
Considering the benefits, beauty, and versatility of wood alternatives for acoustic guitars.
There is a limited supply of tonewoods in the world and a large appetite for acoustic guitars. At Martin Guitar, we take environmental stewardship very seriously, and I challenge our team to develop new models using alternative wood materials. This month, I'd like to explore some ideas about wood alternatives, so I've turned to Skip Beltz, the Director of Product Management at Martin Guitar who has almost 30 years of experience in making guitars.
There are many characteristics that make a type of wood usable for building guitars. Some woods are too soft to hold up to the tension that a stringed instrument produces, so hardwoods are chosen because of their strength and tonal properties. Hardwoods can be shaped, carved, and sanded beautifully with the right skillsets. Their ability to accept finishing materials reasonably well helps to enhance the sheer beauty of the wood. Each sonic, structural, and aesthetic characteristic of a wood is taken into consideration when selecting the materials for a guitar.
This Martin DC-X2E pairs a Sitka spruce top with High Pressure Laminate (HPL) back and sides.
Availability then finds its place in the selection process because we want to be able to procure enough of the wood for it to be viable from a volume standpoint. The most important thing to consider here is sustainability. Exotic hardwoods are becoming more and more scarce. While they are beautiful and tonally exceptional, there are ways to acquire comparableāor even superiorāsound with sustainable wood selections.
The benefits of using composite materials are both environmentally responsible as well as structural. The durability of these materials aids in handling and transporting, and composites can accept finishes or hardening techniques that natural woods cannot. Composite materials can be more stable and stronger than natural wood and more resistant to spills and rain drops, which can be a huge benefit for touring musicians. Composites are also generally less susceptible to warping when exposed to high humidity.
Composite materials can be more stable and stronger than natural wood and more resistant to spills and rain drops, which can be a huge benefit for touring musicians.
When a builder is looking to employ new alternative materials, we must do extensive research and testing if we expect them to hold up for generations of music making. We need to test machine capability and hand-tool capability. How does it react when carving, shaping, and sanding, whether it be a person or a machine? Can we see tool marks? Does it break down or change color? Does it maintain structural integrity? Finish compatibility needs to be tested extensively: spraying, sanding, polishing, and adhesion to the surface of the material is crucial in achieving our desired finished look. At Martin, we have an environmental chamber that can be set to control temperature and humidity settings. Our quality team uses that to expose materials and completed guitars to extreme conditions.
High Pressure Laminate (HPL) is one of our most frequently used wood alternatives on Martin guitars. What exactly is HPL? Close your eyes and visualize really small pieces of sawdust and adhesive compressed together and pressed out into sheet form. This sheet can then be made into different thicknesses and manipulated to build things. HPL is specifically used for sides, backs, and necks of guitars. We're able to print on its surface to make it appear to be any type of wood or feature high-resolution artwork. It sounds amazing, is very workable, and holds up to string tension very well.
In addition to the environmental, structural, and tonal benefits, another advantage to using HPL or other composites is that builders can print directly onto the material. Martin's DX Woodstock guitar art was drawn by Robert Goetzl and printed onto HPL.
Designing patterns on HPL is an interesting process. We take high-resolution pictures of the wood patterns that we want from our collection of wood and then transfer our photographs onto HPL. On specialty projects, we work with our artist, Robert Goetzl, or another artist of choice to develop the custom artwork. Our DX Woodstock guitar art was drawn by Goetzl and printed onto HPL.
For fretboards and bridges, we use an engineered material called Richlite that works very well for resonance and sustain. It's paper-based and made with environmentally responsible adhesives. Not only is it extremely durable and easy to machine or carve, it's also water resistant with low moisture absorption as well as heat and fire resistant. This aesthetically pleasing material can be made to look exactly like ebony, and we can also change the patterns and colors, which provides us with maximum design flexibility when we want a different look. Over the years, we've also experimented with carbon fiber as an alternative materialāit's now featured on the bridge plate of our Modern Deluxe models and is a large contributor to the incredible sound of those guitars.
Our X-series guitars are the best example of how we've continued to hone our skills in crafting great-sounding Martins out of composite materials. Martin will continue to experiment with composites and other unique materials that will provide an advantage in some way to the sound of our guitars or the innovation of the instrument.
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From full-size to mini, these six pedals deliver funky āchickas,ā screaming, fuzz-infused lead tones, and more.
The variations on a classic stompbox bring you tonal versatility and more!
Xotic XW-2 Wah Pedal
The Xotic XW-2 Wah Pedal is a high-quality, versatile stomp that creates a ā70s-style āthroatyā wah sound.
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Sonicake FlipWah
The FlipWah combo pedal combines a classic wah and active volume pedal in one, with a footswitch to select between the two modes. A Q knob adds even more versatility.
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$79 street
McCon-O-WahĀ McWah
The McWah-2B delivers classic tone with modern upgrades. Handwired, adjustable, and durable, it features a custom pot and true bypass for optimal sound. Inspired by the original, legendary wah pedal.
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$428 street
Dunlop Jerry Cantrell Rainier Fog Cry Baby Wah
This Cry Baby signature model complements Jerry Cantrellās sound with a dark, punchy voice, a wide sweep, and a control on the side for fine-tuning the toe-down frequency.
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Dunlop CBJ95 Cry Baby Junior Wah Pedal
The Cry Baby Junior Wah features front-mounted jacks and an 8" housing for clean configurations on the worldās most popular boards.
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Dunlop Cry Baby Daredevil Fuzz Wah Pedal
A collaboration with Daredevil Pedals, this Cry Baby Wah combines the bright, aggressive vocality of a modded Cry Baby Wah with a custom fuzz circuit thatās downright gnarly.
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Leveraging 3D printing technology, the new Floyd Rose Original locking nuts are designed to deliver unmatched precision and consistency, replacing the traditional ālost waxā casting method that dominated for decades.
The shift to 3D printing allows for intricate detailing and tighter tolerances, ensuring each nut meets exact specifications.
The process begins with powdered metal, which is precisely 3D printed into the desired shape using advanced metal printing technology. After printing, the parts are depowdered and cleaned before undergoing a sintering processāan advanced heat treatmentāduring which the parts achieve full density and hardness. Lastly, the nuts are CNC ākiss-cutā to exacting specifications for consistency and control of the fit before receiving a premium electroplating finish.
āFloyd Rose has always been synonymous with innovation, and by embracing this incredible new technology we are able to continue that legacy,ā said Andrew Papiccio, president of AP International Music Supply of which Floyd Rose is a division. āThe accuracy and flexibility of the new 3D printing method will allow us to make a more consistent piece while also giving us full control of the manufacturing right here in the USA.ā
Initially, the 3D-printed locking nuts will be available in ten classic sizes with a 10ā radius, with plans to expand the range to accommodate various fretboard radii in Spring 2025. This augmentation will offer players more options for customizing their setups to match a wide variety of fretboard curvatures.
To get a sneak peek at the new Floyd Rose USA Series, come visit us at NAMM in booth 5734 in Hall D.
With flexible voltage adjustments, precise control, customizable protection, compact design, and affordable pricing at $299, the Brownie is the ultimate solution for optimizing tone and safeguarding your gear.
AmpRx, the trusted name behind the industry-renowned BrownBox, has unveiled its newest innovation: The Brownie, a voltage-optimizing power supply for modern amps and the first of its kind.
Designed by AmpRx co-owner and CEO Cassandra Sotos (2024 NAMM Female Entrepreneur of the Year), the Brownie provides unparalleled control, flexibility, and protection specifically for modern tube amplifiers by allowing the player to both increase and decrease voltage with volt-by-volt precision.
Priced at $299, the Brownie offers an affordable and essential solution for protecting your investment in your high-quality tube amp. It allows you to optimize your tone and safeguard your gear from variations in voltage by givingthe ultimate advantage: knowing exactly what youāre feeding your amp.
Known as the secret weapon of touring professionals, AmpRx products have been spotted on stage with bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Zac Brown Band, Iron Maiden, and many more. AmpRx is now bringing its game-changing technology to an even broader audience with this compact, affordable, and versatile product. Try the Brownie for yourself and discover exactly why artists, amp designers, and technicians rely on AmpRx to provide consistent sound, performance, and extend the life of their gear.
The Brownie will be available January 20th, 2025, presented at NAMM Global Media Day and on display at Booth #5630.
WHAT MAKES THE BROWNIE SPECIAL? Building on the success of the flagship BrownBox, the Brownie offers key innovations tailored for modern amplifiers:
- Flexible Voltage Adjustments: The Brownie is the first in the AmpRx line to both decrease and increase voltage, providing optimal performance for modern tube amps (often at 117-120V).
- Precise Control: Adjust voltage in ultra-precise -1V increments when decreasing, and by +3V or +5Vwhen increasing, allowing musicians to fine-tune their tone with precision.
- Customizable Protection: The Brownie ensures safe operation, putting control directly in the player's hands, and includes two fuse options: 2A for smaller setups and 4A for larger setups, ensuring compatibility with diverse gear.
- Compact and Portable Design: Smaller and lighter than the original BrownBox, the Brownie is perfect for musicians seeking portability, durability, and streamlined functionality. It can even fit on a pedalboard or in a backpack.
- Wide Accessibility: At just $299, the Brownie offers professional-grade voltage control at a price point thatās accessible to musicians everywhere.
Email sales@brownbox.rocks to order and stop by NAMM Booth #5630 to see the Brownie in action, talk with the owners, team and artists, and see exactly why so many people insist onAmpRx products when they make music.
For more information, please visit brownbox.rocks.