The Martin D 42

I can't claim to have ever truly understood the WHY of the D 42, but I don't pretend to own C.F. Martin & Co., or to have any stock in the company.  I'm just a huge fan - that's all. Yes, of course I understand that it's $7,500.00 for the base level Martin D 45, and that lots of folks wished that they could afford a D 45...can't, and instead buy a D 42. But come on!  It's five grand for a D 42!  It's just a prettier D 28!  Hell, that's what the D 45 is! Oh, please don't, you D 42 owners, think that I'm not in love with your beautiful guitars.  I've never owned anything that pretty; and I love Martin instruments.   I only wish that the niche had been filled for a Mahogany dreadnought dressed up as pretty...

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The Martin D 16

Mahogany dreadnoughts are simply awesome, and I'm never going to be able to stop kicking myself for selling my Martin D 18GE that I used to own.  I sold the thing because I was depressed, broke, and owned another guitar already that was far too good for my skill level to justify. Broke is one thing, but trying to rationalize the ownership of an instrument based upon the players level of skill is ridiculous.  You don't have to be Tony Rice to enjoy a fine guitar.  Thinking that one must be a great guitarist to own an outstanding guitar (or three!) is like saying that an ugly dude shouldn't be married to a beautiful woman.  It's not something that is anyone else's business. Anyway..... The D 16 is a cannon of an instrument....

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The Dan Tyminski D 28

The Dan Tyminski D 28 is just different.  It is not at all like the modern HD 28v's - it is purposefully braced with not a High X, but a LOW X bracing because that's how Dan wanted the thing. If you don't know, then the positioning of the X braces make a huge difference in the sound of any guitar.  Yes the rosewood and spruce are important, and yes, also important here are the specific cuts of wood..... It's a Martin, dude, it's going to be great. Here's more: MARTIN D-28 DAN TYMINSKI GUITAR & CASE Custom Artist Edition - Designed for Dan Tyminski who wanted a guitar to take on the road that sounded as much as possible like his 1946 D-28 - Indian rosewood with Adirondack spruce top, Golden Era style scalloped braces with...

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The HD 35

Quite obviously, a D 35 is a different instrument than a D28.  I'm not going to get too much into how not every D 28 ever made has been a herringbone D 28, but I do expect you to either know that, trust me on that, or ask me questions. I'll tell you no lies. What's the difference between one with and without the damned herringbone trim anyway? Quite a lot. You see, having herringbone trim on a Martin guitar isn't just trim - it also signifies structural differences in the instrument that you can not see with your eyes, but rather, that you WILL hear with your ears. Herringbone Martin guitars are fragile instruments, more fragile than is normal for something made of wood and glue and enduring large amounts of tension from the elements,...

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