Ever seen this Martin?

Justonemore17 · #1 10-20-2018, 01:24 PM

Hey fellow acoustic lovers
In my quest for the perfect acoustic collection I started with Taylor’s 615,614 then to Gibson’s songwriter and acoustic Firebird and figured I needed a Martin to be considered a real collector/player. I read everything I could and decided to get the J-40 Martin and it’s amazing. Big full sound uniquely Martin tone and stunningly beautiful. I fell for the organic full Martin tone and started my search for a smaller Martin and came across this! I love the 42ish inlays and comfortable body size. The whole body resonates like none of my other acoustics and the tone is balanced and perfectly playable. The cut away and shade top make it unique as I can’t even find a comparable image on the web. Any info on the model or history from you dedicated acoustic forum aficionados would be awesome. Thanks for all the great knowledge

Justonemore17 · #2 10-20-2018, 01:25 PM

Having trouble adding pictures says forum has disabled from my Apple app

Tico · #3 10-20-2018, 03:22 PM

Welcome to AGF, a great forum.

The J-40 sounds very impressive in this review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjKyiYKwMd0

I was not aware of this model.
I like it a lot and may consider one, though I wish it came with no price-raising bling, as in a J-28.
Thanks.

Attachment 14315

Tico · #4 10-20-2018, 03:30 PM

BTW, for $100 more Martin also offers the J-40 in their new "Reimagined" 2018 version.

You may want to read up on what changed.

Attachment 14316

cuthbert · #5 10-20-2018, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justonemore17

Hey fellow acoustic lovers
In my quest for the perfect acoustic collection I started with Taylor’s 615,614 then to Gibson’s songwriter and acoustic Firebird and figured I needed a Martin to be considered a real collector/player. I read everything I could and decided to get the J-40 Martin and it’s amazing. Big full sound uniquely Martin tone and stunningly beautiful. I fell for the organic full Martin tone and started my search for a smaller Martin and came across this! I love the 42ish inlays and comfortable body size. The whole body resonates like none of my other acoustics and the tone is balanced and perfectly playable. The cut away and shade top make it unique as I can’t even find a comparable image on the web. Any info on the model or history from you dedicated acoustic forum aficionados would be awesome. Thanks for all the great knowledge

The J40 ws introduced long time ago, I think in the 70s when the dreadnought fad was fading away and people got interested also in other big guitar shapes. Martin's "jumbo" is in reality was other builders call "mini jumbo" aka narrow waist 16", the most successfull guitar of this type is the Guild F40 Valencia that was the main inspiration of the J40:

It is similar to the OOOO (M style) with the difference that is deeper like a dreanought, personally I prefer the MC28 to the J40 but it's a very difficult guitar to find.

Almost all the Martin shops I visited have one, they are not rare but not as popular as the dreads or the OOO/OM that's the reason why they usually cost less than a D41 for instance.

Brucebubs · #6 10-20-2018, 06:08 PM

My Martin JDP II shares the same J-14 fret body as the J-40.
Italian Alpine Spruce/Mahogany
Large Sound Hole
Slot head with Waverly tuners

Build #71 of 71.

RustyAxe · #7 10-20-2018, 07:52 PM

My duo partner owns one ... and I've spent many hours playing it, too. It only looks unwieldy .... the narrow waist makes it quite comfortable to play.

downtime · #8 10-20-2018, 07:58 PM

The Martin J body shape makes for a very versatile guitar.
I had a 90's J-15 much like the one pictured and it was great fun to play. Highly recommend.

Justonemore17 · #9 10-20-2018, 08:38 PM

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Gh8iUS711aDz3HWq9

Thanks guys. Excited to join the forum hopefully this link to my google photos will work. Has anyone seen this sp 000 16tr? With the cutaway and shade top?
The J-40 is a beast of tone but this 000 is sweet and easy to play. Really loving the Martin bass and earthy body resonating tone

Golffishny · #10 10-21-2018, 07:48 AM

I was fortunate to play a J-40 which a friend owns. He wanted a fuller and bassier sound than his 000-16 had. Wonderful guitar for projection in all frequencies. Very comfortable to play. Possibly the best compromise between a dreadnaught and 000. Has no weakness.

pjroberts · #11 10-21-2018, 11:27 AM

J-40 is a well kept secret, as someone already mentoned Martin had big hopes for this to be the next dread back in the 80s, but it remains relatively unknown. I wouldn’t consider it small, with similar dread volume, but its waist makes it way easier to manage, and the tone is much more balanced than a dread ... and what I really mean is it’s not boomy like many dreads, but it’s got plenty of bass nonetheless.

My ‘94 is currently getting a complete overhaul and I’m looking forward to playing/hearing the results soon. Before I committed to that work I considered the “reimagined” J-40, primarily because of the 1.75” nut, but I couldn’t find one to play. This will probably be more like an NGD than a set up. I always recommend people to try a J-40 or one of the other jumbo models before jumping on the dread train. Definitely got the goldilocks thing going between the dread and 000/OM worlds.

Brucebubs · #12 10-21-2018, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjroberts

I always recommend people to try a J-40 or one of the other jumbo models before jumping on the dread train. Definitely got the goldilocks thing going between the dread and 000/OM worlds.

Best Martin J-14 fret description I've heard,

"The panache of an OM,
The balance of a 000,
The engine of a dreadnought.'

JayBee1404 · #13 10-21-2018, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tico

Welcome to AGF, a great forum.

The J-40 sounds very impressive in this review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjKyiYKwMd0

I was not aware of this model.
I like it a lot and may consider one, though I wish it came with no price-raising bling, as in a J-28.

It does....

https://www.maurysmusic.com/inc/sdet.../146487/162890

cuthbert · #14 10-21-2018, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

It does....

https://www.maurysmusic.com/inc/sdet.../146487/162890

This is a guitar that I have never seen, just 40 style. Price is very reasonable especially in comparison to what they ask for a HD28V today.

However I have a thing for the oval soundhole of the MC28...the search still goes on...