Have you ever wondered why are Martin guitars so expensive? I bet that a lot of you thought about it in the past. Of course, they’re an absolutely legendary guitar brand loved by the most famous and iconic guitarists in the world. They make great guitars – and that’s a fact. But are they actually worth the money?
Yes! Martin guitars are expensive because they offer an exceptionally high quality and unique sound. The company has a very long history of operating in the music industry and they are admired by the best musicians in the world. In addition, most of their guitars are made in the US – and that affects the final price.
In today’s article, we’re going to dive deeper with research to find out why Martin guitars are so popular and expensive at the same time. Let’s find out what makes them so good and why so many people think that they are the best guitar manufacturer in the world.
High Quality – The Key To Martin’s Success
Undoubtedly, the main factor that contributes to the final price of Martin’s guitar is their quality. Of course, they are considered as an iconic guitar brand, but this popularity and reputation is a result of their remarkable attention to detail.
The company uses a wide range of high quality guitar woods. Whether you prefer a warm and resonant mahogany tone or a bit brighter and sharper rosewood tone, Martin is the way to go. In addition, their guitars have solid body tops, which significantly improves the overall sound.
What’s important, Martin guitars are also absolutely beautiful in terms of appearance. When you hold their gear, you can really feel that you’re holding something that was built with love. The overall aesthetics and small details like binding, inlays or gloss finish completely change the way we perceive these guitars.
And of course, guitars by Martin are also very durable. Some of the pre-World War II Martin’s cost thousands of dollars and they still sound amazing even after all these years. As an example, here’s the demo of guitar from 1940. Sounds and looks absolutely fantastic, right? As you can imagine, since today’s Martin guitars are built in the same way and with the same passion, we can expect that they will also sound great in years to come.
Why are Martin guitars so expensive? Well, here’s why.
Martin Guitars Are Loved By The Best
It is worth mentioning that Martin guitars are admired by the most famous and successful musicians of all time. What’s more, that admiration is visible across all the music genres. So that includes all the folk, grunge, rock and blues legends of all time.
The most famous artists who used Martin guitars are include:
- Elvis Presley
- Bob Dylan
- Johnny Cash
- Eric Clapton
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
- Willie Nelson
- Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
- Paul McCartney
- Sting
- Dolly Parton
- Ed Sheeran
- and many, many more!
Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of amazing guitarists who use or used Martin’s gear on a daily basis. The exceptional quality of Martin Guitars is perfect for studio recordings and live gigs, so it’s not surprising that so many musicians decide to choose them.
Made In The USA
If you’re wondering where Martin guitars are made, here’s the answer: the majority of Martin guitars are made in their main factory in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The company also a manufactures a bunch of lower-priced models in Mexico. That includes the Little Martin, all the Backpackers and some of their ukuleles.
And of course, there are a lot of Japanese Martin’s available on the market too. Although the company gave up on making instruments in that region, in the past they used to hire subcontractors in Japan to make the guitars for them. But in the end, they decided to focus on improving their own factory in the United States.
For those who are interested to see how Martin guitars are made, here’s a really good video. Although it lasts only four minutes, it gives you a short glimpse of how it all looks like in Martin’s factory. This is where all of the awesome guitars are made!
Best Martin Guitars
If you’re considering getting a Martin guitar, there’s a few models that are worth adding to your collection. Of course, these guitars are not cheap, so don’t get discouraged by their price. Nevertheless, this is the highest possible shelf when it comes to acoustic guitars, so obviously, this stuff can’t be cheap.
Although all Martin guitars are awesome, I created a list of seven best and reputable models available for all musicians worldwide. If any of the guitars draws your attention, feel free to check out more details about it by clicking on the blue button under the picture.
| Martin 000-28 | See on Amazon |
| Martin D-28 | See on Amazon |
| Martin D-10E | See on Amazon |
| Martin LX1R | See on Amazon |
| Martin GPC-13E | See on Amazon |
| Martin D-15M | See on Amazon |
| Martin D-X2E | See on Amazon |
Martin 000-28
What a guitar! Honestly, this is one of the best acoustic guitars available on the market. It costs a significant amount of money but at the same time – it’s worth every penny. Some people say that Martin guitars are overpriced and overrated and in the past I used to believe that. What changed my mind? Well, when I had this 000-28 model in my hands, it all finally made sense to me.
Undoubtedly, this is not a guitar for everyone. If you’re a beginner, you probably don’t need it. But if you played the guitar for a while and you’re sure that it’s your passion, I guarantee that you’ll fall in love with this guitar immediately.
Here’s a sound demo of this guitar.
Martin D-28
Another top-level acoustic guitar. Choosing between this and previous model will be extremely challenging – I’d take both! The D-28 is an absolute legend and it’s actually one of the most popular Martin’s models. Whether you’re into jazz, rock, folk or bluegrass, this Martin offers a lot of versatility.
If you want to feel like John Lennon, Paul McCartney or Tommy Emmanuel, this model will be ideal for you. Again, it’s really expensive, but it’s totally worth the money.
Martin D-10E
This model doesn’t stand on the same shelf as two previous guitars, but it’s still an excellent choice for beginners and more advanced players. The D-10E sounds great, looks great and at the same time – it doesn’t cost a fortune. It’s definitely one of the leaders when it comes to acoustic-electric guitars at this price level.
Martin decided to use a mix of Sitka spruce and sapele wood for this model, which offers a really versatile and crisp tone. Undoubtedly, the Martin D-10E is perfect for all-level guitarists who want to add a premium guitar to their collection.
Martin LX1R
This is probably one of the cheapest Martin guitars available on the market. Why? Well, it’s a Little Martin, so it’s significantly smaller than the regular guitar. But keep in mind that it’s a real instrument – it’s not a toy. If you like Ed Sheeran, you probably noticed that he uses a similar smaller-sized Martin for his performances.
In my opinion, this is a perfect guitar for beginners or guitarists with smaller hands. In addition, it will also be great as a travel guitar. So if you’re looking for a new instrument to grab with you on your next adventure, the LX1R will definitely be an excellent choice!
Martin GPC-13E
When it comes to Martin guitars, this is their mid-level. The GPC-13E is not cheap, but in comparison with higher models, it’s not that expensive either. What’s more, it offers the same high quality and attention to detail as the rest of Martin’s models. The guitar features a Sitka spruce top and Mutenye wood construction, which is pretty unusual. That rare combination results with an extremely versatile, warm and crisp tone.
I think that it will be a great guitar for more advanced players and gigging musicians. In the end, this model belongs to the Road Series, which is aimed at working guitarists.
Martin D-15M
Another Martin guitar created for guitarists who make a living with music. This is the only guitar on today’s list that’s fully made of mahogany. The use of that wood guarantees an extremely rich, warm and resonant tone. In addition, the guitar looks absolutely unique and interesting from the outside. I have to say that I love that vintage vibe!
Whether you’re into this aesthetics or not, the D-15M model sounds fantastic. I think that hearing it live gives a great answer to anyone who asks why are Martin guitars so expensive. Undoubtedly, it’s totally worth it!
Martin D-X2E
One of the most affordable 12-string Martin guitars out there. If you’re looking for a great 12-string guitar, the D-X2E is made for you. To be honest, I know that it’s really difficult to find a good twelve-string guitar at this price level. There are other brands that offer similar gear, but all of them are always below the level of Martin.
This acoustic-electric guitar features a spruce top and mahogany body, which offer a really warm and resonant sound. Undoubtedly, the D-X2E will be perfect for professional musicians who need reliable guitars for their live and studio performances.
Is Martin Better Than Taylor?
Certainly, Martin and Taylor are absolute leaders when it comes to acoustic guitars. Both of these brands have a huge amount of fans who argue which company is better. But is it actually possible to pick a clear winner of this battle?
The truth is: no. Some people prefer Martin’s and other people prefer Taylor’s – there is nothing wrong with that. Both brands and absolutely fantastic and it’s not fair to say that one of them is better. Also, it all depends on what kind of sound you’re looking for.
I like to compare these brands to humans. For me, Martin guitars are like a old person who has a lot of stories to tell. At the same time, Taylor guitars are like a young man who’s full of life and they’re ready to conquer the world. I feel like Martin’s sound is a bit deeper, while Taylor’s have a bit brighter and clear tone.
I hope that this metaphor makes sense! If you’d like to investigate it more and you’re still torn apart between Martin and Taylor guitars, here’s a great video that offers a tone comparison. Feel free to check it out!
Summary
As you can see, it’s totally understandable why Martin guitars are so expensive. The quality, attention to detail and years of history makes them one of the top players in the guitar game. Undoubtedly, if you’re looking for a guitar from the highest shelf, you should consider getting a Martin.
What do you think about their guitars? Do you think that they’re overpriced and overrated? Leave a comment in the section below, I’m really interested to hear what you think! Additionally, if you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
