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Little Martin Guitar

24 Sep 17 - 04:31 PM (#3878545)
Subject: Little Martin Guitar
From: The Maverick

Can anyone advise whether the space for fingers is any tighter on the little Martin as opposed to any normal sized guitar?


24 Sep 17 - 04:46 PM (#3878547)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: Backwoodsman

It's a 23" scale compared with the full-size Martin Dreadnought scale of 25.4". Therefore yes, the frets are closer together, so less space for the fingers.


24 Sep 17 - 10:41 PM (#3878572)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: Merritt

They are both 1 11/16" at the nut. But, as Backwoodsman points out, there are other matters such as scale - and string spacing, etc. My personal experience is that Martin doesn't always manage "space for fingers" well. I had a Martin 000-15CE for a while, also 1 11/16" at the nut. I'm a fingerpicker & loved everything about the guitar except the string spacing. Sold it and bought something friendlier to the fretting hand. I encourage you to play the instrument; see if it works for you.


25 Sep 17 - 01:23 AM (#3878575)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: GUEST,Lin

This guitar might just be for me. I am a female with small hands. I could never really learn to do bar chords on a regular guitar as it was too much of a stretch and not very comfortable as my fingers are short. Well I am a small petite person anyway, only about 5'2" on a good day but maybe 5' 1 1/2" on other days.:-)
Having small hands has been sometimes difficult for me to even play some regular chords. (the stretch too far between frets). The little Martin would probably be good for me!! How much do they cost approximately and do most guitar stores sell them?


25 Sep 17 - 02:38 AM (#3878576)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: Backwoodsman

If I wanted a travel guitar I'd be on to a Taylor GS Mini. And I'm an owner of three 'proper' Martins who generally dislikes Taylors - but the GS Mini knocks every kind of spot off the Little Martin.

Usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.


27 Sep 17 - 10:44 AM (#3878966)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: GUEST,Guest Tim

I recently picked up a Tanglewood TW73 Parlour, it's really worth looking at for the price. Lots of bass from a small guitar and plays really well, both finger style and chord accompaniment.


28 Sep 17 - 07:43 AM (#3879097)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel

I tried one in a music shop about a year ago - fingering was fine, but it a) is small and b) seemed quite heavily built, which meant I (who am a fairly light-touch player) found it frustratingly unresponsive.

It may suit an Ed Sheeran with a more robust approach, but I wouldn't want one.


28 Sep 17 - 08:53 AM (#3879103)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: Roger the Skiffler

I'm not a musician (as anyone who has heard me sing can attest) but I know a female performer who bought a Little Martin because it was her husband's name and he was short. They are now divorced, but I think she kept the guitar.
RtS


29 Sep 17 - 02:10 PM (#3879332)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: Merritt

The Maverick, you're the OP. Are we getting at what you were asking about?

IMO there's no substitute for you trying out the guitar for size, tone, string spacing, etc.

+1 to Tim's point - maybe a parlor guitar would be the thing. And Tanglewood makes a nice guitar. I've had a Simon & Patrick (Godin) Woodland Parlor with spruce top & cherry b/s for the last 12 years that's kept only in open tunings; it's been just a durable, resonant, steady companion for 100s of gigs. Never had it adjusted or maintained in any way, altho I did ask Godin if I could put medium strings on it which they said was fine. Fretboard width is 1.72" at the nut so plenty of room, at least for me, for fingers on the fretting hand. Great for fingerpicking, rhythm & slide.


29 Sep 17 - 03:05 PM (#3879340)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: punkfolkrocker

Gretsch and Epiphone may be worth checking out for affordable back to basics parlour size guitars...


29 Sep 17 - 03:36 PM (#3879345)
Subject: RE: Little Martin Guitar
From: punkfolkrocker

Gretsch

Epiphone