Product: Martin 00040s Mark Knopfler
Price Paid: USD 5500
Submitted
03/04/2008
at
03:17am
by
Hoosier in LA
Features
:
10
This is a 2007 "Ragpickers Dream" Mark Knopfler signature model from Martin. It is 12 frets at the body, slotted head with engraved Waverly tuners. The top is Italian Alpine Spruce with East Indian rosewood back and sides. Ebony finger board and "historic" inlay. Maple neck with the old style "volute", diamond bridge and a lustrous finish. It came with Geib style 000 hard shell case.
Sound
:
10
This is a well balance, superbly crafted guitar. Very "bell" or "chime" like. The wide neck (1 and 13/16") and the 25.4" scale make this a round, resonant, sweet sounding guitar. It is really a finger style guitar but it keeps a focused rich sound when you strum with your nails. It holds up well with a pick, but can be overdriven (acoustically) if you push it too hard flat picking.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This is a great example of what Martin is doing with their higher end models: it looks and feels virtually handmade. Gorgeous inlay and binding. Excellent fit and finish, It is an expensive guitar ($5500 from Guitar Center!) and it shows. It is a simple beauty, the 40 series is not quite as fancy as the 42 and 45.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
I don't plan to take this on gigs. It seems very well made, but home it stays.
Customer Support
:
9
I think there is a limited life time warranty. Hope I don't find out.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing off and on for 35 years (mostly on nowadays).
I own a 1992 Gibson J200 a 1980 Martin D-35 and a fabulous 1998 Guild F55-12 string. This 00040s is the finest acoustic guitar I have played for finger style. I like traditional stuff as well as eclectic stuff (Brozman to Hedges)
I really liked the Santa Cruz 000 gutar as well, but I fell for this 00040s and I am not disappointed
