Martin Guitar Discontinued Instruments

Started by William2, September 05, 2023, 12:48:02 PM

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Marin has been pretty "corporate" and boring to me for a long time. By that I mean, it feels like accountants are running the company, not musicians. There's a reason people describe certain boutique makers as "making a better Martin than Martin".

I still have a ton of respect for those old vintage Martins and would love to own one. I just don't think the company is much more than a name now. They can't compete in the low end (nor should they). In the mid range, companies like Larrivee beat them dollar for dollar. And, in the $4k+ range there's just better instruments available.

That's not to disrespect anyone here who loves their recently made Martins. I'm just giving my perspective and how the company appears to me whenever I'm shopping. They remind me of Cadillac in the 90's when the attitude was, "Well, we're Cadillac", and the name lost value because there were better options available.

Quote from: B0WIE on September 07, 2023, 04:31:59 PMMarin has been pretty "corporate" and boring to me for a long time. By that I mean, it feels like accountants are running the company, not musicians. There's a reason people describe certain boutique makers as "making a better Martin than Martin".

I still have a ton of respect for those old vintage Martins and would love to own one. I just don't think the company is much more than a name now. They can't compete in the low end (nor should they). In the mid range, companies like Larrivee beat them dollar for dollar. And, in the $4k+ range there's just better instruments available.

That's not to disrespect anyone here who loves their recently made Martins. I'm just giving my perspective and how the company appears to me whenever I'm shopping. They remind me of Cadillac in the 90's when the attitude was, "Well, we're Cadillac", and the name lost value because there were better options available.

Larrivee does not know how to make an inferior guitar. The humble 01 series plays and sounds as good as any of the more expensive ones. Martin can't seem to make a less expensive guitar without it playing and sounding like a less expensive guitar. For instance, a Sigma used to be a decent guitar for the money but when Martin decided to build guitars like that with the Martin name, it was a bit like putting the Cadillac badge on a Vega.

God save us from accountants whispering into the ears of CEO's...
Larrivee P-03
Epiphone USA Texan
Larrivee 00-40R Moonwood top

Over the years, I have been a member of three guitar forums including Larrivee, Martin and the Acoustic Guitar Forum. All three have been informative and entertaining sources of information for me and the Larrivee and Martin forums naturally appear to have more loyal members for their respective brands.

I currently own 6 "good" solid wood guitars with three apiece from Martin and Larrivee including two customs ranging from 47 years down to 2 years old. There are two rosewood, two mahogany, one walnut and one flamed maple and 6 different body shapes (Dread, OM, 000, LV, LSV and Parlor). If I was looking for another guitar, I would consider purchasing either brand without hesitation for the right guitar (new or used).

I recall reading that earlier in his career, Jean Larrivee visited the Martin Factory. Along the way, he developed the L body which to me is one of the best designs available today along with Martin's X braced dreadnought body. I own two of each. It also occurred to me that maybe Jean Larrivee could give Martin's design and production team a lesson in binding installation and glue selection. In the interest of full disclosure, I had a binding and peeling pick guard issue with one of my 6 guitars (Martin D35) that was fully covered under warranty with zero hassles. I have had no problems with any of the other five, yet.

Over the past 40 to 50 years, Martin family members have been more engaged in managing the company but they have surrounded themselves with creative, experienced builders (i.e. Dick Boak, Mike Longworth and Fred Greene). Larrivee does hold the edge in one aspect because there are at least four family members who are actively involved in all aspects of the company. I do believe having your name on the headstock makes a difference and is a distinct competitive advantage.

"Give the power and decision making authority to those who bring in the beans, not to those who count them."

P.S. On the other hand, back in 1965 Martin's computer guy suggested that they create a guitar with a three piece back to use the smaller pieces of Brazilian rosewood that didn't work for a D28.  The end result was the D35. My first Larrivee was a parlor and my dealer said that this body design enabled Larrivee to use smaller pieces of wood that couldn't be used on a full sized guitar body.

I took this pic at the Martin factory.  I think it turned out pretty well.  I sent it off to them, not sure if the fellow pictured here ever recv'd it or not. 

Never got the Martin bug myself.  Definately a storied brand...I was sure I was going to buy a d15m but for my first steel string in over a decade I wanted an OM and got the OM40. 

When I was looking into Larrivees, I was contemplating the OM03 and OM05...then when I see the price of the OM05, started to think, Jesus why wouldn't I look at a Martin OM-18...but having become such a fan of Larrivee, now I look at it the other way, I would rather have a Larrivee, even if it were the same money, resale value aside.  Larrivee is building a longstanding, time honored, respectful brand and hasn't given into a low cost facility for semi professional instruments complete with gig bags.

Martin had the history behind it and the loyal bluegrass crowd...would be like trying to get a Harley Davidson rider to try a Honda Shadow, even if he liked it more, they'd never admit it.

Now on the other hand, I do get the Gibson bug from time to time as they have a lot of classic models, SJ200, J185, hummingbird, dove, J45.

Quote from: Sandstorm on October 14, 2023, 09:26:43 AMNever got the Martin bug myself.  Definately a storied brand...I was sure I was going to buy a d15m but for my first steel string in over a decade I wanted an OM and got the OM40. 

When I was looking into Larrivees, I was contemplating the OM03 and OM05...then when I see the price of the OM05, started to think, Jesus why wouldn't I look at a Martin OM-18...but having become such a fan of Larrivee, now I look at it the other way, I would rather have a Larrivee, even if it were the same money, resale value aside.  Larrivee is building a longstanding, time honored, respectful brand and hasn't given into a low cost facility for semi professional instruments complete with gig bags.

Martin had the history behind it and the loyal bluegrass crowd...would be like trying to get a Harley Davidson rider to try a Honda Shadow, even if he liked it more, they'd never admit it.

Now on the other hand, I do get the Gibson bug from time to time as they have a lot of classic models, SJ200, J185, hummingbird, dove, J45.


I pretty much agree with what you said. I lose a lot of respect for a company when they let quality go done, and when they produce instruments in a foreign country with their name on them. I think a lot of players just want to own an instrument with the Martin name on the headstock. I think they want the Martin sound although I think with all the different Martin instruments and bracing systems there isn't just one Martin sound. Of the two Martins I have owned, I liked their lightweight construction, response, and eye appeal. And they seem to sell quickly and hold their value. I did own the D-15, sold it and eventually bought it again as the Street Master. It is a great lightweight (3# 6oz) dreadnought with an easy response, and a neck just like my Larrivee D-40RW. And I like it because while not my favorite instrument, it is a great tonal change of pace from my spruce top instruments. It sounds great playing jazz standards fingerstyle. And the DSS-17 In sold was a great replacement for my Waterloo Jumbo King. Again lightweight (under 4#) love the Whiskey Sunset finish which by the way doesn't shine up like the Waterloo did and was over $1000 less. A great responsive fingerstyle instrument which can sound tinny in some hands, but if you put on a set of D'Addario strings, you have a totally different instrument. I've never been attracted to the legendary Martin instruments (18, 28, etc). Something just didn't grab me as a fingerstyle player and at that price I think I could do better. And with Larrivee, I did at less than the Martin price.

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