Martin dread string tension issue
 

Hi guys,

I have a D-16GT which I find takes noticeably more effort to fret than my Yamaha fg700s, both are strung with mediums and have the same scale length.

The finger pressure required is very high, and I often end up getting fret buzz as I find it difficult to maintain the required force.

Before I bring it to a guitar tech, is there anything your recommend I check or do to help the issue?

Thanks

It's hard to say for sure without seeing it, but it sounds like a classic case of "your action is too high". It might need a tweak of the truss rod, or it might need the nut and/or saddle lowered.

Unless you want to do it yourself, just tell the tech it needs a setup and tell him what you want and how you play, and it might not be a bad idea to take the Yamaha with you so he can see how you 'd like it to be.

You can check the action of both guitars at the 12th fret. My guess is that the action on your Marin is higher. Even a small difference can make a fairly dramatic change in the playability.

I had a new Martin 12-string guitar that was exactly as you describe, very tiring for your fret hand. The action was too high at the nut. A really good set-up totally changed it, I can play it now for hours.

Thanks guys, I'll get it to a tech so.