Chinese Guitar

A guitar is a musical instrument. Then the study of it must include two aspects, one is naturally the music itself, and the other is to study the physical properties of the instrument. First of all, in terms of music, the most important and initial content is the study of acoustics. We know that sonic transmission requires media, and the mechanism of this propagation is vibration. Sound can travel in the air because of vibrations that cause changes in the air pressure around the sound waves, which are perceived by our ears, so we hear the sound.

The magnitude of this pressure change is proportional to the volume. The unit decibel (dB) of our daily measurement volume is calculated directly from this pressure change. Another important property of sound waves is its vibration frequency, which is why we can perceive different pitches. The higher the frequency of the sound wave, the higher the pitch. The current international standard pitch is set to 440 Hz for the A4 tone. This sound is one string and five frets in the position of the guitar fingerboard under the standard chord. But when we play the instrument, we play differently, and the tone is very different. This is because the sound waves transmitted by the instrument during performance are not limited to one frequency. As an example of playing a guitar, the strings are plucked by hand and the strings are plucked, and the sounds are significantly different. In addition, playing at the neck and playing the sound at the bridge will be different.

Through experimental measurements, we can know that when we play an instrument, there is an overtone in addition to the fundamental frequency of the resolution pitch. Overtones are actually one octave or more octaves above the reference frequency. Each pitch is one octave higher and the audio frequency is doubled. So we usually see that sound waves are not theoretical sine waves, but waves that look like seven and eight. This reason is actually the result of superimposing multiple frequencies. With a simple Fourier transform, we can make a sound signal into a frequency histogram, just like the one we usually see on a speaker. But the premise of this is that this audio has a reference frequency. That is to say, no matter how chaotic its shape is, this disorder is orderly and continuous. If the two points are separated by one reference period, then their audio properties are the same. According to Newton’s second law, an external force must be applied in order to change the existing state of an object. Acoustically, if we want to excite an object to vibrate, we must apply an external force to the object. Just as we knock on the table and knock on the bowl, they only make a sound after being hit.

And this sound is not the same as high or low. This is because each object has its own unique resonant frequency. Moreover, different vibration frequencies are generated for the same object in different states. The simplest example is to knock on a bowl and see if the resulting pitch is the same when filled with water and without water. At the same time, according to the principle of conservation of energy, when you hit any object or stretch the spring, it actually applies kinetic energy and potential energy to them. The amount of energy directly affects the volume. If ideally, these vibrations may continue. But because of the friction and other constraints, the vibration will decrease, that is, the amplitude of the vibration will become smaller and smaller. The rate of reduction can be seen as acceleration, but this acceleration is also constant, because the force changes at every moment. Another source of sound is directly caused by changes in air pressure. It is like blowing air against the bottle mouth, which will cause pressure exchange outside the bottle. This pressure exchange is also a positive and a negative, similar to the effect of pulling the spring. The intensity of this pressure exchange will become smaller over time. When the air pressure outside the bottle is balanced again, there is no sound any more. 

As an acoustic guitar, it is actually a combination of the above two models for producing sound. When we move the strings, we actually exert potential energy on the strings. When we release, the potential energy instantly changes to kinetic energy, and the strings begin to vibrate. The vibration of the strings is transmitted to the body by the bridge and neck. When the body vibrates, it will induce changes in the surrounding air pressure. Then this pressure change is felt by the human body, and we hear the guitar sound produced by the vibration of the body. Studies have shown that in all audio, the top board is mainly responsible for the high frequency part, and the back and side boards are mainly responsible for the intermediate frequency and low frequency. Another part of the sound source comes from the sound hole. This is a principle of blowing air on the wine bottle. The vibration of the strings drives the exchange of air inside and outside the guitar to produce sound. This part of the audio is also mainly composed of low and medium frequencies.

So looking at a guitar, you can use guitar sound to estimate what wood the guitar is using without knowing the materials. At the same time, if you know the material and structure of the guitar, you can also predict the sound it can produce. But this is only a very rough estimate, because each piece of wood is not the same. So even if the production process is the same as the structure, their final tone will be different.

The most common woods used to make acoustic guitars are: spruce and cedar are often used for top wood. Because they have the advantages of full vibration of the flexible, but also have a high stiffness. Mahogany and rosewood are the best materials for making back and side panels. The acoustic characteristics of mahogany have a prominent intermediate frequency, while rosewood has a clear performance at low frequencies and high frequencies. A guitar made of pure solid wood will get a fuller sound after playing for a while, the term is aging. But the price is high, the general brand of pure solid wood (even if made in China) must be more than 500 dollars (the result of amazon and musicansfriend survey).

And if a guitar is not solid mahogany or solid rosewood, then it must be laminated wood. That is to say, these materials are superimposed on the veneer. The bad place is that the tone is not pure, because the vibration frequency of different woods is not the same, just like the two people who walked when we were young, if the steps are not the same, then we can only wrestle. Finally, don’t think that the guitar produced in mainland China is synonymous with poor quality. Our Chinese production process has made considerable progress, but few people now seriously treat the long-term development of the instrument industry, thinking that it is a game without technical content. Again, a large part of the power of the US soft power is due to the hands of rock musicians. The guitars with cultural symbols, and the guitars behind them represent the country’s overall industrial level and creativity.

When it comes to the season, you must have prepared a variety of seasonal fashion for yourself. So what should you prepare for your guitar?

Seasonal changes, followed by changes in temperature and humidity, the wood will also be deformed with the environment, causing problems such as distortion of the neck, hitting the fret, panel bulging or cracking. However, please don’t worry, as long as you deal with it correctly, these problems can be solved.

First of all, you can judge whether you need to change the guitar strings according to the intensity of the usual practice. The timely replacement of guitar strings not only has a great impact on the feel and tone, but also a good protection for the fret wire.  Imagine playing with rusty guitar strings. The direct contact of the guitar strings is the silk, which will be corroded for a long time. If you are a rumored “sulphuric acid hand”, it is an essential step to wipe the guitar strings with a piano cloth or guitar string care oil after each practice.

After the strings are all removed, you can proceed to the second step — clean and humidify the fingerboard. Rosewood or ebony fingerboards, due to the presence of wood stomata, may expand or contract with changes in ambient humidity and temperature, causing cracking of the fingerboard or distortion of the neck. At this time, the necessary fingerboard humidification has become a key point. You can use professional fingerboard care oil to clean the wet fingerboard, not only to keep the wood a certain amount of moisture, but also to take away dust, dander and other debris, killing two birds with one stone.

The third step – adjust the neck. Before adjusting the neck, you can change a new set of strings as appropriate. Then adjust the strings to standard sounds. Keep the direction of the performance, lift the guitar, look up and look at the neck. Press and hold the 6-string 1st fret and 14th fret (if the neck joint is designed as 12th fret hold down 12th fret ）to observe. If the neck changes concavely, turn the hex wrench inserted into the neck reinforcement clockwise (1 string direction). If it is raised, it will rotate counterclockwise (6-chord direction). It is important to note that the original wrench of the product must be used. Different sizes of wrenches can cause damage to the neck reinforcement. And each time the rotation, the amplitude should not exceed 45 ° angle, step by step adjustment strategy is the best choice.

Next, you can adjust the pitch according to your personal preference. It should be noted here that the chord distance refers to the distance between the bottom end of the string and the top end of the fret wire, not the distance from the fingerboard. According to personal preference, the piano pillow and bridge code can be properly polished after adjusting the neck. However, if you are a newcomer to the first contact, it is recommended that you go to a professional to repair. It is recommended that you do not excessively pursue low chord . (It is recommended that 1 string: 2.0MM-2.5MM, 6 string: 2.5MM-3MM) without any product. A lot of the sound and dynamics of the guitar comes from the vibration of the strings. If there is no certain pitch, the vibration is not sufficient, which will have a certain impact on the expression and skill expression of the music.

After these three steps of adjustment, the following points should also be noted in daily maintenance:

1. Do not get near heat sources such as air conditioners, heating, or cold air outlets.

2. Humidity is about 45-55%. If the humidity is too large, the panel will expand and the bridge will crack. Too dry will cause severe deformation of the neck of the face back. If it is severely dried, it will cause the panel to collapse and cause the sound beam to open or break.

3. After the guitar is placed in the case, do not lie flat to protect the neck.

4. If you are carrying or transporting a guitar across an area where the temperature and humidity are significantly different, do not rush to play and adjust the pitch, neck reinforcement, etc. First relax the guitar strings and let them rest for a few hours, then adjust according to the situation.

5. If you are not playing for a long time, please relax the strings properly.  Such as the overall drop of a full tone. This will ensure that the pressure at the neck joint and the bridge is reduced to an acceptable range, and that the neck fingerboard is in a relatively average tensile force. 

I hope that these maintenance and storage tips will help you. Workers must first sharpen their tools in order to do their best. Be kind to your guitar and it will bring you more fun.

Martin Guitar is proud to introduce an Martin OM-42 (2018) acoustic guitar to the public. This guitar can be said to be comfortable in many acoustic guitars. Such praise should be able to think of how good its sound and appearance can be! The incredible craftsmanship gives this guitar the best tone balance, following the design of the top 40 style guitar. This guitar is so eye-catching, and we also really understand the direction of the Martin guitar in Reimagined, showing the brand’s best integrity and innovative intentions. The Martin OM-42 (2018) is the perfect choice for a truly elegant acoustic guitar!

Incredibly exquisite craftsmanship

As the back and sides of this Martin OM-42 guitar is made East Indian Rosewood, adds brilliance to the true essence of its sound. The top uses Sitka spruce, adding a rich touch to its gorgeous shades. This guitar’s wood configuration is a good definition of the balance of the sound. The gorgeous ebony fingerboard provides the guitar with the perfect brightness we are looking for, as well as the comfortable touch and smooth performance of the finger on the fingerboard.

Reimagined features in 2018

It can be said that Reimagined is Martin’s most exquisite innovation this year. This guitar uses a scalloped X-shaped panel sound beam to support the top, providing a warm Martin sound that we are familiar with and love. The Modified Low Oval neck has a high-performance, stylish tapered design that gives you the perfect feel. You can sit down and play the guitar for a few hours without worrying about getting tired of potential hand fatigue.

In 2018, Martin introduced the Martin M-36 (2018) acoustic guitar, which is in the direction of reimagined, has a beautiful wood configuration, can provide a unique tone, suitable for fingering and sweeping with a pick. If you’re recording in the studio or playing guitar on the stage, the Martin M-36 (2018) is a high-quality professional guitar that delivers the rich and complete sound you’ve always wanted.

The Sitika spruce used in the panel can be adapted to the playing style, the tone is balanced, warm, and more robust. Similarly, you will also like the crisp sound of the Martin M-36 (2018) East Indian rosewood back sides panels. Of course, its gorgeous appearance, retro white edging adds a rich and soft color, showing high-end beauty. This guitar is also known for its balance between bass and treble. It uses a 3PC backplane, the volume is relatively louder, the resonance is better, the feedback is faster and more obvious, and the overtone is more delicate.

The bone nut and bridge code ensure a stable tone and sustain, ensuring a balanced and balanced resonance of the body, and the Indian rosewood bridge makes the Martin M-36 (2018) sound more refined and outstanding. Chrome-enclosed string knobs maintain good guitar pitch. The Martin M-36 (2018) features a forward-shifted X-bracing design that provides fuller resonance and greater sound horsepower. The modified modified low oval neck features a high-performance, stylish cone design for better playability and play comfort. Vintage paint finishes, vintage white edging and ochre trim add a vintage touch to this Martin M-36 (2018).

The name of the Martin D-type guitar comes from the world’s largest battleship made in the UK, the Dreadnought “Invinsible” battleship. Martin Guitar Head C.F. Martin IV is the birth of the Dreadnought guitar and the great contributions that D-type guitars have created over the past 100 years. He wrote a letter personally, remembering the passionate era of the D-type guitar and the pioneers of the inspired Martin guitar. “I am very proud of the fact that the Martin Dreadnought is probably the most copied shape of guitar on earth.”

In 1906, this Dreadnought battleship (Dreadnought Ship) was officially launched, and it shouldered the British mission of showing the world that it would not fall to the Empire. At that time, many countries wanted to challenge the British hegemony. For example, Japan created a very large warship and defeated the Russians in the dispute over the Korean peninsula around the Pacific Ocean; Italians and Germans are also interested in building a larger warship, so the British feel that it is necessary for them to remind you who is the real hegemon at sea.

Shortly after the design was formed, they completed the manufacturing in about two to three months. After the ship was officially launched in 1906, no matter where he went to the world, he was invincible. All the people who have made shipbuilding crafts and maritime defenses are shocked, it’s incredible! However, for the British, its overly individual technical content has made the fleet’s other warships worthless, just as it has made other fleets around the world vulnerable.

In March 1915, when the Dreadnought battleship and the sister ship of the British Navy were located in the North Sea of Scotland, a German submarine suddenly surfaced and fired a torpedo at them. The torpedo hit the sister ship. The Dreadnought battleship immediately came to aid and split the submarine into two. This is the only example of a warship sinking submarine that we can learn so far.

In the near future, everyone began to implant part of Dreadnought’s design philosophy in their designs. The British also redesigned accordingly and eventually developed a warship called Super Dreadnought. Until now, naval war historians are still keen to talk about the design of warships before and after Dreadnought.

What makes it so extraordinary? In addition to its very fast speed, very light weight and great maneuverability, it also uses a turbo transmitter instead of a conventional reciprocating engine. The guns of the entire warship are also the same size, and it is also the first warship to be fully equipped with giant guns. Because of the strong interest in the Dreadnought warship, our Dreadnought-type guitar has been named after it, and it is so popular.

The Martin D-type guitar has always been the most sought-after body style in the world. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the classic D-type guitar (1916-2016), the D-222 100th Anniversary Edition guitar is limited. The original D-type guitar was designed and crafted by Martin Guitars in 1916. But it is exclusively listed in Boston and New York under the Oliver Ditson brand. Following the collapse of Ditson in the early 1930s, Martin introduced two D-type guitars, the D-1 and D-2, which are suitable for standard playing styles. Soon they evolved into the classic Martin D-18 and Martin D-28 models of Martin Guitar. For the past 100 years, Martin D-type guitars have defined the level of acoustic guitar and what should be achieved, and later became the world’s most popular acoustic guitar.

The D-222 was released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the D-type (1916-2016) guitar, with a limited edition of 100 guitars. The 12-fret D-type guitar is crafted from the Sitka spruce panel, featuring the Vintage Tone System, mahogany back and side panels, ivory white edging, classical headstock, ebony fingerboard and bridge. A tribute to the classic limited edition guitar is worthy of your cherished years!

The Martin D-35 has always been a favorite of countless guitarists because it has the grand sound of the Dreadnought and the striking 3PC back design. Martin reinvented the legendary Martin D-35E (2018) in the direction of reimagined, still retaining the traditional sound of the iconic Dreadnought to create an incredible classic sound. If you are an acoustic guitar player who likes to enjoy classical instruments. But what is needed is a more modern, an electric guitar that can be used for performances or recordings, then the Martin D-35E (2018) will be a good choice!

The beautiful 3PC back is an essential element of the Martin D35 guitar. This Martin D-35E (2018) uses high quality East Indian rosewood as the back and sides panels, and Sitka spruce as top wood.  It not only maintains the authenticity of the wood materials, but also provides the depth and sound intensity of the guitar. The guitar is equipped with the Fishman Aura VT Enhance pickup system to ensure that the Martin D-35E (2018) produces incredible volume amplification in live stage or studio environments.

For beginners, the Martin D35E (2018) uses a forward-shifted bracing design. This gives the Dreadnought guitar, which already has a low and heavy tone, more low-frequency impact and greater strength.

In terms of playability, the Martin D-35E (2018)’s High Performance neck has a high-performance, stylish tapered design that makes it a more modern and comfortable finger-feel. From an aesthetic point of view, this guitar not only has a retro sound, the exterior features a retro-painted finish, vintage white edging and enamel pickguard for a timbre and look!

The Martin OM-35E (2018) guitar also has powerful power. Whether you are sweeping or playing solo, it is good at it. With superb craftsmanship, an excellent pickup system and reimagined innovations of 2018, this is a versatile guitar and will exceed your expectations. The Martin OM-35E features a beautiful Sitka spruce top and Indian rosewood sides and back. Although smaller than the size of the D-type guitar, it also provides rich and full sound. The ebony fingerboard and bridge make the guitar sound more gorgeous and provide the impact it needs.

This guitar’s Fishman Aura VT Enhance pickup system keeps the most natural sound while amplifying the volume so you can hear every detail in the performance. The Martin OM-35E (2018) has an obvious retro look: vintage paint finish, vintage white edging and enamel pickguards, very classic!

Martin HD-35’s (2018) combination of the classic iconic Dreadnought and high quality East Indian rosewood sides and back, makes it a good guitar. Martin’s early Dreadnought guitar style determined the standard of acoustic guitar tones. Among these guitar series, the Martin D-28 is probably the most famous and most sought after.  In addition to the distinctive herringbone edging pattern, the forward-shifted scalloped x-bracing support top is also used to enhance the guitar volume and tone. Launched in 1965, the Martin D-35 is the first Martin guitar with a 3PC backplane. The Martin HD35 is unique in that it features the Martin D28’s forward-shifted scalloped x-bracing support top and the Martin D35’s 3PC backplane, which delivers impeccable visuals and incredibly powerful sound.

The Martin HD-35 is also known for its fluency in performance and the stability of the fret wire.  Plek Pro is an advanced technology that controls the height and position of a wire when it is installed by a computer. This will allow your guitar silk to guarantee maximum durability while minimizing the chances of hitting, as well as the same comfort and precision when playing the stringing technique. 

Plek Pro technology guarantees that every note will be loud and clear, and the sound will be flawless, whether you play in the high or low position.

Martin Guitar has a number of classic American-made collections, such as 18 series, 28 series, 40 series and so on. Let’s introduce the Martin 15 series guitars with full of charm and memories.

The Martin D-15M Streetmaster acoustic guitar offers a warm, balanced sound of Martin’s classic style. The guitar features Martin’s legendary Dreadnought guitar type, with mahogany wood as the top and back sides panels, the neck is made of mahogany, and the fingerboard bridge is made of East Indian rosewood. The D-15M StreetMaster is the same size as the D-15M model, with a beautiful satin finish on the exterior. Mahogany can produce a unique and intense sound, warmer than the Sitika spruce, and can be played in different styles

Martin 000-15M StreetMaster acoustic guitar uses Martin’s legendary 000 barrel type, with mahogany wood as the panel and back side panels, and the fingerboard bridge uses East Indian rosewood. The 000-15M StreetMaster is the same size as the 000-15M model, with a beautiful satin finish on the exterior. The neck is made of mahogany wood with a nickel-plated open side-mounted string knob. The whole is like a retro playing instrument, suitable for playing the country music of the Blues.

The Martin DC-15ME guitar combines the traditional Dreadnought bucket features with a range of modern performances. The Martin DC-15ME guitar on the top of the uncut X-beam support, the panel and the back side panels are made of mahogany, which produces a warm, balanced classic sound with a thick sound. This 25.4-inch mahogany neck is available in a comfortable Modified Low Oval size. More ergonomic, it offers unparalleled comfort and playability. The DC-15ME guitar is equipped with a Shadow Nano Mag pickup system that delivers superior plug-in sound performance. The guitar fingerboard and bridge are made of the East Indian rosewood,abalone fingerboard inlays, the full satin finish, the nickel-plated open chord, the tusq bridge code and more.

The Martin GPC-15ME guitar can be said to combine the low-key beauty with the outstanding sound to the market. The GPC-15ME is a 15-series guitar featuring the Martin Grand Performance, with solid mahogany as the top and back sides panel for a warm, balanced classic sound. The notch design makes the GPC-15ME a comfortable choice for guitarists and fingerstyle players. The neck is made of mahogany in a Modified Low Oval size, and the front cutting X-beam supports the top for a more comfortable playing experience. The GPC-15ME is equipped with the exclusive Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2 pickup system for excellent plug-in sound performance. The guitar fingerboard and bridge is made of the East Indian rosewood, abalone fingerboard inlays,  the full satin finish, the nickel-plated open chord, the tusq bridge code and more.

With the improvement of living standards, our demand for musical instruments has become more and more important. In addition to pursuing basic use, it has gradually begun to pay attention to the scientific and technological value of the brand, as well as cultural added value. As a company that has developed nearly two hundred years of acoustic guitar manufacturing, Martin has attracted more and more guitar lovers.

While everyone wants to know the history of Martin guitar and the brand culture, it is inevitable to have a strong interest in the materials they use on the guitar. Attentive fans will notice that Martin’s acoustic guitars are completely free of traditional wood composite panels that are widely used by other companies, but instead use a material we abbreviated as HPL. We see that the back sides panels of the X-series guitars are made of this material, as well as full HPL materials; In Martin, LXM/LXK2/LXBLACK is also full HPL. So, what exactly is this material that we feel strange?

As a traditional material, wood is widely used in all aspects of life. However, due to its limitations, such as waterproof, insect proof, and size, users hope to expand the usability and application range of the wood by manual means. Then the composite board came into being. The invention of the composite panel can even be traced back to 3000 BC. As early as the beginning of the first century BC, the Romans were familiar with the veneer manufacturing technology and the principle of plywood manufacturing. In 1812 the French invented the veneer sawing machine. In 1834, France issued a patent for the planer.

The development of materials, along with the pace of human progress, the development of wood composite panels, allowing the navigators of various countries to cross the ocean, to find unknowns and explore the world farther.

In the 1870s, electricity began to enter the production field; In the 1880s, the internal combustion engine was successfully developed; In 1855, Bentz prototyped the car successfully; the 1903 aircraft was successfully trial-produced. With the advancement of technology, traditional wood composite panels have been unable to meet the needs of technological development at that time. There is an urgent need for a new type of material that can keep up with the rapid advancement of technology. Therefore, many scientists have begun to work on related aspects.

In 1896, a Belgian-born American chemist, Leo Baekeland, mixed phenol with formaldehyde to make a resin product that could be converted to an insoluble polymer, a phenolic resin. Also, by adding some sawdust filler, he obtained a plastic material with a very deep color. In 1907, he was named after his own name Bakelite, and he applied for and patented it. This is the predecessor of today’s high-pressure laminated decorative panel HPL.

This material has excellent properties, is different from traditional composite panels, and is insulating. Therefore, it quickly gained favor from the electronics industry and successfully replaced ceramics and mica as excellent insulating materials in electronic devices. After that, HPL was used in many other fields, from sound, electricity, and thermal insulation to agriculture; from textile to aviation.

However, the phenol formaldehyde polymer, due to its poor light resistance, still limits its use. Early HPL laminates could only be black or brown.

At the same time, research on the other hand is also underway. In 1906, Leibich focused his research on melamine formaldehyde. He found that mixing these melamine formaldehyde resins with cellulose and after polymerization, produced a very good solid material. It is stable to light, resistant to abrasion and non-conductive. In the 1940s, the development of decorative paper material technology that can be applied to melamine formaldehyde has made it possible to beautify the appearance. He can make the board a more pleasing, more decorative outer surface.

Finally, in the 1950s, based on previous research by scientists, modern HPL materials were first commercialized in the United States. This material is very revolutionary, it is different from traditional composite panels, and some other materials. Its plasticity and insulation make it a wider range of applications; Corrosion resistance, which gives it a longer service life; The outermost layer of decoration, eliminating the need for additional decoration and treatment of paint, spray paint, wood plywood wallpaper. This new material has achieved great success due to its dual advantages in aesthetics and functionality!

It first achieved great success in kitchen furniture, especially in the modeled “American” kitchen, where tables, shelves, bar counters, and various places that used to be wood and wood composite panels were replaced.

In the ensuing decades, research, innovation and development of the new HPL opened the door to different market segments and more potential applications. A wide range of products have emerged, from the anti-smoke HPL of the 1960s to a self-supporting HPL; from the laminated board to prevent the spread of flame, to the types of materials used in the furniture industry; from the varieties that are pressed, to the varieties that are mixed with various materials. Scientists turn their imagination into reality, and the application and research of HPL will continue. The development of Martin’s guitar is also accompanied by the human exploration of the world: in 1926, Konter was the first volunteer to explore the Arctic as Robert Byrd’s, carrying Martin’s ukulele on an expedition to the North Pole. Martin Ukulele became the first instrument to travel to the North Pole! After Konter completed many of his trips, he became a writer and wrote many things like “Dick’s Ukulele Method” and “Dick’s Improved Ukulele Method.” And he signed Martin’s signature august with his Arctic trip and many footprints to the Martin Museum. He was affectionately known as “Ukulele Dick.”

THE KONTER UKULELE is now in the Martin Guitar Museum, with signatures of almost all celebrities in American politics and science at the time.

American Seaman, Adventurer, Explorer, Ukulele Player – Mr. Richard (Dick) Konter (1882-1979). In 1993, Martin also produced a high quality portable guitar – Backparker! Humans take it with a music tour accompanied by Martin guitar, and the footprints are on the road of scientific research! In 1994, it also went to the NASA space station!

Martin Guitars, aware of the wide applicability and durability of HPL materials, has revolutionized the use of this new material in guitar manufacturing. In terms of sound, it is not inferior to the composite board used to make guitars; It also allows music lovers to take their favorite Martin products to go to places where all solid wood and composite wood instruments can’t go.

You can carry it on a nautical trip. It is not like a composite board instrument, fearing that high humidity will break down the adhesive layer.

In high altitude alpine areas, you can also bring it. It can withstand such a harsh environment.

American soldiers who went to the battlefield or triumphantly returned home, on the high-pressure and dangerous battlefield, only guitar and music can bring comfort to them. The development of materials is accompanied by advances in science and technology and the pace at which humans explore the world. The generation and application of new materials has always catered to the development of science and technology and the needs of mankind. Of course, not every new material will be immediately known and accepted by everyone, just as the development of alternating current has been difficult. However, it turns out that as long as it is a test of time and meets the needs of development, it will be widely recognized and accepted by people.

Martin Guitar Company, in the nearly 200 years of history, has continued to adhere to the classics and has continued to move forward. Several revolutions in the acoustic guitar industry in history, this small company has experienced and completed. They have always stayed at the forefront of the industry. The HPL material has developed from the development of the prototype to the past 120 years and has achieved great success in various fields. Like Martin’s acoustic guitar, it has gone through the test and tempering of time. So, there is such an HPL guitar that can accompany you to almost anywhere, and the sound is beautiful. Have you ever been happy with this seemingly impossible thing?

Pick up a Martin D28 and you will realize that you are not just picking up a guitar, but a musical history, a symbol. In fact, only Gibson’s Les Paul model and Fender Stratocaster can be compared in history.

This award-winning D-type guitar also has many loyal fans in the music industry such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and even John Lennon. Therefore, its status does not need to be described. Of course, most of these musicians used the Martin D-28 version before 1969. As we all know, the later versions have undergone many changes in design. We are going to talk about the latest factory Martin D-28.

1. Production skills

For us, it is easy to compare this guitar to its pre-1969 model. The herringbone pattern decoration was removed, and more importantly, the Indian rosewood replaced the Brazilian rosewood.

However, I think these are unfair to this guitar . Personally, the new Martin D28 should be examined objectively and at the same level. So, let’s talk about it from the production side.

The configuration of the body material should be familiar to us. Sitka spruce top, Indy rosewood back side panel (69 years ago was Brazilian rosewood). However, Martin has recognized the importance of sustainable wood development than other companies. Therefore, the configuration of Rosewood was also converted to Indy Rosewood before other companies. Spruce top uses high-grade materials, although some people are plagued by the chromatic aberrations and yellow-brown stripes of today’s spruce panels. However, after a period of use, these stripes will naturally mature into amber. Rose wood back sides panels, we can see the beautiful pattern, and the book centerline is based on the decorative center line. This is also a feature that Martin has always insisted on.

2. For the first time in history: composite materials

The body frame protector and the hammer patch use a composite material called Boltaron. This is also a new change to follow the traditional look. In fact, these parts should have properly protected the entire body and follow the traditional guitar appearance. The neck can basically be determined to be mahogany. Although Martin himself did not specify the material in the product manual, the texture and smell of the material can be determined to be mahogany. Close to the guitar head we can see the most classic diamond design, Martin has a proud work, the coil is using Grovers.

Looking closely at the fingerboard section, we can see Martin’s iconic thick ebony fingerboard. The fret wire is medium in size and perfectly embedded on the fingerboard without any rough burrs and blockage. This is also an aspect of my favorite.

The nut and bridge are made of bone material, which is a chamfered compensating (16-inch chord) bridge that is firmly embedded in the ebony bridge.

Look inside again. Although not directly observable, the internal structure uses Martin’s classic X-bracing, using the Sitka spruce support strip to achieve the classic Martin sound.

In general, the guitar’s manufacturing skills are undoubtedly worthy of the title of the world’s top instruments. It is also worth mentioning that there is no cumbersome and waste inside the body, only the iconic ship-type backplane middle beam. It’s time for us to pick up the guitar and play a few chords to listen!

3. Sound quality

I think you should be very clear, when you pick up a high-quality instrument, you will immediately feel it. That’s right, I picked up the first moment of the Martin D-28, and that’s how I feel. When I picked it up for the first time, I played hard for nearly an hour. You know, not all guitars will make me like this. The thin neck of the matt makes me feel that the hand and the neck can be almost integrated. Finger chords and intense sweeps are easy.

Speaking of the sound, I still want to say that Martin’s iconic voice has been imitated and never surpassed. Almost like a fingerprint, it is engraved on every Martin guitar. You will react as soon as you hear that voice. Ah, this is Martin’s voice, and this is the classic sound that is distinctive in many albums. It has sweet characteristics, but never loses strength. The deep guitar body created its full midrange response, and the sustain is not comparable to any other brand. After that we have to mention the low frequency, Martin’s low frequency response is usually become the “piano” sound. From the Martin D28, we are more likely to feel this trait. In fact, Martin’s biggest feature is not in a particular frequency band, but the clarity of each frequency band.

This time I specifically transferred the strings to DADGAD, and I am happy to tell you that the Martin D28 also has excellent performance under this tuning. People have been controversial whether the D-type guitar is suitable for fingering. In this respect, I give the Martin D-28 more than just a few scores, but fine. Of course, what I said is not counted. You can look at Michael Hedges and his D-28.

(not 69 years ago version). I believe that he is of course an expert in the fingerstyle playing. 

4. Summary of the words

I always remind myself that this time I got a new guitar, and its voice will definitely be more mature later. Of course, I will not hesitate to take it now and do a show or something. For a serious musician, this is your choice. He is a hard-working old horse, serving your recordings and scenes with its classic sound and unique history. I don’t care who is arguing with me about this question, so I said that Martin is still making the top instruments like before.

John Renbourn, the famous British fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter, was born in London, England on August 8, 1944. He died in England on March 25, 2015 at the age of 70. 

He is a folk musician, and his music includes folk, classical, blue, jazz, world music and other style elements. I believe that for friends who like MARTIN, John Renbourn is not as big as the musicians like Johnny cash. But these did not affect his recognition in the international music industry, so this is why Martin launched a signature for him, which shows that his strength can not be underestimated.

Learning classical guitar in his early years, influenced by the new wave of rhythm and blues in the 1960s. He participated in the “Folk Renaissance” campaign and completed two albums with the gospel singer Dorris Henderson. John Renbourn and guitarist Bert Jansch developed a style called “Public Baroque” that gradually formed a musical style of folk, classical, blues and jazz. It was also at that time that John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, bassist Danny Thompson, and drummer Terry Cox formed the Pentangle band, which was quite successful. He toured the United States in 1968 and performed at the Carnegie Hall and the Newport Folk Festival.

In the 1970s and 1980s, John Renbourn focused on classical music and played in the original soundtrack of the movie “Scream for Help.” In 1988, with the flute player Tony Roberts, the poet Maggie Boyle and the guitarist Steve Tilston formed the “Ship of Fools” band, released a album of the same name, and held a number of concerts. The performances of the sold Harvard and Hasty Pudding Club did not leave a copy because of the dispute between the concert promoter and the sound engineer. In 2000, John Renbourn continued his own record and performance, and in 2011 released an instrumental album “Palermo Snow.”

You can feel the slight American style from his performance, because he likes blues music and American gospel music. These have laid the foundation for his later style, listening to his music as if it is as quiet and calm as the river of the Mississippi River!

Martin OMM Orchestra John Renbourn Acoustic Guitar

Woods & Trim

Back/Sides: Madagascar Rosewood

Top Wood: Alpine Spruce

Fingerboard: Ebony

Neck Wood: Mahogany

Bridge: Ebony

Rosette: Black/White/Black

Binding: Ivoroid

Fingerboard Bindings: Ebony

Headplate: Ebony

Headstock Bindings: None

Headstock Inlay: Custom

Top Trim: Herringbone

Back Strip: Herringbone

Fret Markers: Stars

Tuner Finish: Nickel Open-Geared w/ Ivoroid Button

Body Size: Medium

Scale: 25 1/4 in. (641.4 mm)

Nut Width: 1 49/64 in. (45 mm)

String Spacing: 2 1/4 in. (57.2 mm)

Body Length: 19 3/8 in. 

Upper Bout: 11 3/8 in.

Lower Bout: 15 1/4 in.

Martin’s X Series guitar is a collection of innovative, innovative designs for fans of acoustic guitars. It has a stellar sound that is generally stable and shiny, and is made of materials with environmentally friendly structure. Martin Guitar Company, has been designing and manufacturing acoustic guitars since 1833. The iconic D (dreadnought) 14-fret steel string guitar that is now admired and imitated by various guitar brands was originally designed and manufactured by Martin at the beginning of the last century. Thus, the steel string guitar with the largest volume ever was born. Before the guitar with 14-fret connected to the cabinet has been designed, all are 12-fret connected to the cabinet.

The X-series Martin guitar, which came out in 1988, was inspired by the company’s long-standing environmental protection. Therefore, Martin has been continuously exploring in the field of durable and environmentally friendly new making guitar materials. In the X-Series, the new materials used are Stratabond necks, Richlite fingerboards, and HPL back side panels.

The Stratabond neck is made of a multi-layered hardwood that is specifically aligned and bonded at high pressure. The body exhibits beautiful colors, and avoids the problem of uneven tension caused by the difference between the height and the height of the strings of the solid wood neck. In combination with the decoration of the HPL back sides panels, there are a variety of color combinations.

Richlite, similar to HPL, is also a durable new environmentally friendly material. It has been in development for more than 70 years since its inception, initially for industrial mold and pattern modeling. Nowadays, it has been widely used in various fields, and has excellent performance in aerospace, marine, sporting goods, cooking, construction and design industries, as well as high-quality surface materials for machine shop and automobile manufacturing. Its structure is made of many layers of high-quality custom-made craft paper, and the surface texture of Richlite comes from the natural variation of the polymer fibers in the paper. It consists of approximately 65% FSC® certified or recycled paper, and a content of 35% phenolic resin. The color comes from a combination of paper and resin tones. In 1988, Martin first applied this material to the fingerboard of the X-series guitar.

It can be said that the application of innovative environmentally friendly materials in the Martin X series has brought a broader creative display space and more possibilities for the musical instrument manufacturing industry; The sturdy and durable features, the price of peace and approachability, let this series go through nearly 20 years, and it will last for a long time.

The fingerboards of the X series are made of black Richlite; The neck is a sturdy Stratabond; the back sides panels are made of HPL. All the guitars in the X series are equipped with FISHMAN’s custom-made Fishman Sonitone pickups for Martin, so that your guitar is not limited to the original sound. The X-Series panels can be either spruce panels or HPL models with both the top and sides and bakc panels. Since 2016, Martin has developed the Shabelle chocolate-colored TOP, which enriches everyone’s choice.

Currently, there are 23 X-series models listed on Martin’s official website. The guitar type covers Martin’s classic D, 000, 00, GP and other guitar types. The model with the letter C, is also based on the rounded guitar, derived from the notch model. 

So, whether you want to buy your first high quality acoustic guitar; Or you need a spare guitar to accompany you on a touring tour; Or you are an experienced professional player, you want to make your “equipment library” more abundant, you can choose a Martin X series guitar. While being kind to the earth, you are also kind to your wallet, and it is the warmest care for your fingers and hearing.