Review of the Martin Dreadnought Jr. Guitar

[KDepew]

Enjoy this personal review of my newest Martin.

[dnf777]

Thanks for the very useful review. My wife surprised me with one a few years ago on my b-day. They were new then, so maybe more than a few years...
It has become my favorite couch guitar as well, although the breedlove organic gives it a good run lately. You hit all the same attributes I would have mentioned as well: COMFORT, price, tone, portability...and unless I missed it, I would add build quality. No glue squeeze out, no proud edges or gaps, and the materials.
I did not consider myself a fan of Richlite for a while, but it really makes a lot of sense after learning about the plight of ebony. And as you said, it plays and feels just fine (to me). It is sort of a very hard manufactured wood, and has stood up well under much harsher conditions than fretboard. Mine is 3+ years old, and is just fine. I play acoustically mostly, but occasionally plug into a loudbox and am very happy with the amplified sound. Through a bose L1, it sounds as good as any acoustic Ive heard through an amp. Overall, at that price point or slightly above, its hard to beat.

[robj144]

Nice review but are you sure it's solid back and sides?

[MartinGibsonFan]

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar

FEATURES
Construction: Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint
Body Size: Dreadnought Junior - 14 Fret
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Rosette: 2 Ring
Top Bracing Pattern: Dreadnought Junior
Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce 1/4"
Back Material: Solid Sapele
Back Purfling: none
Side Material: Solid Sapele
Endpiece: none
Endpiece Inlay: none
Binding: Black Boltaron - Top Only
Top Inlay Style: Black/White Boltaron
Side Inlay: none
Back Inlay: none
Neck Material: Select Hardwood
Neck Shape: Dreadnought Junior Profile
Nut Material: White Corian
Headstock: Solid/Dreadnought Junior Taper
Headplate: HPL East Indian Rosewood with Pad Printed Gold Logo
Heelcap: none
Fingerboard Material: Black Richlite
Scale Length: 24''
Number Of Frets Clear: 14
Number Of Frets Total: 20
Fingerboard Width At Nut: 1-3/4''
Fingerboard Width At 12th Fret: 2-1/8''
Fingerboard Position Inlays: Style 28 - White Boltaron Dots
Fingerboard Binding: none
Finish Back & Sides: Hand Applied Natural Oil Finish
Finish Top: Hand Applied Natural Oil Finish
Finish Neck: Hand Applied Natural Oil Finish
Bridge Material: Black Richlite
Bridge Style: Junior Style Belly
Bridge String Spacing: 2-3/16''
Saddle: 16'' Radius/Compensated/White Tusq
Tuning Machines: Chrome Enclosed with Small Buttons
Recommended Strings: Martin SP Lifespan 80/20 Bronze Medium Gauge (MSP6200)
Bridge & End Pins: White with Black Dots
Pickguard: Delmar Tortoise Color
Case: Gig Bag
Interior Label: Paper Label

[robj144]

Originally Posted by MartinGibsonFan

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar

FEATURES
Construction: Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint
Body Size: Dreadnought Junior - 14 Fret
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Rosette: 2 Ring
Top Bracing Pattern: Dreadnought Junior
Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce 1/4"
Back Material: Solid Sapele
Back Purfling: none
Side Material: Solid Sapele
Endpiece: none
Endpiece Inlay: none
Binding: Black Boltaron - Top Only
Top Inlay Style: Black/White Boltaron
Side Inlay: none
Back Inlay: none
Neck Material: Select Hardwood
Neck Shape: Dreadnought Junior Profile
Nut Material: White Corian
Headstock: Solid/Dreadnought Junior Taper
Headplate: HPL East Indian Rosewood with Pad Printed Gold Logo
Heelcap: none
Fingerboard Material: Black Richlite
Scale Length: 24''
Number Of Frets Clear: 14
Number Of Frets Total: 20
Fingerboard Width At Nut: 1-3/4''
Fingerboard Width At 12th Fret: 2-1/8''
Fingerboard Position Inlays: Style 28 - White Boltaron Dots
Fingerboard Binding: none
Finish Back & Sides: Hand Applied Natural Oil Finish
Finish Top: Hand Applied Natural Oil Finish
Finish Neck: Hand Applied Natural Oil Finish
Bridge Material: Black Richlite
Bridge Style: Junior Style Belly
Bridge String Spacing: 2-3/16''
Saddle: 16'' Radius/Compensated/White Tusq
Tuning Machines: Chrome Enclosed with Small Buttons
Recommended Strings: Martin SP Lifespan 80/20 Bronze Medium Gauge (MSP6200)
Bridge & End Pins: White with Black Dots
Pickguard: Delmar Tortoise Color
Case: Gig Bag
Interior Label: Paper Label

Nice. I was looking at this one:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...ustic%20Guitar

Top wood: Sitka spruce
Back & sides: Sapele

Which is laminate.

[MartinGibsonFan]

Those seem like two different model guitars.

Martin Dreadnought Junior - solid back and sides
Martin Dreadnought Junior D10 - not advertised as solid wood

J

[robj144]

Originally Posted by MartinGibsonFan

Those seem like two different model guitars.

Martin Dreadnought Junior - solid back and sides
Martin Dreadnought Junior D10 - not advertised as solid wood

J

Could be, but they don't make the Junior any more it appears only the Junior D10s.

[dnf777]

Yep-if you look on the Martin website, it explains the “-10” designation replaces the Dred-jr with a slightly narrower body and rounded back edges.

[MartinGibsonFan]

The question is though.

Are the back and sides SOLID Sapele or Laminate?

I'm thinking UMGF could answer that.

At $700, I'm thinking that Laminate would be par for the course, but it seems some ads state solid back and sides.

Minor detail, I don't think Laminate back and sides make that much of a difference.

J

[steelvibe]

I just sold an original spec Martin D Jr. 2 and miss it. My only complaint is the scale is a little bit short for my tastes, and I love short scale guitars. 24.5" would be ideal. Other than that, the absolute best budget guitar I've ever owned and I've had a few. No question about it!

[KDepew]

dnf777. thanks for watching and you have some great points about the build quality!

[KDepew]

robJ144

yep, it is solid woods. I was surprised too!

[KDepew]

steelvibe. thanks for watching! The scale is growing on me. lol