#1
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Martin D-41/42
I'm just curious...these two Martin dreads are upper tier for sure but why the $1500 difference in the MSRP when the new "Re-Imagined" models are essentially identical from a build perspective? The new D-45 even more so with the same bracing pattern and tone woods?
Is it just "perceived" value as model numbers increase? I realize aesthetically there are differences but is there more? What am I missing? Thanks!
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Jim Dogs Welcome......People Tolerated! |
#2
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Jim,
Excellent question! Back in 2001, I opted for the D-42 because I preferred the forward shifted bracing and the snowflake inlays over the hexagons, but I bought it from the original owner at a year old, which allowed me to go for the '42. If I could not find a good used '42 today and had to buy new, I'd opt for the '41. |
#3
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There are considerable differences in the inlays. Inlays are laborious...as labor costs increase, guitar costs increase. Whether or not those costs are worth it is an individual choice, but to many they are.
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Martin 000-28EC '71 Harmony Buck Owens American Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 Gold Tone PBR-D Paul Beard Signature Model resonator "Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart." -Andrés Segovia |
#4
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The bracing is the same, they use the same wood grades, and the same neck shape. Functionally, there's no real difference now. In the past the D-42 had ivoroid binding, but now both guitars use Antique white binding. IMO that is a serious downgrade on the D-42. No functional difference, but I really like ivoroid. The D-42 has a full gloss neck finish, which some people prefer. So the differences are now only the snowflake vs. small hexagon fretboard inlay and the pearl around the fretboard extension on the D-42. About $900 street price difference for those three features.
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#5
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I'm certainly not debating what additional costs are worth it. That's a purely personal matter as you say. But I am trying to understand the additional cost as the model numbers increase based on the likeness of their builds. Inlay work is labor intensive and if that's the only difference so be it. Just looking for an explanation.
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Jim Dogs Welcome......People Tolerated! |
#6
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Quote:
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Jim Dogs Welcome......People Tolerated! |
#7
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Quote:
__________________
Martin 000-28EC '71 Harmony Buck Owens American Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 Gold Tone PBR-D Paul Beard Signature Model resonator "Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart." -Andrés Segovia |
#8
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Quote:
The style-42 fingerboard extension must cost max $20. I might be exaggerating -- but barely. The 42 series has always cost significantly more than the 40 series -- for the same reasons why the 45 series is significantly more expensive than the 42. It has very little to do with actual building cost and everything to do with marketing and positioning. |
#9
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What Todd said above.
And no, to me, an extra ~ 1k would not be worth it for the modest differences between the 41 and 42 given the bracing patterns are identical now (which they weren’t on the pre-2018s). The 45 is an entirely different matter altogether, as it is their flagship.
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Merrill | Martin | Collings | Gibson For Sale: 2023 Collings D2H 1 3/4 Nut, Adi Bracing, NTB -- $4250 shipped |
#10
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Quote:
Correct...because there is more extensive inlay work on the D-42 vs. the D-41, and more extensive inlay work still on the D-45 vs. the D-42. Some things might be "marketing and positioning", but there is no marketing campaign touting the D-45 as a "better" guitar than a D-42...it's simply just more ornate. Time is money, and you can maybe take exception to the amount of mark-up there is on the inlays, but that's a different discussion...
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Martin 000-28EC '71 Harmony Buck Owens American Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 Gold Tone PBR-D Paul Beard Signature Model resonator "Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart." -Andrés Segovia Last edited by drplayer; 03-21-2018 at 12:05 PM. |
#11
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David Wilcox once told the story of how Jim Olson built him a guitar at a very good price since his favorite Olson was stolen. So David put his money into finding the best wood he could.... but literally had no bling or dressings on the guitar. David said it was a very plain guitar but boy what a killer sound. "It was like a billionaire in jeans". The bling does require the additional labor but for me has never added up to the additional cost. I am all about the wood and sound! The bling always adds a lotta cha-ching! Some don't mind paying that cost.... to each his own.
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Custom Martin D 35 Taylor GS Mini w/ES2 Koa GPC12PA4 Martin 12 string [/B]"What does it profit a man to gain (all the greatest guitars in) the world and lose his soul" Paraphrased |
#12
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Quote:
The biggest difference between a D41 and a D42 is neither manpower nor material -- it's profit. Quote:
Your last comment about the amount of mark-up there is on inlays is actually in line with what I've been saying. |
#13
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can you tell me what the difference is between ivoroid and antique white binding ?
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-Martin CS OM-28 Engelmann/EIR (built to OM- 28JM Specs) -Martin 00-28 CS Swiss Spruce/EIR/Spruce Top Sanded Thinner and Thin Finish |
#14
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They’re both chintzy-looking plastic...
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#15
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Why the cost difference of $1500.00? You have heard of marketing, I'm sure.
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