Nazareth, PA (January 12, 2018) -- C.F. Martin & Co. (Martin Guitar) will introduce their reimagined Standard Series guitars at Winter NAMM in Anaheim, California. Collectively, this will be the most significant update to the company’s flagship line of guitars in its 185-year history.
The guitars in Martin’s reimagined Standard Series, from styles 28 to 45, have been the guitars of choice for famous players such as Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Hank Williams, Joni Mitchell, Kurt Cobain, Beck, Eric Clapton, and countless others. They’ve been woven into the very fabric of our history for generations and across all genres of pop culture, and continue to inspire musicians worldwide.
“I challenged my coworkers to help me with the significant task of modernizing guitars whose origins go back to the 1930s (and earlier),” said Chris Martin. “As you might imagine, the discussions were quite animated. Fortunately, we all knew we were working toward a common goal: How can we modernize traditional Martin Guitar models while continuing to honor our rich history and heritage? Well, together we met that challenge head-on, and the results far exceeded my expectations.”
“Changing this many models that are so iconic to the company and music industry all at once was a real challenge,” says Fred Greene, Martin’s Senior Director of Product Management. “But our team did an incredible job in choosing appointments and improvements that make these instruments even better.”
The most notable updates to the line include the addition of a modern high performance neck that is thinner and more comfortable for the player, and vintage appointments, including aging toner and open-gear tuners. There have been changes to internal features as well that include scalloped and forward-shifted top bracing, depending on the style. The bottom line? When you put all of the changes together, the result is a Martin Standard Series line that looks, plays, and sounds better than ever before.
C.F. Martin & Co. (Martin Guitar) will unveil the D-45 John Mayer Custom Signature Edition at Winter NAMM in Anaheim, California on January 25, 2018. The model honors both the artist and one of Martin’s most prestigious models, the D-45. The model will be limited to just 45 guitars.
Mayer’s collaborative relationship with Martin Guitar goes all the way back to 2003 with the release of his first signature edition, the OM-28 John Mayer, followed by the OMJM John Mayer (a staple in Martin's guitar line), the 00-45SC John Mayer, and the 00-42SC John Mayer.
The D-45 John Mayer is crafted with Guatemalan rosewood back and sides and an Engelmann spruce top with aging toner and forward shifted Adirondack X braces. This tonal masterpiece was designed by John Mayer and created by the master craftspeople in the Martin Custom Shop. Boasting a full thickness neck with hexagon inlays, bone nut and saddle, and gold open gear tuners, the D-45 John Mayer also features an interior label personally signed by the seven-time Grammy Award-winning artist.
“It's a tremendous honor to be John's acoustic guitar of choice for nearly 20 years,” said Chris Thomas, Martin’s Director of Marketing. “As in the past, John remained very involved with the design and creation of this guitar, his fifth collaboration with Martin. The D-45 John Mayer is the largest in John’s collection of Custom Signature guitars, and is sure to be a hit. Considering the robust sound and level of appointments on this instrument, along with the limited run signed by John, I expect them to be completely spoken for before the close of the NAMM Show in January. The D-45 John Mayer model is exquisite, a very special guitar indeed. John is a song-writing, guitar-playing icon around the globe. It warms our hearts to know that we have been, in any way, a means by which his inspiration becomes a song.”
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