Martin’s Modern Deluxe line is appropriately named—bringing together classic aesthetics and build methods with modern materials and playability. This 2018 D-28 Modern Deluxe has Indian Rosewood for the back and sides, Sitka Spruce on top featuring their VTS (Vintage Tone System) torrefication, bound in Maple and trimmed with herringbone. Under the hood you’ll find a carbon fiber bridge plate, implemented to increase power and projection, plus a forward shifted X brace. Martin’s High Performance Taper neck profile makes for effortless playability (plus a satin neck finish for squeak-free lefthand work); EVO frets assure longevity and set off the gold Waverly open back tuners.

Other keywords: cf martin, lutherie, dreadnaught, allen shadd, 28 style, pre-war, 2253546, bluegrass, d28, d 28, stika, eir

Martin’s D-28 Authentic 1937 Aged may be a mouthful, but it’s worth it. The torrefied tonewoods make for added power, articulation, and balance, and Martin’s relic job to make it look the part. This beauty comes to us from 2018 and is wide awake and ready for action as a result of Martin’s vintage-ification aging process. Full neck profile feels familiar as family, with a 1 23/32” nut that’s very easy in hand. Madagascar Rosewood with Adirondack Spruce on top, you just can’t go wrong.

Other keywords: cf martin, lutherie, dreadnaught, allen shadd, 45 style, adriondack, pre-war, maddie, tkl, 2187644

The Martin Custom Shop team knows how it’s done, and this 2013 D-45 Custom Shop proves it. They opted for a lovely set of Madagascar Rosewood for the back and sides with black ink lines (ditto with the headstock veneer), paired that with classic Adirondack Spruce on top for bell-like tonality and power, then dressed it all to the nines with a 45-style package. Complete with Abalone hexagonal inlays, rather than the more commonly seen diamonds & squares. So this Custom Shop model has the visual flair to match the quality and presence of its voice, which we love for its clarity and warmth, especially in the midrange where many other dreads would suffer a muddy response. Instead, this D-45 has lovely balance and note definition across the registers.

Other keywords: cf martin, lutherie, dreadnaught, allen shadd, 45 style, adriondack, pre-war, maddie, tkl, 1677996

This is a new one for us! A D-42 Blackwood from Martin’s Custom Shop that’s rigged up with Tasmanian Blackwood and Adirondack Spruce. Tasmanian Blackwood is related to Koa (which also means it has similar gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous figuring), and here with Adirondack Spruce on top for added power and push, the tone is expressive, colorful, and dynamic. It mixes up beautifully across the registers, and has enough sensitivity for some fingerpicking to boot. The 42-Style treatment is always eye catching, and here pairs up perfectly with the highly figured Tassie Blackwood. Setup and playability are easy peasy—and this 2009 D-42 Blackwood model is ready for more!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, c.f. martin, martin guitars, 1443101, dreadnaught, dread, tkl, allen shadd, australian blackwood, black wood

Here we’ve landed a great example of Martin Custom Shop chops with a 2016 000-14F decked out all in Fiddleback Mahogany and bound in Maple. Rope style rosette and trim? Yes, please! While designated as a 000 at the heelblock, this Custom Shop has a long scale setup that works well with the all-Mahogany construction, giving a nice edge to the woody warmth. Quick decay lends itself well for blues or rags, and we had a blast getting into it here. We love the Maple torch inlaid at the headstock, rather than the typical Abalone, for a more understated effect that looks gorgeous and makes this 000-14F stand out even more.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, c.f. martin, martin guitars, 2007623, ooo

The relationship between John Mayer and Martin has yielded a number of incredible models—and we’ve just landed a single owner 2018 D-45 John Mayer Signature that’s proof. Based off of a D-45 Mayer found in Japan in the 70s, he and Martin worked together testing out various wood combinations, eventually settling on Guatemalan Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce. The top has a hybrid bracing system of Adirondack Spruce cross braces with Sitka Spruce tonebars, a combo they landed on after several different iterations. And this beauty is number 32 of an exclusive 45 ever built! The neck is Martin’s vintage-style Full Thickness profile, which feels chunky and full in-hand. With a 1 11/16” nut, though, the play feel is still comfortable and effortless; this D-45 John Mayer plays handsomely. Wrapping up the package, we have Abalone trim on top and along the heel and endgraft, plus 45-style Abalone hexagram position markers along the fretboard.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, c.f. martin, martin guitars, 2175005, 45 style, signature guitar, dreadnaught