Why is this Martin $80,000?

[Tnfiddler]

I don’t think it’s that as much as the fact that it’s EXTREMELY overpriced and you know it as well as the rest of us do. JP Cormier just put out a Martin Vs Recording King video and the results were 51/49% on picking which was which. He then went on to slam Martin for their crazy high prices when these guitars that sound just as good are so cheap. Taylor are priced super high too! If something is WORTH $80k, it’s one thing, but it doesn’t have any special features that warrant that price! Oh wait, it probably does. Its got binding that may come off in a couple of years. LOL

[Zigeuner]

The way I see it, that guitar won't do anything more for a person than a standard guitar that is reasonably priced.

Furthermore, the majority of responses were not aimed at the guitar or its quality or otherwise disparaging it. They were aimed at the price, which is simply ridiculous.

I have five Martin guitars that have Brazilian Rosewood backs and sides. None of them cost anywhere near the price of that Martin.

$80K? Silly.

[H165]

the price, which is simply ridiculous.

I'm a Martin player and fan. My "holy grail" is probably an early OM-45DLX.

This price is not only ridiculous, it's MID PRICED compared to several other Martin offerings.

At this level, we are not looking at the guitar as a tool. As noted above, it's a showpiece, or trophy, or collectible, or investment, or proof of income, or something else in the buyer's perception.

Like a few above, I've owned dozens of Martins with better rosewood.

[M Sarad]

Bruce Sexauer can build you one for about a quarter of the price. He’s done it before.

[pickinray]

It's called "whatever the market will bear". Obviously, Martin thinks they will get a few takers at that price point. Since it's an extremely limited edition, maybe they think that collectors (not players) will buy them. And if nobody buys them, maybe you'll see it as a "Stupid Deal of the Day" for only $20,000!

[Mr. Jelly]

If you don't want to pay what they are asking go buy one somewhere else. That's part of the equation. Good luck. Note you probably will not find one on the used guitar market, ever.

I once embarrassed myself asking a wealthy friend of mine how the banks react to the down turn in multimillion dollar house prices. He said people that buy these house don't take out loans.

[Earl49]

I parked my $28K Subaru Forester next to a new $80K Corvette today at lunch. Sure the Corvette is fast and stylish, but I got there and back home again just fine having spent a fraction of that price. I do not begrudge the fellow for having that car - it's just not what I would choose. FWIW I have seen the Millionth Martin up close and personal.... they weren't allowing anyone to play that museum piece. Replica D-100's are/were $115K msrp, but I doubt that having all that abalone puked all over it -- my wife's words -- makes it sound any better. Some photos: https://www.thegoldeneraguitar.com/martin-d-100-deluxe

No doubt some Saudi prince or tech billionaire will buy whatever they make. At that level price is not a factor, except maybe for bragging rights.

[Zigeuner]

I've often wondered is the Abalone or Abalam (sp?) inlay changes the sound of one of the 45 grade guitars.

[Earl49]

Who really knows? Like heavily engraved collectible firearms that will never be fired, guitars like these become museum pieces and are never played.

[Mobile1]

Just think of the reaction you'd get with that guitar down at the Pub on open mic night.

Why I wouldn't be surprised if a few performers asked you if they could borrow it.

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by Earl49

I parked my $28K Subaru Forester next to a new $80K Corvette today at lunch. Sure the Corvette is fast and stylish, but I got there and back home again just fine having spent a fraction of that price. I do not begrudge the fellow for having that car - it's just not what I would choose. FWIW I have seen the Millionth Martin up close and personal.... they weren't allowing anyone to play that museum piece. Replica D-100's are/were $115K msrp, but I doubt that having all that abalone puked all over it -- my wife's words -- makes it sound any better. Some photos: https://www.thegoldeneraguitar.com/martin-d-100-deluxe

No doubt some Saudi prince or tech billionaire will buy whatever they make. At that level price is not a factor, except maybe for bragging rights.

At least with the corvette you can very easily establish the price differential. Not the best comparison. The difference there is very meaningfully tangible. Those 2 cars are not even on the same planet.

[Earl49]

Four wheels, steering wheel, seat belts, engine, similar controls — and it got me to and from my destination. No analogy will be perfect, but I made my point about price differential for the same essential function. Nitpick all you want, but I feel no further desire to help if it only results in attacks. I’m out.

[dhodgeh]

I took the Behind The Scenes tour at the Martin factory last year.

The guide started talking about tonewood, and I asked how much Brazilian Rosewood they had left, and the dude jokingly told me that he would have to kill me if he told me. He then went on to say that if you want Brazilian for a new build these days, you are looking at least a $20K-$30K up charge.

We also went back into where there wood is stored, and in one corner, (one of only two places we could not take photos), was the area where the kept the premium woods. The stack of Brazilian Rosewood was one of the smallest they had.

So, while terribly expensive, I'm not totally shocked by the price.

Oh, in case you are interested, the other area we could not photo was a wall of 1500 guitars in cases that the guide told us was Chris's private collection. Still don't know what the reasons for no photos there was about.

Update: Found my photo of the guitar these are modeled after.....

D

[fartamis]

The kind of guitar you can afford when you're a millionaire ... but I still find it way very too expensive for a guitare.

[FoxHound4690]

That's $116,000 for me over here in Australia. and yes that kind of money for a guitar is ridiculous. I get that its a strictly limited run and there's a fair amount of Rarity behind it but seriously, $116,000 that's a quarter of my mortgage for christ sake lol