The terms “X-bracing,” “forward-shifted bracing,” and “scalloped bracing” are encountered all over the internet and often mentioned by Maury when discussing Martin guitars. But many people do not understand what these terms actually refer to and why they matter when it comes to the sound production of an acoustic guitar. And since Martin simplified their public spec sheets in recent years, there is even less information on their website concerning the details of what bracing is being employed to make their many different models.
Mahogany or Rosewood? The answer is “Yes!” Yes to both. We are now going to explore the marvelous qualities that make mahogany and rosewood the most revered tonewoods used to create world-class acoustic guitars, in this, our May edition of Maury's Music’s A vs. B.
As with most exotic species of wood, Guibourtia ehie has several common names. But in the world of musical instruments it is known as ovangkol. The latest Martin guitars to feature ovangkol are the D-16E Burst and OMC-16E Burst, the all-solid wood wonders that use it for the back and sides, and for their gorgeous tops under a high gloss mahoganyburst finish! And aren’t they pretty?
To Auld Lang Syne and the Coming New Year!
Our final blog post for 2020 looks back across this most unusual of years to remind all of us how the power of music has brought so many together when they couldn’t even be in the same room. Maury had a wonderful time making music via the internet with so many talented artists. And we have enjoyed experiencing the music of our many friends and customers who have shared their own love of music onYouTube and Facebook and other forms of social media.
Martin’s Standard Series, Reimagined for the Twenty-First Century
In 2018, Martin Guitars released the Reimagined Standard Series, with upgraded features for acoustic guitar models made in Styles 18 and above. This is why you will see (2018) next to the name of a Martin guitar model, e. g. 00-18 (2018) or D-42 (2018.) Extra, extra - read all about it!
Q: Why isn’t the Martin M-36 called an M-35?
The M-36 is a classic Martin model with a unique configuration of features found nowhere else. Those familiar with Martin's catalog see the M-36 and recognize how closely it resembles guitars made in the classic Style 35. So why did they call it M-36? Let's find out!
June is the time for weddings, and anniversaries. It is the month of True Love. And with a tone as pure, powerful, and compelling as Love itself, the Martin D True Love is a magnificent guitar of aesthetic beauty and musical loveliness most befitting this time of year.
Made in the Shade
Martin has a long tradition of adding special toner to the spruce soundboard of a guitar to darken the lacquer finish in a pleasing, aesthetic way. The official company language has always described such guitars as having a “shaded top,” with the common terms like “sunburst” and “burst” being used for specific types of top shading. And while there have been multiple bursts over the years, the two most popular examples remain available today, the Sunburst 1935 and the Amberburst 1933.
A week after Maury appeared on the popular YouTube webzine “The Aaron Short Music Hangout,” Martin’s Dick Boak took his place in front of a webcam for a lengthy and enlightening interview on the same show. Aaron asked him what his favorite Martin guitar was. Dick replied that there are so many great Martins, but for him it is the Orchestra Model. And it is no coincidence that John Mayer’s signature model is based on his long-time go-to axe, which happens to be the same Martin OM model that Dick Boak plays, and the very same one played to this day by Maury of Maury’s Music. The reason is simple – Martin OMs are awesome!
With its nautical theme celebrating the age of the great clipper ships, the Martin D Homeward is a true masterpiece of the woodworking arts, among the most visually beautiful guitars C. F. Martin has ever produced. Read more.
When you see a Martin model name like D-15 or 000-18, the number on the right side of the dash refers to the “Style” of decoration and the materials used to create the instrument. The letter or number on the left side of the dash refers to the body size. And today we will look at the various Martin body sizes available in 2020, starting with the newest one. Read more!
Maury’s Music, in association with C. F. Martin & Company is proud to present the new 2020 Martin guitars – New Martins for the New Decade! Extra, extra - read all about it!
They're all here! John Lennon. Johnny Cash. Eric Clapton. Over recent years, CF Martin has honored several guitar legends with their own signature model Martin Guitar - and we have them in stock. The Martin Legends are at Maury's Music!
Posted by: Maury- Maury's Music AT 07:39 am
| Permalink
| Email
With its unique pedigree and impressive good looks, a guitar made in Style 35 stands out like a thoroughbred stallion from the impressive Martin herd, especially when it’s heard. A rich and robust rosewood voice of exceptional complexity attracts admirers from all styles of music, and with good reason. Read more.
As the golden October afternoons are spirited away and replaced by the spooky, spine-chilling nights of a dark and blustery November, we are reminded of how the cheerful voice of a Style 18 Martin guitar is as bright, clear, and pretty as a sunny Sunday in Spring Time. It is the perfect musical tonic for the soul this time of year, as the days grow dark, the nights grow long, and the winter blues approach. Read more!
Why are there so many versions of the D-28 for sale? From its introduction in early 1930s, the Martin D-28 set the standard that all other acoustic guitars have been compared to ever since. Today, Martin offers more than one version of this most-iconic acoustic guitar, inspired by various renditions from the D-28’s historic past. And we are going to take a closer look at each of them in this blog post. Read more.
Boy Howdy! Summer is heating up in Nashville, Tennessee. But the Martin guitars will be super-cool as the new 2019 models make their debut at Summer NAMM 2019. And here is Maury’s Music’s exclusive sneak preview!!!
The NEW Martin CEO-9 closely resembles the super-popular CEO-7. Both guitars were designed by Company CEO, Chris Martin, and have many features in common. Which one might you like best?
At Winter NAMM 2019 C.F. Martin & Company debuted the new Dreadnought Junior 10 and Dreadnought Junior 10 Burst. The new DJr-10 design differs from the previous version in one significant way, the depth of the body is shallower. Read more.
Martin unveiled their new 2019 NAMM models in Anaheim on Thursday, January 24th at 1pm. Many were also on display at the Martin Factory and Maury was rolling tape all day! We have lots of high-res pics on our Facebook page!
Starting Monday, January 7, Martin Guitar will be revealing a new 2019 NAMM model each day throughout the month of January! We'll check in with Spoon Phillips to hear what he thinks about each and every one.
Heavily inspired and influenced by acts from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, The Munoz Brothers seek to recreate and adapt the music of the past with a unique personal twist. Comprised of brothers Ivan Munoz (bass, vocals) and Damian Munoz (guitar, vocals), the acoustic duo aims to bridge the gap between “the contemporary” and “the classic” through their instrumentation and vocal harmonies.
Lost & Haunted Ways is the new CD by our pal T Spoon Phillips. After a long session in the studio, we talked him into playing a tune for us on his 000C-21TSP Custom Artist edition.
The 2018 Summer NAMM show wrapped up on Saturday & Martin unveiled some interesting new models! Maury was at the Martin factory the moment they were released & he brought some video footage back to Maury's Music. Extra, extra - read all about it!
Martin's 17 series guitars are a special breed. They're snappy, light & bright - without sounding thin or nasal. The finish is deliberately lo-fi and they almost look like something out of a 1920's catalog. Read on!
Spoon Phillips has been playing and critiquing Martin guitars for many, many years. When he expressed interest in designing the perfect guitar for himself, we asked if he'd allow us to bring this exciting creation to the general public. This 000C-21 TSP custom artist-dealer collaboration is a short-scale 000 cutaway with a unique collection of desirable features and primo tonewoods, available only at Maury's Music.
Martin unveiled their new 2018 NAMM models on Thursday, January 25th at 1pm. If you have any questions about these great new Martin models, please contact us.
Scheduled for introduction at Winter NAMM 2018, the reimagined Standard Series is collectively the most significant update to Martin's flagship line of guitars in their 185-year history. We'd love to connect you with one of these great new Martins!
After 41 years with the legendary company, Dick Boak has retired from Martin Guitar. It's the end of an era. When people speak of Fender guitars, you often hear the phrase "Pre-CBS". I won't be surprised if January 8, 2018 marks a similar shift in the way people eventually refer to Martin Guitar, in Nazareth, PA. #postboak
Maury's old bandmate Lamar Snyder dropped by & the two reconnected on some of their favorite old songs. Lamar was invited to sit in with Maury & Tim at a local gig, but a snowstorm canceled those plans. Oh well ... plan B.
We receive lots of questions about the proper way to restring an acoustic guitar. Martin Guitar's Dave Doll has a really good video showing you the step-by-step process. Check it out.
Dan "Couser" Crowley dropped by to pick up his Custom Shop Martin deep body 000-28C. Maury installed a Trance Audio Amulet M for him, and when he came to collect, Maury talked him into playing a tune. Thanks for dropping by - you sounded great!
Tommy & Clayton have been performing in the Panther Valley area for a little over 2 years. Now they've finally made it to the big time: Maury's Music. :)
Aaron Short is a singer-songwriter from London, England... now residing in NYC - and searching the galaxy for the perfect acoustic/electric tone. He was vsiting the Martin factory today and on his way home he dropped by to check out the Trance Audio Amulet M Phantom. Thanks for dropping by!
John Rossi dropped by with his Martin OM-28 to have his Trance Audio Amulet MVpreamp adjusted & his brother Vinnie came along for the ride. John is playing his OM-28 and Vinnie is playing a Martin 000-17. Thanks for dropping by!
Marshall Fleisher is Maury's bandmate, customer and good pal! In this clip, Maury is playing his Martin OM-28V, and Marshall is playing the Martin OM-42 he purchased at Maury's Music in 2014. Thanks for dropping by!
Autumn Brew has an open invitation to drop by Maury's Music anytime ... but Maury couldn't pass up the chance to see them live! Greg & Leanne Kendig have a sound all their own, and we were excited to get some of their set on video!
This week we take a look at the iconic musicians that have played Martin's most iconic guitar.
"Known by it’s serial number of 58957, this guitar was once owned by Clarence White before it was sold by him in 1965 due to financial concerns. Nearly 10 years later it found it’s way into Rice’s hands. Although it certainly shows the signs of its age, including divots in the soundboard where a young Clarence White shot it with a BB-gun..."
Tim Teel has been a great friend of mine for many, many years. He's solidifed a place for himself in the Martin history books, and I'm so proud to have known him along the way. At the end of a busy work week, he was kind enough to walks us through some of the new NAMM models. Thanks for taking the time Tim!
This week we take a look at where Martin's most unique instruments are made, the Custom Shop.
"Now that I have a better handle on it, I like to think of the Custom Shop as a way for a player to take an already great standard model and make it the perfect guitar for themselves. Love the D-35 but you’re uncomfortable with the narrow neck? Change it to a 1.75”. Love the sound of an HD-28 but you’re not a fan of herringbone? Put scalloped braces on a D-28 instead."
This week we take a trip into the woods and check out some Bear Claws!
"The idea goes that if a bear scratches a tree then after the wood heals it’s going to leave 'scars'. While I will admit that this explanation is a lot cooler than what’s actually happening, it’s simply not true."
Spoon Phillips is a walking Martin Guitar encyclopedia, a snazzy dresser and the talent behind our in-depth YouTube guitar reviews. But exactly who IS Spoon Phillips? Let's find out.
With so many variations on their bracing available, choosing the style right for you can seem like challenge. This week we're going to break down different bracing styles and see what makes each one unique.
"Undoubtedly the most popular bracing pattern Martin uses is their 'X' bracing. Found on the majority of Martin instruments, the X bracing was first developed in the 1850s. This 'X' bracing took the place of the more traditional fan bracing used by European guitar builders at the time. While maybe not as ideal for the gut strings used during this period, as the market changed and players started demanding louder instruments, Martin's sturdier 'X' bracing allowed for an easier transition to the higher tension steel strings necessary to achieve that. "
At Maury's Music, we play the products we sell. Maury has performed onstage with some very talented local musicians over the years, and they're all fans of Maury's Music. :)
Spoon Phillips of OneManz.com visted Maury's Music for another round of Martin Guitar demos. At the end of Day 2, he checked out three OM-28 Authentic 1931's and allowed me to roll camera.
Spoon Phillips of OneManz.com dropped by the shop to record another round of Martin Guitar demo videos. After a long shoot, we took a break and played some other Martin guitars. :) This Martin D-45 was hard to put down.
Over the years Martin has changed the exact position of the "X " bracing numerous times, but on modern Martins the standard positioning of the center of this X is about 1.5” from the soundhole. If the center of the X gets closer to the soundhole this is known as forward shifting. If the center is farther away it’s known as rear-shifting.
At Maury's Music, we play the products we sell. Maury has performed onstage with some very talented local musicians over the years, and from time to time, many of them stop by for a visit.
Many guitar companies are looking towards more responsibly sourced woods with which to build their instruments, both for their more positive impact on the word at large as well as the security they will provide for the manufacturer years down the line.
This topic was actually requested by a customer who was having some difficulty understanding the difference between the D-28 Marquis and D-28 Authentic 1937. Both of these guitars offer similar woods, construction and features. However, as with all things acoustic guitar, the devil is in the details and it’s only by looking carefully at the specs that you’ll get a full picture.
With the official start of summer only a few days ago and the Fourth of July fast approaching we are right in the middle of road trip season. Whether it's to a family BBQ, to the shore, to a music festival or any of a thousand other places, many of us are going to be traveling this summer and there's a good chance your guitar is going to come along for the ride.
For a newcomer to Martin guitars, the sheer size of their lineup can be overwhelming. With over 100 guitars in their lineup at any one time, all labeled with Martin's own unique labeling system, it could seem tough to narrow down your options. This weeks article is going to be an explanation of Martin's guitar naming system, breaking down exactly what each part of a model's name designates and what it means to you. In ten minutes you can go from a complete Martin beginner to an expert.
For 2015, Ed Sheeran has again teamed up with Martin for another signature guitar, the Ed Sheeran X Signature edition. While taking many design elements from the previous Sheeran model, the X does make a few marked improvements on the original...
Martin's new Performance Artist series guitars have re-set the bar when it comes to acoustic-electric tone. I spent some quality one-on-one time with these new models in the sound room at Martin. Dave Evans and Tim Teel were there to get me up to speed on these terrific new instruments.
