Sam Ash Martin Guitar For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

I decided to wait until the honeymoon period was over (4 mos) to write a review. I've now come to the realization that it's not going to end. I've been playing for about 50 years, and over the past 10 or so have thoroughly enjoyed splitting time between my Taylor and Washburn. No more! This Martin is easily the most amazing guitar I've ever played. The combination of sound, size, and playability make it very hard to put down. I've been primarily a flat picker all my life, but this guitar begs to be fingerpicked, and I'm happily obliging! Simply put, an outstanding instrument.Jeff

I have been wanting this model for a few years. I knew what I wanted from playing these in stores. I finally bought one from MF. When it arrived I unboxed it and opened the case. Wow these are beautiful guitars. As soon as I started playing I was disappointed. The guitar did not sound like the ones I had played in stores. This on had a muddy small sound. This is not what I expect from spruce and rosewood. Now I am out the shipping cost to return the item. I think I learned a few good lessons here. Always play the guitar you are buying in person. Each and every acoustic guitar has its own sound, no matter how well they are built.dillon

I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and have always loved the sound of Martin guitars. I prefer a "V" shaped neck which is rare these days. I decided to finally purchase a Martin, and decided on this model to get the modified "V" neck. The action and feel are outstanding, and the sound is everything I would expect from Martin. The details and finish are exceptional. I have several guitars, and this one just became my go to acoustic.Mike

Absolutely amazing guitar. I had been shopping for a while, and tried an OM-21 in my local GC. The overtones, the warm tone, I just had to have it! Definitely a forever guitar and could not be happier. Get your hands on one of these!K

I really love this guitar! I purchased in a sunburst finish. There's nothing to dislike. Martin's come with the action a little high, this is to be expected. I took it to a tech to have the action lowered to my taste. Because it's plek'd from the factory, you can really get the action quite low. It's is now the best of my guitars. The sound is so balanced, it's beautiful to behold and to play. I never want to put it down. I've waited a bunch of years to commit…it is everything I wanted and imagined it could be. Martin standard series are all amazing. They Are the Martin sound defined, the reference point. They are not a cheap investment, but they are worth it. Whether you like a short scale hog (000-18), or a long scale Rosewood dread (D-28), you will not be disappointed. I love the long scale OM with rosewood. I wanted a sunburst with understated dark bindings to blend with the sunburst. This is my guitar…it is stellar in every respect. If you can acquire any model of the standard series of martins, you will be blessed with tone and beauty. It will be a lifetime guitar.GGC

I don’t like buying mid to high end guitars in the blind. Even if it’s a Martin, Collings, Taylor etc… but I was able to play 3 M36’s at a store in Nashville and they all sounded the same. I had to think about it because I have a Martin HD28 and it was very close. The thing about the M36 is that it having a OOOO (Jumbo) size body, I got bolder low ends. Finger style was easy and picking was bright and articulate. Problem solved not needing to bring more then one guitar to the recording studio and didn’t have to worry about gigging with it because of the affordability. American Musical Supply always makes it easy with the nice selection and 12 months interest free to get one. I installed (myself) a K&K pure mini pickup and this guitar sings. Thank AMS!T Galloway

Got this from Ithaca Guitar Works. Wanted to play it first. While it looks like a J45, it is a Martin. While the lower bout is an inch wider than a standard dreadnaught, it will not sound like a Gibson advanced jumbo. It is definitely a Martin and celebrates that pedigree. It is incredibly light. The light satin finish gives it immediate resonance and tone. And it will only get better. It is incredibly balanced string to string, but with a Martin bass. I own a Guild D20, which I prefer over Martin's D15 (it's close), but the spruce top on the DSS-17 adds a sparkle that is welcome. The Monel strings had to go. I can see why the late Tony Rice loved them for bluegrass. They are clear and don't overload a picker with overtones from earlier notes. I swapped out for a set of Daddario 12-53 Nickel Bronze strings instead. At times it rings and sustains like a 12 string. Can't stop playing her. The tuners are antiqued models from Stew Mac. They hold tune, but some creak and are not smooth. I am still deciding if noisy stability is preferable to smooth retuning. But they look the part of old tuners.Guild Lover

I've owned 2 Gibson J-45s. The first was a 2018 Sitka top, mahogany back and sides. The second was a Gibson J-45 with rosewood back and sides. Don't get me wrong, I love J-45s, but this Martin DSS-17 is killer! The bottom end reminds me of the 2018 45 I had, but more volume. The one I purchased had a hard case with it, so can't speak to the gig bag this normally comes with. I'd never buy a nice guitar with a gig bag. I'm too picky when it comes to humidifying my guitars, so a hard case is a must. I think this guitar had a great deal of thought put into it and they knocked it out of the park. This is my second Martin. The other that I own is a 000-15 SM, which is a great guitar as well. I'm still a Gibson fan, but let's be honest, a J-45 is a grand more than this 17. The 17 checked my boxes, so here we are.Randy C

The guitar plays great, sounds amazing and looks stunning. Real cool vintage vibe. The tuners seem very precise. I was disappointed that the guitar didn’t come with a hard case, but I have to say I’m really impressed with the soft case that came with it and it is far more robust than I would have expected. The set up is excellent nice and low but no fret buzz. My Gibson will be taking a back seat now this baby has arrived. Unbelievable tone and I definitely made the right decision to purchase this.Reviewed by Project Music custom

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

For the price it's a great buy, I wanted to upgrade from my Epiphone dove-pro electric acoustic and this Martin checked all the boxes. I purchased it almost a year ago today and I can't say anything bad about it if I wanted too. Plus I love that padded case it comes with.. specially cause I injured my back before I bought it so it's great havin a case that's lowkey like datB_THEKING

Things I liked: – Playability : The neck shape, neck finish, nut width, radius, and fret size are just perfect for my hands. – Setup was perfect out of box : To me, the action and intonation couldn't be better. – Comfortable size : This is my first non-dread size guitar, and I'm happy that I chose this size. I really didn't know that 000 would be this much more comfortable. – The included hard shell case is pretty nice. – The built-in Fishman Sonitone UST pickup was not too bad – sounded better than I expected. it's not that quacky. it's totally usable on stage. I would suggest to try it before replacing it. Some people might like the sound. Things I didn't like: – low volume – low bass response I replace the tusq saddle with a bone saddle. I also replaced the UST pickup with K&K pure mini pickup. I'm satisfied with what I have now. If available, I highly recommend to try GPRS1 instead of 000RS1. They are almost identical except the body depth. GP is slightly deeper than 000, hence it makes up for the disadvantages of 000 listed above.faithinlight

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

There is truly nothing I can say negative about this guitar. Sounds great, looks great, feels great. I've owned and collected many guitars, some with a price point much more than this, and I am very please and surprised to say that this guitar is on par if not even slightly BETTER than some of the more expensive guitars I own! If you're thinking about getting this guitar, DO IT! You won't be disappointed! ….the only thing I would change about this product is that I wish it came with a hardshell case. I did end up ordering a Martin 345 Dreadnought Hardshell Guitar Case and it fits like a glove. The soft case it comes with is just ok.Vanessa

I bought this guitar a few weeks ago and I am in love. I was actually looking to buy a D-16 or a Gibson J-45 and found this hanging up on the wall in my store. Took this down and loved the sound as soon as I strummed it. It has that beautiful rosewood tone and the deep sound of a full size dreadnought. Since this guitar is exclusive to Guitar Center, and it's family brands it is not featured on the Martin website (i was skeptical about this at first). But I can personally say that it is just as good if not better than any of the standard Martins and the specs don't lie. Also it is manufactured in the U.S.A in Nazareth, PA. I highly recommend you try this guitar if you are able to.Michael

This is my 4th Martin Dreadnought. I have had a Custom D (Mu Friend Martin), a D-28, a D-16 Adirondack, and this one. They have all been great but there was always something missing. For example, the D-28 was a joy to play and sounded great but lacked deep end rumble and punch. (I have since come to appreciate that is part of the appeal to many, and a product mostly of the bracing). The D-16 Adirondack had plenty of low end rumble, and it was stunning to look at, but for some reason it seemed to lack mid-range punchiness, and the high notes were kind of meh. I gave my Custom D to my son to take to college and was without any Martin Dread. I was playing just a Gibson J-45 which is a dream to me, but it also lacks mid-range punchiness and I was convinced it would get lost in a bluegrass jam circle setting. Then I discovered this rosewood Martin, which to me looks like a D-28 but with HD-28 style bracing. I suspected that it would deliver the what was missing from all my other Martins, and it has totally confirmed by suspicions. It's a joy to play, and it is beautiful to look at. The rosewood is so dark and stunning that you don't even really notice that it has a Satin finish. It delivers the low end rumble, in a somewhat more refined way than the Adirondack. The mid-range and high notes are all stunning. There is a bell like quality to anything played on the b and high e strings. The fretwork is flawless. Every guitar I have ever owned has had a least one place on the fretboard that I haven't really liked. I can't find it on this guitar. It just seems like a really well conceived and executed guitar from Martin, and you can't beat the price.Penalty Box

Recently purchased from a local store and overpaid because I was scared to order online without ever playing one. I was torn between this and a Taylor 214. Once I played them side by side the Martin blew the Taylor away! The tuner and controls in the sound hole are convient. The neck plays smooth and fast with the raw feel. Looks are amazing as my spruce has some slight figure to it in the right light. I wasn't sure what Siris wood was as I haven't saw or played it before. It looks like rosewood but tonally reminds me of koa due to its mid-range punch. Stays in tune for extended periods of time. My only modification was a bone saddle professionally installed for 120. After the slight upgraded I would put this against any acoustic I have played.DJ

I bought this because I bought another road series which was exceptional, but this guitar is not worth the investment. No projection, loses tune with a capo and is flat. I expected so much more and would return this, but wanted to really give it a chance.Roger

Great guitar so far. Plays extremely well, comfortable, and Martin facility in Mexico knows what they are doing. Excellent attention to detail in every aspect. And what I thought was a nice addition, the built in tuner, is in fact something I want in all my guitars. Well done.Paul

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

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'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

This is the first high end purchase that I have been satisfied with! It was brand new! 2 Heritage and 2 Gibson' s have been switched at the last minute after months of waiting and following updates of the newly manufactured item that had been ordered! Please send me the name and contact information of my Gear Advisor for this purchase.John L

Well, this guitar is fabulous. What did you expect? The sustain is endless, the set-up perfect and it plays better than anything I have played before, which of course it should given the price. I can’t keep my hands off it.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

A stunning build quality, beautiful tone & tonal balance. The 00 body size coupled with the high quality rosewood makes for a type of natural EQ & compression of the inherent bass characteristic of the tone wood. The trebles are very present & detailed in the chords & hauntingly beautiful played in single note runs. This guitar makes me wish it was my first good acoustic, for the money I have never seen anything close. Martin reigns.Mr. T

I was very impressed with it. It is not a top of the line Martin, nor was my Maton, but I feel it was a step up for me. I found the neck,action,tone simply amazing. It is a fuller richer tone which is saying something because the Maton was pretty damn good. As it is a Dreadnaught, this may be partly responsible for the better tone, but I haven't stopped grinning since I got it home. I changed the strings, Elixir acoustics and that made it even better.bluestone5410

Having only played low priced beginner acoustic guitars I really didn't quite know what to expect. My decision to buy this came from reading nothing but good reviews and from a very well known reputation. When I opened the case my first thought was that this looks like any other guitar that I've had and I hope I didn't just waste so much money on yet another "gimmick lefty" guitar, as there are so many. Being open minded though I fine tuned the strings and strummed a chord for the first time, then another, and another and my jaw dropped down so low it bounced off the top of guitar. This guitar sounds amazing and is such a joy to play. It only took a few seconds to realize that this was indeed money well spent. I had no idea an acoustic guitar could sound like this without being altered in a studio setting, I am very impressed and totally satisfied.The Ghost

Martin has been known for having some of the best acoustic guitars out there in the market and the DSR2 is a great example that you don't have to spend over $1000 to get a good acoustic. Solid Maple top and solid Sapele back and sides lends itself to a gorgeous warm tone. A nice plus is that this is one of the few guitars under $1000 that comes with a hardshell case. If you can afford it, snag this up quick.Tim

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

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

Got this from Ithaca Guitar Works. Wanted to play it first. While it looks like a J45, it is a Martin. While the lower bout is an inch wider than a standard dreadnaught, it will not sound like a Gibson advanced jumbo. It is definitely a Martin and celebrates that pedigree. It is incredibly light. The light satin finish gives it immediate resonance and tone. And it will only get better. It is incredibly balanced string to string, but with a Martin bass. I own a Guild D20, which I prefer over Martin's D15 (it's close), but the spruce top on the DSS-17 adds a sparkle that is welcome. The Monel strings had to go. I can see why the late Tony Rice loved them for bluegrass. They are clear and don't overload a picker with overtones from earlier notes. I swapped out for a set of Daddario 12-53 Nickel Bronze strings instead. At times it rings and sustains like a 12 string. Can't stop playing her. The tuners are antiqued models from Stew Mac. They hold tune, but some creak and are not smooth. I am still deciding if noisy stability is preferable to smooth retuning. But they look the part of old tuners.Guild Lover

I've owned 2 Gibson J-45s. The first was a 2018 Sitka top, mahogany back and sides. The second was a Gibson J-45 with rosewood back and sides. Don't get me wrong, I love J-45s, but this Martin DSS-17 is killer! The bottom end reminds me of the 2018 45 I had, but more volume. The one I purchased had a hard case with it, so can't speak to the gig bag this normally comes with. I'd never buy a nice guitar with a gig bag. I'm too picky when it comes to humidifying my guitars, so a hard case is a must. I think this guitar had a great deal of thought put into it and they knocked it out of the park. This is my second Martin. The other that I own is a 000-15 SM, which is a great guitar as well. I'm still a Gibson fan, but let's be honest, a J-45 is a grand more than this 17. The 17 checked my boxes, so here we are.Randy C

The guitar plays great, sounds amazing and looks stunning. Real cool vintage vibe. The tuners seem very precise. I was disappointed that the guitar didn’t come with a hard case, but I have to say I’m really impressed with the soft case that came with it and it is far more robust than I would have expected. The set up is excellent nice and low but no fret buzz. My Gibson will be taking a back seat now this baby has arrived. Unbelievable tone and I definitely made the right decision to purchase this.Reviewed by Project Music custom