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MARTIN 6 AND 12-STRING GUITARS FOR SALE  AN INTRODUCTION TO THESE ACOUSTIC RECORDING GUITARS. They were specifically set up to record acoustic blues. Which means they are clear and authoritative. The recordings are studies of "pre-blues." Experimental test tracks of intuited blues. Before the Delta recording geniuses. MODDED 1974 MARTIN D-18 Authoritative Tone, Rebuilt, Quality Build This 1974 Martin D-18 is set up for recording. It can also be played as a regular guitar. It's a very flexible instrument. With a clear, well-balanced tone throughout all registers. It was obviously built by one of Martin's best luthiers. This can be established by the quality of the build. It has a beautifully crafted neck, and consistent attention to details. The top is slightly roughed up, near the sound hole, because it was played hard with a pick. As it should have been. I would guess this guitar's original owner was a bluegrass or church player. Because the owner kept Martin's original D-18 factory high action to provide maximum sound projection. Intended for loud "cowboy" chords. Which required better players to reset the neck. As expected. Regardless, whoever owned this D-18 had put it aside for whatever reasons. It looked like it had been in storage for years. Probably hidden away, in its pristine 1970's Martin "steal me" blue plastic case. It's a unique D-18 that features a smooth tone profile. But it can also handle more aggressive playing styles. It's especially strong when it's played de-tuned. It's capable of being played hard, soft, and everything in between. Depending on the technique, it tends to have a refined tone. Different than the woodsy 1960's D-18s. Until it is pushed. And then it reveals a lively blues bite. Instrument Tech: Modded and tweaked 1974 Martin D-18 Neck reset, fat frets, compensated carbon fiber saddle, ebony bridge pins Slightly larger pick guard (repair of the original peeling guard) C#G#C#F#G#C# (DADGAD a half-step down) Listen to Modded 1974 D-18 on Bandcamp! It's a long form improvised experimental track. But you don't have to listen to all of it if you're busy. Just jump from the slide first part to the finger-style middle section to listen to some of the range of this guitar. SLOAN (long form experimental improv track 24:55) For info on acquiring this instrument, please email Rod Guevara at: elhotrod32@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________ MODDED 2001 MARTIN DM12 ROAD SERIES 12-STRING Aggressive Tone, Tweaked Saddle and Bridge, Quality Build The Martin DM12 is a mid-level dreadnaught style 12-string. It features a solid spruce top, with laminated mahogany back and sides, A-frame bracing, and a solid mahogany neck. This DM12 was released in 2001, the first year of the series. Which may partially explain its strong tone. It was modified by installing fat frets and various tweaks to the saddle and bridge. Due to its build year and the mods, plus the projection qualities of the laminated sides and back, it's one of the loudest acoustic guitars I've played. It also plays clearly in all registers. Note that the session's full recording sound was limited by my Sony D-50 portable recorder's built-in condenser mics. It's capable of both quality recording and stage performance. This Martin DM12 is best described as an aggressive acoustic 12-string. With a rock and roll attitude. Instrument Tech: Modded and tweaked 2001 Martin DM12 12-String Fat frets, compensated carbon fiber saddle, ebony bridge pins C#G#C#F#G#C# (DADGAD a half-step down) Listen to Modded 2001 Martin DM12 12-String on Bandcamp! It's a long form improvised experimental track. But you don't have to listen to all of it if you're busy. The Sinking of the Larsen B (long form improv track 25:01) For info on acquiring this instrument, please email Rod Guevara at: elhotrod32@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________ MODDED 2000 MARTIN D12X1 12-STRING Excellent Tone For Entry Level, Tweaked, Quality Build American-Made, Possibly Factory Modded (?) This instrument is an introductory 12-string, and not a recording guitar. It's a solid entry level or sturdy stage guitar. That said, it's an interesting introductory guitar. This particular D12X1 was released in early 2000, which is the first year of the Martin X Series. It was made at the American Martin Factory in Nazareth, PA. In late 2004, production of the X Series moved to Martin's Mexico factory. There's an online consensus (rumor?) that the early American made D12X1 instruments have a better tone. Possibly because of access to better spruce tops from the Nazareth factory. There's a certain mystery to this guitar. It has a very early serial number. It had already been upgraded with fat frets and Thomastik strings when I bought it. Who would have spent the money to mod a Martin X series guitar with fat frets and Thomastik strings? I later added a compensated bone saddle. Some have speculated it might have been a factory prototype or demo instrument. But I tend to think it was modded to be a rugged low cost performance guitar played into stage mics. Regardless, it's the best sounding Martin X that I've encountered. For info on acquiring this instrument, please email Rod Guevara at: elhotrod32@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Text and visual content are copyrighted. All rights reserved. © 2025 |
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