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Martin J40
Hi
I hope everyone is safe and sound and playing some guitar! I was playing guitar with some friends a few nights ago and I was using my HummingBird and I could hardly here my self and my friends were using a D-40 Larrivee dred and a Takamine OM. My solos were completely drowned out I could have been playing the spoons and a recorder not have been heard. LoL I realize the Bird is not the loudest(Unplugged) guitar in the world.However I am wondering if anyone has experience with a Martin J40? would it cut for solo's would it get drowned out like the Bird? I have never actually seen one in any of the stores as they do not bring them in? Would a 000-28 cut for solo's?
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Current Herd: Gibson Hummingbird Gibson Songwriter EC Gibson 58 Reissue Les Paul Fender AM Tele Gretsch Country Club |
#2
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But really, I don't think size and projection or volume are automatically correlated. My Eastman OM is very loud and I've played a number of big sounding OM/000 sized guitars. So yes, I think a 000-28 would also cut well. "if its good enough for Clapton" and so on.
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Steve Mcilroy A25c (Cedar, English Walnut) with Schatten HFN (custom MiSi Crystal Jack Preamp, putty install.) Maton 75th Anniversary OM 50th Anniversary Fender Am Std Strat. Gretsch 6120 Nashville Players in Blue. Line 6 Helix. If I played as much as I read threads, I'd be a pro.... |
#3
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I love my J-40 and it has excellent tone and plenty of volume
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Yairi JYM86 Figured Maple Jumbo Martin J40 Jumbo Rosewood |
#4
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Thanks Stevecuss and Jefflaher!
I have been trying to do some home work on the J40. It is a little less expensive than a D41 (Great Guitar). I was also looking at the Gibson Sheryl Crow Country Western model but again it may put me in the same situation as the Bird as they are somewhat although the bracing is different. I never played the Sheryl Crow.
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Current Herd: Gibson Hummingbird Gibson Songwriter EC Gibson 58 Reissue Les Paul Fender AM Tele Gretsch Country Club |
#5
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I owned that J-40 for 27 years. The only reason it sold was that the neck no longer agreed with my left hand. I have even contemplated the new version with 1-3/4" nut width. It held its own flat picked at bluegrass jams surrounded by D-28's and even [shudder] banjos! The tighter waist of the 0000 shape gave it a more focused clarity versus a more tubby-sounding dreadnought, which worked well for fingerstyle for me. As for cutting through when doing solos, that is not my forte. I cannot say that it would be better than your Hummingbird, but I suspect it would. |
#6
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I had a "reimagined" J-40 for a while and yes it did have the power and volume of a Martin dread but for me it lacked the snap of the dread. Wonderful guitar but different than a dread as it should be. A bit more "mellow" across the board. But as someone else has said probably one of the more overlooked Martin's and a fine option in many ways.
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Jim Dogs Welcome......People Tolerated! |
#7
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J 40 M
I have my dad's J40M, which I have been told is a little deeper than the J40.
This guitar is one of the loudest guitars I have ever played. Very balanced with very pronounced, but clear bass. It has a lot of miles on it so it has opened up very well. Incredible guitar, and I never had a problem heading him during a solo. Certainly can't go wrong with one of these. |
#8
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I recall that the original model number was J-40M, later truncated to just J-40. I was not aware that the "M" designated a deeper body. They were always 4-5/8" just like Martin dreadnoughts, to my knowledge. My understanding is the an M body (as in M-36 or M-38) is the 0000 body shape with the thinner body depth of a 000, and the J body is the same 0000 shape with dreadnought depth.
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#9
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I've only had my J-40 since April, so I haven't been able to take it out to any of the jam groups that I play with. It does have that big full rich Martin sound that I love, so I think I will be heard above any other guitars.
I've had my Custom Shop J-17 since last August and I've had chances to play it out. It's sitka over mahogany and it has a laser focused tone that just cuts through anything. But, if you are looking for a guitar that will send all those other guitars running for cover, go look at the Martin DSS-17. It's loud and proud and nasty. It will send all the other guitars home crying. Spend a little time with it. Try some different strings and bridge pins and you'll be able to tame some of the nastiness. My J-17 is modeled on the DSS-17 but the DSS-17 is always the first guitar I play if I go into a store that has one! And, you can get the DSS-17 from our forum sponsors for around $1200. |
#10
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Thanks Lowrider!
I appreciate your insight!! I have gone through a fair number of good electric guitars and amps over the years and some times parting with gear is not an easy choice. A J40 in Canada is $5500.00 plus tax so you have to find the dough or trade up. Your suggestion is budget friendly and very much appreciated..
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Current Herd: Gibson Hummingbird Gibson Songwriter EC Gibson 58 Reissue Les Paul Fender AM Tele Gretsch Country Club |
#11
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The J-40 is a nice guitar, for sure, but it definitely does not have the same power, depth, and punch of an HD-28 (which is the dreadnought structural equivalent). Against, they’re great, but a guitar with a smaller soundboard and smaller body volume just can’t compete. And they’re not as comfortable as an 0000. They’re close, but the depth is there. If you really slouch in a chair, then I’d say they're a bit comfier than a dread. If you sit straight or stand with a strap, they feel the same to me. But if you’re not trying for a dreadnought sound, then the J-40 might do it! It’s like an 0000 with a bit more bass, depth, and reverb. Somewhere between a 0000 and dreadnought in sound and feel. Nice guitar. |
#12
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Steve
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"Naturally torrified, & unnaturally horrified, since 1954" |
#13
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The letter 'M' was used when the guitar was conceived by Chris Martin himself and introduced in 1985 to indicate the guitar body used the same footprint as the existing 'M' model - it was later dropped. Martin did make a limited number of the J-65M maple back & sides version and a mahogany J-18 and a rosewood HJ-28 - all are quite rare and hard to find.
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Brucebubs 1972 - Takamine D-70 2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone 2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo 2012 - Dan Dubowski#61 2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo 2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200 2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird Last edited by Brucebubs; 08-04-2020 at 08:52 PM. |
#14
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Martin J40
I have J40 and a D41, both reimagined. The both share the same volume. They are almost identical in EVERY aspect. Punch, volume, power. The J40 is more comfortable to play.
The D41 has slightly more focus, whereas the sound from J40 seems to surround me more. But it’s very, very slight. I don’t know it that makes sense. If I had to get rid of one, I’d lose the D41. |
#15
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Well, I don't know how it compares to a dred, but I have a reimagined J-40. I recently got it in a trade. For decades I've stayed with OMs or smaller. I am awestruck by the tone! I play fingerstyle with the flesh of my fingers, light gauge strings. It's got a depth & dimension that you just can't get in an OM! If I can get used to the size, she's a keeper!
Steve
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"Naturally torrified, & unnaturally horrified, since 1954" |