1998 Martin DM Good, Soft, $595.00
The Martin DM was introduced in 1996 as the prototype for Martin’s Road Series, the company’s most affordable all-wood guitars. It was listed at $1199 retail and available at discount stores for $950 or so. While it was discontinued, quality used ones like this one give you a chance to own a genuine Martin with a solid Sitka spruce top made in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, for about half that list price. [Company specs are listed below.]
This particular guitar was produced in 1998, judging from the serial number (632131) and the Martin website. It is now in good playing condition, with a couple of problems professionally fixed: a damaged area around the end pin has been glued and cleated, as have the two cracks visible in the top. The action is a bit high for my arthritic finger-pickin’ at 4/32” at the 12th fret low E, but for young folks with picks and a need for large sound it functions very well.
Cosmetically, it looks good—like a basic Martin--with its few visible dings in the back, neck, and sides. After 20 years of making music, that solid Sitka spruce top is just reaching its maximum resonance, and with some new Martin strings it will sound great—like a Martin, in other words. And of course it has that great gold Martin logo on the top of the headstock!
The included vintage chip board case is obviously not an original Martin case, but it is a solid case with a pretty nice exterior. There are a few dings and scrapes on the outside, but the interior is in very good shape, it fits the guitar well, and the latches and hinges are fully functional. Obviously, it offers solid protection and is an adequate complement to your Martin guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.
Thank you for your interest in this cool Martin guitar.
Model Specifications
MODEL DM Mahogany Dreadnought
CONSTRUCTION: Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: D-14 Fret Dreadnought
TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
ROSETTE: Bold Herringbone
TOP BRACING PATTERN: A-Frame ''X''
TOP BRACES: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16''
BACK MATERIAL: Mahogany
SIDE MATERIAL: Mahogany
BINDING: Black Boltaron
NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood
NECK SHAPE: Modified Low Oval
NUT MATERIAL: White Corian
HEADSTOCK: Solid/Square Taper
HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Raised Gold Foil
HEELCAP: Solid Indian Rosewood
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4''
OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-11/16''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2-1/8''
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Satin
FINISH TOP: Satin
FINISH NECK: Satin
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
BRIDGE STYLE: Belly
TUNING MACHINES: Martin Enclosed Chrome w/ Small Buttons
BRIDGE & END PINS: White w/ Black Dots
PICKGUARD: Tortoise Color
INTERIOR LABEL: Paper Label
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.