NGD 18 Martin J40 re-imagined

[TBear]

Just sold my J-65M to a friend as too a bit too bright for my taste. I found a re-imagined Martin J40 at a reasonable price. It is being shipped today. Listening to a number of videos, there is just a bit less brightness in the J40 probably due to the rosewood taking the place of the maple. The shape is pretty is the same. The most obvious difference besides the rosewood is the D41 like inlays and trim on the D40. The new guitar had the pickguard professionally removed and Schaller open tuners replacing the original tuners. (Both original pickguard and factory tuners will accompany the guitar). I will definitely have the pickguard put back on. I will make a decision about the tuners, after I get the opinion of the repair person at Carter Vintage. I am really excited about this instrument.

[cliff_the_stiff]

Martin J-40 is one of the best guitars ever.
Congratulations.

[Earl49]

Years ago (1990) when I was looking for "lifetime" guitar, the J-40 won out. It has the raw horsepower of a D-28 when you need that, but the narrower 0000 waist gives it a more articulate voice. By my early fifties my fretting hand could no longer handle the 1-11/16" nut width and MLO neck carve, so it had to go. The newer re-imagined 1-3/4" nut width might have saved it for me. The tone was killer for my style (75% bare nails finger picking, 25% strumming). Hope it works out for you.

[Brucebubs]

The re-imagined 2018 J-40 also increased the neck from 1 11/16" to 1 3/4".

Earl49 beat me to it while I was typing!

[llew]

Congrats...a real sleeper in the Martin Standard Lineup.

[scotchnspeed]

Is this the one with dark grey/ruthenium schaller tuners on it now, with included gold originals? If so, I can tell you as the original owner that you are in for a real tone treat. It is a standout!

[Stevien]

Yep, another J-40 fan here! You won't be disappointed!
Steve

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

The re-imagined 2018 J-40 also increased the neck from 1 11/16" to 1 3/4".

Earl49 beat me to it while I was typing!

Yeah, Earl will do that; he’s faster and sneakier than he looks!


whm

[lowrider]

Congratulations on your new J-40. I got mine from Maury in April and I have a custom shop J-17 that I got last year. These two are definitely GAS removers for me. The J-17 fulfilled all my wishes, then they gave me $1200 and told me to spend it. My wife kicked in her 1200 and said it would be my 70th birthday present. With these two, I feel like my search is over;

[TBear]

Scotchnspeed, that is the same J40. Thanks for the update. I'm am stoked.

[Peter Z]

Originally Posted by lowrider

Congratulations on your new J-40. I got mine from Maury in April and I have a custom shop J-17 that I got last year. These two are definitely GAS removers for me. The J-17 fulfilled all my wishes, then they gave me $1200 and told me to spend it. My wife kicked in her 1200 and said it would be my 70th birthday present. With these two, I feel like my search is over;

70 is nothing, so keep on searching and buying and give us more of such nice pictures!
I mean if you don’t do it for yourself, care about us!

[TBear]

I got the guitar yesterday. While describe as excellent, it sure looks new or mint. No blemishes on the case or instrument. Is very easy to play. The sound while definitely rosewood/Martin in character, sounds a bit warmer than the D28s I have played. Is a great instrument to fingerpick or play slowly with feeling. Not to say it can't grass it, it sure can. It seems more versatile than a D28. I think it is a great folk and blues instrument, pretty much any genre. Will post pictures tomorrow. Today is packed.

[scotchnspeed]

Great to hear, and I agree with you assessment - enjoy!

[TBear]

I am bonding with the J40 in a way I did not expect. I simply love playing it. I just love the tones that seem so easy to dig out of it. Is it a better guitar, overall than my TIppin? Emphatically no. But have I bonded more with the J40 than the Tippin? Yes. I love my Tippin, don't get me wrong. The J40 has just snuck into my heart. I have found that once past a certain quality level, instruments are more like a love affair. Intellectual analysis will have little to do with whether and how you bond with an instrument. I feel very blessed as this instrument just fell in my lap.

[Earl49]

Congrats! Now if you really want a treat, put some mediums on it at the next string change and tune down to Eb or even D. My J-40 really preferred D-d tuning.