Reviews of the Best Martin Acoustic Guitars!



Like any guitarist, I had heard of Martin Acoustic Guitars. But until I started my search for the perfect acoustic, I had never actual played one. Let me tell you something straight up; there are very few guitars that can compare either in tone or quality of construction to a Martin.

For more information and a review of each model, click the links below:

Martin Backpacker
Martin Backpacker
LXM Little Martin
LXM Little Martin
LX1 Little Martin
LX1 Little Martin
Solid Top travel guitar; includes padded travel bag High pressure laminate top holds-up well when traveling; includes padded gig bag - USED ONLY 3/4 size solid wood top; includes padded gig bag

OM1 Orchestra
OM1 Orchestra
Custom D Classic
Custom D Classic
D15M Dreadnought
D15M Dreadnought
Smallest, full-sized guitars that Martin makes - USED ONLY Fingerstylists's dream; warm tone from Mahogany backs and sides All-Mahogany top, sides and bottom - did you say "rich tone"?

D18 Dreadought
D18 Dreadought
D28 Dreadnought
D28 Dreadnought
Martin D35 Dreadnought
Martin D35 Dreadnought
Plain-looking, all-solid wood. Great sound. Outstanding Martin dreadnought. Quality with big sound. Larger than average dreadnought with BOLD sound.

Getting to Know Martin

I know - that sounds like the title of a TV series, doesn’t it? Or at least the title of a book. The thing is that when I hold a Martin Guitar in my hands I can’t help but be amazed that I’m holding the product of a company that has been in business for over 200 years!

If there is any one truth about guitar companies, it is that they come and go depending on the leadership and business acumen of the people who run them. When it comes to Martin Guitars, however, it is the quality of the instruments (combined with the fact that it is still run by the multi-great grandson of the founder) that has kept it going through all the ups and downs of the guitar market over the last two centuries.

Martin HD28
HD28 Dreadnought
Martin HD28 Vintage
HD28 Vintage Dreadnought
Martin D18GE Golden Era
D18GE Golden Era
Enhanced, bigger sound version of Martin H28. Possibly best all-around guitar. Forward-shifted scalloped bracing gives this guitar a different voice than the HD-28. Beautiful guitar with powerful punch.

Martin 000-28EC Eric Clapton
000-28EC Eric Clapton
Martin J-40 Jumbo Dreadnought
J-40 Jumbo Dreadnought
Martin 000-28VS
000-28VS
Smaller-build guitar with wider neck. Big tone with beauty and quality. Wide fretboard and exceptionally balanced tone.

Martin D41 Dreadnought
D41 Dreadnought
Martin Steel String Backpacker Left Handed
Backpacker Left Handed
Martin D15 Custom Left Handed
Custom D Left Handed
Power, depth and looks. Solid top, left-handed travel companion. Quality solid top and solid body LH Martin.

Martin Dreadnought D18 Left Handed
D18 Left Handed
Martin D28 Dreadnought Left Handed
D28 Left Handed
Martin D35 Left Handed
D35 Left Handed
Excellent choice for the discriminating left-handed player USED ONLY Broad shouldered, deep body left-handed guitar. Fingerstyle playing on a guitar that resonates like no other!

The Quality of Martin Acoustic Guitars

Martin Acoustic Guitars There is something about the sound of a solid wood acoustic guitar that leaves its laminated counterparts in the dust. Take the Martin HD-28 for example. This particular dreadnought acoustic not only has a solid Sitka spruce top but solid rosewood back and sides. This gives it a richness of tone that blows laminated dreadnoughts out of the water. Add to that the X-bracing that Martin acoustic guitars are known for (the bracing that lets the solid top vibrate more freely and produce a more open sound) and you have a guitar that is worth every penny you will pay.

Of course the number of pennies that you are going to pay for a top quality Martin guitar can be rather daunting. The HD-28 (which is considered to be one of the best sounding Martin’s on the market) can cost you nearly $3,000. This is about the same price as a Gibson Hummingbird (another excellent guitar).

While there are other guitar companies (such as Seagull, Washburn and some Takamines) which make quality guitars with solid tops and bodies at a lower price, there is also the issue of resale value.

The Decision to Buy a Martin

Martin guitars are a known quantity. Just like a Gibson guitar, a Martin can be resold for a significant portion of the original cost if the need should ever arise. In fact, the longer you keep your Martin guitar the better the chance of you actually being able to get more for it on resale than you originally paid for it. Martin’s are considered to be just that good. Of course you are not going to want to sell your Martin. Not only are they well-made and play beautifully, they are also stunning to look at. In fact, the aesthetic beauty of Martin Guitars is only outshone by the way that they sound when you play them.

So in the end, the decision of whether or not to buy one of the Martin Acoustic Guitars will rest entirely on your shoulders. It may technically be out of your budget. But if you consider the fact that it is not just an investment in your music but also a financial investment for the future, you may see your way clear to buying one after all. If you do, it will be a decision you will never regret.

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Include the model # and explanation of why your guitar is so great!

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see reviews from other visitors to this page...

Martin Acoustic Guitars: Custom D Left Handed 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: Custom D Left Handed ”Top of the Line Guitar for the Serious Leftie” If you are looking for a left-handed guitar …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: Black J-40m 
I've never found anything that has sounded better. I play really hard. Martins are great because you can really bang on them. Definitely my favorite.

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D35 Left Handed 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D35 Left Handed ”Left-Handed Guitar that Resonates Like No Other” The Martin D-35 Left-Handed Guitar combines quality …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D18 Dreadnought Left Handed 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D18 Dreadnought Left Handed ”A Left-Handed Dreadnought for the Serious Musician” The Martin D-18 Acoustic Dreadnought …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D41 Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D41 Dreadnought ”Beautiful, Large and Powerful” The Martin D-41 Dreadnought Guitar is a fine example of why Martin …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: 000-28VS 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: 000-28VS ”Beauty in Both Tone and Looks” The Martin 000-28VS Acoustic Guitar is one of those rare guitars that sits …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: J-40 Jumbo Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: J-40 Jumbo Dreadnought ”A Big Guitar That Will Make Sure You Get Heard” The Martin J-40 Jumbo Dreadnought is a surefire …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: 000-28EC Eric Clapton Signature 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: 000-28EC Eric Clapton Signature ”A Guitar that Lives Up to Its Name” The Martin 000-28EC Eric Clapton Signature …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D18GE Golden Era 1934 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D18GE Golden Era 1934 ”Designed to Make an Impact” The Martin D-18GE Golden Era 1934 Acoustic Guitar has the perfect …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: HD28V Vintage Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: HD28V Vintage Dreadnought ”The Grand Piano of Guitars with Spectacular ‘Boom’” The Martin HD-28V Vintage Dreadnought …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: HD28 Standard Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: HD28 Standard Dreadnought ”Possibly The Best-Sounding Martin” The Martin HD-28 may very well be the Martin Guitar …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D35 Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D35 Dreadnought ”A Big Bold (LOUD) Beauty” The Martin D-35 Dreadnought Guitar is one big beautiful instrument that …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D28 Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D28 Dreadnought ”A Tone That Will Knock You Off Your Feet” If you have never played a Martin D-28 Dreadnought, you …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D18 Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D18 Dreadnought ”A Guitar That Cuts to the Chase” The Martin D-18 Dreadnought may not have a lot of visual trimmings, …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D15M Dreadnought 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D15M Dreadnought ”An All-Mahogany Classic” The Martin D15M is a history buff’s dream. With a look of classic instruments …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: OM1 Orchestra 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: OM1 Orchestra ”Powerful Small Guitar” The Martin 1-Series OM-1 Orchestra Model produces a surprisingly powerful …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: LX1 Little Martin 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: LX1 Little Martin ”Quality Travel Guitar” The Martin LX1 Little Martin is, at $299 (including a padded gig bag), …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: LXM Little Martin 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: LXM Little Martin ”A Sturdy Travel or Beginner’s Guitar” An LXM Little Martin is an awesome choice for the beginning …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D28 Dreadnought Left Handed 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D28 Dreadnought Left Handed ”Famous Guitar for Lefties” The Martin D-28 Left-Handed Dreadnought is a version of …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: D15 Custom Left Handed 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: D15 Custom Left Handed ”A Left-Handed Guitar That Looks as Good as it Sounds ” The Martin D-15 Custom Spruce and …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: Steel String Backpacker Left Handed 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: Steel String Backpacker Left Handed ”Affordable Left-Handed Travel Guitar” The Martin Steel String Backpacker Left …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: Custom D Classic  
Martin Acoustic Guitars: Custom D Classic ”This ‘Plain Jane’ Sings Like No Other” The Martin Custom D Classic Mahogany, while not flashy …

Martin Acoustic Guitars: Steel String Backpacker 
Martin Acoustic Guitars: Steel String Backpacker ”The Backpacker’s Travel Companion” The Martin Steel-String Backpacker is truly a guitar …

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