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#1
09-16-2019, 06:57 PM
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Will Martin's modern deluxe's stand the test of time?
Or will they become a bit of a weird phase in Martin's history?
FWIW, I played the D18MD and it did sound great IMHO...
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>>---> '97 Martin 000-28EC <---<< >>---> '13 Martin D18 Authentic 1939 <---<< 
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#2
09-16-2019, 07:35 PM
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I'll tell you in ten years.
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#3
09-16-2019, 07:41 PM
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It'll sell ok for 5-10 years. Then they'll have to reinvent something super similar (just like the Marquis --> Modern Deluxe upgrade) with a few 2029 popular features. The market loves that classic Martin tone, and the market has a ceaseless craving for something new. They'll chase the market as they've always done. The Modern Deluxe series does that brilliantly and should sell well as a result. Once people realize it basically has the same new skinny neck as all the other Martins with a sitka top and synthetic bridge plate, it'll be on to something new.
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#4
09-16-2019, 08:56 PM
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Martin arguably does one thing better than just about any other large-scale manufacturer - make traditional-looking/-sounding acoustic guitars...
Absent a world-class in-house luthier like Andy Powers or Ren Ferguson providing guidance and direction - unfortunately their last real design innovations all saw the light of day by 1935 - the inevitable result will be grasping at straws seeking to be ever-so-trendy (can you say ALternative...?  )...They're still capable of making instruments that are second to none, at any price - I've seen some Authentics that qualify, and if I didn't find the neck such a bear to handle I probably would have found a way to snap up that first-run '37 D-18A that wound up in the late Stan Jay's personal stash - but IMO the Modern Deluxe isn't one of them, and I doubt they'll be regarded any more favorably in years to come. Frankly, they'd be better-served finding a way to spread some of that Authentic/Marquis mojo to the low-/mid-line offerings on a permanent basis - rather than killing off these "too much guitar for the money" models under the premise of "poor sales"... 
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
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#6
09-16-2019, 10:50 PM
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coolhand asked:
Quote:
coolhand continued: Quote:
Personally, I've heard mixed reports on Martin's Modern Deluxe models, but will reserve judgement until I get a chance to play a bunch of different examples - not only in the next few years, but also in years to come. Wade Hampton Miller
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#7
09-16-2019, 11:10 PM
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I've only played one as well but I think there are a few more locally so might go give a couple a strum and see how they go... They're very light, and I think the VTS and hide glue really push this model along in terms of tone...
__________________
>>---> '97 Martin 000-28EC <---<< >>---> '13 Martin D18 Authentic 1939 <---<<
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#8
09-16-2019, 11:19 PM
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Hard to say, but I think the strongest points of the Modern Deluxe are 1) neck profile (as per the D-28 MD) that it will supplant the current modified low oval, and 2) the carbon fibre bridgeplate will be absorbed into the standard series.
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#9
09-17-2019, 08:06 AM
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I haven't had the opportunity to play any of the MD's but I've been fairly underwhelmed by what I've heard on YT. Not a fair example for sure. When I can try one I will.They seem to be selling well and if sales ares strong Martin will probably continue to build them at least until they "re-release" something else to possibly take their place?
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Jim Dogs Welcome......People Tolerated!
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#10
09-17-2019, 08:19 AM
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Quote:
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Fender Robert Cray Stratocaster Martin D18 Ambertone Martin 000-15sm
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#11
09-17-2019, 08:19 AM
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I played the majority of the upper-end guitars in the Martin Summer NAMM booth and the D-28MD was my second favorite guitar I played that day behind a 1937 D-28 Authentic Aged. I don't understand why people don't like them! I think they play great and sound great, well, that particular one did. I will say that I'll take my D-41 over that MD all day long. If the '37 AA D-28 had a more user-friendly neck, that'd be my favorite guitar I've ever played and I'd be wanting one bad. IMO, I think the Martin faithful get frustrated if Martin tries something new and only wants the pre-war guitar sound. I love my Martin, but they're gonna get left behind if that's all they continue to push.
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Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2
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#12
09-17-2019, 09:27 AM
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Quote:
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#13
09-17-2019, 09:30 AM
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this reminds me of the days when Martin said they would never put a truss rod in a guitar !
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--------------------------------- Wood things with Strings ! 
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#15
09-17-2019, 09:37 AM
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Quote:
The D-28MD was my favorite too. I played it, A D-18MD and an OM-28MD and the D-28 stood out from the other two.
__________________
Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2
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