Martin Guitars' cool new and environmentally sustainable R&D video.

[xuoham]

I would love to try one in person. Not anytime soon in Okinawa though, i guess.

[docsteve]

I was at the Martin factory a few weeks ago but didn't see that particular model. There was another OM "Biosphere" that sounded, well, like a Martin.

I played several instruments, spruce and mahogany tops, OMs and Dreadnoughts, and they all had the Martin sound regardless of tonewood and construction. Of course, there were differences, but the base was always the same.

As far as locally grown wood is concerned - none of it has been grown in Japan

[RJVB]

There has been a lot to do about this new gimmick guitar over on the AGF. Lots of fixing what was never broke that went into that thing, for price that even most of the fanboys over there aren't really willing to pay.

Plus, it sounds absolutely unappealing.

I also found it rather telling that they call European spruce a domestic tonewood

[xuoham]

Thanks for the insights.

Oh, list price is $3,999 ! Ouch. Didn't see that...

Indeed, it might only be an interesting concept with "lots of fixing what was never broke", as you said.

Couldn't find any decent sound example.

However, it doesn't look like Martin is making an opportunist greenwashing marketing move, rather they seem
concerned about their own access to wood supplies.

Basically their new design aims at reducing the harshness of maple, which along walnut is abundant in the US,
so yes, sound wise, it might not be that spectacular after all.

I'm not sure they called European spruce a domestic tonewood though, just a "sustainable" resource.

[RJVB]

Basically their new design aims at reducing the harshness of maple, which along walnut is abundant in the US,
so yes, sound wise, it might not be that spectacular after all.

I'm not sure they called European spruce a domestic tonewood though, just a "sustainable" resource.

In fact, just like "Canada geese", European spruce grows in many places outside its "designated area". And for now the EU hasn't decided to limit the use of the name like they just did with "Limburgse vlaai"

Maple has been used for ages in instruments that do not have to sound harsh at all; it was one of Torres's favourite tonewoods for instance. Check out the Taylor 612ce 12-fret, AFAIU a similar-sized guitar as the Inception (what's in a name...) that doesn't sound harsh to my ears. And even Martin has been known to make very traditional maple OMs that not only look but also sound a lot better:

(From just before 8:50).