"How many guitars did you play in your life . . . in order to be able to judge Martins in such an authoritative way?"

Well, quite a few, actually. I got my first Martin in 1954, and I've owned three altogether. Since then, I have played dozens and heard hundreds. At the time, Martin was the guitar. Prices ranged from about $100.00 up to close to $300.00, depending on the model. The quality of any model was excellent, and it was almost possible to buy a Martin sight-unseen and be pretty certain that you were getting a fine instrument. The occasional not-so-good Martin was a rare beast indeed.

But times have changed. During the late Fifties, through the Sixties, and beyond, the demand for good guitars, particularly Martins, has multiplied many times over. Of course, the prices skyrocketed (law of supply and demand), and to meet that demand, Martin increased production and the number of models. And, unfortunately, as all too often happens in circumstances like that, quality began to slide.

For the most part, Martins are still excellent guitars, but as far as buying sight-unseen is concerned, it's definitely not advisable. The ratio of not-so-good Martins to the very good ones has increased markedly, and if you're in the market for a Martin, you really want to try several before you buy.

Are Martin's out of my financial range? No. I currently own three full-sized guitars, two made in Madrid, and one made in Japan. I also have a couple of very nice travel guitars, both made by Sam Radding in San Diego. If I really wanted a Martin, I could sell one of the Spanish-made guitars and use the money to buy two or three Martins.

Are Martins good guitars? Most certainly. But they've become very expensive of late, and the quality is far more spotty than it used to be. Caveat emptor

Don Firth