![\"Martin](\"https:\/\/i.postimg.cc\/prCt7TJ8\/Martin-DJr-10-E-Sapele.jpg\")
Martin DJr-10E Sapele<\/p><\/div>\n
I need another guitar like I need another hole in my head, but I love guitars, and when someone told me they preferred their Martin “Junior” to their Taylor GS Mini, I had to check it out for myself.\u00a0 Currently, my GS Mini-e Koa is my favorite acoustic guitar.<\/p>\n
![\"Taylor](\"https:\/\/i.postimg.cc\/MpbZV5w2\/GSMini-Case.jpg\")
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa<\/p><\/div>\n
(No, those aren’t the same photo — I’ve taken to keeping them in cases due to the seasonal drop in humidity; it’s easier to keep them properly humidified this way).<\/p>\n
Actually, I started out researching the “Streetmaster” version of the “Junior,” and now I’m not quite sure why.\u00a0 I have a Streetmaster version of a Martin OMC-15ME (shown on the previous post, so I won’t post another image).\u00a0 In the back of my mind, I think I figured I could use the guitar as a “beater” and not care if it got scuffed or dinged.\u00a0 But as I checked the specs (Martin makes three versions:\u00a0 one in Sitka Spruce, one in Sapele, and the Streetmaster, which is also Sapele).\u00a0 I couldn’t really determine why the Streetmaster model sells for $100 more!<\/p>\n
My research found me at the web site of Maury’s Music<\/a> in Coaldale, Pennsylvania.\u00a0 Maury’s is a Certified Martin dealer, and is located about 40 miles from Martin’s headquarters in Nazareth, PA.<\/p>\n Guitar Maker C. F. Martin’s Nazareth, PA Headquarters<\/p><\/div>\n Apparently, Maury and his only employee (Maury, his wife Lori and one employee — Andrew are the only employees) drive to Nazareth and carry guitars directly back to their shop!<\/p>\n I spoke with Maury via email and asked him the tonal difference between the Sapele (sapele<\/a> is a wood very much like mahogany) model and the Streetmaster and he indicated there was no difference.\u00a0 So, not seeing any reason to pay an additional $!00, I started considering the Sapele.<\/p>\n Further discussions and reading on Maury’s site suggested that the sound of the guitar could be enhanced by upgrading the saddle and the bridge pins (the saddle is a bar of material over which the guitar strings are placed, which raises the strings up and allows a straight line to the nut.\u00a0 Bridge pins hold the strings in place in the guitar body).\u00a0 Heck, I figured if I was going to order a brand new guitar, I might as well get it right!\u00a0 So I had the stock saddle replaced with buffalo bone, and bone with abalone inserts for the bridge pins.\u00a0 Bone makes the guitar sound brighter than manmade materials, I learned.<\/p>\n So now I have two smaller guitars that have excellent sound and playability.\u00a0 I have learned that smaller, shorter guitars work better for me, as I have small, thin hands, and overall I don’t feel like I’m “hunkering over” the instrument as I play.<\/p>\n I have a slightly guilty feeling about purchasing this guitar, because I have a custom guitar being made, and it is supposedly near being finished.<\/p>\n But you can’t have too many guitars, can you?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My sister gave me a t-shirt a couple of years ago that says, “You can never have too many guitars.”\u00a0 That’s a saying that’s familiar to guitarists and so with that in mind, I introduce my latest addition:\u00a0 A Martin … Continue reading ![\"C.F.](\"https:\/\/external-content.duckduckgo.com\/iu\/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.elebase.io%2Fa45a47e9-abc8-4fe7-afb4-4c51d09bfe07%2F3775cc0b-c314-475d-a651-906d63382da7-dele64da992c875ae4e1.jpg%3Fw%3D680%26h%3D382%26fit%3Dcrop%26rot%3Dauto%26dpr%3D2%26q%3D75&f=1&nofb=1\")