Martin Juniors

The Martin camp is serious about their Junior range of guitars. As depicted above, they released more than a handful of models. As the name implies, the guitar had been re-sized to address the travel narrative but the scale length is 24.9" which is in between a Gibson & PRS. 

One of the models that caught my attention is this Dreadnaught Jr Street Legend version. Everything else here is in pristine condition less that top which was given the Street Legend treatment. This is basically a relic treatment. Not my cup of tea but this sells.

This one's interesting as well; a 000 cutaway bass. It sports the same scale length as the guitars & the primary concern here are the replacement strings availability. No idea when these will be available here but these are listed for USD699 each, regardless of the models. 

Selling: Martin 00CX1AE Grand Concert

Martin 00CX1AE - putting up for my ex-colleague. Interested, please contact Mr. Faizal @ Facebook: Yamtuanmudasripaduka Mohammad Faizal.

Martin @ SL

Martin acoustics are now available at Swee Lee. Yes - Swee Lee...

Pic: Swee Lee webstore

DJR - low & behold

An exciting development in the Martin camp leading to NAMM 2023 - the Dreadnought Jr acoustic bass. That's right, a scaled-down acoustic bass in an already obscure acoustic bass market. This is a bold move.

Even bolder - the cutaway version. I need to try one of these to see if it's that missing link in my bass quest. Yes, I'm in the hunt for a scaled down bass after parting with my beloved Bacchus not too long ago. String gauge for such a peculiar instrument is definitely going to be an issue so here's hoping Martin will supplement this provision.

Pics: Martin / GW

Re-string Saturday: Martin SC-13E

Gloomy weather + sick + no money = Stay home. An indoor weekend made a little exciting by the presence of this Martin SC-13E. Not mine though, belongs to an ex-colleague who bought it at the City Music sale yesterday.

It's a showroom piece & the strings were dead. The guitar sounds awful when I tested it for its electronics. I happened to have this SIT set & managed to inject life back into this rather awesome guitar. Folks, if you wish for some crispy tones from your acoustic guitar, do give this Golden Bronze set a try. 

Next to receive some attention were the frets. These look well played (L) & after a quick polish (R), they look shiny & attractive once more.

Last but not least - wood care. The air-conditioned showroom might have dried the wooden parts of this guitar, especially the unfinished & open pore areas. An example would be the bridge; note the dryness (top) & its re-conditioned look (bottom). Folks, dry wood will flake off or even crack if unattended to. The dry fretboard was taken care of as well but it's not as dry as the bridge.

Here are the exciting bits:

• A: The neck sports a shallow C profile, in fact, it feels like some modern Fender electric guitar more than an acoustic where things tend to be beefy in this department. The special feature here is the flattened upper fret / heel area so it appeals to those shredders very easily. In fact, Martin refers to it as a heel-less joint. Very convincing.
• B: Sculptured cutaway bit to encourage more upper fret access especially when the guitar features a cutaway. This guitar is almost heel-less due to the fact that it's a bolt-on construction as seen here.
• C: The guitar also includes a neck tilt adjustment access. A bolt-on construction allows this to happen just like the solid body counterparts.

If you missed it, the SC-13E is an offset design. The understanding of 'offset' here refers to the waist curvatures which are not located at the exact opposite of each other as highlighted above; they are a little misplaced. Of course, the well known offset design we can always understand are the Fender instruments; Jaguar, Jazzmaster, et al.

Junior vs Junior

Folks, as promised, my appraisal of the Martin against the Ibanez. Let's get down to the specifics:

• Martin: Dreadnought Jr (Sapele)
• Ibanez: AW54JR

Coincidentally, both have the 'junior' label in the model reference with Ibanez opting it to be abbreviated & incorporated into the alpha numeric citation. I really had second thoughts about doing this appraisal in this light but I need a reference for the Martin so that if you are new to the scaled-down guitar world, you would know that Martin isn't exclusive in having such guitars in their line-up. It is therefore not a contest per se but a leveraged reference. Let's get going.

Construction/ QC

Martin. We know how it is with this brand name - impeccable standards & there's no compromise here. This wasn't meant to be an entry level offering, just a deviation from the regular offerings for players who prefer scaled down dimensions to avoid wrestling with size. Keep in mind the DJ sports an all solid body construction (sapele) but the fretboard wood is an artificial affair (richlite). The wonderful thing here is that Martin made it a point to convince potential buyers it is wood, visually. The stain & grain on board are hardly artificial at first glance. Nothing amiss here less that bridge strap pin cavity that felt rough around the edges. Some manufacturers avoid installing a protrusive contraption to avoid damage during shipment. This is, of course, a minor set back. Very minor indeed.

Ibanez. The AW54JR isn't lagging behind in terms of construction finesse, in fact, it is on par with the Martin. The scary thing is that the manufacturer managed to incorporate an elbow relief at this price point & it puts Martin to shame in this aspect. The AW54JR has a solid top mahogany body with laminated mahogany sides. The fretboard here is 100% wood (ovankol, together with the bridge) & the overall stain looks more attractive compared to the Martin's rather pale affair. However, the Ibanez (this model, particularly) had two loose tuners but it's not something a screwdriver couldn't handle. OK, so the Ibanez had its body strap pin installed at the factory & was strap-ready out of the box. Hmm...

Playability/ Tone

Martin. The instrument had a slight bow upon unboxing but was quickly fixed at the store - just a minor truss rod tweak, nothing to it. The default action was acceptable but the instrument is neck heavy, even the spruce stop version exhibited this anomaly when I handled it at the store. It could have been due to the compact richlite material manifesting its density. As such, we can hear a deeper low end coming from the DJ with a checked treble response; nothing bright & repulsive, a very warm, Martin affair. Addictive, be warned.

Ibanez. The AW54JR had no bowed neck issue but the guitar had a rather high action setting. I wonder why the manufacturer penalized itself in this department because the guitar's main attraction are arguably playability & tone. A subsequent re-string adventure revealed that the Ibanez's default bridge was a good 3mm thicker than the Martin's so the implication here is, Ibanez left it to the owner to tinker with action settings. However, folks, despite the higher action, the AW54JR manifests that wonderful mahogany warmth purists would appreciate. It has a tad more clarity when it comes to single notes which might be attributable to its lighter being. Feel-wise, the Ibanez has a smoother response & this is why we appreciate real wood for the fretboard material. 

Conclusion

A gentle reminder that this isn't going to end with a clear winner but an appreciation of strength & individual appeal. The Martin is a fault-free player proving its worth in every department; even the artificial fretboard failed to render it as the lesser Martin from the manufacturer's extensive range of guitar goodness. However, please accept the fact that the said artificial component affects the guitar's response in the traditional sense but it isn't excessive. The Ibanez, on the other hand is a surprise package & that elbow relief there is a sign of the times; Ibanez is not about to ignore thoughtful incorporations with the player in mind & a firm statement that cost is definitely not the issue. It also proves that non-solid sides & back do not reduce any tonal appeal. Well, the Ibanez's classic open tuners make for sheer attraction in addition to its spectacular wood grains. 

All in all, the stark reality here is that the Ibanez is less than half of the Martin's original list price. We acknowledge the fact that a solid construction is a costly affair but is richlite adding significantly to the cost as well? How about giving us some elbow comfort, Martin? Especially at this price point. Regardless, some great playing moments can be had with either guitar depending on how deep your pockets are at times. 

D Jr (2)

I have no complaints with Martin's Dreadnought Jr's QC. At least for the one I've acquired, it's in top notch condition in its entirety. Perhaps this is the hallmark of the Martin name; formidable construction for the taking. However, the instrument gave off a pungent stench, akin to that of a dead lizard or some small critters left lifeless in the house for a few days. It's definitely unpleasant & a quick check was done to see if there was indeed something dead in the guitar case- negative. Was there something dead in the instrument body itself? Negative. A closer inspection revealed that the stench came from the strings & fretboard. I have no idea what caused this to happen but it could be:

• chemicals from the strings compounded by the fact that it was left boxed up & stored away prior to purchase
• the richlite material giving off some chemical reactions under humid conditions

Whatever the case might be, I've re-strung the guitar with a fresh set of Dean Markley as seen above. Coincidentally, the strings were left under some books in the house since August 2018 (as documented by the accompanying receipt); a one-year-old set of strings still fresh & crispy. Kudos to Dean Markley for getting it right in terms of preservation.

Moving on to the fretboard, with reference to the pic above, it's very difficult to tell that it's a non-wood material. The grain there is very convincing & they got it tinted right as well. I've mentioned previously that this guitar was a bucket list item for me because I've never owned & do not believed in setting aside money for a compromised component. I strongly believe that the fretboard should be constructed from a wooden material regardless of the pedigree. Putting things in context, the rate of deforestation now is rather alarming. It is inevitable that one day, 50% of the guitar's construction would be attributable to wood substitutes. That would be a sad day indeed. Companies like Martin are looking ahead to incorporate such a material into their tried & tested construction formula. Richlite seems to be a winning ingredient & we have Gibson to concur this commitment; their latest G-45 Standard acoustic features richlite as well. These substitutes also contribute to the lower price tags. 

Okie dokie, the next instalment would be a tone shoot out between the Dreadnought Jr & my Ibanez AW54JR. 

D Jr

Managed to grab this on the last day of sale- Martin's Dreadnought Jr. sapele. Will tell you why this is a bucket list item for me.

New JRs

Martin cut down on their Junior models recently only to introduce new iterations this Summer NAMM. Seen here is the first Junior model to feature a cutaway- 000CJR-10E.

The other new Junior features an auditorium body style- 000JR-10 & this would be on my watch list. I'm looking for something close to the Taylor GS Mini with an all solid body & this is it. Maybe. Till it gets here, no further comments.

New little

We've seen the little Martins before & this summer, it gets a little upgrade for the better. The LX1R they call it, now sports a solid spruce top & a pickguard. That's right, expect an upward price revision as well (get ready for about +$100 more).

Junior no more

I think this news came to me late- Martin has called an end to the Dreadnought Jr. Thought this to be a little strange since they updated the specs of these guitars at Winter NAMM this year. I've played the Jr many times, even recommended it to a colleague once. I really thought they were doing well- an all solid body guitar at this price is a steal. Oh, well.

Jr 2019

Martin's 2018 Dreadnought Jr is now known as the DJR-10. It's everything the 2018 model offered (sapele top) with a revised, thinner body. Not so sure if this is a wise move for a scaled down guitar as it makes the instrument less boomy & sharper sounding. 

Authentic

They've been authentic all this while so the name of this series doesn't serve to underscore authenticity. Looking forward to try them because Martin makes good, affordable strings.

Better late

It's late night. I'm just about done with work. But this one needed a re-string & it's done. This is my office buddy, something I keep under the workstation for days when I'm bored stiff. Looks like Martin strings are getting the Cleartone treatment (if you can see that label) 👍

Been had?

This was featured in the local papers last week. A website claiming to be selling guitars for 90% off the list price.

Seller claimed guitars were released for sale at cost prices due to export complications & salvage appropriation. 

Sale was further promoted by social media postings. We need to be cautious when dealing with such too-good-to-be-true deals. At the very least, engage in preliminary correspondence with the seller & do not commit to buy immediately. Yes, we should put a good deal of trust on accommodating online sellers but we also need to protect ourselves from commercial complications should there be legal repercussions. if you're willing to go down for this kind of deal, what does that show about you? 

Light set up

A simple set up while watching TV last night. But the strings felt yucky at the start.

A quick re-string & it's good to go 👍

The Yamaha RGX A2 is a light guitar. In fact, it's my lightest but manifests one of the best tones even with simple set ups. Martin's Darco strings are one of the most affordable brand name out there but it's one of the best in terms of feel despite not lasting that long. If it's within your means, do invest in something different in your arsenal. It need not be an 'upgrade' of sorts but something that affects the way you play, bringing you out of your comfort zone. The struggle would make you a better player. 

Black magic

Was a re-string Sunday. A set of Martin Darco strings into my Ibanez RGR08. What does a name like 'Martin' mean to players in the solid body turf? Not much, really. But the Darco set is one of the most affordable & above-average out there. If you think you don't have much $$ to spare but in need of a reliable set of strings- there you go. Just be informed that the B string is a little thicker, going at 11.5 instead of the standard 11.

Sometimes we just have to go the other way to be inspired. I'm not much of an active pickup fan but I do own guitars with such pickups. The Ibanez RGR08 is one of them. Last weekend was my bout with crushing guitar tones which didn't really make the cut in terms of clarity. I kept blaming the amp for the short-comings but a quick switch to active pickups did the job. Active pickups were meant for simply that- cold, calculated, crushing distortion so they should be the rightful reference. We often try too hard with what we think would get the job done instead of embracing what were meant for it all along.

Martin @ CM

Martin promo happening at City Music now. 👍

The Jr 2

Meanwhile in Martin-dom, they have just released this Dreadnought Junior in sapele for Summer NAMM 2016. Check out the tone:

Martin April specials

In the mean time, City Music is having a promo for selected Martin guitars so if you are itching for some worthy acoustics for a good price, do consider.