The other two Martin SS Dreads

lowrider · #1 06-03-2019, 04:22 AM

Looking at the Martin website last night, I found two more newish SS dreads

We've all been busy discussing the DSS-17, which I am wild about, and the DSS-15, which I fell into lust with last week.

But if you want to go more upscale there's the Jimmy Buffett Custom;

https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars...uffett-custom/

This one is at Music Zoo but I didn't try it when I was there. I'm going to go over there again soon to try it and hear how it compares to the two that I already love.

And if you want to go way upscale there's the DSS-2018;

https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars...ions/dss-2018/

I had never even heard of this one. Has anyone played either of them?

The DSS-17 and DSS-15 are as tonally different as two similar sized and shape guitars can be. I wonder how these two compare to the two that we already know. Has anyone played one or both? How did you like them? How do they compare to the 17 and 15?

llew · #2 06-03-2019, 05:18 AM

Jon @ MFG has a mint used DSS-2018 and it sounds great in his demo. I think this model may have been the test build for the new Modern Deluxe and the DSS models to follow.

Mr. Jelly · #3 06-03-2019, 05:35 AM

What does the SS stand for? Is it short scale?

Rev Roy · #4 06-03-2019, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

What does the SS stand for? Is it short scale?

Nope...SS = Slope Shoulder.

baimo · #5 06-05-2019, 12:43 AM

While the dss-17 and 15 series guitars stand for Slope Shoulder, the DSS-18 is a completely different animal although it was the first slope shoulder dread that Martin produced in many years.
The limited edition guitar was created solely for attendees of the 2018 NAMM show and the DSS-18 is the 2018 Show Special. It was created with very thin woods like some vintage guitars were. To lighten it further they used Carbon fiber where they could. It is probably the lightest weight dread Martin has made in many years.
It has an adi top,carbon fiber tuners, pickguard, etc and carries an MSRP of 8K.

After the show, Martin used "DSS" to designate their new lower priced slope shoulder dreads like the 15 and 17 series. This Show Special kind of got lost in the crowd.

Jon Garon told me they made only 25-30 pieces and said it is a truly outstanding guitar.

I think Martin's naming practices have become quite confusing (reimagined, modern deluxe, etc) to the average shopper.