“Music History, Martin History.” Martin has enough capital to shout this Slogan. Modern music has only been around for a little over a hundred years, and Martin has been making guitars since 1833. Martin is the creator of the folk guitar, defining the shape, structure and tone of the folk guitar, we are familiar with the D-shaped piano, OM type piano are Martin's first creation, Martin is also the largest selling brand of steel string guitar, directly affecting most of the guitar manufacturers. Over the years, Martin has been the first choice of countless musicians and guitarists, as well as the guitar lover's dream.
The biggest feature of Martin guitar is that it has abundant volume and explosive sound, which is mainly related to Martin's sound beam manufacturing process. The sound beam cutting and sound beam forward moving process adopted by Martin ensures the bearing capacity of the panel, so that the panel and the bridge part have more sufficient vibration, so that Martin has a full volume that is different from ordinary guitars. This has something to do with Martin's original intention in designing the guitar, Martin's classic D-type design was inspired by the "dreadnought" that sank German submarines in World War I, hence the name Dreadnought, which was conceived by Martin to have a cannon-like bass response and solid resonance.
The classic models of Martin guitars are divided into D-type, 000-type, OM type, and PA type, and their differences are mainly in the shape of the cabinet and the width of the fretboard. Generally speaking, the larger the area of the panel, the heavier the bass and the greater the volume of the guitar, Martin's D-type is one of the representative models, the D-type has a large area of the panel, the bass is mellow, and the strumming resonance is excellent, which is the first choice for playing and singing enthusiasts. The OM type, on the other hand, has a slimmer waist on the basis of the D-type, which is more comfortable to play, and its high-frequency performance is outstanding, and the timbre is sweet and grainy, which is more suitable for fingerstyle playing.
Martin not only created many classic models, but was also a pioneer of innovation in the world of guitars. In Martin's entry-level lineup, instead of the plywood material commonly used by other manufacturers, a material called HPL (similar to resin) was used, which was widely used in furniture and building materials, and Martin brought it to the folk guitar, HPL has the durability and corrosion resistance that wood materials cannot match, and this material is extremely thin and resonates better than plywood. HPL guitars are suitable for use in any harsh environment – the alpine polar regions, battlefields, and even space – bringing musical solace to these environments.
Martin guitar has a strong naming rule, which can directly reflect the specific materials and parameters of the guitar, usually the first letter represents the barrel type, and the following number represents the material. For example, the DC-28E, where D stands for D-shaped, C stands for missing corners, 28 means that the back side panels of the body are made of rosewood, and E means that the guitar is equipped with built-in pickups and can be used for live performances.
There are many series and models of Martin guitars, including those that have been discontinued in the past, those that are in production, various reproductions, signed models, etc. Currently, the Standard series, the PA series for live performances, the X series with innovative materials, and the road series with portability are on sale.
Standard is the most mainstream series of Martin guitars, positioned to meet the needs of musicians with recording needs, with a wide range of models to meet a variety of sound needs. The 28 series uses spruce panels and rosewood back panels, which have excellent tensile strength and have even been used in airplanes, and rosewood, which is so hard that it is called "very acoustically active" in the jargon, which gives the series an extraordinary responsiveness and sustain effect. The 28 series gives full play to the brightness of spruce and the warmth of rosewood, and has full sound potential, the more the timbre plays, the better it is, and it is also a cost-effective choice at the price of 1-20,000 yuan. The D-28 is the most classic and best-selling model of the all, and is suitable for strumming and singing, and legendary musicians such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and many more are D-28 users.
The 4 series is the flagship of Martin guitars, priced at more than 30,000 yuan, and its shape is more ornate than that of the 28 series, such as the body edging and fretboard inlays made of more advanced shell material, the knobs are gold-plated open retro knobs, and the panel material is made of more advanced Sitica spruce tops. But frankly speaking, the improvement in the tone level of the guitar at this price point is not very obvious, and it is more about the excellence of materials and craftsmanship. The representative models are D41, D42 and D45, and the larger the number, the more ornate the decoration.
In addition, the PA series is a full range of missing angle electrical boxes, with a price of around 15,000 yuan, which is cost-effective. The series has a relatively thin neck for smooth transition to high and low handlebars for easier solo playing, and the pickups are custom Fishman pickups, designed by professional musicians in every way, making them ideal for live performances.
Due to the high string spacing and string tension from the factory, coupled with Martin's thicker neck, the Martin guitar is more suitable for professional musicians and guitar enthusiasts looking for advanced guitar control in terms of drive, playing control, and is relatively difficult for beginners to master. But then again, if you can have a martin guitar at the beginning of your practice, it may be more motivating to become a guitar master quickly.
