Martin announces four new acoustics

Martin Guitar has announced four new acoustic guitars ahead of their official debut at next week’s Summer NAMM 2018.

The fresh models are all premium instruments: the D-28 Bigsby, D-16EPD Poker Dogs, Jimmy Buffett Custom, and the OM-Arts & Crafts 2018.

D-28 Bigsby

Martin’s partnership with Gretsch yielded the D-28 Bigsby, which is also a tribute to country legend Merle Travis. It’s based on Martin’s dreadnought-sized D-28, with a Sitka spruce top, and East Indian rosewood back and sides. But its Bigsby-style neck and headstock set this model apart from its forebear.

The D-28 Bigsby lists for $3,999.

D-16EPD Poker Dogs

Like the D-420, this model is all about the artwork emblazoned upon its Sitka spruce top. It’s a reproduction of the iconic 1903 oil painting by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, A Friend in Need—or better known as “Dogs Playing Poker.”

Besides the soundboard tonewood, the dreadnought has sycamore back and sides, a ‘select hardwood’ neck, and an ebony fretboard. It also has Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2 electronics installed.

The D-16EPD lists for $2,799.

Jimmy Buffett Custom

The inimitable Jimmy Buffett, he of ‘drunken Caribbean rock’ fame and the beaming fella pictured above, collaborated with Martin Custom Shop on this glossy, black-as-night acoustic.

For tonewoods, the slope-shouldered dreadnought has an Adirondack spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides, a ‘select hardwood’ neck, and an ebony fretboard—and you can’t miss that mother-of-pearl palm tree headstock inlay. It also comes installed with Fishman Gold Plus Natural I electronics.

The Jimmy Buffett Custom lists for $5,999.

OM-Arts & Crafts 2018

This ornate orchestra-sized guitar is Martin’s third tribute to the Arts & Crafts aesthetic movement of the late 19th century. And, true to its inspiration, it’s the most intricately designed model of the batch, with a price tag to match.

Tonewood-wise, the OM-Arts & Crafts 2018 has an Adirondack spruce soundboard that has been treated with Martin’s Vintage Tone System—it’s a torrefaction process that produces a more period-correct look, feel and sound. German white oak is in the back and sides, while Guatamalan rosewood features in the fretboard, body binding, headplate and bridge.

“The tonewoods for this guitar were selected for their significance in the movement because they were used by craftspersons and designers as alternatives to traditional industrial materials and excel tonally in the voice of the guitar,” according to Martin.

The OM-Arts & Crafts 2018 lists for $13,999—and it’s limited to only 100 instruments.

More info on the guitar here:

For more info, check out martinguitar.com.