Martin J-40 Jumbo - Natural Review

Can a guitar get better?

I got my J-40 in 2018 through Martin's Custom Shop. The only changes to the standard J-40 is a beautiful dark sunburst finish (in my opinion it makes a stunning looking guitar even more so) and nickle tuners rather then the standard gold. This guitar plays and sounds amazing. Very comfortable neck, 7-11/16 nut, very smooth sound across the range, very loud but not boomy at all… read more and sustains forever. The available dynamic range is extremely wide - from loud but smooth to subtle. Notes can be distinct and it rings like a bell. Wonderful. As a Custom Shop order I was able to pick the guitar up at the factory (3 hours away from me), got a tour of their museum from Chris Martin and a factory tour. Very cool. The only negative, at least for me, is that it is a bit large for everyday practice so I bought a 00 parlor size for that.

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Another Amazing Guitar from Martin!

This is the third Martin guitar I've purchased (the others being an HD35 and a D21) and it is amazing. Visually stunning, it plays like a dream, LOUD, with beautiful Martin guitar tone and a long sustain. This is a great guitar for fingerstyle playing as the bass isn't as "boomy" as a dreadnought style body. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the money in my opinion. Highly recommended.… read more I have nothing negative to say about this guitar, but I've noticed that the Titanium strings are giving my left hand callouses and my right hand index fingernail a run for their money! The Titanium strings are MUCH harder than the Phosphor Bronze strings (MA 550T) I've been using. They seem to have an abrasive quality that wears away callouses and fingernails much more rapidly than other strings. At any rate, Martin hit the ball out of the park with this guitar.

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My Martin J-40 Acoustic Guitar, My New Best Friend

I actively own & use four Martin guitars. I am a professional performer & recording artist that has preferred Martin Guitars for 31 years. They are tools for my trade. My D-35 finally needed to be replaced. I decided to purchase a J-40-12 string first. It's amazing sound production, quality, and ease of playability is unsurpassable for the price. When the time was right, it was… read more an EASY DECISION, to purchase my new J-40 six string version next. The twelve string came with a factory installed Fishman Infinity VT pick up. The new six string is having the new designed Fishman Infinity Matrix Blend pick up installed after much detailed research; purchased from Sweetwater. The J-40 has absolutely blown away the D-35 by comparison in all areas. The J-40 guitars are almost a hidden secret in the values of the guitar world. I have about $10k invested with the purchase of both J-40's. The J-40's are MY GUITARS OF CHOICE for my solo guitar record albums, recording, and live performances. The J-40's are MY BEST FRIENDS! I highly recommend ONE or BOTH J-40's. These high end J-40's are NOT easy to find in local music stores! The J-40's are a RARE FIND... but a TREASURE indeed!

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Blew away my expectations.

I have always played a dreadnaught guitar. I discovered that guitar was my passion when I began just over four years ago. I decided that I wanted to buy a USA built acoustic that would be my main guitar for years to come and something I could pass on to my future children or grandchildren. After many trails, I found that I liked the sound of an OM style Martin, but I did not like… read more the amount of volume I was getting. I also don't particularly like the sound that I get from dreadnaughts. I feel they are too "boomy" as if the sound is coming out of a large bucket. So I started eyeing up the J-40 since its almost like a large OM style guitar (I believe its a Martin Grand performance style guitar with a dreadnaught depth). I watched countless videos on it and decided to finally buy it without ever trying one as no shop in well over a hundred miles from me has one in stock. The guitar simply blew me away. It has great bass without being too boomy. It has an angelic clarity that I was looking for and all around, is a beautiful guitar to hear and to see. This is the first guitar that I bonded with within a week. There appears to be no flaws in the finish or construction and I swear it sounds better after the first week than the day I got it. If you are seriously considering this guitar, buy it. Sweetwater has a return policy and I don't believe you will need it with this guitar.

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The J-40

this guitar sounds as good as any I've ever heard. I've played for over 50yrs and heard and played a lot of different brands, models, custom handmade and there are none better. Mine is 30yrs old and the condition is as good as new. I am a bit over the top taking care of my guitars but to start with a guitar of this quality and add the age makes for an incredible instrument. try… read more a new one and you'll agree as to the Martin quality, sound, and pedigree. treat yourself and fall in love everytime you even pick it up.. I do,, and I am one picky rascal.. you'll thank me later

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