New Martin acoustic-electric hybrid: Martin SC-13E review

[Dee Forty]

Spoon Philips already has a review up of the new "secret Martin".

Sounds pretty wild but pretty cool. Traditionalists and unconventionalists will both probably have a thought or two to share.

Full review here: http://onemanz.com/guitar/reviews/ac...martin/sc-13e/

[David Eastwood]

My spidey senses are already picking up incoming Luddites

If only Martin had omitted the truss rod, and used bar frets. That would have made for some truly good sport.

[Ludere]

...

[llew]

My first thought was where else do they have do go? Certainly a major departure from traditional Martin builds. But...I'll wait until I get a chance to play one (if I ever do?) before I make any decisions. It's an odd looking duck IMO but may sound really good? Pricey for a laminate guitar but some big name builders charge a whole lot more for laminate back & sides? Good luck Martin.

[slooky]

I don't think this guitar is laminate.
The back and sides are gorgeous Hawaiian koa, laid down as a fine veneer over an interior core made of solid Khaya.

[Goodallboy]

Originally Posted by slooky

I don't think this guitar is laminate.
The back and sides are gorgeous Hawaiian koa, laid down as a fine veneer over an interior core made of solid Khaya.

And that would be a laminate, wouldn't it?

No big deal, it's a new design so nothing wrong with it being a laminate guitar. Many fine ones are laminate.

I'll be interested to read more. Don't need it, won't buy it, but still interested in learning more about the new model.

[Steve DeRosa]

If you currently have a DX-420 gathering dust in your music room, this will make the perfect complement...

[Matt McGriff]

Here’s a video from NAMM on the SC-13. Seems interesting.

https://youtu.be/l2ysQ4DYR-E

[M19]

Bolt on neck!

[lowrider]

In the article I read last night it said that this is the first completely new body style from Martin since the '30s. I don't have any feelings for tradition so I think it's a great idea and I hope to try one as soon as they arrive at locally.

The fact that it's made to be played with .11's makes me wonder about it's acoustic tone. It could be a guitar that's made to be plugged in most of the time, like the new 16 series guitars. For that we will have to wait and see.

It's a Road Series, so it will be a relatively inexpensive guitar. Has anyone seen a price to it?

[lowrider]

Originally Posted by M19

Bolt on neck!

Yes, bolt on neck with ''linear dovetail''! Does that mean that it slides in horizontally?

[Wade Hampton]

That’s a very interesting article. Thanks for posting the link, Dee, and welcome to the forum.

Given the price point where Martin has positioned it, I expect we’ll start seeing these new guitars in our local music stores as soon as Martin starts shipping them out.

Which in Alaska means no sooner than April at the earliest, probably more like May. Martin doesn’t ship to us during the colder months. But I expect you folks living in warmer climates will see them fairly soon.

I’ll be delighted to play the first one I see.


Wade Hampton Miller

[M19]

Martin guy in the video said May time frame for shipments to dealers.

[MaurysMusic]

I'm hoping to play this one today!

[Treenewt]

I am intrigued, honestly, and I can't believe it. It looks (and specs) like a Taylor/Breedlove product more than a Martin, and that excites me a bit. I really like the idea of the new neck carve, cause I just can't get along with the ubiquitous MLO PA taper neck. I LOVE the neck on the Modern Deluxe, so I guess I'm not as traditional a Martin guy as I once thought. Curse you, modern technology!

I'm not wild on laminates, but still, I'd like to play one of these. Kudos to Martin for trying something different.