When did Martin stop using Adirondack spruce?

1945, for the most part. Martin started using some Sitka in that year, mainly on style-18's. I have seen a handful of red spruce tops in 1946, but they have been four-piece. That tells me that Martin essentially 'ran out' of red spruce by the end of 1945.

When did Martin switch from Adirondack to Sitka?

I know from our FAQ section that Martin made the switch from Red Spruce tops to Sitka in 1946.

Is Adirondack spruce better than Sitka spruce?

Adirondack spruce will give you clear, well-defined, ringing tones no matter how hard you play it. That's not always the case with Sitka. Sitka compresses more than Adirondack, so its volume eventually tops out no matter how hard you pick.

When did Martin start using Sitka spruce?

In 1946, as supplies of their preferred sources of spruce dried up, and Martin had used the last smaller pieces to create four piece tops, Martin began switching to Sitka spruce from the Northwest.

What wood does Martin use?

Martin uses a variety of different types of Spruce including Sitka, Engelmann, Adirondack, Red and Italian Alpine, each with their own distinct tonal characteristics.

1944 Martin 0-18, Mahogany

Where does Martin get its wood?

The wood is quite valuable but the paper pulp industry buys and harvests Sitka spruce in the Pacific Northwest and sometimes they harvest trees that have no business being made into pulp.

What is the most sought after Martin guitar?

The most expensive guitar ever sold at auction is a 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic which was famously played by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana's 'MTV Unplugged' performance. It sold for $6 million at Julien's auction house in June 2020.

What is Adirondack spruce?

FROM BIPLANES TO MARTIN GUITARS: Adirondack, or Red Spruce, is an extremely strong, stiff wood with the highest cross-sectional strength and across-the-grain stiffness of all the spruces.

When was the Martin d18 made?

The D-18 dreadnought was manufactured with a Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides for the first time in 1931 and was an immediate sensation as it was the most affordable high quality dreadnought on the market.

Is Lutz spruce better than Sitka spruce?

(Sitka grows in more coastal areas, while White spruce thrives in interior regions.) Lutz has is considered very adaptive within those microclimates, which can yield properties that are superior to either species alone.

Where is Adirondack spruce from?

Despite the laser-like location of its name, Adirondack spruce actually grows in a northeast-heavy corridor from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, embracing, along the way, the mountain range (itself part of the Appalachians) that shares its name.

When did they start making Martin Guitars?

Two centuries of history

A Martin isn't just a guitar. It's playable history; part of a long line of legendary instruments stretching back to the company's beginnings in 1833.

How much does a Martin D 18 weigh?

Weight on electronic kitchen scale is 70.1 oz, or 4lbs, 6.1oz.

What Martin guitar do I have?

A Martin Guitar will have the model designation and the serial number etched on the neck block. Look in the soundhole toward the neck to see where this is etched.

Is Adirondack spruce red spruce?

Trees of the Adirondacks: Red Spruce is the conifer species most typical of the Adirondack region as a whole. Its needles are short, four-sided, and unfriendly to the touch.

Is Adirondack spruce endangered?

CONSERVATION OF ADIRONDACK SPRUCE

Picea rubens is listed as an endangered species by the state of New Jersey, and as a “special concern” species by the state of Connecticut.

Why is Sitka spruce used for guitars?

Sitka spruce is the world's most popular topwood, for a reason. Sitka has an ideal strength-to-weight ratio, yielding a strong fundamental, high velocity of sound and a pleasing elasticity.

Is Adirondack spruce rare?

1) It is extremely rare, because it came from a National Park where all trees are protected, even after they fall. 2) One legendary tree produced wood that is much tighter-grained than any other red spruce I have seen....

Is Engelmann spruce better than Sitka?

Sitka is heavier and stiffer than Engelmann – this produces a more controlled, more consistent, more compressed kind of sound. There are less overtones and there is less complexity going on – which means that whether you play loud or soft you get a clear, more defined sound than you do with Engelmann.

Which is better mahogany or spruce?

Mahogany guitars sound smoother and warmer compared to spruce top guitars which sound brighter and more crisp. This is because mahogany produces more bass and mid-range emphasis compared to spruce which has more treble emphasis.

What is the easiest Martin to play?

The Junior Series was designed to be comfortable and easy to play so Juniors are the perfect first guitar. They even include some full-sized Martin features like scalloped X-bracing.

What Martin does Eric Clapton play?

But on MTV Unplugged in 1992, Clapton played a 1939 Martin 000-42 and a 1966 Martin 000-28 (which had actually been modified with 45-style appointments). The show might be seen as a turning point in Clapton's career, marking the beginning of a wiser, and more mellow, acoustic sound.

When did Martin stop using Brazilian rosewood?

Supplies grew extremely thin in the late 1960s, however, and Martin and others stopped using Brazilian rosewood in 1969, moving over to Indian rosewood, then other varieties. In 1992, Brazilian rosewood was added to the CITES treaty, strictly banning its exportation.