Best Value Martin?

[fuman]

Hey everyone. I find myself craving a Martin, and I might be in a position to get one this year. But there seem to be so many variants below the "Standard" series. What is the "best value among the "Road," X, "13," "16" etc.? By "best value, I don't mean "cheapest." I mean, at what point are you not giving up anything important to the Martin sound for the price difference?

I have nothing to fear from Richlite fingerboards and bridges, or even laminate bodies. But I want a solid top. I'm thinking of a 00-L, 000, or OM, but might also consider a J or D model, or even the SC-13. I have a great local shop that is a Martin dealer, but I thought I would go in as a consumer educated by experienced Martin owners.

Thanks for your help.

Mike

[UncleJesse]

The 17 series is the best bang for the buck. They're less expensive because of the simple dovetail neck but they have full X bracing like the standard series guitars do. They're the only guitars below 18 that have that feature.

[DownUpDave]

I have played some of the Road series, especially the all Sapelle ones that impressed me. All solid woods at a reasonable price.

[Lillis]

My vote would be the 15 series for sound/quality/value. Just depends on the tone you’re looking for.

[L20A]

Are you looking for a Dreadnought size, or smaller?
What wood combinations do you want?
Will you be playing finger style or strumming with a pick?

All of these questions will determine which guitar may fit your needs best.

[gr81dorn]

I've long thought of the best value in all of guitars to be the 15 series. It's all solid wood, Martin sound and quality, built in Nazareth, hard case, classic, rich and versatile tone. A completely legitimate preofessional quality instrument. You aren't paying for bling of any sort, just what is simply a fantastic instrument that should last a lifetime. Especially the 000-15. I can't think of a better all around guitar for your dollar than that.

[Kyle215]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

The 17 series is the best bang for the buck. They're less expensive because of the simple dovetail neck but they have full X bracing like the standard series guitars do. They're the only guitars below 18 that have that feature.

Just out of curiosity, what would be the difference between the 16 series bracing versus the 17 series?

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Lillis

My vote would be the 15 series for sound/quality/value...

Add consistency to the description as well...

I'd also look for a D-16RGT or 000-16SRGT (both unfortunately discontinued, the former more recently so a NOS example might still be available if you look around): the dread is a standard at bluegrass festivals among players who don't want to bring their big-ticket guitars to a parking-lot jam but don't want to be undergunned either (the best of them can be the equal of many an HD-28), while the 000 is a cult favorite among fingerpickers looking for 000-28VS vibe on a budget - can't go wrong with either one, and IMO the latter is one of the finest all-around guitars of the CFM IV & Co. era regardless of price...

[Goat Mick]

I don't think they're offered new any more but you can easily find a nice used one. The Martin Custom D series that Guitar Center carried is the best Martin value I've seen. All solid wood, USA made and a very good price. Here's a link to a used one at Guitar Center. I owned one and it was definitely 100% Martin.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Ma...om%20d&index=3

[Boozehound]

Originally Posted by Kyle215

Just out of curiosity, what would be the difference between the 16 series bracing versus the 17 series?

Just a different bracing pattern. I believe it's a 'A' shaped bracing vs X-shaped bracing.

I would strongly encourage OP to find a way to get a used 18 series if possible. They can be had for a decent value, and they are phenomenal.

[baw3]

I second the Martin custom D classic. I owned one for a while and for the money you can't beat it. I actually liked it better than some of their standard series guitars. Just my 2 cents. You are right about Martin not making them any more for G.C. or M. Friend. Not sure why. Also not making the MMV. Another Ex. guitar. IMO.

[pdx]

The best value on a Martin is the one that will never make you want to buy another acoustic.

With that said, I would not buy anything below the 15 series. There are much nicer options in the sub $1000 category that have different names on the headstock.

Used is a great way to go, just make sure you know what to check for in a used acoustic, otherwise you might need to spend more money with a tech/luthier to get it up to snuff.

[Kyle215]

Originally Posted by Boozehound

Just a different bracing pattern. I believe it's a 'A' shaped bracing vs X-shaped bracing.

I would strongly encourage OP to find a way to get a used 18 series if possible. They can be had for a decent value, and they are phenomenal.

The 16’s do have scalloped X bracing... I believe it’s forward shifted so I was wondering if that was the point of difference. I have a 16 GT and an 18. The 18 is most certainly a superior instrument, but if one is looking around $1k new, the 16’s are I think a pretty good value. They widened the nut to 1 3/4 on the newer 16’s so that’s something to be aware of.

[llew]

A little more price wise but I'd vote for a standard 18 model. 0,00,000 or dread. No OM in the current lineup. Maybe used if you're okay with that. Nothing wrong with the 15/16/17 models (and I've owned them) but I'd try to stay above the Road and X series if at all possible? Just my 2 cents.

[lowrider]

Any Martin from one of our forum sponsors is a great value. How much do you want to spend. You can get a d-18 for around 1900. You can get a Road Series d-12e for under a grand. That d-12 is the best copy of a d-18 on the market. You can get a GC/MF Custom D for around the same price, 1000, if you want a 1 11/16 nut.

With the sponsor discount, new Martin's are such a great deal that I really can't see any reason to by used unless there is a specific guitar your interested in.

You do seem to be all over the place, you probably should get out and try some of the guitars you're interested in. That's half the fun anyway.

I don't like the 16 series. They're 000 depth and they just don't have any depth for my playing.

I love the dss-17. It's a big, bad, rock and roll machine. I don't like the other 17 series guitars. Again this is for my playing, if I play a 000-17 next to a Road Series 000 that costs less and looks way better, the 17 sounds like it's made of cardboard. Again that's with me playing.

And, unfortunately there are no bargains on theJ series. There is only the J-40 and it cost's over $5000. So even with the discount it's still an expensive guitar.