2.5 Millionth Martin Guitar

Rabs · June 2022

Rabs · June 2022

Also

New for Martin this NAMM are two models: the 000-16 Streetmaster and D-18 Authentic 1937. For the former, this is the first time Martin's Streetmaster finish (which debuted in 2017's solid mahogany 15 series) has been applied to East Indian rosewood and Adirondack spruce. The new Authentic D-18 1937, meanwhile, is an authentic and historically accurate recreation of the famous model from that year. Both guitars employed Martin's Vintage Tone System (VTS) to age the top and braces of the guitar for that true vintage tone. Martin also refreshed its D-28 Authentic 1937 and Road Series GPC-13E Ziricote for 2022, and unveiled a few new ukulele models (the 0 Tenor, T1 Tenor, and C1 Concert Ukulele.

new martin models

ICBM · June 2022

I love the 2.5 million guitar - wildly over the top and yet surprisingly tasteful at the same time.

earwighoney · June 2022

The Streetmaster on spec is really decent, basically an VTS OM28, for $2k, but the low exchange rate makes it £2.1k in the UK.

With Martin's awful QC, even though on spec it looks great, it seems too much.

ICBM · June 2022

earwighoney said:

The Streetmaster on spec is really decent

It looks absolutely horrendous.

earwighoney · June 2022

ICBM said:

earwighoney said:

The Streetmaster on spec is really decent

It looks absolutely horrendous.

Agree. A grand cheaper than the OM28 though, with an Adirondack soundboard.

ICBM · June 2022

earwighoney said:

A grand cheaper than the OM28 though, with an Adirondack soundboard.

I’d rather pay even less and not have the fake ageing.

Tannin · June 2022

Two and a half million guitars is one thing - there are cookie-cutter companies in Asia who knock those sorts of numbers out as a matter of routine - but two and a half million guitars of the quality Martin turn out is another thing altogether. That is a phenomenal achievement and I tips me 'at to them.

DavidR · June 2022

The 'New for 2022 D18 Authentic 1937' is currently on the Martin website for $6,299 Rabs. Unless I'm mistaken, you might want to revisit your link which (I think) is for a (much cheaper!) D18 Standard.

Here's the current 'new models' link for Martin

New for 2022 | Martin Guitar

As regards the Streetmaster 00016, it's a cheaper guitar at $1,999 but has Adirondack VTS torrefied top, neither of which are features of the D16E at $1,899 and so it might represent quite good value, by Martin standards, if you can get over the top. I don't mind it really.

Generally Martin guitars remain expensive. There are equally good guitars from other brands available in the Martin 'mid-price' range and their best models are now too expensive for many non-professional acoustic players.

e.g. this Streetmaster for $1,999 or Yamaha LL16 for £879?? Approx prices not changed for currency but you get the point.

Tannin · June 2022

^ Yes @DavidR ;. As I was going to say in my comment earlier (but decided not to so as to avoid throwing mud alongside flowers), the most astonishing achievement isn't making 2.5 million guitars (they do that in Asia as routine) and it isn't even making 2.5 million pretty decent ones, some of them wonderful - it is being able to sell those 2.5 million guitars for 30% to 50% over the going rate (for products of equivalent quality).

Mellish · June 2022

Late to this - gigging last night.

£2.5m?! C'mon now, and I bet they'll sell.

I'm a Martin fan but I have issues with the company,the UK warranty being one, the Re-imagined neck profile on their standard series being another.

Saying that, if you find a good one (and that neck doesn't bother you), you've got a great guitar

crunchman · June 2022

Tannin said:

Two and a half million guitars is one thing - there are cookie-cutter companies in Asia who knock those sorts of numbers out as a matter of routine - but two and a half million guitars of the quality Martin turn out is another thing altogether. That is a phenomenal achievement and I tips me 'at to them.

The majority of those 2.5m have been made recently. I've got a Martin I bought new around 15 years ago and the serial number is 1077nnn. That suggests that well over half have been made in the last 15 years.

bertie · June 2022

Mellish said:

£2.5m?! C'mon now, and I bet they'll sell.

you've either mis-read the title or that's a joke ?

they're all hideous/boring/nothing new - delete as appropriate

Kilgore · June 2022

crunchman said:

Tannin said:

Two and a half million guitars is one thing - there are cookie-cutter companies in Asia who knock those sorts of numbers out as a matter of routine - but two and a half million guitars of the quality Martin turn out is another thing altogether. That is a phenomenal achievement and I tips me 'at to them.

The majority of those 2.5m have been made recently. I've got a Martin I bought new around 15 years ago and the serial number is 1077nnn. That suggests that well over half have been made in the last 15 years.

Martin got to a million guitars in 2004. From 1833 to 2004 it works out at an average if approx 6000 annually.

1.5 million from 2004 to present works out at an average of approx 84000 annually.

They've had their Mexican plant for 25 years so I assume that's responsible for a lot of the growth, especially as it produces the "budget" end of the range.

Mellish · June 2022

bertie said:

Mellish said:

£2.5m?! C'mon now, and I bet they'll sell.

you've either mis-read the title or that's a joke ?

they're all hideous/boring/nothing new - delete as appropriate

Totally misread

Mellish · June 2022

A good Martin is a great guitar, as I've said, and I'm a fan.

However, my issue is mainly about the UK warranty. One year when in the US it's lifetime

Kilgore · June 2022

Mellish said:

A good Martin is a great guitar, as I've said, and I'm a fan.

However, my issue is mainly about the UK warranty. One year when in the US it's lifetime

The warranty doesn't cover neck resets due to age and ware (only if it's a manufacturing defect). Which is what most people would have used the lifetime warranty for.

I think providing a lifetime warranty for UK purchasers is simply unrealistic, with a limited authorised repairer network, the guitar would probably have to go back to the US, with the costs that would entail.

Martin may be based in Nazareth but you can't expect miracles.

Musicwolf · June 2022

I thought that this was a thread about @HarrySeven ;

ArchtopDave · June 2022

Kilgore said:

crunchman said:

Tannin said:

Two and a half million guitars is one thing - there are cookie-cutter companies in Asia who knock those sorts of numbers out as a matter of routine - but two and a half million guitars of the quality Martin turn out is another thing altogether. That is a phenomenal achievement and I tips me 'at to them.

The majority of those 2.5m have been made recently. I've got a Martin I bought new around 15 years ago and the serial number is 1077nnn. That suggests that well over half have been made in the last 15 years.

Martin got to a million guitars in 2004. From 1833 to 2004 it works out at an average if approx 6000 annually.

1.5 million from 2004 to present works out at an average of approx 84000 annually.

They've had their Mexican plant for 25 years so I assume that's responsible for a lot of the growth, especially as it produces the "budget" end of the range.

I, too, was thinking it's not that long since the millionth guitar was made.... I can remember seeing that guitar at a show.

BigPaulie · June 2022

DavidR said:

Generally Martin guitars remain expensive. There are equally good guitars from other brands available in the Martin 'mid-price' range and their best models are now too expensive for many non-professional acoustic players.

e.g. this Streetmaster for $1,999 or Yamaha LL16 for £879?? Approx prices not changed for currency but you get the point.

I don't know what the Streetmaster will retail at, but you can get an LL16 from Peach for £729. That is crazy value!

I own a 2006 Martin D-16GT and a 2021 LL16, and for the money I paid for them, the Yamaha is clearly better value.

roberty · June 2022

Better than their Brexit guitar, which was an actual guitar that they actually made. Completely batshit mental

Image: https://preview.redd.it/6u91rz3cqug31.jpg?auto=webp&s=75f9aa6d5206d4d6c18d0fe64b8a17d2fc7c9e2d

Rabs · June 2022

DavidR said:

The 'New for 2022 D18 Authentic 1937' is currently on the Martin website for $6,299 Rabs. Unless I'm mistaken, you might want to revisit your link which (I think) is for a (much cheaper!) D18 Standard.

Here's the current 'new models' link for Martin

New for 2022 | Martin Guitar

Ahh right cheers.. I just copied the text off the Reverb story.. Didnt actually check the links...

Rabs · June 2022

Theres a vid showing a lot of this at NAMM (its their fist stop)

guitarjack66 · June 2022

Kilgore said:

Mellish said:

A good Martin is a great guitar, as I've said, and I'm a fan.

However, my issue is mainly about the UK warranty. One year when in the US it's lifetime

The warranty doesn't cover neck resets due to age and ware (only if it's a manufacturing defect). Which is what most people would have used the lifetime warranty for.

I think providing a lifetime warranty for UK purchasers is simply unrealistic, with a limited authorised repairer network, the guitar would probably have to go back to the US, with the costs that would entail.

Martin may be based in Nazareth but you can't expect miracles.

I think this is because when you see the prices your first word is 'Jesus.'

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2.5 Millionth Martin Guitar

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