Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 18 Apr 25 - 09:15 AM

Watched all that stuff guys. It's given me a complex lol.

Some good guitar picking for sure, and a likable man.

When I watch someone play, I'm always trying to learn from what they're doing. To my mind, you're never SO good that you can't benefit through that.

Anyway, I'm rambling so thanks for taking the time to post the links guys
Appreciate it :)

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 02:07 PM

Thanks a bunch guys. Going to look at ALL that stuff so it'll be tomorrow (earliest) when I get back here :)

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 01:31 PM

Another great Tony moment,
Early Morning Rain off of Me and My Guitar.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 01:08 PM

“Native American” - the start of the instrumental on Joni Mitchell’s “Urge For Going” always leaves me speechless! Can’t wait? Try Here

If you’ve never come across Tony Rice before, Fred, you’re in for a treat!

If you’d like to hear Tony’s guitar with Clarence White playing it This never ceases to amaze. Just when you think the guitar instrumental reachs it’s climax, simply carries on.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 12:16 PM

Thank you mate :)

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 12:02 PM

Fred, the first two albums mentioned, Native American and Me and My Guitar, might particularly appeal to you as they mostly contain covers of contemporary song writers. Tony adds a degree of subtlety and sophisticated instrumental work to the songs without losing their essence, IMO.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 11:51 AM

Cheers, Gilly, that lot will keep me out of mischief today at least :)

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 11:41 AM

If you're checking out Tony Rice you also don't want to miss Native American, Me and My Guitar, Tony Rice Plays and Sings Bluegrass, Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot (A compilation), Backwaters (Space Grass instrumentals), both Blake and Rice albums for great guitar duos plus songs. I could go on, I don't think he ever made a less than good album and he always collaborated with great acoustic musicians.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 11:29 AM

I'd heard of Tony Rice but never looked him up until you guys started talking about him in this thread.

I've been on YouTube and Google, hearing him in interviews, watching him perform, and I realise that I've missed out and can now only watch what he did rather than what he does, if that makes sense.

Dylan, Donovan, Paxton, that's the sort of stuff I do, although I WILL borrow a Strat at gigs (if they'll let me) and do Little Red Rooster :)

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 04:24 AM

Ray,

Ah, will do mate. Thanks for that.

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Apr 25 - 03:43 AM

The “Guest” was me!

If you’re not familiar with Tony Rice, Fred, my advice would be to get hold of a copy of “Manzanita”. I picked one up whilst I was working at a festival and it changed my whole musical outlook.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 07:31 PM

Guest,

Look up "Bourgeois D Large Soundhole Aged Tone".

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 06:55 PM

Collings made a Clarence model with enlarged soundhole and a bound, markerless fret board. Bourgeois also made a one-off Tony Rice tribute instrument.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 05:17 PM

It’s serial number, in case anyone’s wondering, is 58957.

I think you’ll find that the latest incarnation of the White/Rice is made by Atkin Guitars in Canterbury, UK. I’m not aware that either Collings or Bourgeois made one but I may be wrong - its not really something I’ve taken much interest in. I think the only “official” one is the one by SC - the label on mine is signed by TR.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 02:53 PM

Oh, and if you want more details about this git there are plenty out there, this may be the most talked about guitar in history.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 02:50 PM

Yeah, Fred his career was cut short but he left us with a trove of great music.
Here's a short vid of Tony talking with the late Happy Traum about the the Clarence White D-28.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 02:20 PM

Very sad :(

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 01:51 PM

From a Bluegrass Today article in 2014 custom-bourgeois-guitar-auctioned-to-benefit-tony-rice/

Of course, Tony has since passed on.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 01:40 PM

I think Collings and Bourgeois also made copies of the White/Rice (that's a good nickname) D-28, though I think the Bourgeois was a one- off.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 11:39 AM

Martin guitars are probably the most copied guitar ever. I bought a D18 back in the 70s but I’ve not taken it out of it’s case in months. In fact, my main go-to guitar is a “Martin Copy” - a Santa Cruz Tony Rice to be precise. It’s not a generic copy but a copy of a particular guitar which has been owned during its lifetime by the two greats; Clarence White and Tony Rice. (The original was modified with a larger sound hole and a Gretsch fretboard).

Some years after SC started producing them, a version appeared produced by Martin themselves (I think it was called something along the lines of the “LSH”). I always refer to it as “a Martin copy of a copy of a Martin”.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 11:14 AM

John,

Ahh, I wasn't far off though lol.

Gilly, in July this year I hope to take the C.F.Martin & Co factory tour. Been waiting 50 years!

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 10:49 AM

It's always nice to hear about a good D-18, Fred.
An M-36 looks like an OM-35 and has similar appointments but is slightly larger at the upper and lower bouts.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 10:27 AM

Gilly,

I've never seen an M-36 in the flesh, only on Google, YouTube etc.

I consider myself very fortunate to have my D-18 which, to my mind, is one in a million. But I've said so much about it that I really can't bore you all again :)

Cheers
Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 10:25 AM

Because they're made in the USA by American workers?

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 10:13 AM

My favorite acoustic has become my M-36 Martin which I acquired a few months back and by today's standards I think I got it at a very good price, considering it's tone and playability. I've owned some more "boutiqueish" (if that's a word) instruments that cost more than twice as much and most of them didn't excite me the way this Martin does.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Fred
Date: 16 Apr 25 - 09:41 AM

To answer the OP, what are you paying for when you buy an acoustic guitar? Mainly the woods, right? Now,there isn't just Brazilian Rosewood, say, it's graded, and that's still true of East Indian Rosewood, Mahogany or whatever.

The higher the grade, the more you pay.

Fred

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 27 Oct 21 - 03:34 PM

Whoa, I forgot to post the post that I came on this thread to post. Dr. Stephenson reminded of a Martin that a friend of mine had back in the early '70's, when he was helping me learn to fingerpick country blues. He got himself a D-12-35S, a 12 fret slot head in order to play Leadbelly songs and he got pretty good at it.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: gillymor
Date: 27 Oct 21 - 03:19 PM

I've had 5 Martins and never really fell in love with any of them except for the last which was the cheapest, a 000-17 12 fret slot head, which is still in my hands. However I have played some great ones including a 1930 OM-28, a 1937 D-18 (spectacular Bluegrass guitar) and a '59 D-28 that my brother has.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 Oct 21 - 02:31 PM

I could call any of my guitars "Martin".

But I'm not the kind of bloke who gives guitars names..

Neither do I call them "She"...

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 27 Oct 21 - 02:09 PM

It's all about the name, I play a Gibson F5 mandolin, it's probably not the best mandolin I own, but it's the iconic Gibson mandolin and I love it.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Dr. Stephenson
Date: 27 Oct 21 - 11:47 AM

Wow! What a thread... I just discovered it as I was looking at what my Martin D12-35 was worth and there are so many good/valid opinions here that I had to ring in with mine.

Background...

I'm 78 and have been playing since I was 10. I started out on an old Kay arch-top and smashed it when my father kept giving me a bad time about playing "worthless" music (I guess I had a bit of a temper back then). Time passed and I started playing again. When I joined the Navy I had a shipmate who had a Gibson 12. Loved the sound, hated the feel - it had a neck like a baseball bat. But I was hooked on 12-strings.

I had a Gibson ES330 that I played in a band on the Navy base and when I got out and got married we had some gaps in our finances and I sold it rather than starve. STUPID!!! Bought for $300 and who knows what's worth today (that was in 1968 or so).

When we had money again my wife bought a used Martin D12-35 from a want-ad in the local paper for $300 and I was hopelessly hooked. That was in 75, it's a 71 and I love playing it still.

The rest of the story...

Now I can afford feeding my guitar addiction. In addition to the D12-35 I have a Taylor 12, A Martin D28 Retro and my hands-down favorites, a Tonedevil Harp guitar and a Tonedevil nylon strung gypsy jazz parlor-sized guitar. The Tonedevil guitars are custom built for me to specs that the luthier and I worked out (Tonedevil is a small family-owned shop in Idaho).

Never say "never" but with that caveat I never will buy a new guitar that isn't custom. I don't play the Martin 12 out for fear of damaging it (that's why I bought the Taylor) but mostly I play the Tonedevils. Check them out if you're up for a new instrument - Price? NOT cheap... my two guitars from them averaged over $5K each. But well worth the money.

--P

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,herringbone jones
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 05:55 AM

Gee, I can't believe I read the whole thread.
I really do need adult supervision, methinks . . . .

I have a Martin, and I like it a lot.
It's pretty beat up and not too pretty, but you could say that about me too and that's alright . . . I don't care, I live in a swamp . . . . . and try to live by the gospel according to Pogo . . . . .

I also got some similar dreadnoughts a lot newer and not as icky as the old D-28, among them is the Takamine Jasmine . . . a hundred dollar guitar brand new and I like them a lot too . . . . seriously.
Nobody asks why THEY are so expensive . . . . . and I think we can agree that a hundred bucks ain't chickenfeed. The Jasmine may not be handmade, but what's the big deal with that anyway?
Show me a guitar somebody built with their feet, and then you'll REALLY have something . . . .

I like my Gibsons, my Nationals, my old Guild 12 and my Henway** etc. ad nauseam . . . . . . . . I have several other guitars as well (seventy-some stringed instruments), but I do like my old D-28 the best I guess for an acoustic. My ugly old '64 Strat is nice too, but not as good as the Martin for fiddle tunes, ragtime, open tunings and such and it isn't much good without electricity on a mountaintop. . . but I digress . . .

Which reminds me, does anyone know if a dreadnought is a Rastafarian with a normal regular haircut? Just wondering . . .

My ratty old Martin may be old, (1935 ~ SN: 60915) but it sounds real good, boy howdy, and is not near worn out, but again the Jasmines ain't bad and cost a lot less.
I only got a couple of Martins these days, but I got four of the Jasmines (no waiting).
So . . . .
Can ANYONE read between the lines here?

I may (I dread) nought be as dumb as I look.

I have heard it said about sex and pizza:
"It's all good, but some's better".

So lighten up sez I, you snobsters (ya know who ya are) . . . or, you could grow up to be a mule (so sayeth Der Bingle, 1944).

Namaste

herringbone jones
KIng of the Smurf Guitar
Law West of the Pecos


(P.S. I can see y'all is pretty smart . . . . could somebody tell me what diddy wah diddy means?)

**(what's a Henway?)

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Oct 11 - 10:35 PM

It's a crap shoot...

I own a 1966 D-18 that I bought new...

I also own a 60's S. Yaria parlor that I bought for $40 in a pawn shop...

One I gave to my great niece...

The other I perform with...

Guess ya'll know where this is going...

I gave away the D-18 and perform with the S. Yaria...

Hey, I loved my Martin until it wasn't the right guitar for me... Great guitars... Just had to do what was right for me...

B~

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 11 - 09:32 PM

I've been around a long time (71yrs.) I'm retired.I've been a studio owner, Record label owner and agency owner. I've owned a lot of guitars. I have'nt seen a real answer to the question of "why martin guitars are so expensive? One thing that always made martin stand out in the feild when I was doing some radio, and television in the 60's and 70's was the tonal quality. There was absoloutely no mistaking the martin sound, it stood alone. Gibson also had a sound
of it's own. I heard nothing that came close. I owned both. Each had distinguishing tones, I'm talking acoustics of which I'm very familiar with. Martin built on this reputation but did slip on build quality in the 70's to 80's. Yet you might pick up one that is up to tonal quality in those years. An example I still have a 1970 D-35 12 string with poor quality build. The neck collapsed on it. Why did I keep it? Any musician who came into my studio and picked it up said " what a great sounding guitar." I hope this helps answer the question. They built a reputation in my musical area on the distinguishing tone.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Brian May
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 06:17 AM

As an owner of 3 Martins, a 000-28, a D-28 and a D12-28 and VERY happy with them, I note that generally the most disparaging comments come from people who don't have them.

Not always the case, but more often than not.

I waited 40 odd years before I bought my first, and at 60, I think I now know what 'floats my boat'.

They are individual 'characters' and an absolute delight to play.

I didn't pay list price for any of them (the 12 string was flawless and second hand) and in terms of satisfaction for price - wonderful.

Why did I spend so much overall? Because I'm worth it (as the advert goes).

The best test perhaps, is to play a few makes with a blind fold on - then analyse the results.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Achromat
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 04:04 AM

Bought a brand new HD-28 Oct. 2010. Intonation was off but soon realized that the guitar was built in 2008 and had a set of strings on it that were 2 years old! Mind you it sounded fantastic. Changed the strings and the intonation problems disappeared. The high E and G ring out a bit but I'll take care of that after I've had it for awhile as they seem to be working themselves out the more I play it.

I went through a lot of Martins before I settled on this one so the fact that they are hand made and not mass produced on a CnC machine makes them expensive and worth it.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 07:06 PM

Some time ago I toured the Martin plant in Nazareth. At the end of the tour each guest was given a genuine Martin soundhole. If they are giving their holes away it just has to increase the cost to the buyer! If anyone out there has a Martin with a soundhole missing I could supply one for a small cost and of course shipping and handling charges. :-}

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 02:14 PM

When I again saw the title of this thread, I was reminded of my years in the premium wine business. Particularly in France; in Bordeaux, more specifically, some labels command high prices because of a historic record of quality. Others because of scarcity - and a recognizable and well-marketed name. Some, on the other hand, trade on long-lost attributes from a prior ownership and management.

How many instrument makers are still in the hands of original owners? How many, once highly regarded, have disappeared? Martin has had its downs, but has a single family legacy of ownership and a very good track record of quality overall - and it is one of the oldest and best known producers of string instruments anywhere.
In the end, people will always be willing to pay a bit more for what they perceive is a higher level of quality.

In the end, it's a love affair. As we all know, they don't always make sense to others. They don't have to.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,JC
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 01:50 PM

I bought my D-35 from Mr. Music in 1980 and it's tone just keeps getting better and better as the years add up. I can put it away in that original form shaped case I got with the guitar and come back in 6 months and pick it up and it is still in tune. Even with the strings being a little dead, it still resonates good quality sound. It's got good action and I love just picking and grining.

Owned and tried several other brands and yes, I admit hats off to those people at Taylor. They've come up with some good quality guitars as well. Got good action as well but they still lack that deeeeep rick base sound that a Martin rings out.

I paid just a little over $1700 for the D-35 and case in 1980 and yeah I know paid a little over the top at that time, but it's part of me now after all of these years and I would never give it up.

What can I tell ya, but I really like my old Martin regardless what I see and read from others. I have never had to test out it's lifetime warranty cause it just does get damaged.

Thank you Mr. Martin.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: guitaaress
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 06:42 AM

I own three Martins. D35 HD28 and M38. My local store stocks Talylors and I've played every model over the years. Fine consistant instruments. The only Guitars I've ever played that are either equal to or better than any of my Martins are Santa Cruz and Collings. A friend has a 1948 D18 that sings and a D28 from the same year that is simply beautiful beyond words. Of all the Taylors I've played and I've played loads, not one has made my pulse race the way it does when I again pick up a Martin.
That is why Martins are the price they are. Sheer quality and tone at a consistant level. There are poor Martins but so few and far between it's not worth mentioning. Taylor = Toyota does everything it should. Martin = Bently it's the benchmark that everyone aspires too.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Martin D 76-E to sell
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 10:40 PM

Sorry, meant to say a Martin. Apparently these were made for employees of Martin. If interested, I can put you in touch with him.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Have a Martin D 76-E to sell
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 10:33 PM

My sister's partner has a D 76-e to sell. I do not have all the info but could get photos and provenance. He says it's in very good condition and would like around $2500.
Anyone interested?

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Bert
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 08:31 PM

It's known as 'Peter's Placebo'. You remember, from the book 'The Peter Principle'

Explained by Peter as 'An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance'

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,CN
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 09:40 PM

Bigjoe's quite right. Over the years Martin have made some fantastic instruments but for sheer consistency these days you simply can't beat Collings guitars. Expensive, certainly, but stunning.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Bigjoe from Jersey
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 09:17 PM

Lordy I used to be such a fan of Martin. But now I have two high end Martins with neck warps and other more minor finish flaws, and action rising faster than the Mississippi. I'm broken hearted, gonna drown my sorrows in a nice Collings I think (Bob Collings, not Tom).

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 06:40 AM

hi

I agree with your point about what other people hear.
I used to p[lay a Martin D-18 and thought it had a great sound.

Unfortunately it got badly damaged in a road accident and I had to replace it quickly.

I couldn't afford a comparable Martin at the time and so after much looking and testing I bought a Yamaha FG-360.

I didn't think it compared with my Martin but I got used to it.

Because I had changed instruments I asked around at various gigs and not one person said that they could detect or notice any difference in sound quality.

I could but I experiment with different strings and I have to say that the mixture of Yamaha with Martin strings does make a big different to my own ears.

So it satisfies me and the others clearly can't tell any difference so why pay the extra money ???

One other point about the differences in some of the opinions about the quality of Martins' sound.

I have found that certain players sound better on different guitars...and buying a Martin is not going to make the buyer sound any more like his particular "idol".

I once bought a Guild when I was going through my John Denver phase...didn't work !!! lol

I now thrash away on my Yamaha and it satisfies me and as the people out there don't appear to be able to tell....so I'm a happy bunny.

happy playing

John

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Kosmo
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 09:27 PM

This answer comes late but it may be because they are made by blind nuns ... no?

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,twangbar king
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 06:24 PM

Some Martins are great, but the new ones are not worthy of the heralded reputation. Taylor's have gone WAY downhill fast. I will stack my Larivee up against all of them. Want a decent inexpensive acoustic made in canada, solid wood, try out a seagull by Godin. Maybe the best acoustic (nothing fancy) made today for the money.

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: Amos
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 03:33 PM

See the new thread of this date on "Eric Claptons Guitar"--all is revealed.


A

Subject: RE: Why are Martin Guitars so expensive?
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 02:51 PM

The guitar gets sweeter with age I could not put a price tag on my 1971 D35.