was from excessive playing, which needed time to heal and made me sell all of my gear . So last week, I decided it was time to get back into it and decided to just go with acoustic and I have always wanted a Martin but, did not have the big bucks for for a USA made one. So after researching, I decided on this one and am glad that I made the purchase . Even though it's all HPL with a stratabond neck, the tone from this is all 100% Martin .It stays in tune forever and the added gig bag is extremely well made along with being a huge plus . My only gripe was that the action is a bit high but, sanding down the saddle a bit took care of that, and I also ordered a truss wrench from Martin's site as well, so problem solved. The Black Satin Finish is beautiful and means that I won't have to spend any coin on polish or lemon oil for the neck as well , thanks to the stratabond neck. These made in Mexico X series are a great deal for the guitarist like myself who is on a limited budget who has always wanted a Martin.Jeffrey

I love this guitar. Im just a mid-level guitar player on a bit of budget and this has been the perfect guitar for me. I wanted something different and I like that all the hardware is blacked out. It sounds great! Even my girlfriend who is not a musician could tell how nice it sounds. I also like that its made in Mexico and not over seas. The soft carry case is great to with a big pocket for sheet music and a small pocket to hold guitar picks. Musicians Friend was great with delivery and it came right on time in perfect condition. Just be aware that the black finish on the body is a very flat black (it looks more satin or even shiny in a few of the online photos). I recommend this guitar to anybody looking in this price range.joelster1975

I've bought several guitars along the way, always knowing that I wanted a Martin 000. Somehow I found myself able to get the guitar I've always wanted and I'm so happy! Why did I wait so long? First of all, Martin Guitars are very nice. VERY NICE. The best. Especially once you get into the 18 series on up. The quality and craftsmanship lives up to the reputation. Of course, all of the hard work that Martin puts into their instruments results in breathtaking sound that only a Martin Guitar can produce. As soon as I picked up the guitar I could feel the power. My first chord was an open D, my go to key anytime I pick up a guitar to try. It's something you have to feel, but all I can really say is that the sound of this 000-18 is glorious. A very round classic sound, with a bit of chime on top. This 000-18 has a wide sonic range, but mid-range focused. The mahogany has that sweet tone which is great for all styles of play. This is definitely a finger pickers dream guitar, but can handle flat picking. I also like that I can lay into this guitar and the strumming remains crisp and not muddy. Drop tunings and capo up and down the neck is near perfect! This is my all around, do it all guitar! This guitar sings. Projection, sustain, volume when you need it, it's all there! Some guitars sound boxy and cheap. Not Martin. Not this one. It actually sounds like I should have paid more. The 000-18 does not come with electronics, but that's okay. You may not want any for this guitar. At least for a while. If you're a professional gigging musician than you could add a pickup, but there could be other choices out there suitable for gigging and amplified performance. The Sitka spruce top is gorgeous. Booked perfectly with silking that I can spend forever looking at. The neck is very smooth and modern feeling. I like it because it's not too thin, but allows me to play all styles. Satin finish makes me want to play all day long. And YES. I shallJay

This guitar is simply dreamy. Warm bass, chimey trebles, overtones all day long. Quality woods and finish, beautiful classic looks, great playability. Tone is everything I'd hoped for and more. Think Neil Young Harvest, Joni, acoustic John Martyn. After the disappointment of getting a very good-sounding but obviously damaged example from another supplier, I pre-ordered from Andertons, and received the HD sooner than expected. Ups and downs. Maybe it was the ghost of the first purchase haunting me – perhaps that first one had had time to open up more. But something didn't quite gel. No problem. Within the 14-day return period it was easy to arrange for an exchange for another of the same model. A few days later the courier came to picked up the guitar and hand over my third time lucky. Very quickly I realised I was Goldilocks in this tale, and this Martin was just right. It sounds just a little better every day and I love it! Not a cheap guitar, but a competitive price from Andertons for this iconic instrument.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: Once again zZounds has pulled through for me and allowed me to purchase a Martin HD28 and play it as I pay. I'm extremely grateful that zZounds has allowed me to participate in this program and it's for this reason and the excellent customer service, that I'll never purchase any gear from any other retailer. Thank you zZounds!The Martin HD28 that I purchased can be described with just one word, amazing. I've owned many acoustics in my lifetime from every builder you can think of and I'm convinced that Martin builds the absolute best acoustic guitars. My HD28 arrived in beautiful pristine condition with no issues whatsoever. Examining the inside of my guitar, you can see no glue drops and the Guitar is super clean. Great attention was given to this instrument in all aspects of the build. The wood is absolutely beautiful and the instrument is a true work of art. This instrument sounds absolutely beautiful. She has deep lows, articulate mids and crystal clear highs. The instrument is very well balanced across it's sonic spectrum. I might add that the Guitar is very loud without having to dig in hard. I'd say it's quite the cannon with tons of color and sustain. I purchased the Martin Liquid Bridge pins, installed them and I can certainly tell the difference. It's made the guitar a bit brighter and a little louder. I'm very happy with this purchase and I definitely have a keeper.Matt

I bought my fiancé and I a new Martin. I got her a Martin Dx2e and I got this one. I received mine first since I ordered from here which was wonderful. I got hers off of reverb because ams didn’t have sunburst which she wanted. I was not picky about color but I went with this one. I was super excited to say the least because this was my first Martin Guitar. I also purchased another guitar last year from Ams and I loved it. I digress and move forward to getting it. So I opened it up and I was super pleased with how perfect it looked. Then I started playing it. It was great until I went to play a D chord or anything that involved the high E string. It is cut way too low on the nut and the slightest pressure makes the string fall off the fret board. I thought maybe it was just me, however my father in law to be, which is a professional had the same issue. Also my fiancé had the same issue. Needless to say, I tried to make it work. I sent Ams an email. No response. I guess I’m stuck with this 1k dollars in a guitar that is going to need to be repaired at a shop when it’s brand new. So overall, if you want to take the risk, go for it. My fiancé got the Dx2e and it’s stellar. I would rather have one like hers than this one tuner or not. Hers sounds much better too. The looks and everything else is fine. Just the bottom string is way way too low.Brittany

Sound: Unplayable, neck is crap Features: Doesn’t matter what you do to adjust the neck , it is crap Ease of Use: I wouldn’t know , this guitar should never have been allowed to be released . The neck is unacceptable Quality: It looks pretty. If I wanted a pretty guitar to never be played then it would be ok . But you can not even play this $900 piece of crap. Extremely frustrating Value: Absolutely no. Buy another brand. Breedlove would be my best choice as I bought one and absolutely loved it out of the box . Best acoustic guitar I ever played Manufacturer Support: I have contacted Martin. No authorized repair shop within 100 miles of me in my state . Martin should be ashamed of this garbage The Wow Factor: Martin name sucked me in . Never ever again if they don’t want to fix this piece of junk Overall: I have been playing and working on my own guitars since 1975 . This is absolutely the worst guitar I’ve ever owned. The neck has an S shape to it . The relief is acceptable up to the 7th fret , after that it rapidly accelerates to an unusable 1/4 inch at the 12th fret . No matter how much you attempt to adjust it, it simply is unplayable. I am ashamed to even take it out of the bag . Martin quality control seriously blew it big time on this guitar. I own dozens of guitars and waited until my retirement to buy that Martin guitar of my dreams. This is a nightmare, not a dream. Stay away from this piece of crap . No matter what adjustment you do to the truss rod , it won’t help. Bass to treble side is extremely different. 1/4 inch on the bass side at the 12th but the treble side is marginally better. However, the S shape of the fretboard makes the guitar unplayable unless you like staying in the cowboy chord area . My Ovation, Breedlove,Fender , and Gibson acoustic guitars are brilliant examples of guitar playability. This Martin was to be my final guitar since I have only played them and never owned one . I can’t even play this piece of garbage. Martin has no dealer or authorized repair shop within 100 miles of me so I am stuck with a $900 piece of firewood. Never ever will I buy anything with that name again. That’s all they are, a name. How this got by quality control blows my mind. I have $200 acoustic guitars that are much better than this. Totally disgusted by my experience with this guitar.Gregory

I play locally for hire as a solo acoustic guitar / vocalist. My primary guitar is a Martin GPCP Aura. I purchased the Martin SC 13E in hopes of finding a guitar with better action and playability. My first reaction to the 13E was really nice and it did play with less effort / strength than my GPCP. The first issue I noticed was string buzz on the 1st and 2nd strings. It wasn't awful but noticeable. I played the guitar that weekend at two shows. I was still noticing the buzz. So, I started the set-up investigation. The neck relief, the slight bow forward that a guitar neck needs, looked really good, maybe could use a bit more to help with the string buzz. This is an easy truss rod adjustment; however, I didn't change the truss rod setting. The next thing I looked at was the distance of the string height, above the 12th fret. My thought was I would try to lower this slightly if I decided to keep the guitar. The next weekend I got the guitar out at home before getting ready for my show that evening, to run through a new song I was planning to do at hat nights show. I took the SC13E out of the bag and the 1st and 2nd strings were touching the guitar at the 20th fret. I thought the saddle had somehow pushed down lower into the bridge…. I exchanged that guitar for another SC1E. GC person was easy to work with and got the exchange handled quickly. About 3-4 days I had my second SC13E in my hands. It also had the same string buzz, even though the neck relief and action looked good. I played a couple of shows with this guitar and then I started noticing the buzz getting worse. If you are still reading, the reward is at hand. lol I have decided that the problem with this guitar, and probably the other guitar, is the neck angle is off. I will explain why I think it is off and explain how you can check your guitar. I have watched hundreds of youtube videos trying to learn how to set-up and care for my instruments. I have watched neck adjustment videos put out by fender, for their strat guitars, because I wanted to know how to adjust my Acoustasonic Strat. But what I am getting ready to sell you, I have discovered on my own and may not be accurate, but here it goes. If I put a capo, or hold the strings down with my hand. on the 12th fret, there is a space between the strings and the frets above the 12th fret. A pretty wide gap at the 20th fret. On the SC13E the strings are almost touching and the 1st string is touching. Wa La I believe that neck angle is off. I think it was off on both guitars. So check yours before missing your return date. If you check your guitar and it has this problem, don't totally freak out. The SC13E has an adjustable neck angle, so it can be made perfect. If you find what I described above, I suggest contacting Martin Guitar and GC. Another thing to be aware of, the three Martin guitars I have owned had the nut groves cut too narrow. I took my GPCP to an excellent luthier. He filed the width and depth to correct specifications and filed down my frets (I had two that where high) Both of the SC13E guitars needed to have the nuts filed. If you are trying to tune your guitar by making a very slight turn to get it just right and the string doesn't increase pitch and then jumps to a sharp pitch, the string is probably pinching in the nut grove. Both SC13E's were boogers to tune for that reason. One of them broke the B string while tuning up from dropping the pitch. I am returning my second SC13E tomorrow and I think I am going to give it a rest for awhile. Maybe look for something different. FYI: I love my Martin GPCP Aura, unfortunately they discontinued that model. The sound I get from the Fishman Aura electronics is the best I have heard. PS: part of the reason the SC13E plays easier is they use a lighter gauge string. I put a set of the MA535T Martin Lifespan strings on mt GPCP and even with the truss rod loose, the strings don't pull on the neck hard enough to give me the neck relief that is needed. The SC13E is a beautiful guitar to look at and the electronics onboard sound very nice. I learned, I'm not a big fan of having the controls inside the sound hole. A little awkward to get to while strumming and the phase reverse switch is way back from the opening. If you like using the hole covers to fight feedback, I'm pretty sure you would be out of luck. I think this price range of acoustic guitar should come with a hard case. I gave this guitar a 2 rating because it has potential BUT i do think both of these guitars suffered from poor quality control. My luthier could have made both of these guitars sing beautifully but I refuse to buy a new guitar and send it for repairs, even if the repairs are set-up issues. A new guitar on the north side of a thousand dollars should show up playing without string buzzing and the strings close enough to the neck that you hand doesn't feel like you just hung from the monkey bars during an entire recess.Dale

This is a beautiful instrument with a stunning full acoustic sound despite the deep cut away and relatively small body size. The amazing design allows for unlimited access to the upper frets and the whole instrument feels very comfortable to play. I wanted an acoustic guitar with the accessibility of an electric and this new design from C.F.Martin delivers that in droves without ever loosing it's acoustic personality and sound. I own a super jumbo acoustic made by another company but the SC13e makes it sound dull and lifeless even before it is plugged in. The SC13e has that familiar Martin sound which is full and beautiful. The fishman pickup will then allow that sound to be delivered to anywhere from a gig in a noisy pub to full stadium if required. What a stunning instrument!Reviewed by Kenny's Music custom

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

Chitarra veramente bellissima, ottime finiture è un suono bellissimo, bilanciato. Solo un piccolo aggiustamento all’action perché un po’ alta, un quarto di giro al Truss rod con chiave esagonale. Grazie a StrumentiMusicali.netLuca Armenia

The change of richlite to wood for the neck, fretboard and bridge made a huge change to the sound of this guitar. Much more sustain. The guitar sounds and plays great!Dean

For the money, I couldn't find a better acoustic guitar (A new one anyways). I've owned many high end Martins, but I wanted something that was easy to travel with and I wouldn't worry about if it got scratched/dented. Out of the box the action and intonation were very close to perfect. I adjusted the truss rod myself to fit my playing preference, and the intonation was so close I doubt anyone will notice when playing further up the neck. The building materials are not great, but once again, "for the money"… My only con is they don't have a hard shell case for this particular model. The included soft shell case is still convenient, but I kind of wish they'd make a HSC like they did for the dreadnaught model.Garrett G.

This guitar is good for the money. Neck straight. All workmanship is precise. Light and not overly heavy from clear coat gunk. Neck is short but wide. Strings that came on it went in trash in 5 min. Use Lixrs on these small guitars. Nuff said…Not too small like Martin mini where you fight it not to be a uke and it really is. Quality is near perfect. Case is the good one like the minis. Doesnt feel like a GS mini which feels too small. This guitar feels good but smaller that normal. Set up fine out of box (which is more than I can say for the USA models). Ready to play. I will prob change out stock pickup for DTar syemour duncan wavelength solo later. Not that the stock pickup is bad; just like seymour better for acoustic under saddle "non-quack" pickup. If you know how to use an eq then dnot need that extra tone button anyway, plus fihsman is kind of not great stuff. After about 10yrs needed something better. Buy one before Martin decides not to make them anymore…Kokbloock

What is neat about these guitars is that the Special Martins are the specification of Martin CEO Chris Martin. He did an extremely nice job on the configuration, balancing standard bracing, rose tone wood, and the VTS adirondack top. The combination provides this guitar with a fantastic full spread of frequencies, separation of string tones, and the stability of standard bracing, which allows for the guitar's even responsiveness providing clarity at all volumes. Put this guitar in a nice sounding room with a good (not excellent) microphone and I cannot imagine a better way to record. If you can sing over this guitar, you will have to strain. The ability to hold tune always amazes me about Martin guitars and this guitar is no different. It is a great deal at full price, but I got mine at $1K off because someone thankfully brought it back. A sturdy plastic shelled case exactly fits the guitar. A part of me hopes they stop making this configuration so the value goes up, but then again, it should be played and mine will just go to one of my children who will enjoy it as I have.Grace

Previous reviewer spot on. Adi, VTS top, scalloped but NOT forward shifted bracing. Here is where I differ from previous reviewer. This to me has the sound of an older D-28, it just happens to be in HD-28 uniform. It projects better, is louder and you can play it hard without the notes getting muddy. Bluegrass heaven…. Just to be fair it is not as mellow sounding nor does it quite have the bottom end of an HD-28 unless you play it like you stole it (this guitar takes it) and I like that. Everyone has opinions, different likes and ears. But I consider this a wonderful guitar. It does not have open gear machine heads like the HD-28, but I do not mind closed tuners at all. The head stock has the raised foil Martin logo (nice touch that most folks may not notice). Fit and finish all MARTIN……….M. Nelms

This guitar sounds fantastic and plays great. I also own a J45, 000-18 Reimagined, and HD-28. I've owned Guilds and Taylors too. Hey Musician's Friend, the guitar in this ad is not what is shipped to customers. Just a heads up. Your ad should not feature anything about Golden Era or 1930's braced. This guitar is mid shifted and straight braced like a 1950-1970's D28. This is a significant difference in construction and voice for a very expensive instrument. Also the photo is still wrong. There is no herringbone detail on this guitar and the pickguard is black. There's also no aging toner. After emailing Martin, they've told me that this guitar has VTS Adi, center shifted straight bracing, 5/16th brace width, and the 1 11/16" nut. Great sounding guitar. Super loud and articulate. Also, Musicians Friend, you guys look really silly for goofing up an ad this bad. I told multiple sales people that this ad was wrong and they only changed the photo — to a second wrong guitar. You need to get bracing details right for a $3000+ guitar. It's really important. I feel like I lucked out with my purchase, but after interacting with your company my impression is that you are nice people who are not interested in selling world class instruments. Get ahold of me if you'd like to talk. I'm shocked that Martin is OK selling their products through a vendor who knows so little about them. I don't recommend this guitar because it's basically like buying a really expensive mystery box. The ad doesn't make sense and the photos are wrong.Tony

I am a singer, songwriter, quartet member and also perform some solo gigs around town. I own 2 other Martin guitars and have grown to prefer them over most other acoustic guitars. I bought this guitar as a Daily Pick from GC on line because the price caught my eye. For a U.S. Made Martin, you can't beat this guitar at this price. It arrived quickly and in good but not great condition. It was dirty and needed a new set of strings. I expected a brand new, in the original box, with all the case candy, etc. That was not what I got. I almost put it back in the box and called GC for a return. It was late in the evening so I tuned it up and started noodling around. Wow! This dirty repack demo of a guitar sounded great. I was really surprised. There was just a little too much relief in the action for my preference but very nice action and easy to play. Played like my other Martins, which I love but with a sound all it's own. It was begging me to sing along. That's what this thing is made for, in my opinion. Solo acoustic performance machine. I thought I'd try it plugged in just to see how cheesy the electronics were. Wow! The Fishman system in this guitar is better than any other guitar I currently have. It is so true to the actual sound from the guitar that I couldn't believe it. I must have played a couple of hours that night. Next morning I called GC and described the condition of the guitar and expressed my disappointment. The associate that I spoke with was very apologetic and set out to make me happy. I ended up keeping the guitar after an agreed upon credit to my GC Credit Card and some free strings. After a top to bottom cleaning, a new set of strings, and slight truss rod adjustment, I am a happy camper. I would definitely recommend this guitar to anyone.TMAX

I wanted to talk about some questions I had when I ordered this guitar. So, here goes! 1. It is an American Martin. Made in Nazareth, PA. 2.The gig bag that comes with this guitar is VERY nice for a gig bag. At the price point I got? I can buy a hard case later if I feel like I want to travel or ship the guitar. 3. The Fishman electronics are simple and discreet. 4. Based on what I am seeing? My particular guitar was built somewhere around 2018. So whilst it is new? This model came out a bit ago. 5. When the guitar arrived? I tuned it twice, and from then? It seems rock solid. 6. I don't know a ton about guitars, nor am I great musician, but I love the way this guitar sounds. Either plugged in or not? It has a bright rich tone. 7. It appears, at least to me, not to need any adjustment. I will keep an eye on this as the guitar ages. 8. I have friends with far more experience and talent than I. Both folks that played this guitar smiled and asked to take it home with them. I think that is a good sign. 9. There isn't anything "fancy" about this guitar. It has that classic simplicity to it. Zero flash or BS. I don't have any regrets about this purchase. It was birthday present to myself. I happened to get an email from GC, and it featured this guitar as a daily pick, with a substantial discount from the normal cost. I took a chance, and I am happy that I did! During the pandemic of 2020? GC and Martin gave me a lovely distraction from the drama and weirdness of daily life. Thanks!GOSTAZ

I have been looking around for a life long acoustic. From just having it and playing for a week I am certain this guitar will outlast me. It's absolutely perfect. The ovangkol is actually really beautiful but I understand some folks think it looks like "fake" wood, but it's not, it's absolutely real. The sound is full and deep. The highs are crystal bright, no muddiness whatsoever. This is a really great guitar. It's so simple. Just the basics, no bells no whistles, just a great guitar.Arnas, G

I just purchased this guitar and I am so satisfied. George's Music has a great staff, very helpful. I bought a Guild D-35 back in the late 70's, which i still love but this Martin sounds much better! You just cant go wrong with this guitar for the price. I played many guitars in this price range and nothing came close to the sound from my new Martin. It's a plain looking guitar, but again the sound cant be beat. Rings like a bell!Tom

I have owned this guitar for several years. It is very playable and has a very nice sound. The volume is not as good as some of my other acoustics. My biggest complaint is the placement of the battery pack – inside the body accessible only through the sound hole. You have to remove or completely loosen the strings to access it. C'mon Martin – you can do better than that! I originally bought it to play as an acoustic electric but now I only play it acoustically. Fix this and you will have a great guitar.Dobro Guy

The leap in quality from £400-£450 acoustics to this is quite something – well worth the extra cost. Warm, resonant, and a joy to play.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Like others, I've always wanted a domestically crafted Martin but just couldn't fit it in the budget. I'm sure the X series are great instruments but I did not want to settle for something other than a solid wood US made Martin if I were to purchase one. The MF sale and their 48 month, 0% financing deal made the choice a no brainer. I would consider myself an experienced novice in that I've been noodling on acoustics for 35 years give or take but electric bass has been my instrument of choice. That said I find this guitar easy and a joy to play and keeps me wanting to come back to it. The sound is bright and pleasant even when getting into the strings some. The quality is top notch and I went over this thing with a fine tooth comb. The absolute, only "flaw" I could find was that the pick guard was off center perhaps be .5 mm or so and the only way one would notice is if you follow the very minimal rosette around the sound hole you can gauge the position of the pick guard by following the thin white center line. There is no way you would notice this unless your eye is within 15 or so inches of the sound hole. The tuners seem decent quality, are marked "Martin", adjust smoothly and hold tune very well. The neck is comfortable and intonation is perfect as one would expect with the use of their PLEK machine to aid set up. To top things off the hard shell case fits the guitar perfectly, looks great and seems to be high quality. There is really no downside to this guitar and I wouldn't hesitate to advise anyone to purchase this guitar.Josh

I've had mine for four months, so I feel that I can make an honest evaluation and I'm every bit as impressed as I was on day one. I'm primarily an electric player, but I owned a couple of mid-range acoustics when I got this. I've since sold them because I knew I would never play them again. After steak, hot dogs just don't cut it. I always thought Martins were rather plain looking and still do, but what makes them so impressive is the playability and unequalled tone. The Custom D ranks right up there with the best in those categories. The satin finish is nice and while it may be psychological, I think it may give it a more open sound. You can definitely feel a ton of vibration in your body when playing. It doesn't show fingerprints or require polish either. In fact, Martin doesn't recommend polish. The factory installed strings are of the highest quality and great for chording, but if you use the entire fretboard or do a lot of bends like I do, you may want to consider something lighter. I changed to coated 10-47 extra lights and was surprised to find little to no loss in the low end. Now that I'm a Martin fan, I've considered trading up, but I just can't justify the extra cost for binding and a gloss finish. I'm sure the cork sniffers will tell me there's a whole lot more to it than that, but I think they would be hard pressed to distinguish a difference between this and a higher end model listening blindfolded. I've been playing for 48 years and have bought and sold many guitars during that span (regretting a few), and the Custom D is one of the best guitar purchases I've ever made. Oh yeah, everyone comments on the smell and it's no exaggeration. Hits you as soon as you open the case.Terry T

I wasn't expecting a whole lot with this guitar. I just wanted a guitar that I could take out in the elements and not have to worry about it. I also have a Taylor 314ce and Martin 000-15. This guitar is super comfortable to play, it's solidly built, and it sounds like a Martin! I tried the Taylor 114 first and it felt and sounded a bit cheap. This one is so much better than the Taylor 114. It has sustain for days (sure wasn't expecting that)! The 1.75" nut width and 24.9 length make it perfect for me. The fretboard is also superb, the richlite feels like ebony (super smooth), and the fretwork is spot on!EC

If you're looking for a step up from a laminated guitar or just a dreadnaught and want something affordable you could not go wrong with this. The sustain and midrange are beautiful. Has a nice booming mid, with subtle highs, and great bass response. It finger picks well for a dreadnaught but really comes alive and tickles the ear when flat picking. I couldn't be happier with this and for the money you won't find anything that offers this much value. The electronics are decent with some effects you can make it really sound good, but it doesn't compare to the beauty of it acoustically. I normally don't like built in tuners and the electronics on other entry level guitars because aesthetically they are hideous. With these being in the sound hole you don't even notice them and the beautiful lines are uninterrupted. For me the pickups lacking is me nit picking. Overall fantastic guitar, it is hard to put down. For all wondering sapele is very similar to mahogany and after playing this Martin I would not say sapele is a lesser wood, but less rare which allows it to be such a low price.Don

The guitar looks beautiful yet but not flashy. It has a great tone with a lot of sustain and a fair ammount of volume. It is so fun to play. The action is a hair higher than a Taylor but it is still low enough to make it very playable. I suggeat trying it out for a while before lowering the action. In my experience lowing the action too much leads to string buzz when playing loudly. And it is a solid built, solid wood Martin. I'm proud to own it.Bruce W

I spent some time researching the road series guitars. The first one I played was the GPC-10E and I loved the bright, high-end sound that it produced. Reminded my of my old Takamine/Guild knockoff that was forced into retirement. But I wanted something that had a little more balance in the tone, and provided some low end as well. I tested all different models, and eventually settled on the Special Edition Dreadnought Cutaway 11E. It has the right balance, and not too much low end like some of the Dreadnoughts can produce. The cutaway is fantastic for playing up on the higher frets. All in all… every one of the Road Series by Martin guitars that I played were all great, its just a preference of tone. The playability of them is fantastic and smooth, and the action, for me, came out of the box perfect. One thing of note, is this model DID come with the built in tuner as well, even though the description says it doesn't. Nice surprise to have. I would recommend any of the series for someone who is looking at getting a high-quality sounding guitar at a more affordable price.Mat

dream come true!! this guitar is amazing, set up out of the box perfect, only thing is sharp fret edges on the bottom of the neck.Sounds amazing and you know its a Martin when you hear it.very impressed with this guitarEric

I would of preferred to buy a solid top Martin for my son but he has an attic bedroom which fluctuates with the heat and we were worried about keeping it stored safely so at his request I brought him this one instead. I had previously seen and held the solid mahogany version and so when this arrived it did look different (not quite as nice) and there was a slight difference it tone and resonance however it still looked and sounded great compared with other guitars around and under the same price range (£500) we had tried. My son is 16 and an intermediate level guitar player and found it comfortable and fun to play and it is a really good sounding guitar (particular at the lower end) especially when amplified. He particularly likes the neck profile of this Martin which is tapered and neither too far or too thin. A good value Martin that should last him years without the worry of the extra care you need to take with solid wood Martins so a good middle ground for us. Would recommend.Mr F. c.

dream come true!! this guitar is amazing, set up out of the box perfect, only thing is sharp fret edges on the bottom of the neck.Sounds amazing and you know its a Martin when you hear it.very impressed with this guitarEric

I would of preferred to buy a solid top Martin for my son but he has an attic bedroom which fluctuates with the heat and we were worried about keeping it stored safely so at his request I brought him this one instead. I had previously seen and held the solid mahogany version and so when this arrived it did look different (not quite as nice) and there was a slight difference it tone and resonance however it still looked and sounded great compared with other guitars around and under the same price range (£500) we had tried. My son is 16 and an intermediate level guitar player and found it comfortable and fun to play and it is a really good sounding guitar (particular at the lower end) especially when amplified. He particularly likes the neck profile of this Martin which is tapered and neither too far or too thin. A good value Martin that should last him years without the worry of the extra care you need to take with solid wood Martins so a good middle ground for us. Would recommend.Mr F. c.

Overall: I've been playing guitar a long time, both electric and acoustic. This is my first Martin and first American made instrument. Bottom line – it's awesome, and the American quality is very apparent. I had a lower end acoustic which I actually loved, but was on the hunt for an acoustic-electric. After getting frustrated with lower priced overseas instruments, I finally said "that's it! I'm getting a Martin." I still didn't want to spend $2.5-$4k though, but wanted an American made Martin with included electronics. This one fit the bill.My one concern was whether this guitar would still sound good, loud, and have enough bass given the shallower depth. I actually had the opportunity to play the D-16E side-by-side with a "Martin Special 16 Style" (which is exclusive to a competitor store). That instrument is a full depth dreadnought but otherwise very similar. Without much scientific evidence, I would say the D-16E sounded better. It may have been a little quieter, but I felt it had a more balanced sound and less boom. 90% of the time, I play my guitar on recordings in multi-instrument arrangements and have to cut the low end anyway. Even still, played solo, it sounds amazing and I think it has plenty of volume and bass.I'm a perfectionist when it comes to intonation and setup. This thing was absolutely perfect out of the box. I checked intonation, action, string height at the nut, neck relief – I absolutely do not need to take it in for an initial setup. The frets are also nice and smooth at the edges of the fingerboard. I initially thought I didn't like the vintage style open gear tuners, but I actually love the way they operate – they are very smooth and accurate. And I think they look very classy too.As far as appearance I think it is absolutely beautiful. I love the simplicity of it. I like the satin finish on the back and sides and the gloss top. The top wood grain on mine looks great. Just enough pattern to add some character without a lot of bold striping. I chose the mahogany one for a few reasons – 1) it was a little cheaper, 2) I listened to some comparisons and although the mahogany vs. rosewood were very, very similar, I thought the mahogany sounded a little better, and 3) the mahogany I think is even simpler looking than the rosewood, which I like. The mahogany D-16 is more like a D-18, where the rosewood D-16 is more like a D-28. I thought the binding was black, but was pleasantly surprised to see it's actually a beautiful dark tortoise shell.The only thing I would be a little critical on for this guitar is the electronics. The single tone knob adjusts from flat EQ to "scooped" EQ. To me, both of these settings have too much mid and high end. I would like separate bass, mid (preferably sweepable), and treble controls. And the enhance does make it sound a bit more natural, but it really doesn't affect the sound that much. I think they should've gone simpler and just left off the tone knob and enhance knob. They could've preset some enhance from the soundboard pickup and then let the user EQ it to their liking with a DI or amp, since that needs to be done anyway. However, I think a lot of acoustic-electrics plugged in directly suffer from similar issues (except maybe for ones equipped with something like the L.R. Baggs Anthem). I did get a pretty good sound plugged in after adding some EQ in my DAW and a little reverb. Likewise, if I were to plug in for live performance, adding a DI box or an amp with EQ controls would help immensely.On the plus side for the electronics, I do like that the controls are somewhat hidden in the sound hole. I also like that the output jack is separate from the button. I had another acoustic-electric with the output jack in the strap button, and I needed a special adapter to get any of my several straps to hook onto it securely. And it's nice to have the battery accessible from outside the guitar. Systems like the L.R. Baggs Anthem require a battery bag velcroed inside the instrument which requires string removal (or extreme loosening) to change.Jason

I bought this beauty about a month ago at Sam Ash. I visited three or four times and spent several hours playing different acoustic electrics in their acoustic room before I decided on this guitar. Not only is it easy on the eyes, but it sounds so good especially amplified. It has a great tone and really nice low end. At first I had some buyers remorse, but now that I've played it through multiple amps and have used it to record, I'm confident I made the right choice.JW

Finally got a Martin made in Nazareth, PA. The reviews were right on down to the smell of wood the first time you opened the case. Sounds sweet unplugged. The feel of the neck and the action couldn't be better. Not as loud as a full bodied dreadnought as expected. When I plugged it in my Fishman Loud Box Artist, I was blown away. It made me hear what this amp was really made for. But here's the problem. After a few minutes of strumming the guitar and enjoying the sound, the 1E string rolled off the edge of the fret. I ignored it and kept playing because the sound was so good. But then it happened again in less than 20 minutes of playing. Both times happened on the third fret so I looked at it closely. I pressed the string and lightly pushed it down and it easily rolled off the edge. I've been a guitar player for well over 40 years and the last time I had this issue was with a guitar with a badly replaced frets & fretboard. I don't know if this is just a defect on this particular D-16e guitar or the design is just not right for me. Either way I'm not happy with it so I returned it. It used to be when people ask me about Martin guitars, I tell them if it's made in Nazareth, PA you can never go wrong. That's a myth to me now. It may be a one in a million thing, but if you're that guy in a million, it's a world view changing experience. What else do I believe in that's not really true?Roberto

Mine is suppose to be rosewood but looks like the Macassar. Top is the same. Took it out of the box, tuned it and took it to a gig. Frets were finished ends and tops. Saddle height not too high not too low. Just needed to tighten the truss rod a little bit. Gig bag/case is well padded. Nice dreadnaught sound acoustic and plugged in. Well worth the extra price from the entry level DX.James

I got this one in a trade just yesterday which involved my Martin OMCX1E, which I had only bought brand new, not even 2 months ago. The previous owner had bought it brand new a few months ago but didn't take a liking to it, because it was too big for him to play. At least that's what he told me. He much prefers Auditorium sized acoustics while myself at heart, am a dreadnought guy, so this trade benefitted us both. The guitar was in immaculate condition and was already set up, so the inly thing that I did was to slap on a new set of Martin 2.0 lifespan strings which made a difference. First of all, the tone on this one , easily blows away the OMCX1E and I just love the Burst finish along with Massascar design on the HPL back and sides, which IMO, make this beauty stand out. Plus it also came with the heavy duty, Martin gigbag which is a huge plus. This one is without a doubt, a keeper.Jeff O 36

I use it primarily for fingerstyle. The staff was absolutely fantastic and totally knowledgeable about all the different brands/models. This Martin projects warmth and tone. Sounds wonderful!M

I am a singer, songwriter, church musician, and quartet member. I have been playing and singing for over 60 years. own more than a few guitars. Most are Martins. I was looking for a smaller, lighter, easy to transport acoustic to use in my street ministry. This one caught my attention and since it was a Martin, I expected it to be a quality instrument. I am not disappointed. I've owned several Mexican made Martins over the last few years finding most to be well made, quality instruments. I have to say that this is probably the best one so far. Fit and finish is comparable to the lower priced US made models. That is to say, very good. Sound and playability is very good. The strings on this instrument are well matched for a balanced sound from bass to treble. The bass is not quite as deep and booming as a full sized dreadnought but still strong. Highs are crisp and clear. Scale is a little shorter than a full sized guitar but due to the 1.75" nut width, it doesn't feel cramped. It chords well up and down the neck and intonation is near perfect. Great for finger picking, too. The action could be a little bit lower for me but plays great right out of the box. I am very happy with this instrument and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a slightly smaller body size in an affordable Quality guitar. And it is a Martin 😊Thomas

I was looking for a beginner guitar for my grown but petite daughter that would fit her as well as give her a great start. I let her try several and she liked the feel and the looks of the Martin DJR-10E in Sapele the best. I liked the sound and the fact that I could depend on Martin Quality. It's been about a month now and neither of us has been disappointed. It's an easy to play and great sounding guitar, which makes her want to pick it up and play. We're both very well pleased with it.JIM

This Martin DC-X2E sounds nice and plays ok. Action was a little higher than I like but not too bad. Not a big fan of the very-wide neck. Sometimes the high E gets muted by my palm when reaching over the frets playing fingerstyle (lower area of the neck). So even with my fairly long fingers, having to stretch my fingers around the massive neck to avoid muting the high E gets tiresome quick. Basically, it's a bit difficult to play. In my opinion, it definitely does not play nearly as nice or easy as my Taylor 214ce or even my GS Mini. This Martin does sound great though. It's a great guitar overall.Johnny

I was looking for an acoustic-electric with a cutout. I didn't want to modify my existing acoustic to add electronics and I've started playing higher on the neck. I thought long and hard about buying a guitar under $400 knowing it would probably be "good enough", but I have a Martin X-Series 12 string that I absolutely love after being disappointed with a cheaper guitar. I also weighed "country of origin". I am so glad I didn't settle for less! This Martin X-Series guitar was set up perfectly right out of the box. The narrow neck makes it a dream to play and the SOUND! Nice deep sustained tones playing unplugged, and then when plugged in it's just awesome! I LOVE the soft rich tones!Harlan