Martin D-CFM-50, made in Mexico, Why?

[colins]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

The guitar looks odd to me in that there is an incredible amount of bling on the headstock and fingerboard. But it stops dead there. A very simple rosette and minimal purfling.

I'm with you. I feel like it's two different guitars combined by mistake.

That said, I can imagine that the Martin team in Mexico would be pleased at any moves towards building higher-priced instruments. If it was me, it would boost my job satisfaction.

[magazine]

I don't have a problem with Mexican Martin or Taylor guitars. From what I have read, they have no inflation and havent for a long time. If Martin or Taylor ever gave their designs to some huge Chinese guitar manufacturer to mass produce (like Bree**&^% or BOUR(*(^), it would be the last time I purchased one.

[Joe_guitar]

Originally Posted by lowrider

I you look at the pictures, there's no binding on the neck;



Martin has been known to list things incorrectly on the website. I curious to see the bracing and the finish. To see it there is really anything worth trying about this guitar.

If you look close, you will see that the neck has a black binding.

[Moldstar]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I think this is Martin's attempt to show that a top of the line, collector's edition type guitar can be made in their factory in Mexico in addition to the usual Nazareth PA facility.

I'll make two guesses here:

1. This is a fantastic guitar
2. Most of the folks who'd buy a blinged out 5k Martin will not buy this.

That is exactly what I was thinking. A proof of concept.

[lowrider]

Originally Posted by Moldstar

That is exactly what I was thinking. A proof of concept.

But this isn't a top of the line guitar. It's the same as the Road Series guitars underneath the Bling;

M/T neck joint

A-Frame bracing

Poly finish

Spruce top/ Sapelle back and sides

It's just ''all gussied up''!

[Jimbo00]

Less expensive labor to do similar enough work, bigger profits. Money is the reason for everything in a world of cold business transactions.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Joe_guitar

If you look close, you will see that the neck has a black binding.

Are you sure about that? Although my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, I don’t see black binding, I see pocketed frets in an unbound fingerboard, exactly like my D-18.

IMG_4253.jpg

[lowrider]

Originally Posted by Jimbo00

Less expensive labor to do similar enough work, bigger profits. Money is the reason for everything in a world of cold business transactions.

I'm not knocking the Mexican guitar makers, and I'm not knocking the Road Series guitars. I've had my Road Series guitar for 7 years and I play it all the time. It's a wonderful guitar but it's no where near as good as a Standard Series guitar.

So it leaves me wondering, with $5000 to pay for a Martin guitar, who would choose this one?

[PassingThru]

For me, it's a bit too busy looking for my taste. Way too much bling/inlay. It may sound great but would not want to be seen with it. Just my .02.