Martin DE Retro Plus Mahogany  

The Road Series

Martin developed the Road Series to bring the ultimate stage and studio guitars to the market. They mainly looked at professional guitarists, and what they find important on stage and in the studio. They have combined these points to produce the perfect stage and studio guitars, so that as a professional guitarist you only need to purchase one good guitar. For this, one of the most important points was the built-in electronics. A western guitar that sounds good acoustically does not mean that the guitar sounds good amplified. Martin used the Martin E1 for this. This is high-quality technology that translates the sound of the guitar to the amplifier as authentically as possible. In addition, this electronics has a tuner that turns off the output when switched on. Consequently, you can tune your guitar without the sound being amplified. In addition, Martin has ensured that the electronics are hidden in the guitar, so that the guitar still looks beautiful. Another important point is that the prices of the guitars do not reflect the quality. Such high-quality guitars usually come with a price tag that is double the price Martin gave them. This makes these guitars not only the ultimate for professional guitarists, but also very suitable for up-and-coming guitarists. The guitars come in all shapes, types, colours and materials and are supplied with a cover.

The DE Retro Plus

The DE Retro Plus is one of the dreadnought guitars from the Road Series. Dreadnoughts are very popular because they’re very versatile and produce a full and rich sound. They are the ideal rhythm guitars, although fingerpicking still sounds amazing on a dreadnought. Furthermore, Martin is the place to go for a dreadnought, considering they invented the guitar and are still one of the best when it comes to the production of these guitars. The DE Retro Plus has a torrefied spruce top. Spruce has a beautiful resonance and produces a warm sound. The back and sides are made of mahogany. Mahogany has a beautiful dark colour and produces a warm and powerful sound. Moreover, mahogany emphasises the middle tones so it will also provide a nicely balanced sound. The guitar has a ‘select hardwood’ neck. This means the neck is either made of cedar or mahogany, depending on which of the two Martin can obtain without having to participate in deforestation. Both tonewoods are great choices for a neck and the difference between the two is minimal. The guitar also has an ebony fretboard, which will provide a smooth playing surface.

Martin

Martin is a reputable American company which has been making guitars for almost 200 years. Throughout the years they have become one of the best when it comes to western guitars. This is because quality is their biggest priority. Consequently, Martin guitars are very popular. There are even many famous guitarists who use Martin guitars, like Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, and David Gilmour. Furthermore, their production process is environmentally friendly. Since the ‘90s they have worked together with the FSC to prevent deforestation. They only use wood from trees that have to be cut down to keep the forest healthy. The other parts of the guitar are recycled, as well. By purchasing a Martin guitar you are thus not only investing in quality, but also the environment.