Posted by D28 on 10/21/2009, 6:27 pm, in reply to "Re: In the market for a new Martin? A suggestion.."

To get a good deal, you must go through a dealer who will not impose the list retail price on you. That list retail price is about 40% more than the dealer cost. So find a good dealer and see what he is willing to do for you. I deal with Gordon's String Music in Tallahassee. Gordon Scott is one super guy, a great friend and I'm sure he would love to give you a price. If you decide to call him, use my name. Max, this is the Gordon Scott who played with JD Crowe and others at the old Martins place in Lexington in the mid sixties. I own four other Martin dreadnaughts,( HD 28V, D93, D37K2 and D28-12) and this custom HD is the best of them all. It is the best sounding and playing guitar I ever held, so I got my money's worth. The top is supple, like butter. Combined with the walnut back and side woods, it has a deep and full sound right out of the box, no play in necessary. And it's not for sale,. --Previous Message-- : Hi John, : : I'm sure we'd all love to see some pictures of your HD-28 Custom! : : I'm thinking of getting a new Martin D-41 Special and its dealer price to me would : be about $200 less than your HD-28 Custom. If I think of a custom Martin I would : like to have built, it seems that when I design it, using the online guide on : Martin's website, the price seems to come out kind of high, even when figuring the : dealer's selling price. Do you have an "in" with the Martins? If you do, : can I mention your name? Can you let us know the dealer you ordered your guitar : through? I ordered my new Martin D-18GE through Elderly Instruments and got it for : 40% Off List Price. Are the customs offered through some dealers for the same : percentage off list price? Thanks! : : Folk On With That Great Martin! : : Ken : : : --Previous Message-- : The D45 discussion below prompts me to relate a recent Martin event in my guitar : life. : Instead of a 45 or a 41 or some Celebrity Model, last year I had Mr. Martin build : one to my special order. I specified the HD28, but with AAA adirondack top, AAA : claro walnut back and sides, snowflake inlay, slender neck, 60's rounded headstock : and a few more frills and sparkles. It took about six months to get it, but was : worth every day of wait. It has a sticker inside "Custom built for John : Lovett". It is one of a kind, unique. I asked that it be signed by all four C. : F. Martins, but only Chris IV was in town. The cost? Under $4,000, including the : fancy case. Think about a custom order before spending big bucks for one "off : the rack". : : :

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Posted by D28 on 10/21/2009, 8:31 pm, in reply to "Re: In the market for a new Martin? A suggestion.."

Not sure whether you can work directly with Martin unless you are prepared to pay full retail price. Another alternative is to have a guitar custom built by an independent luthier. About three years ago I had Spencer Strickland in Troutdale,Virginia build me a black walnut dread. I sent him all the specs and we worked through it and it turned out great. You can see my guitar in construction at www.andersonstrickland.net. It cost $1800 then, including the fancy case. His prices may have gone up a little, but give him a call, Spencer is there to make a deal. Spencer is one of the proteges of Wayne Henderson who built one of Clapton's guitars and wrote a book about it. --Previous Message-- : Good advice John. Did you have to work through a dealer? Could you deal directly : with Martin and run the sale itself through a dealer? Sign me curious in : California. aloha, mikey : : --Previous Message-- : The D45 discussion below prompts me to relate a recent Martin event in my guitar : life. : Instead of a 45 or a 41 or some Celebrity Model, last year I had Mr. Martin build : one to my special order. I specified the HD28, but with AAA adirondack top, AAA : claro walnut back and sides, snowflake inlay, slender neck, 60's rounded headstock : and a few more frills and sparkles. It took about six months to get it, but was : worth every day of wait. It has a sticker inside "Custom built for John : Lovett". It is one of a kind, unique. I asked that it be signed by all four C. : F. Martins, but only Chris IV was in town. The cost? Under $4,000, including the : fancy case. Think about a custom order before spending big bucks for one "off : the rack". : : :

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Posted by mikey burns on 10/24/2009, 2:14 pm, in reply to "Re: In the market for a new Martin? A suggestion.."

I was pretty sure they didn't... --Previous Message-- : Martin doesn't sell to the public, you have to go through a dealer. : : Congrats on the new guitar John. A few years ago I had a Nakashima NWD with claro : back and sides and Alpine spruce top and it was fantastic. : : --Previous Message-- : The D45 discussion below prompts me to relate a recent Martin event in my guitar : life. : Instead of a 45 or a 41 or some Celebrity Model, last year I had Mr. Martin build : one to my special order. I specified the HD28, but with AAA adirondack top, AAA : claro walnut back and sides, snowflake inlay, slender neck, 60's rounded headstock : and a few more frills and sparkles. It took about six months to get it, but was : worth every day of wait. It has a sticker inside "Custom built for John : Lovett". It is one of a kind, unique. I asked that it be signed by all four C. : F. Martins, but only Chris IV was in town. The cost? Under $4,000, including the : fancy case. Think about a custom order before spending big bucks for one "off : the rack". : : :

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