Martin's new Sunburst's

[sinner]

I've been drooling over these new Martin Sunburst acoustics! Just like the 30's sunbursts. What do you guys say?

Here's a beauty, an unusual "Slope Shoulder" Martin (like a Gibson):

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10028/normal_MartinSunburstSlope.jpg

[RnB]

Now we're talkin' Sinner. That's sharp looking for sure. Killer hdsk inlay! That floor looks all too familiar. I've drooled all over it many times. They get some nice custom Martins in that store. I'm pretty much a tried n' true CFM fan. Have you played it? You don't see Martin making too many slope-shouldered guitars. I wonder how it sounds. I had a great sounding HD-35 and gave it up, & dreads in general, in favor of an OMC Juber model, mainly due to the wider nut spacing. I've been having a hard time getting used to the Martin sunbursts, but they're growing on me. Everyone seems to want one these days, especially in Amberburst. I'm just used to the natural-topped ones. Just when I was getting interested in a Gibson AJ, you bring this one to the table...:mad:

Rich

[sinner]

No, haven't played it. I saw and played a few at a local shop (McCabe's) and liked how they looked and played. Not stiff at all, and the tone was awesome, the whole guitar rang and shook. It wasn't the slope shoulder model though--but I really like that Gibson sound so maybe this Martin would be the best of both worlds?

[RnB]

Yes, It might be the best of both worlds. The custom you like, is the first slope-shoulder model I've seen that's has a dovetail joint. There might have been others, but none that I know of. There's another s-s model called a CEO-4R, but it has a Mortise/Tenon neck joint (25.4" scale also). I think there have been other types of the CEO design, but they were made w/ Mahogany & one was even a 12 fret w/ the wider nut spacing (CEO-5). Martin changes it up every couple of years. They might of even had a short scale model, but I'm not too sure of that? Supposedly a decent sounding git-fiddle. People that have them, hold onto them...
http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?p=m&m=CEO-4R%20(Slope%20Shoulder)

The Martin that you posted above is head & shoulders above the CEO models. Whoever spec'd it, is on to something good. I'm sure it's a great piece. Makin' Music has a few other choice custom models also. However, they usually won't cut any deals, so the person who wants it, will have dish out what they're asking, which is usually list price!

Sinner...Do you recall what models you played at McCabes?

[sinner]

Don't remember what models--the "V" vintage 30s series--and I know one of them had the longer scale. They were all sunburst tops. The long scale one played wonderfully, even bends! Martin is up to good things!

[Plankspanker]

Man, that's a great looking Martin! That Torch/Flower inlay looks like the ones on the vintage 000-45s and a few other high end models.

If you like Fingerstyle 12 fret Martins with Slot heads, there'a a new 000-40S
coming out soon called "The Ragicker's Dream", named after Mark Knopfler's 2001 album of the same title. This little gem will have many of the same appointments as seen on the HD40MK Signature model. Here's some more info on it.

http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/001956.html


000-40S Mark Knopfler “Ragpicker’s Dream” Signature Edition (photo)
Most musicians who participate in Martin’s Signature Edition program consider their personal Signature Edition guitar a prized possession. For Mark Knopfler, it became much more: his muse.

When C.F. Martin introduced the HD-40MK Mark Knopfler Signature Edition back in 2001, the sound of the instrument he took home inspired a burst of songwriting. All the songs on “The Ragpicker’s Dream,” his well-received, mostly acoustic 2002 album, were written on that guitar, as were several songs on 2004s “Shangri-La” and his new album with Emmylou Harris, “All the Roadrunning.”

Seeking fresh inspiration, Mark asked C.F. Martin to undertake a second collaboration; a guitar with many of the same appointments as his original Signature Edition, but one designed for his incredible fingerstyle playing. The fruit of this new collaboration is the 000-40S Mark Knopfler “Ragpicker’s Dream” Signature Edition, a fingerstyle dream that even strummers will love.

For this new Signature Edition, Mark selected Martin’s traditional 000 12-fret body style with the long 25.4-inch scale, considered by many to be among the most beautiful and best sounding designs Martin ever made. Many of the elements that make the Martin 000 12-fret guitars from the late 1920s so prized are here. In ornamentation and premium solid tonewoods, the new Mark Knopfler Signature Edition 000 bears a striking resemblance to his Signature Edition dreadnought. The body combines a top of rare Italian alpine spruce (the same wood used by Antonio Stradivari) with back and sides of beautiful East Indian rosewood. The neck is carved from genuine mahogany, while the fingerboard and bridge are crafted from African black ebony. Both body and neck are protected by Martin’s beautiful polished gloss lacquer finish. Mark Knopfler’s signature is inlaid in mother of pearl between the 18th and 20th frets.

The 000-40S Mark Knopfler “Ragpicker’s Dream” Signature Edition is delivered in a Geib™ style Vintage Series hardshell case with plush Cabernet interior. Left-handed instruments may be ordered without additional charge: factory-installed electronics also are available. Each 000-40S Mark Knopfler “Ragpicker’s Dream” Signature Edition bears an interior label personally signed by Mark Knopfler and Martin Chairman C.F. Martin, IV and numbered in sequence with the edition total, as well as a special “Ragpicker’s Dream” designation laser-etched on the neck block.

[RnB]

Plank...thanks for posting that! MK is a fine player. Martin & Knoffler have dicernably designed a couple of great guitars in his tribute. I played a HD-40 MK once. Big sound! I thought it was tops...a very nice guitar, & I love the big frets. It also has the nuovo-popular Italian/Alpine Spruce top on it, like the new "Ragpickers Dream" will have...What a great pair!

What really caught my attention though is; on the link to the new Martin releases you posted, is the new David Bromberg model. The M-42 David Bromberg. http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/001956.html . I've had a thing for a 0000 size model, ever since I played one of E. Schoenbergs Custom 0000 models some time ago. It was very similar to this one, but w/ less bling. More like a HD-28V's appointments, w/ the Herringbone purfling and the long-pattern diamonds & squares on the board. It had the shape of a Jumbo and depth of triple- 000. The Alpine top was present, along w/ a LP neck. A very comfortable & balanced sounding guitar. You get the near-power of a Dread along w/ the tonal balance of an OM. The only thing I'm not crazy about on the Bromberg, and all the other sig Martin models, is that darn signature they put on the 19/20 fret(s). Why don't they just put it on a label inside the box, like they do w/ the Steve Miller, Laurence Juber, new Elliot Easton, N Blake, Geoff Muldaur, & David Gray models? Also, it does not say what the nut width is going to be?

This place is great, nobody ever around. Kind of like 'talking to yourself', or better still, my wife!....in one ear & out the other. Might as well be talking to the refridgerator!

RB

[sinner]

We're around--just rarely at the same time!

[bluesjuke]

Man I'm kinda liking that one sinner!
Do you know what the model is?
It does have a lot of similarites with the CEO-4R.