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#1
10-20-2020, 06:01 PM
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Martin: buy new or used?
I’m in the market for a Martin standard built in the last 8-10 years. Is it worth spending the extra money on new and get the warranty or try to find a used one on the market. I’ve almost always bought used. I think in 30 years I’ve bought 2 guitars new.
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A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to. 
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#2
10-20-2020, 06:05 PM
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It really depends on how much money you are willing to spend.
I bought my Martin in 1987. So for the long run it has been money well spent. The Factory warranty came in handy when I needed a neck reset. If I had a used one I would have just paid for it. Find one that speaks to you and buy it.
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#3
10-20-2020, 06:07 PM
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Unless you are good at assessing the potential problems with a guitar, I always recommend that people buy new. Used guitars can easily drive the cost of a used guitar up if you don't recognize the symptoms of neck problems, fret problems or whatever. Not that guitars aren't repairable, they are. However, it would make the real cost of the guitar closer to a new guitar.
My opinion... Martin
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***************************** Gibson L-00 Standard 2018 Yamaha FS5 2020 Gibson J-45 Standard 2020
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#4
10-20-2020, 06:10 PM
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The new Martin standards are no longer of interest to me since they changed the neck shape and went to a 1 3/4" nut.
That said, I'm happy to buy used if I can check the guitar out before buying (or there's an ironclad return policy, no questions asked).
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#5
10-20-2020, 06:10 PM
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Now that Martin no longer covers neck resets under warranty, the calculus has changed a bit. Used makes a lot of sense, particularly if you have a trial period.
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"What have I learned but the proper use for several tools" -Gary Snyder Bourgeois DR-A / Bowerman "Working Man's" OM / Martin Custom D-18 (adi & flame) / Martin OM-21 / Northwood M70 MJ / 1970s Sigma DR-7 / Eastman E6D / Flatiron Signature A5 / Silverangel Econo A (Call me Dan)
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#6
10-20-2020, 06:17 PM
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Email a couple of the AGF sponsors for their prices on new guitars. You might be pleasantly surprised.
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Martin D18 Gibson J45 Martin 00015sm Gibson J200 Furch MC Yellow Gc-CR SPA Guild G212 Eastman E2OM-CD
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#7
10-20-2020, 06:26 PM
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Quote:
__________________
A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.
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#8
10-20-2020, 06:31 PM
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Quote:
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#9
10-20-2020, 06:31 PM
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The problem with buying a used Martin is that the vast majority of people selling them don't know that you can get 40% off MSRP, so their used prices are still higher than getting a brand new one from a forum sponsor. Even here on the forum where it's widely known I regularly see this issue, and Reverb is even worse. That said some great deals come along from time to time - someone recently listed a used 000-18 for $1,400 and it sold in like a day. There's another used one on UMGF for $1,700 right now which is still a good price. So I'd say either keep an eye out for one of those great deals that pops up, or reach out to a shop like Maury's, LAGS, etc to get a great price on a new Martin.
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#11
10-20-2020, 06:57 PM
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Quote:
l looked at quite a few of them, both used and new. I ended up going brand new as the one I have was the best sounding of them all. As for the D-28 that’s on my list I’m looking at pre 2000. I’m sure when all is said and done it will cost a few more $$ than a new one, but it will have the 1-11/16” nut and genuine mahogany neck that I prefer.
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Martin D-35 Martin 000-18
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#12
10-20-2020, 06:58 PM
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I sorta on the same path. I’m gonna use 35 percent of street price as my savings gauge. But...I’ll likely just order one from Maury’s after things settle down and don’t like the gamble of shipping in the cold weather.
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Love one woman and many guitars...costs way less.
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#13
10-20-2020, 07:00 PM
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A used D18, less than ten years old, in excellent condition should be priced to move at $1500 max and delivered.
Anything more than that...buy a new one.
__________________
Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster
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#14
10-20-2020, 07:05 PM
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Just to clarify - Neck resets are limited to the first 5 years under warranty.
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'22 Martin D-45 '21 Gibson 1959 ES-335 '20 Martin 000-42 '15 Taylor 914c '99 Gibson Firebird V '19 Martin 00-28 '14 Martin OM-42 '54 Martin 00-18 '53 Martin 000-18 '50 Martin 000-28 '67 Gibson J-45 '95 Martin HD-28 '78 Yamaha FG-512 '18 Gibson 1959 Les Paul '19 Fender CS '64 Tele Custom '14 Fender 1954 Strat '03 PRS Hollowbody I '99 Fender Paisley Tele '76 Gibson Les Paul Custom
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#15
10-20-2020, 07:26 PM
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I just bought the first brand spankin’ new Martin I’ve bought in years...simply because I paid the same as I’ve found the particular model I wanted (00-18) on Reverb or AGF Classifieds used, or even a bit less! That, and the fact that I do have a factory warranty makes the deal I got all that much better.
Had I not gotten such a great deal, I’d certainly have bought a used one since I’ve done that almost exclusively for a while to save money. All that said...shop around. If you can find the same guitar brand new at the same price or close to what a used one is being priced at...go for it. If not, and you can buy from a trusted AGF member, that’s a great way to go too. There are lots of trustworthy people around here! 
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