The “Pre-War” Martin Dreadnought in particular is something of a Holy Grail for guitar collectors. Lighter, scalloped bracing, tonewood selection, open tuners, and natural materials like Ivory and real hide glue all contributed to what is often described as the “magical” quality of these guitars, as Americansongwriter report.
That’s why they’ve just refreshed their Standard Series guitars with vintage-inspired appointments that emphasize not only the timeless style of these iconic instruments, but also do a great deal to bring back the sonic profile of the legendary pre-war Dreadnoughts through their construction and materials.
the most important detail of the revamped Standard Series is the inclusion of forward-shifted, scalloped “Golden-Era” style X-bracing, which is really where much of the “magic” factor stems from. This style of bracing relies on less contact between the braces and the top, allowing the top to resonate more freely for stronger projection, response, and sustain.
The bass response in particular is really something else on these guitars. Whether picked single notes or strummed, the boom is real. This is where the “magic” comes in. Even a light touch seems to produce an outsize sound, so you expend less energy making yourself heard—that’s the magic. I could compare it to plugging a Les Paul into a Marshall Stack, or revving a Harley Davidson—something about making a big noise, moving some serious air, with a mere flick of the wrist, just makes you feel powerful.
Martin's Satin Black M/0000 is the first of a Reverb-exclusive line of experimental builds – and a glimpse at the future of one of America’s oldest guitar brands.
The acoustic giant’s stealthy new design is limited to just 24 units.
Martin Guitars has teamed up with Reverb on an exclusive Satin Black build of just 24 units, dubbed the M/0000.
The (extremely) limited-run build – priced at $4,999 – is based on one of the firm’s more contemporary shapes; its unique ‘M’ body style. This combines the Martin Jumbo footprint and the thickness of an OM model, creating a body that is notably wider and thinner than your standard acoustic guitar profile.
It’s all finished in a contemporary, yet classy, satin black paint job. “Black still rules when it comes to cool,” notes the listing.
