Sigma DR-1ST

* A Dreadnought Body
* Solid Spruce Top
* Laminated Rosewood Back and Sides
* Black/White/Black Rosette
* Scalloped X-Bracing
* Solid Rosewood Fingerboard
* Ebonized Rosewood Bridge
* Position Dot Fingerboard Inlays
* Polished Transparent Gloss Body and Top
* Chrome Enclosed Tuning Machines with Chrome Buttons
* Black Bridge Pins
* Black Pickguard
* Total Length: 40 3/4"
* Body Length: 19 15/16"
* Body Width: 15 3/4"
* Body Depth: 4 3/4"
* Scale Length: 25.4"
* Frets: 14/20 (Clear/Total)
* Fingerboard Width: 1 15/16 (at nut)

Mine came with a Martin hardshell case

I play rock and blues, mostly on a Tele or Strat, but I like to strum an acoustic once in a while. This one sounds pretty full. It's got a nice bass, and a good rosewood richness to it. I've heard that these Sigma's tend to vary in sound quality, but I guess I got lucky because it sounds pretty good.

When I bought this guitar the shop owner really set it up nicely. The action was too high from the factory, and he lowered it nicely but still no buzz. The neck is straight and true. I'd say it's really well put together, but again because these Sigma's were made all over, it probably depends greatly on where it was made.

I've had mine for about two years and I play it every day. I also have kids in my house and sometimes this gets some rough treatment. However, mine is holding up well. I wouldn't want to drop it, but I've got no concerns about playing it. For the price, this guitar seems to be well put together.

N/A - Martin stopped making these. I'd probably take it back to the shop I bought it from if I needed anything.

I've been playing for a couple of years, and this was my first guitar. I also own a baby Taylor, and a Fender Strat and Tele. I don't think I made a mistake buying this guitar as my first. I didn't know what I was getting into and I didn't want to spend too much. Now that I'm starting to learn more about tones and woods I'll probably get a higher-end guitar, but this one looks good, sounds good and didn't break the bank.

If this were lost or stolen I'd probably step up to a Taylor or a Webber, but I like it for what it is.

# A Dreadnought Body
# Solid Spruce Top
# Laminated Rosewood Back and Sides
# Black/White/Black Rosette
# Scalloped X-Bracing
# Solid Rosewood Fingerboard
# Ebonized Rosewood Bridge
# Position Dot Fingerboard Inlays
# Polished Transparent Gloss Body and Top
# Chrome Enclosed Tuning Machines with Chrome Buttons
# Black Bridge Pins
# Tortoise Shell pickguard
# Included Hard Shell Case
# Made in Korea

The sound is may not be quite as loud as a true Martin but its still quite loud enough for me and my need for a living room learner guitar.

Not only that it is very full and rich especially in comparison to other guitars selling in the price range. The sound on the Sigma has a much nicer more well-rounded tone than most other guitars in this same range I tried. Is it a $549 or $799 low-end Martin? No, but for the money it is incredibly close.

One person I let play this said the range of the sound from this guitar for the price was incredible and stood their amazed at the price and started hunting down Sigmas online.

Oklahoma Vintage does a custom setup on all the guitars they ship and it shows. All the long-time players I let fiddle on this guitar rave on it. The action is just perfect. The string height is great its easy to lay down chords without any buzzing or nonsense. It feels like a pro setup all the way.

The finish is really glossy and some are ok with that and others find it annoying so be warned. I am knocking it down a bit just for the glossy finish being a bit thick otherwise if I just the action alone its a 10.

Its built hardcore. Very durable with the thick finish. There are a lot of little touches like the tortoise shell pickguard and a heavy bracing. Right off it looks like a very expensive guitar. And feels like it is built to last.

Never dealt with customer support.

I have to give this guitar an 8. I mean I am amazed at some of the reviews here for this guitar. I tried out a ton of guitars in the $200-300 price range and this guitar kicked the crap out of most.

The Martin Sigma DR1-ST still has a better feel and action and sound than the Big Baby Taylor or the Martin DXM for less money .. no question about it.

Its not quite as loud as the Martin DXM for $499 but at the same time it has a better richer tone. And the action is a lot better than the Taylor.

This guitar is not going to make you put down and put away your Martin D-28. I am not going to lie or be caught up with hyperbole. Instead it beats out the guitars in its price range and is superior in some ways to the low-end of the big boys.

That is an amazing feat for a guitar I lucked up on with a ebay search for $199 from Brother Bob and Oklahoma Vintage Guitar.

If it was stolen? I would definitely replace.

I got this guitar a few months ago. It has 21 frets, solid spruce top, and laminated rosewood back a sides. Overall, it looks like a pretty average guitar.

The sound is pretty good. It is a little quiet though for its size. On a scale of 1-10, this guitar is about a 5 for my music style. I play mainly Dave Matthews.

It has a lot of action, which I really don't like at all. If you play too hard, the strings really buzz.

Very strong guitar.

My Sigma (a Martin import) was made in Korea in 1998. It is a copy of the Martin D-28, and it has a laminated Rosewood body, and it is similar to the $700 Martin DR Dreadnought. It has a solid spruce top. The neck is mahogany, and the fingerboard and bridge are Rosewood. It has sealed Chrome Tuners, with tension adjustment, similar to tuners on lower priced Martins. This guitar is an copy of the Martin D-28, which means it is a very basic acoustic guitar. The shipping label on the Sigma carton indicated that it came directly to Mars Music Stores from the Port where it arrived from Korea. Folks who think that Sigmas are inspected and adjusted at the Martin facility in Pennsylvania may be misinformed. Craftspeople in Nazareth did the final finishing and setup on the more expensive "Shenandoah" line that is no longer imported. Korean Sigmas probably come directly from the Samick factory.

Most Martin Sigma guitars sell for between $150 and $300, yet some Sigmas sound similar to expensive Martin D-18's and D-28's. Solid top Sigmas (models with two digits, such as 18, 28, 35, 45, or with an "ST" added for "solid top") usually have much of a Martin's booming bass, full resonance, long sustain, and clear, ringing treble. My Sigma DR-1ST does NOT sound like a Martin. It has a very soft voice, with quiet, tight bass, and is well balanced from the bass to the treble. It has little resonance and short sustain. It is a Dreadnought that sounds like a small guitar. I tried larger 13-56 phosphor bronze strings, but still got small guitar sound. The source of the problem may be an odd feature on my DR-1ST that I have not seen on other Sigmas. There is a wooden doughnut on the underside of the soundhole that is a quarter inch thick, and one inch wide. It may have been intended to protect the edge of the soundhole from pick damage, but instead has dampened the vibrations of the soundboard. The edge of the soundhole on Martins is about 1/10 of an inch deep (the depth of the soundboard). I have seen DR-1ST guitars WITHOUT the doughnut reinforcement, so my guitar may be unusual.

My DR-1ST has high quality materials and workmanship. Inside and out, it looks like a $1,500 guitar. The Rosewood veneer is the most attractive that I have seen. The guitar is skillfully finished with a glossy poly coat, which is much thicker than the lacquer used on real Martins. The DR-1ST is more rugged (and heavier) than a Martin D-28, due to the plywood body, the poly coat, and heavy bracing. These "improvements" make this guitar very durable for the younger players that are Sigma's primary customers. The lighter, more fragile, "real" D-28 has a LOT more tone.

The store gave me the wrong warranty papers for my guitar. I discovered Martin does not provide a website for Sigmas. I phoned Martin, and they assured me I would still get warranty service. They are friendly, helpful folks. This guitar is so well built that I do not expect to find a flaw in the materials or workmanship. However, Martin should create a website to assist Sigma owners.

This is the first guitar I bought after being away from guitars for thirty years. It was affordable, a Martin, large (larger is better, right?), and it has beautiful Rosewood veneer. I am now playing smaller guitars, as I prefer their balanced tone. My Sigma DR-1ST is a large guitar with a small voice. I plan to trade it for a small guitar with a big voice.