Martin is one of the most venerated guitar makers out there -- with their first instruments dating back to 1833, they’re one of very few instrument builders to predate the popular music industry. Respect for their history has always been a hallmark of Martin’s acoustic guitars, yet their continuing innovations have meant they continue to appeal to generations of new players.
This year at NAMM, they showed off that exploratory spirit with the new 16 Series. In the past, their 16 Series had been a more affordable alternative to the D-28 guitar. For this year, though, they’ve made a few modifications to allow the D-16E and others to stand out: Silver acrylic binding, American hardwoods, bullnose fingerboard binding, and a slimmer 000-depth profile. Inspiration for this new line came from sources as diverse as Dave Grohl and the Audi RS7 (but you’ll have to watch above for the details.)
Martin also dipped their toe into the world of aged guitars for the first time, with their new 1937 D-28 Authentic. This limited run of 50 captures the spirit and feel of original pre-war Martins — thanks to the expansive selection at the Martin Guitar Museum, they were able to capture and replicate details like lacquer checks, playing wear, and aged bracing.
Finally, Martin hit a historic milestone this year, creating their 2 millionth guitar. They commemorated the experience with a one-of-a-kind marvel of engineering that has to be seen to be believed. It’s not for sale, but a limited alternate line, dubbed the D-200, is available, at the low, low cost of $150,000.
Martin GuitarsSee more Guitar & Bass News from Winter NAMM 2017