Martin D-12E Road Series Sapele

I love this guitar. I had had my eye on it for a while and decided to pull the trigger. I love the open back tuners and the sound and set up was great out of the box. I’m not a fan of the Martin strings that come in it but I changed them out for my favorite strings and it sounds great. I tend to prefer matte finishes on guitars but the glossy finish on the body looks fantastic.

I took a shot on a "minor blemish" item and couldn't be more pleased. The D13E is unblemished to my eyes. I can't find anything wrong with it. However I'm not a huge fan of the strings that came on the guitar. The Fishman electronics (especially the sound hole tuner) aren't great but plenty functional for my needs. To get an all-solid wood Martin that looks and plays as good as this guitar for under $1000 was a steal. I was initially disappointed that the road series guitars no longer come with a hard case, but the soft case is very well padded and quite "sturdy" for a soft case. It holds it shape and has protection and support in the right places. Great choice if you want an all-solid wood Martin but don't want to break the bank. Shipping and delivery was was fast.

A "Real" Martin? Yes It Is.

Ever since I bought a DRS2 some years ago I have been favorably impressed with the Martin products coming out of Mexico. I have loved guitars and guitar music since I was a preschool child. I am 63 years old and I have played for almost 50 years. In that time I have owned many fine instruments, all the names you know. I like this guitar very much. I actually have come to PREFER sapele for the back and sides because it has the midrange of mahogany AND the bass and sparkle of rosewood; the best of both. That makes this a very satisfying "workhorse" for any situation. The craftsmanship is excellent, the tone is rich and full, and the guitar is beautiful to boot, what more could one want?

A Great Workhorse

Ever since I bought a DRS2 some years ago I've been favorably impressed with the Martin products coming out of Mexico. This guitar has top-notch craftsmanship, so it's beautiful, the neck is plecked and the action is buttery,the tone is quite full and rich (you may need to experiment with different types and guages of strings), and the sound will improve as the tonewoods age. I actually prefer the tone of sapele back and sides because, to my ears, it has the midrange of mahogany AND the bass and sparkle of rosewood. It's the best of both! That makes this guitar a great workhorse for any occasion. I am quite happy with this guitar and I think you will be also.

A great upgrade

I have played a DCX1RE for several years now, and have always loved the Martin sound. However, after years of playing pretty hard, the frets and fingerboard made it impossible to play in tune. It was time for an upgrade and the D-12E was perfect. I immediately started playing acoustically into microphones and the recorded sound was terrific. Since it also has good electronics, I have no worries about playing plugged in. The finish is great, the in-hole tuner is handier than I thought it would be, and it sounds wonderful. I am looking forward to years of playing on this guitar!

Beautiful. The sound is noticeably better than other guitars

The images on the site are somewhat deceiving but it is beautiful. In person, the top is lighter in color and the back and sides darker. The contrast is stunning and I love it. The GC site also says the country of origin is US. It is NOT. It is Mexico. And the gig bag is the nicest one I've ever owned.

Fantastic acoustic guitar

I just started getting back into guitar as a new beginner and can not say enough about how much I absolutely love this guitar. I did a lot of research and had to do it online during these stay at home times and I strongly believe I made the right decision with this Martin D-12e. The harmonics are truly exceptional and it makes learning an absolute joy. It's easy to get caught up in playing while completely losing track of time. I appreciate the built in tuner for convenience without having to pull out my clip on every time (even though I use both).

Great value

I couldn't afford a D18 or D28. This guitar has all the bells and whistles as the standard series but it's less than half the price. Sure it's slightly heavier and maybe the sound isn't as good, but overall you can't go wrong. It has that distinct Martin sound, great playability, full body gloss and an all wood construction which means it will only get better sound over time. If you can't afford one of the big boys I can promise that you won't be disappointed with this guitar.

Richard

I did my research before shelling out and I am well chufged with my choice, when I first got it home it took me a few weeks to get used to it, from playing with lighter strings and a yamaha £300ish. A few months in and I cannot believe how easy it is to play and how amazing it sounds natural or through an amp. I can't imagine a guitar can sound any better. Every detail is class, even the soft case is superb. It will last a lifetime and looks mint. Pmt Salford were great.

Very nice guitar

I couldn't be more impressed with the Martin Road Series. Mine is the d12e. Well constructed, well set up out of the box. It looks beautiful. For the price it's amazing what Martin has done with the Road Series. I played the 10e at the local store and the GAS turned on immediately. I started looking into them and opted for the gloss finish 12e. The stock strings left much to be desired. I can't say if they were old or just were not my thing. I changed to Elixir phosphor bronze nanowebs which are my favorite acoustic strings. The sound from this guitar is hands down great. Well balanced with good projection. Warm across the lows, nice midrange with crisp highs. I would describe the sound middle ground of a traditional Martin and Taylor. Plugging in to a Fishman ... MoreI couldn't be more impressed with the Martin Road Series. Mine is the d12e. Well constructed, well set up out of the box. It looks beautiful. For the price it's amazing what Martin has done with the Road Series. I played the 10e at the local store and the GAS turned on immediately. I started looking into them and opted for the gloss finish 12e. The stock strings left much to be desired. I can't say if they were old or just were not my thing. I changed to Elixir phosphor bronze nanowebs which are my favorite acoustic strings. The sound from this guitar is hands down great. Well balanced with good projection. Warm across the lows, nice midrange with crisp highs. I would describe the sound middle ground of a traditional Martin and Taylor. Plugging in to a Fishman Loudbox Mini really presented the wow factor. Between the onboard eq and the amp I could get beautiful sounding chords and articulate single notes that had a definite bloom. The onboard tuner is something I really like, and wanted. It stays in tune well and sounds great with standard or alternate tunings. Dunlop Tortex picks are the bees knees with it, and finger picking sounds nice as well. Absolutely awesome bargain with this guitar. Made in Mexico, but that is fine with me. It's in Martins's Mexico factory built to their design, quality, and specs. They did a good job and I couldn't be happier.