Tyler Childers Martin Guitar For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

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

The smallest acoustic I've ever owned, but a seriously big sound, especially when played fingerstyle! I've only had it a short time, but it's definitely a lifer as I've never played a guitar as responsive. It's definitely not one to get if you're focusing on strumming out big chords, but as an intimate little solo performing or recording guitar it can't be beat. It also has an amazing projection which allows it to cut through some bigger instruments in a way that a dreadnought simply can't which makes it a really great guitar to play lead lines on. It's for sure my favorite martin, and I've owned almost all of their standard series models!Desmond

Purchased a little over 2 months ago with no regrets. I have several acoustic and electrics to my name, but this D-18 just makes me want to play and play. I can't explain it. Couldn't be more thrilled with the appearance, workmanship, but most importantly the tonal quality this D-18 has. It has punch, bark and a sweet finger style as well. Martin did an exceptional job on this one. It is exactly what I was looking for in playability and performance. Already had a boutique D-28 style rosewood back and sides, but the difference in the tone of Mahogany is stark. It's a huge investment, but I have no regrets except I didn't do it sooner. Can't put it down and totally reinvigorated with acoustic playing. Shout out to Steven Segal who helped me finalize this purchase and went the extra mile to make my experience good.Joe

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

Very nice guitar … However , There are no tuning instructions or string height instructions . And you may find the the standard "E" tuning is to high . And will stress the neck joint . Which is why many of Older Martin Guitars require a Neck Reset . And is why the Martin players . Most often recommend "D" tuning . CMNchris

This is my third Martin although mine is slightly different in that it is a 000-28 EC Eric Clapton version. In 1972 I bought my first one, a D-35, then acquired a D35-12.later. I played the D-35 exclusively for many years professionally along the way acquiring a beautiful custom hand built guitar, Bertoncini, but I always wanted a smaller body that I thought would be better for finger picking and wow does the 000-28 meet that! I have become so addicted to it I play it almost exclusively. Not only is it wonderful for finger picking it is wonderful for flat picking too. The action is set perfectly. I love the feel of the smaller body size, it cradles into your arms perfectly. The neck on mine has a slight "V" shape which is terrific with a slightly wider nut which really enhances the finger picking style greatly. It's no wonder it is Clapton's favorite acoustic. The 000-28 predates the Dreadnoughts and was and is more the Martin "Classic" and for a good reason, it is a very well balanced guitar tone-wise not overly boomy which can interfere with the bass if you're playing in a band and the tone is dead accurate all the way up the neck so an E played open is in tune with an E played up the neck. So many guitar makers miss that by a mile. I love this thing so much my only regret is the poor D-35 sits in the case too much! The 000-28 has a signature tone to it that you can not mistake for a Taylor or something else – this is a true classic. Now something else I want to add about a Martin and their service. After I bought the D-35 years ago the neck moved just slightly and after 30 years of playing the plastic binding began to separate. When the wind knocked it over on its stand on a break I finally sent it back again for repairs. It came back in PRISTINE condition! The tone was not hurt in the least by the necessity of refinishing it and it plays beautifully – all no cost to me! Martin is fantastic. The 35 is wonderful but I love the 000-28 – my Go To!Rick

Back in 2008, I bought my dream guitar, a Martin HD-28. In the last 12 years it has been my baby. However, I only play for myself at home. Lately, I had been reconsidering it's large size and loud volume, and I started trying some smaller guitars. I decided to sell my dreadnaught, and used the proceeds to buy this 000-28 that was redesigned in 2018. Let me say that it is amazing. While the HD-28 had a beautiful deep bass-like response, this 000-28 is more shimmering and a chiming sound. It is extremely comfortable, and the fretboard seems a bit wider than my HD-28, which makes it very comfortable. I was concerned about how the aging toner would look, but it turns out looking very warm and buttery, and the top color will definitely age more on its own. I was also worried that it wouldn't be good for strumming, due to the shorter scale length. But this guitar sounds just as good strumming as well as finger picking. I've never tried an OM-28, but I can say that this 000-28 is also a great chord strumming guitar. This is a very intimate and lovely guitar, and I don't know if it will ever leave my house. If I were playing gigs or in a band, I would probably prefer a dread size, but this is perfect for my personal use at home. Also, the scalloped bracing seems to have been a massive improvement. I imagine this is very close to the Clapton model now, in terms of sound.Chachi

Hi Its the Old Time Picker again, This Martin is perfect, I have a Martin HD35 three high end Taylors 810, 524, 562, and a Gibson J15, So I know great guitars and this Martin 000 18 is a perfect guitar, In the past Martin was a little off on the 18 line of guitars with the binding being a little ruff, But not anymore, They have really stepped up to the plate with this one, It is perfect on the fit and finish and the sound is everything you want a Martin to be.i recommend This guitar to anyone of any style age or level of playing. Give it a try MF will take it back if you don't like it. Give ex 3231 a call Dawana will get you taken care of, She's Great. I've Ordered over 60 orders from MF and give them a 10 rating, well its back to Picken and Grinin, My Little puppy, Mr. Snickers sings with me everyday he's great to, hahah,,,, The Old Time PickerOld Time Picker

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

Overall: Bought this Martin, it is everything the 00018e is except I get to pick out the pickup I want. I like it much more than a Dred, it is perfect in my hands and very light. The sound is typical of a high-end Martin 000. The Dred is just too boomy and could not cut through the mix in recording or playing live. This guitar is great for strumming picking or lead. Bottom end is still great with the added bonus of sparkling high end and playing lead is a thrill. You got to get you one.Randall

Overall: Original unopened uninspected by zZounds, in the heavy duty box from Martin. Mine was packed well enough, but still a little surprised how little bubble pack it had, or needed. The guitar seems perfect, no blemishes, straight neck, just beautiful. Rings like a bell despite needing a set up. Saddle has tons of room to sand down to most anyone’s preferred height/action. Nut seems like it’s in similar ready to set up condition. But even out of the box it sounds absolutely great and isn’t terrible to play. The little booklet that comes with it lists features, including “non adjustable” truss rod. I hadn’t come across this in my (limited) research into D18s. Martin guitar forums are divided on it, but I think the idea is “the old ones that people worship didn’t have adjustable truss rods, so we’re following the recipe”. Fine, but why not put that in the specs too? It’s not a cheap guitar. Taking a chance on it and seeing how it does. I’ll care for it properly and if it craps out and needs a neck reset or god forbid a new neck, I’ll rant and rave about it. But for now, let’s see how it sets up!Dan

I can't say enough about this guitar. For as long as I have been a guitar player (and a Pennsylvanian, for that matter) I have known Martin guitars. They are always prominently used and sold around this area. I looked up to my idols who played them, even older players like CSN and Neil Young and Clapton. I dreamed of owning one and as a kid, I loved the white binding on dark wood, seemingly drawing me in to a D-28, which is arguably the most popular Martin ever. As a kid, I almost got a Martin DM, but ended up with a cheaper Epiphone. After college, I decided to get my first Martin Custom D Rosewood – essentially a D-28 with a mortise and tenon neck joint and a D-15 A-Frame bracing and styling – sold exclusively here on MF (and GC). It's a great value for a guitar, but had to keep it constantly humidified because of the thin-skin matte finish. It can get really dried out and in fact, was in that condition when I received it (used). Great guitar, but I was always chasing buying a brand new Martin to call my own. I played some in stores of course and always A/B'd them, but it wasn't until a factory tour that I got a real idea of the breadth that the Martin line possesses. There is the 1833 Shop there with an adjacent players room filled with a good spread of Martins of all values and construction style. I was simply playing them to see which ones spoke to me, sonically and soulfully. I played the D-28, the D-35, the D-41, the D-15, 00-15M, the CEO, a 12 string, Eric Clapton model 000-28, etc. They all had their magic I'm sure, but when I landed on the D-18, I was simply blown away. It had a completely organic and natural sound – I could literally hear the wood. It's an absolutely lovely woody tone – this sounded better than the rest to me. I also LOVE the understand design and simplicity. It's a true working man's instrument – plus it features forward shifted X-Bracing which gives a lot more bass. The new improvements are all choice! 100% my fav. acousticIan from PA

I bought this guitar last year at a locally owned music store and was happy to do so as you don't find many of them stocked at large corporately owned brick and mortar stores. When I purchased it, I fell in love with the look and overall sound of the guitar and felt I was indeed buying a piece of history. The overall materials, finish and body construction are excellent and it produces a rich tone even with older strings. However that is where the positive remarks end. The more I want to love this guitar, the more it disappoints for the simple reason that it is incredibly difficult to play. Whether this is due to a poor set up or poor fretboard construction I really can't say, but I have to put this thing down after more than after five or ten minutes of playing – it is that bad. The same is true for the D-15 I spent a pretty penny on too. How a guitar maker that's supposedly been around since 1833 can produce something this hard to play is beyond me. Older D-18s I have played are not much better as they are incredibly hard to fret and buzz incessantly. So before you spring a couple of grand for this "piece of history," reconsider something that actually plays with ease. For this reason alone, I certainly would never invest in another one of these or a D-28, D-35 etc.. that costs even more. I can name several other major brands that put this guitar to shame due to their playability but won't to avoid embarrassing the manufacturer. But I will say that Martin's quality control folks ought to check these things out before shipping them out the door. Believe me, Martin's reputation and its chances of survival depend on it.Tom R

If you want the ARCHETYPE, the inspiration, the BEST, Go for a Martin. I have a Gibson Original Jumbo 1934 reissue, that sound like heaven, the Martin is another animal, a perfect pair for my Gibson, I'm not a professional, I love blues and fingerpicking in my home with a cigar and a whiskey and my two acoustics and my OMI Dobro Lilly Of The Valley are a treasure for me! The martin have a striped ebony fingerboard and bridge (I like it but some maybe preffer a black one, well are not black), the sound is clear and a joy! The craftmanship is perfect, the case is very nice, the martin strings sound very good (I bought 3 sets of the same), the rosewood is very nice paired, and the top have a beautiful aged tone. This guitar will be with me all my life. About Guitar Center of Miami Mr Mario and Ignacio are nice people!Alejandro

I'm a new guitarist and consider myself very fortunate to be able to afford an instrument like this. I am nowhere near good enough (yet) to get the most out of this guitar, but I will say that even as a beginner (and long-time music lover) I can really hear the difference between this and lesser guitars, and playing on an instrument like this makes learning more rewarding, and dare I say easier. Anything I hear wrong is clearly my technique, which this guitar rewards when you get it right, and makes obvious when you miss. From simple cowboy chords to picked or fingered individual notes this guitar just has tone to die for. Hit an E minor, hard or soft, and each string resonates with depth, clarity and sustain. Playing this guitar is really a dream come true. Oh, I said I'm a beginner and that means that as I write this I've been playing guitar for all of five months. I'm 52-years-old and take weekly 30 minute lessons, have dabbled in online lessons and practice about 15 to 30 minutes on weekdays and about an hour or two on Saturdays and Sundays. I recently sang and played "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues for my family. Just me, my D-28 and beautiful, room-filling tone. There's nothing better.Andrew

Overall: Original unopened uninspected by zZounds, in the heavy duty box from Martin. Mine was packed well enough, but still a little surprised how little bubble pack it had, or needed. The guitar seems perfect, no blemishes, straight neck, just beautiful. Rings like a bell despite needing a set up. Saddle has tons of room to sand down to most anyone’s preferred height/action. Nut seems like it’s in similar ready to set up condition. But even out of the box it sounds absolutely great and isn’t terrible to play. The little booklet that comes with it lists features, including “non adjustable” truss rod. I hadn’t come across this in my (limited) research into D18s. Martin guitar forums are divided on it, but I think the idea is “the old ones that people worship didn’t have adjustable truss rods, so we’re following the recipe”. Fine, but why not put that in the specs too? It’s not a cheap guitar. Taking a chance on it and seeing how it does. I’ll care for it properly and if it craps out and needs a neck reset or god forbid a new neck, I’ll rant and rave about it. But for now, let’s see how it sets up!Dan

I can't say enough about this guitar. For as long as I have been a guitar player (and a Pennsylvanian, for that matter) I have known Martin guitars. They are always prominently used and sold around this area. I looked up to my idols who played them, even older players like CSN and Neil Young and Clapton. I dreamed of owning one and as a kid, I loved the white binding on dark wood, seemingly drawing me in to a D-28, which is arguably the most popular Martin ever. As a kid, I almost got a Martin DM, but ended up with a cheaper Epiphone. After college, I decided to get my first Martin Custom D Rosewood – essentially a D-28 with a mortise and tenon neck joint and a D-15 A-Frame bracing and styling – sold exclusively here on MF (and GC). It's a great value for a guitar, but had to keep it constantly humidified because of the thin-skin matte finish. It can get really dried out and in fact, was in that condition when I received it (used). Great guitar, but I was always chasing buying a brand new Martin to call my own. I played some in stores of course and always A/B'd them, but it wasn't until a factory tour that I got a real idea of the breadth that the Martin line possesses. There is the 1833 Shop there with an adjacent players room filled with a good spread of Martins of all values and construction style. I was simply playing them to see which ones spoke to me, sonically and soulfully. I played the D-28, the D-35, the D-41, the D-15, 00-15M, the CEO, a 12 string, Eric Clapton model 000-28, etc. They all had their magic I'm sure, but when I landed on the D-18, I was simply blown away. It had a completely organic and natural sound – I could literally hear the wood. It's an absolutely lovely woody tone – this sounded better than the rest to me. I also LOVE the understand design and simplicity. It's a true working man's instrument – plus it features forward shifted X-Bracing which gives a lot more bass. The new improvements are all choice! 100% my fav. acousticIan from PA

I bought this guitar last year at a locally owned music store and was happy to do so as you don't find many of them stocked at large corporately owned brick and mortar stores. When I purchased it, I fell in love with the look and overall sound of the guitar and felt I was indeed buying a piece of history. The overall materials, finish and body construction are excellent and it produces a rich tone even with older strings. However that is where the positive remarks end. The more I want to love this guitar, the more it disappoints for the simple reason that it is incredibly difficult to play. Whether this is due to a poor set up or poor fretboard construction I really can't say, but I have to put this thing down after more than after five or ten minutes of playing – it is that bad. The same is true for the D-15 I spent a pretty penny on too. How a guitar maker that's supposedly been around since 1833 can produce something this hard to play is beyond me. Older D-18s I have played are not much better as they are incredibly hard to fret and buzz incessantly. So before you spring a couple of grand for this "piece of history," reconsider something that actually plays with ease. For this reason alone, I certainly would never invest in another one of these or a D-28, D-35 etc.. that costs even more. I can name several other major brands that put this guitar to shame due to their playability but won't to avoid embarrassing the manufacturer. But I will say that Martin's quality control folks ought to check these things out before shipping them out the door. Believe me, Martin's reputation and its chances of survival depend on it.Tom R

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

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

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.

Needed a compact guitar with full sound (sailboat dinner cruises – tight space). Plugged in through the board with a chorus pedal sounds as good or better than the full sized guitar I had been using with a lot less passenger head bumping. Easy to play. Quick change battery compartment.Nick

I purchased this guitar to get back into playing during COVID, after selling off my HD-35 and an older LX1 many years ago for personal reasons. Even back then, the LX1 which is nearly the same as this one besides this one handing electronics and a rosewood “paint” job, I often would defer to my LX1 over my HD-35. Part of the reason is the ease of use while still offering a distinct Martin sound, and the design instills confidence that I won’t lose sleep if I ding it or I let a drunk friend play a few tunes. I had that original for many years, and have had this version for about a month. The guitar itself has a surprising amount of heft, and I think many will be surprised by its projection. The solid Sitka spruce top is the mvp here, and should be a must unless you’re concerned about humidity and/or purchasing this style for absolute travel readiness. The solid top will hold up well in changing climates and travel, but the HPL top of the standard LX may be a safer bet if that is a concern. I think most people will benefit from solid top, so that’s my suggestion, plus you get that Martin smell, albeit faintly, with the solid top. Playability-wise, the guitar is clear and punchy while playing fingerstyle or doing solo runs, and strumming offers a surprising amount of boom and clarity. The only caveat is the transition or light strumming to full strumming, as it seems the guitar needs to rev up a bit to get into its full potential. However that could be some of my cobwebs I’m still throwing off. I’ve only used the onboard electronics is few times and they are about what you’d expect from a guitar in this price range. The plugin is on the lower bout near where the guitar sits on your right leg, and is powered by a 9v. Two control dials are available through the sound hole, and overall reproduce the guitar well enough, but a secondary EQ will most likely be required for serious production/recording… works great for just throwing down a songwriting session though! To round it off, the guitar comes with an included soft gig bag, which can be worn as a backpack or hand carried. Which is something I love, it also has a large pocket for whatever small items you may need. And the guitar comes with a 1 year Martin warranty, which should be enough to weed out any manufacturing defects. Overall, I am proud to have this guitar back in my hands, and love the durability, ease of use, value, and most surprisingly the sound of this guitar. This is truly a great guitar and is a lot of fun to bring everywhere!Dan K

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

I own two other Martins (1970 D12-35 and1971 D42) both of which have aged beautifully and sound incredible. Both guitars needed to be set up, as back then out of the box from Martin high actions seemed to be the norm. Took a Martin factory tour in PA a few years ago and was floored by a demo stock D28. I've wanted one ever since. Walked into a Guitar Center while in NJ on a whim (alone, wife would have dragged me off) and tried various D28's, and even a D45. When I got to the D28 MD, well, it was all over. Haggled over price, then purchased it – this was back in Feb 2020, pre-Covid. Loved it out of the box. Pleke'd for perfect action, (absolutely no setup needed), beautifully appointed and incredible clear and distinctive bass, treble mid-range, whether finger picked (using finger picks or just fingers) or picking. It's now August, 6 months later, and…the sound is still a jaw-dropper every time I play. If you want a premium sounding player, that is also visually satisfying without being ostentatious, and your budget can permit, this is the one.Steven

The Martin "Special OM-28 VTS" guitar is outstanding in every way. WOW! It arrived with a perfect set-up. Its case is also a small upgrade over Martin 15 and 17 series' wood covered cases, and good enough. I contacted Martin about the VTS top on the guitar before buying. I wanted to know that if after torrefaction the top was going to continue to age, albeit much more slowly that new wood? My question was answered promptly by a customer service employee at Martin who said he asked my question to Martin's head of Instrument Design. The answer was yes, the VTS top will continue to age, very slowly. So, it is not a dead top. Derek was my sales associate and he could not have been more kind and patient. After all, buying a higher-end Martin isn't cheap. My guitar is labeled "Special" on its wooden serial number plate and not "Custom." The sales tags say "Custom." Guitar Center/Musicians Friend ordered 100 a of these exact guitars as a "Custom" order from Martin. It sold out and ordered more. The extras, mine included are called "Custom." I knew this before I made my purchase. My "Special OM-28 VTS" guitar is of heirloom quality.Chris

I wanted a rosewood 000 or OM. Almost brought a used omjm a couple different times. MF has had some smoking sales lately and I missed a couple good deals because I didn't pull the trigger. When this beacame part of the FALL sale knowing the omjm and 000-28ec is based on this basic model and this model had VTS, I just did it, tossed aside self control, took the heavyest one they had and here it is. After a few self tweaks to the truss rod, lowering the saddle a couple mm, like tone wowsville, this sounds as loud and has as much bass response as my HD-28e retro. Even my wife noticed. You know how wives are, they let us have multiple guitars so we don't get multiple girl friends, and she noticed how good this sounded over an HD28e retro, an 000-18e retro, a gpcpa1 big leaf maple custom shop, a 000-15m, she never knows what I am playing until this guitar. Now if she knows and hears the difference imagine how much I and you will notice how fripping sweet this guitar sounds and plays. This sounds incredibly good and should be added to your arsenal of guitars. The neck is like butter. Adding Fishman AG series passive piezo for electronics. My top has red streaks going through it, says sitka but I've only seen Engleman red spruce like that. The VTS is amazing, Better get one of these before none are left! I think I got the next to last one.OttoMatick

The smallest acoustic I've ever owned, but a seriously big sound, especially when played fingerstyle! I've only had it a short time, but it's definitely a lifer as I've never played a guitar as responsive. It's definitely not one to get if you're focusing on strumming out big chords, but as an intimate little solo performing or recording guitar it can't be beat. It also has an amazing projection which allows it to cut through some bigger instruments in a way that a dreadnought simply can't which makes it a really great guitar to play lead lines on. It's for sure my favorite martin, and I've owned almost all of their standard series models!Desmond

Purchased a little over 2 months ago with no regrets. I have several acoustic and electrics to my name, but this D-18 just makes me want to play and play. I can't explain it. Couldn't be more thrilled with the appearance, workmanship, but most importantly the tonal quality this D-18 has. It has punch, bark and a sweet finger style as well. Martin did an exceptional job on this one. It is exactly what I was looking for in playability and performance. Already had a boutique D-28 style rosewood back and sides, but the difference in the tone of Mahogany is stark. It's a huge investment, but I have no regrets except I didn't do it sooner. Can't put it down and totally reinvigorated with acoustic playing. Shout out to Steven Segal who helped me finalize this purchase and went the extra mile to make my experience good.Joe

This guitar model virtually always features in the number one or number two spot of all rankings for 'The Best Guitars to Learn On', usually along with one or two other models from the Taylor brand and I can entirely understand why. Specifically, it exceptionally well constructed, with a great tone, and no quirks that make it anything other than just a great pleasure to play either at home on one's own or out in sessions. If you are learning the guitar, it would be difficult to think of any better model on which to do it, given these qualities, and the added benedfit is that it is of such a high standard that you can use it all the way through your musical life, as it equally valid for professional performances.Simon W.

This is my first guitar. I am just beginning to learn. I had a sales associate play a number of different acoustic guitars and I also sat an held and played 1-2 chords with various guitars. This guitar sounded the best in the price range and was by far the most comfortable to play!Troy

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

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

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

At 73, I've had some kind of inexpensive guitar or other since high school, occasionally playing some 3 or 4 chord folk, cowboy, or campfire tunes. My guitar since about 2000 has been an Ibanez PF10 NT. It sounded pretty good to me over the years. Then a few of my older grand kids (about 9 through 16 years old) took up ukuleles and guitars and quickly got pretty darned good. So I decided I'd start playing more and do some jamming with them. Just strolling through Guitar Center one afternoon, I notice this little Martin hanging out with the less expensive guitars. I had been out of the loop as to what Martin had been up to for years. I'd lusted for one since I can remember. I pick it up and see that it's only $499, got to be a mistake. Back in my day, the Martins I knew of cost thousands. Anyway, I strum it and almost swoon it sounds so pretty. I sit and play it for a while and figure I still can't really spend 500 on a guitar. Well, about 3 days later I bought one and have only put it down to sleep and eat ever since. (Slight exaggeration.) The dreadnought junior 10 is fun and easy to play, and it sounds great. So I'm using it to learn to play the neck and do more finger picking and trying to keep myself from buying another Martin. If one this little gem is so good, how great are the one's for say $1800?Mark TM

Fantastic guitar with a better sound than I expected from a downsized dreadnought. Because of it’s smaller size, I find it’s easier to pick up and start strumming away, even though I have a Maton dreadnought as well. Could be the novelty factor but I am enjoying the Martin sound. Would recommend this guitar to anyone.Leo S.

I recently bought my first Martin guitar, a 2019 0-18 which is retail at $2500. Absolutely love the guitar and cant put it down. I work half my time in another state where I cant take my 0-18 so I bought Dreadnought Jr as a jam guitar for my apartment there. Have to say this guitar is almost as fun to play. At 20% of the cost you still get an all-wood, hand made Martin. Its not US made of course but still a quality guitar. I have as much fun playing this as my 0-18. They are both about the same size and fun to play. If you are a serious beginner or a seasoned pro, this will fit the bill as a good jam guitar with the great Martin tone and playability.reg3181

I had bought one of these back in 2017 when I made the switch to Acoustic. I don't know why but, I got rid of it so I could make the move tpo the Martin X-Series only because I had always wanted a Martin. To make a long story short, the Martin didn't cut it for me, so last week I made the move back to Taylor and the Big Baby. These newer ones are so beautiful but it's a shame, that Taylor has discontinued them. The Brown headstock along with the Solid Spruce top and Walnut back and sides, have really IMO, improved this model. Once set up properly, it stays in tune and just sounds awesome ! I would say that it is the best Acoustic going today which is under the 500 dollar range. Plus seeing that I'm on a low budget, this was a no-brainer. It's a keeper and I am getting a lot of joy playing it.Jeffrey

I had bought one of these from here way back in 2017 , which I used when I was gigging . I'm now retired ( 63 ) and only play at home now. I had to take a couple of years away from playing, due to pain in my left hand , which built up from 50 years of playing. I came back to playing in August of 2021 and I had bpught a Martin X-Series which at the time, I thought was great . Well it turned out that I ended up having issues with it and got rid of it, so I went back to getting a new, Big Baby Taylor, which always served me well. It's too bad that Taylor discontinued these because, these newer models are IMO, a vast improvement over the older ones. Since I got it on this past Sunday, I can not put this down. It just sounds so amazing and it stays in tune forever. While the included gigbag is a plus, I went and bought a Hardshell case for it. For those who want a Taylor but are on a low budget, this is worth the asking price and then some.Jeff

Since I went back to playing last summer after a 3 year hiatus, due to wrist pain in my left hand, I was using a Martin X-Series OMCX1E which I had nothing but problems with such as not staying in tune, fret buzz, etc. So over a week ago, I made the decision to switch to a Big Baby Taylor. I am limited as far as funds go, so $500.00 was the most that I could afford and I did not want to get a Baby but the Big Baby which is pretty close to a standard dreadnought size , at least as th neck scale is concerned. The body is a tad smaller and lighter which for me at my age ( 63 ) , makes playing a lot easier. Thiis came already set up and strung with Elixirs , which I liked . I can not believe how light in weight this is and it stays in tune , which is a huge plus for me. As far as tone goes, this easily blows away any of the Martin X-Series .I love this guitar and I will be making some wonderful memories with it.jeffreyo46

I am a petite female and love the size of this Martin Little! I had considered purchasing a baritone ukulele with 6 strings because I wanted a very small body. The Little is larger than a baritone uke but is still within the range of PERFECT and came with an acoustic/electric option so I can jam! I have larger guitars but this little gem is easy to travel with and durable with great sound! I purchased a tuner cause the pick up didn't come with one. Absolutely love the colors on the neck! So happy with my purchase!Chelley

I have had my Little Martin for a couple of years at this point and of the four guitars I own, this is the one that gets played the most. This is because due to the small size and very stable construction materials and techniques, it is always near by, ready to pick up and play at a moments notice. While I keep more expensive and delicate guitars in their hard cases with humidifiers to maintain homeostasis as much as possible, the Little Martin is quite at home on a Jamstand next to my desk. I do keep a Planet Waves humidifier between the strings, even when the LM is on the stand because I live in the NE USA where the winter air in my home is very dry due to forced hot air heating. Since the body of the guitar is the High Pressure Laminate (HPL), it appears to me unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity, but I have found that without the humidifier, the bracing seems to dry out more and the sound can become a little 'pingy'. In fact this was my first impression when I picked it up at the local GC after ordering online. If I had not been able to play one in-store previously, I would have been disappointed with the tone and probably returned it. Instead I put on a new set of strings and put the humidifier between the strings and kept it in the quality Martin gig bag that came with it. Within a week it was sounding much better, more like the one that I tried in-store previously. Since the GC stores have good humidity levels in the acoustic rooms, this is a good way to try out a new guitar (after making sure it is in tune). The only reason that I ordered online to pickup in store was that when I was ready to buy, my local GC did not have it in stock at the time.Ron the eternal guitar novice