Martin has been making acoustic guitars since 1833, and their instruments are the benchmark against which all other acoustics are judged. The D-28 dreadnought is THE acoustic guitar — its booming projection and rich overtones have defined the sound of folk, country, and bluegrass.
Used Martin prices span a wide range: the D-28 sells for $1,200-$2,500 used, the D-18 for $1,000-$2,000, and the more affordable models like the Martin DRS1 and D-10E for $400-$700. The Martin X Series (HPL construction) offers the Martin sound for $300-$500 used.
Vintage Martins from the pre-war era (before 1944) are investment-grade instruments costing $10,000-$500,000+. But 1970s-2000s Martins offer phenomenal value — these are hand-made American instruments with solid tonewoods that have opened up beautifully with age.
Martin's bracing pattern changed over the decades. Pre-war and modern "Authentic" series use scalloped bracing for maximum resonance. Standard modern Martins use non-scalloped bracing. Both sound great, but scalloped bracing has a more open, dynamic quality.
