#1
|
|||
|
|||
Martin quality control
Well I know by making these comments that there will be some who defend by going on the attack due to some spiritual connection whether real or imaginary to the Martin make.
In the last three months I have purchased three Left Handed Martin high end guitars individually from on line dealerships. Yes I know it is best to try before you buy, but try doing that in the uk with left handed guitars! 1. A D18 guitar, new- filler lines around the binding, and two tuners which give up the will to live the first week. (sent back) 2. A 00018 new- (different retailer)- where the wood working finish was poor and again some issues with the neck to body angle (sent back) 3. An OM28 reissue New, the neck had bad machining marks on either side going from the 2nd to the 9th fret, and some poor binding work. I have since been told, off the record, that this is not uncommon but what makes it worse is that they will pass out left handed guitars without their usual quality control, especially during Covid and the aftermath. I did so want to own a Martin, but with all the issues known and anticipated, together with the really hefty price tags, I cannot see me buying another. I will just have to wait a year until another manufacturer makes some more. Very sad! It is a shame Gibson do not make an OM, the two guitars I have owned were great, but appreciate there are duffers there to. Can all the right handed cynics restrain yourselves from getting to the keyboard and typing something about learning right handed please!! |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
I have 2 Martin dreads and have owned others since 1970. IMO they have dropped in their attention to detail on much of their lineup. They still make some fabulous guitars but for $800 a Yamaha L series will show them how it's done correctly.
__________________
1990 Martin D16-M Gibson J45 Eastman E8D-TC Pono 0000-30DC Yamaha FSX5, LS16, FG830, FSX700SC Epiphone EF500-RAN 2001 Gibson '58 Reissue LP 2005, 2007 Gibson '60 Reissue LP Special (Red&TV Yel) 1972 Yamaha SG1500, 1978 LP500 Tele's and Strats 1969,1978 Princeton Reverb 1972 Deluxe Reverb Epiphone Sheraton, Riviera DeArmond T400 Ibanez AS73 Quilter Superblock US[/I] |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I own, have owned, and sold more Martins over the years than stringed instruments from any other builders. Love the sound and the look of their models. I have mostly bought used examples on-line from private sellers and a few new ones from retailers starting with a new D12-28 from a local brick and mortar store in 1974.
I would not, however, purchase a new or used Martin made since 2011 without first examining and playing it in person. There are still great newly made Martins out there, but in my experience their quality control has dropped a notch or two since that year. Bindings, finish work, and neck sets in my case. That is not to say the older ones were all perfect, but overall less issues. Nowadays, considering their price, "try before you buy" (or having a good return policy) applies to any guitar that I have an interest in purchasing. Best of luck in finding a suitable OM style guitar.
__________________
Mark D |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
No attack from me. I recently played and couldn’t put down an outstanding Collings and also tried to buy a Santa Cruz but the numbers didn’t work out. I have couple of thoughts. First off is, shame on the dealer for sending out new guitars with those issues. I use Mark at Reno’s and between myself and a friend of mine we have purchased about a dozen new Martin’s. All of them arrived without issues. For me if I’m going to buy online, I have to buy from a reputable dealer who I know would never send something out like you describe.
__________________
2021 Martin 000-28 12F Custom Adirondack/EIR 2021 Martin OM-28 LSH Custom Adirondack/EIR SB 2006 Martin 000-18GE Adirondack/Mahogany SB 1968 Ovation 1111-4 RIP 1968-2021 |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Something that our American friends on the forum may not realise is that buying a standard series Martin in the UK is far more expensive than in the USA. The exchange rate does not tell the whole story. When you take average wages and the cost of living into account, buying say a D-18 in the UK is sort of like spending out for a Santa Cruz of similar would be for a US player. So I think we can get a slightly tarnished view of Martin and perhaps expect more from them than perhaps is the reality of their US price comparison. In the UK they (and standard Gibson et al) can seem very expensive and "top end" guitars, whereas in the US they are more likely to feel like a standard purchase.
__________________
I'm learning to flatpick and fingerpick guitar to accompany songs. I've played and studied traditional noter/drone mountain dulcimer for many years. And I used to play dobro in a bluegrass band. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Martin quality control
Speaking from personal experience, the term "oxymoron" comes quickly to mind...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
This past year I have bought three left-handed Martins, two from online dealers (a 000-15M from Adirondack Guitars and a 000-18 from Southpaw Guitars) and a D-28 from a local guitar shop. Both Adirondack and Southpaw happen to specialize in left-handed guitars.* In addition to the three I bought, I have tried a dozen or so other left-handed Martins. Granted, sample size isn’t great (~15 lefty guitars), but the fit and finish on all of them have been excellent, comparable to the 100 or so right-handed guitars that I looked at at the local shops (I will often play some basic chords and notes upside down on right-handed guitars to get a sense of their sound).
I have no explanation for the QC issues that you have experienced, but I can say that from what I have seen they seem like they are exceptions and not the rule. For the record, I have guitars from other manufacturers (including three Taylors, of which the 614ce is the nicest), so i don’t have any spiritual connection to Martin or any other brand. Buying left-handed guitars anywhere is a challenge, and it sounds like it’s worse in Europe than in the US. I hope you are able to find a guitar that you love. * When I spoke with Jim from Southpaw Guitars a while back, he had 8 lefty D-28s in stock. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
All the B-stock and factory 2nds get sent to Europe, didn't you know??
Just kidding, and I'm sorry this happened. I've owned a lot of Martins, thankfully haven't owned a basket-case yet, but I have seen plenty with underset necks hanging in stores which I don't even bother picking up. Hope you find one that works for you.
__________________
Merrill | Martin | Collings | Gibson For Sale: 2023 Collings D2H 1 3/4 Nut, Adi Bracing, NTB -- $4100 shipped |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
5544, I am sorry to read that you have had such a poor experience with your new Martins, I can't imagine the disappointment. I know that Martin has had binding issues with there new guitars but it would be very sad to see that they have lowered their QC standards.
__________________
Proud member of OFC |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
I bought my final American guitar - yes, a Martin - in 2012, imported from MFG in the US. The X-Rate moving against the £Stg, and CFM's decree that US dealers are no longer permitted to ship new guitars outside the US, have conspired to make it too expensive to buy American instruments now that I'm forced to buy from UK dealers (I echo Robin's comments above).
This has caused me to turn my attention to British builders, and my most recent purchase was my Brook Lamorna, hand-built in Devon in a small, 3-man shop, to extremely high standards, a beautiful guitar and a joy to own and play. I'm also attracted to Atkin guitars, also UK-built and very high quality instruments. I would recommend the OP to check out British, Irish, European, and Asian-built guitars, there are some superb examples to be had, often at lower prices than similar instruments from the US. My policy for the future is to support my home guitar industry, and buy British. The usual disclaimers apply - IMHO, YMMV, etc...
__________________
John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM) |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
I can only imagine your frustration with repeated failed purchases due to poor workmanship and quality control.
I play guitar right-handed, but I'm left-handed and would never try to tell a left-hander to play right-handed. I can identify with your struggle to find left-handed guitars because I've experienced the same thing trying to find left-handed shotguns and bolt-action rifles. I've had plenty of right-handed shooters tell me I should just learn how to use a right-handed rifle. But I don't see any of them running out to buy left-handed rifles so they can learn how to use them. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Where I buy my guitars (Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA), all instruments are given a thorough going over before they ever hit the showroom floor. That review is headed up by the incomparable luthier genius, Frank Ford.
I have bought many Martin’s, a few Taylor’s, and a number of Collings acoustics at Gryphon. All have been stellar instruments with zero issues regardless of price or model. |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Hope. Love. Music. Collings|Bourgeois |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
In my 40 years of playing and 20 years of buying Martins, that has not been my experience at all. I seriously doubt Martin would forgoe their QC on left-handed models. Rather than assume frivilous attacks, you might want to consider the fact that counterfeit products are circling the globe at unseen levels currently, and perhaps you and your shops were hit with a few of them. Better luck in the future….bum guitars for any reason are a real disappointment.
__________________
Dave F ************* Martins Guilds Gibsons A few others 2020 macbook pro i5 8GB Scarlett 18i20 Reaper 7 |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
I thought he was FOS, but its a real thing.
__________________
Dave F ************* Martins Guilds Gibsons A few others 2020 macbook pro i5 8GB Scarlett 18i20 Reaper 7 |