The Price Is... Right?!

[Wilmingtonian]

Mislabeled. Relax, folks, GC might make mistakes but they ain't out to intentional rip people off. https://www.guitarcenter.com/Martin...oustic-Electric-Guitar-Black-1500000302341.gc

 

[littlebun]

So I saw this today... I don’t know much about brands and what not, but I need a new acoustic guitar, and being left handed makes searching for something decent all the more difficult. I’ve run the gamut of low end Fenders, Yamahas, etc,
and this caught my eye.
but I know enough to know Martins simply don’t go this low, even if “used”.
I googled the D35 for kicks and the used ones started at $1500 to $2,000.
so what’s the catch? I didn’t call the “experts” as they suggested in the ad, cause you guys are the experts. I don’t care what they tell me, this can’t be the right price or it can’t be a real Martin, not when comparable models cost three times the price...can it?View attachment 3990763

This is a lower level Martin, and priced accordingly. This ad from GC seems ok. Returns are easy with them.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I found it on Guitar Center’s site... that’s a shame they would even post fraudulent stuff if that’s the case
Maybe it’s why I play bass

One of the things about buying gear from ‘guitar center is it comes with a money back guarantee. Have the manager of the local store call the store with said Guitar, and ask hi to verify the authenticity of the instrument. When it arrives and it is obvious it isn’t, you get your money back.

As for the low price, they do manufacture guitars out of laminate wood and those are a lot less expensive than a D-28 or D-35s.

 

[wintremute]

What? No consipracy theory? Just a lower level model of the line? How boring.

 

[jnuts1]

my buddy has some composite bodied one that sounds and plays pretty well. its flat black and almost identical to that and only 4-500 bucks if i recall.

 

[pcake]

That's the DX series

Martin DX Johnny Cash Guitar | Signature Edition | C.F. Martin

Pretty sure these are entirely laminate (and I have to assume imported for the price). That being said the DX guitars tend to play pretty well, acoustically they're kinda meh (IMHO), but plugged in they sound decent. If I bought it the first thing I'd do is stick black tape over the "cash"

At $600 brand new, the price here is meh as well

yup, all laminate. and if it's martin's usual laminate, it's weird stuff - other companies fuse sheets of wood. martin uses particle board using big particles. most luthiers say they won't even try to fix the body if it gets damaged.

I looked at this one too. I’m assuming it’s made in China to Martin’s specs for this price point. That doesn’t exactly scare me off. I have a Made in China Blueridge acoustic that’s way beyond its price tag. Eastman is also made there and they’ve got some incredible guitars. I only sold my 386 because i was raising funds for my new Rickenbacker (which certainly eased any pain I was feeling). If you get the Martin, please report in what you think.

my blueridge guitar was all solid wood and sounded amazing; this martin DX series guitar is all laminate. BIG difference.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Taylor and Takamini make some pretty nice guitars that won't empty your wallet..

 

[chazsundance]

I'd do something from Seagull/Simon&Patrick/Art&Lutherie for that price range. Way better guitars, build quality is excellent, and the tone and playability is great. Made in Canada

 

[dr doofie]

What? No consipracy theory? Just a lower level model of the line? How boring.

No kidding...
I thought I uncovered something to grouse over for days

 

[dr doofie]

yup, all laminate. and if it's martin's usual laminate, it's weird stuff - other companies fuse sheets of wood. martin uses particle board using big particles. most luthiers say they won't even try to fix the body if it gets damaged.



my blueridge guitar was all solid wood and sounded amazing; this martin DX series guitar is all laminate. BIG difference.

look at the “signature”, for cryin out loud..
The $4,000 one at least is his name in cursive
This one also talks about its “mahogany-like” fiber... right...

 

[dan1952]

Can't you just put a new nut on any guitar/bass, and turn it lefty?

The saddle on a righty guitar slants the opposite direction of a lefty.

 

[dr doofie]

I looked at this one too. I’m assuming it’s made in China to Martin’s specs for this price point. That doesn’t exactly scare me off. I have a Made in China Blueridge acoustic that’s way beyond its price tag. Eastman is also made there and they’ve got some incredible guitars. I only sold my 386 because i was raising funds for my new Rickenbacker (which certainly eased any pain I was feeling). If you get the Martin, please report in what you think.

this is obviously the real one... for me to pay that price the Man in Black would have to have been forced to jam with me for 3 days

 

[dr doofie]

If you had Googled "Martin Johnny Cash" your answer would have been revealed.

I wasn’t even aware his first name was Martin... Johnny does sound better

 

[pcake]

I wasn’t even aware his first name was Martin... Johnny does sound better

 

[BAG]

Be warned, be careful, and always try to buy acoustic guitars in a store where you can try them out.

And in the case of lower priced acoustics take a good tuner with you and check the intonation. It's nowhere near as easy to fix on an acoustic guitar as it is on an electric with adjustable saddles.

Can't you just put a new nut on any guitar/bass, and turn it lefty?

You could if you change the nut however if the bridge is angled then you'll need a whole new bridge. Also, if it has a pickup then the controls will be on the bottom of the guitar and the scratch plate will be on the top.

At this price point, you should hunt for a good, used, Yamaha FG series.

Those Yamaha FG series are generally good instruments for the money.

 

[sunbeast]

These are made in Mexico, not China, but still probably not a particularly great acoustic.
For nice guitars built by our American neighbors, I would second the recommendation to check out the Canadian sister brands Seagull/Art & Lutherie/ (Godin/La Patrie)/etc. I’ve owned a couple Seagulls and a few La Patrie classicals and played my guitarist friends A&L’s (and currently have a beautiful Godin bass) and they are all great instruments for the price. Perhaps the lower Canadian dollar also helps in this regard.