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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/383721
TScottHilton - Posted - 06/07/2022: 11:57:34
Hello all. Just wondering if I could get some non-banjo purchasing advice. My local shop has got a used Martin D1 from the 90s that has caught my eye. I've been looking to upgrade my main gigging guitar and this would be a little more affordable than buying new. It's priced right a $1000. No cracks, neck is straight, frets are in good condition. I like the sound and feel of it but the strings are pretty old and dead and the action could be lowered slightly, so I won't know until I give it a little TLC. For what it's worth the top and back are solid but the sides I believe are laminated mahogany. This doesn't bother me too much as long as it plays well. Many of the newer affordable Martins have laminated sides anyway. Anyone owned one of these from that era? Is this a good deal?
Edited by - TScottHilton on 06/07/2022 13:29:15
hweinberg - Posted - 06/07/2022: 13:44:24
I play with a guy who has a D1 from that era (his brother gave it to him as a 40th Birthday gift -- pretty nice present). It sounds great. The laminate sides don't seem to detract at all to my ear, and I am fortunately used to playing and hearing good (and much more expensive) dreadnaught guitars. Sounds like a good deal.
rcc56 - Posted - 06/07/2022: 13:50:14
I remember when these first came out. They were Martin's first budget design of the modern era. One of my students has one.
These were reasonably well built guitars. My biggest "but" is the price of the one you're looking at, which is top dollar even if it's in great condition. Sold listings on this model vary between $600 and $1000. For $1000, it better be "clean enough to eat off of" and better d*** well have a fresh set of strings and a good hard case. I'd make 'em include 6 extra sets of strings at that price.
A more or less equivalent model is the D-10, which is available new with built in pickup and gigbag for $849 from Martin dealers. The D-10 has sapele back and sides, and like other budget models, has a "richlite" [synthetic] bridge and fingerboard. The next model up is a D-12, which has a gloss finish. It's available without a pickup for $1199 new with gigbag. The D-12E with pickup costs $1299. The above models have solid tops, backs, and sides.
Edited by - rcc56 on 06/07/2022 13:58:55
chuckv97 - Posted - 06/07/2022: 13:58:13
Don’t know the D-1 , but I bought a very lightly used D-15S last year for $1,200 (they are $1999 new in Canada)
TScottHilton - Posted - 06/07/2022: 14:20:52
Thank you guys for the input. I have compared the D10 and D12 which they also have at my local shop and to my ear this older D1 sounds nicer even with old strings. Probably because it has had time to age and "break in" so to speak. It does come with a hardshell case. It's consigned, so I figured I'd try and offer 850 and see what happens.
banjonz - Posted - 06/13/2022: 14:09:26
quote:
Originally posted by rcc56I remember when these first came out. They were Martin's first budget design of the modern era. One of my students has one.
These were reasonably well built guitars. My biggest "but" is the price of the one you're looking at, which is top dollar even if it's in great condition. Sold listings on this model vary between $600 and $1000. For $1000, it better be "clean enough to eat off of" and better d*** well have a fresh set of strings and a good hard case. I'd make 'em include 6 extra sets of strings at that price.
A more or less equivalent model is the D-10, which is available new with built in pickup and gigbag for $849 from Martin dealers. The D-10 has sapele back and sides, and like other budget models, has a "richlite" [synthetic] bridge and fingerboard. The next model up is a D-12, which has a gloss finish. It's available without a pickup for $1199 new with gigbag. The D-12E with pickup costs $1299. The above models have solid tops, backs, and sides.
I think the D28-32 was before the D1 but I couldn't be certain. I owned one back in the 80's. It looked real nice with 'tortoise shell' pick guard. The problem with mine was It sounded "strangled", not full and boomy like a D28 I previously had. It just wasn't responsive. I on sold it.
rcc56 - Posted - 06/13/2022: 17:05:47
The D28-32 was a "Shenandoah" model. The Shenandoahs were offered from 1983 until 1993. Body assemblies and neck assemblies were built in Japan and shipped to the US. Then, the finish was applied and final assembly was completed in Nazareth. Shenandoahs have solid tops and laminated backs and sides, and were available in several models. They were decently made instruments, a step above the Sigmas, but in sound they were a couple of steps below the standard Martin 18 and 28 models.
The yen went up, the dollar went down. According to Martin lore, the parts were built with a polyester finish in mind, and Martin was spending a lot of time to fine-sand and fill them to accept a lacquer finish instead. The employees said "let's just build them here," and management actually listened. The D-1 was introduced in 1992 with a solid back, laminated sides, and a matte finish. The "1" series marked Martin's first use of c and c router technology. Rosewood models were added shortly thereafter. The rosewood models had laminated backs and sides.
The Shenandoah line was discontinued in 1993.
Edited by - rcc56 on 06/13/2022 17:08:39
1935tb-11 - Posted - 06/14/2022: 08:39:07
i had a D-1R bought it new from the music barn,,, when i got it home i polished it out to a gloss finish,,the guitar sounded great ,,plenty of backbone,,seem like it was 800 new.
5B-Ranch - Posted - 06/16/2022: 12:07:25
m.youtube.com/watch?v=NYvsnfBmoco
This guitar will get it done. It’s what I play go ahead and splurge.
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