Made usa MARTIN D1 ACOUSTIC DREADNOUGHT Solid Top & Back vintage 1997

  

MARTIN D1 from 1990's probably 1997. Solid Wood Top & Back. Some scratches otherwise nice one.

W/ MARTIN Hard Shell case. (made by TKL for Martin). ARTICLE from Vintage Guitar Magazine The D-1 is a new guitar, which first appeared on the scene at the Winter NAMM show in 1993.

As the current catalog illuminates, Martin opted to utilize a two-piece solid back, coupled with veneered sides. The three-ply sides provide an extraordinary dimensional stability. Cosmetically, its hard to tell the sides are not solid wood.

Perhaps the most radical departure from most typical Martin guitar construction is the redesign of the top bracing pattern and neck-to-body joint area, the catalog continues. Unique A-frame braces tie directly into a laminated alder neck block, adding support to the soundhole area. The neck incorporates a buttress extension designed specially to support the fingerboard. Gibson pioneered the concept in 1960, with the Johnny Smith jazz guitar. The idea is to have more wood beneath where the fingerboard joins the top.

Smith reasoned this would give better sustain and fewer dead spots above the 12th fret. While the D-1 isnt a cutaway guitar, it does add clarity to upper-register notes. I also suspect this diminishes the chances of the fingerboard pulling away from the top. Martin also stresses that the X brace has been modified to a full square overlap, and a unique, angled maple bridge plate minimizes failure of this high-stress component. Thus, the different construction techniques are designed to improve an already excellent design many players argue cant be improved upon.

Visually, this isnt the typical Martin finish. The white spruce top, made famous on dreadnoughts and concert 00 series guitars, is missing, along with the shiny glossed rosewood back and sides.

The D-1 looks like a Gibson LG-0 made in Nazareth and sized like a D-18. The D-1 looks like its made totally from mahogany wood and finished with a paper-thin coat of lacquer sealer. In fact, Martin says the D-1 uses a special cross link finish extremely thin, to optimize tone. The typical dreadnought features apply 20 frets on an 251/2 scale, 14 frets clear of the body, etc. The fretwork is nice, with somewhat larger frets than the typical Martin.

Tuners are chrome-plated affairs that look suspiciously like Schallers without really saying so. In my experience, they are the weakest part of the guitar. While many will find they work satisfactorily, they are also the easiest part to replace. Weve looked at the cosmetics and the materials, but how does the D-1 sound? In the past two years, two students have bought these guitars and they both have special stuff I didnt expect to find in a newer acoustic.

I think of the D-1 as almost two separate guitars a great fingerstyle instrument and a very good bluegrass battleship. Unlike most every D-series Martins Ive played, the D-1 responds to every little nuance, whether played with fingers or fingerpicks. It seems lighter than other acoustics Ive played, but the D-1 is probably my favorite fingerpicking dreadnought.

If you need more guts, grab a flatpick and its all there. To be fair, the D-1 doesnt have the bluegrass festival volume of a good D-28 or even an average D-18. However, it doesnt cost anywhere near as much, and to me, the D-1 is more versatile. Most studio players dont record fingerstyle parts with a dreadnought. This guitar is perhaps the only Martin D size you could do it with and still sound convincing.

Maybe the top bracing, thinner finish or combination of woods is responsible; whatever does it, the D-1 works. I dont think Martin should drop its other guitars and just make the D-1. I dont care for its appearance, only because I prefer the white spruce top on the other D-series guitars. Many of you will find the mahogany finish attractive. I also dont care for the tuners, but Ive already said this can be remedied easily, and if Martin had to cut any corners, this is without question the place to do it.

But these quibbles are picayune, and the D-1 is one of my favorite new guitars, regardless of price. The best thing about this guitar is its consistency. Phil Jones, in North Carolina, and John Jegen, in Texas, both have D-1s Ive played extensively, and both instruments amaze me. This is hard to do with any instrument, but even more so with a flat-top acoustic. The item "Made usa MARTIN D1 ACOUSTIC DREADNOUGHT Solid Top & Back vintage 1997" is in sale since Wednesday, September 29, 2021.

This item is in the category "Musical Instruments & Gear\Vintage Musical Instruments\Vintage Guitars & Basses\Acoustic Guitars". The seller is "audiophile_genie" and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. String Configuration: 6 String
2. Model: D1
3. Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
4. Exact Year: 1990's
5. Dexterity: Right-Handed
6. Series: Vintage
7. MPN: D1
8. Soundboard Style: Flat Top
9. Brand: MARTIN
10. Body Type: Dreadnought