Martin D-42: Iconic Rosewood Acoustic Review

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Martin Guitar Company has been producing high-quality acoustic guitars since 1833. Known for iconic models like the Dreadnought, Martin acoustics are revered for their premium tonewoods, craftsmanship and balanced sound.

The Dreadnought body style was first designed by Martin in 1916 and has since become the most popular acoustic shape. With its wide lower bout and shoulders, the Dreadnought projects loud, rich tones perfect for any genre.

The D-42 model debuted in 1933 and stands today as Martin’s premier rosewood Dreadnought. It features the highest grade tonewoods and appointments available, cementing its reputation as a true high-end acoustic.

Key selling points of the Martin D-42 include:

Solid Sitka spruce top and East Indian rosewood back/sides provide exceptional resonance and clarity
Forward-shifted bracing gives a robust low end and complex overtones
High-end appointments like pearl inlays and gloss finish reflect quality craftsmanship
The tapered neck and low action facilitate smooth playability
Iconic dreadnought sound balanced for fingerpicking, strumming and flatpicking

For players seeking the ultimate rosewood dreadnought, the D-42 delivers professional grade tone and refinement. Its legacy remains unmatched among steel-string acoustics.

Martin D-42 Specs & Features

The Martin D-42 has the classic dreadnought body shape that Martin pioneered and popularized, with its wide lower bout providing booming bass and balanced trebles. It measures 15 inches across the lower bout, with a total body length of 20 1/4 inches. With a depth of 4 7/8 inches, the D-42 produces the deep, resonant bass response that dreadnoughts are cherished for.

The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, which provides crisp articulate highs with complex overtones. The back and sides are constructed from rare and toneful East Indian rosewood. This rosewood creates a warm, deep bass response while also adding richness and body to the mids and highs.

The D-42 has a one-piece mahogany neck with a smooth satin finish. It uses Martin’s "Modified Low Oval" neck profile, which is a slim and tapered shape that most players find comfortable and fast. The nut width of 1 3/4 inches provides ample space for fingerstyle playing while still playable for strumming.

Martin’s forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing pattern contributes to the D-42’s excellent bass response while also enhancing its overall projection. This professional-grade bracing results in clear, balanced tone across all registers.

Luxurious aesthetic appointments on the D-42 include mother-of-pearl diamond inlays, a multi-ply binding, and polished gloss finish. The aging toner gives the spruce top a rich vintage hue. The bone nut and saddle provide crisp transfer of string vibrations.

The D-42 can be ordered with optional Fishman Matrix VT Enhance electronics, which include an onboard tuner along with discreet undersaddle pickups for amplifying your acoustic tone.

Finally, the D-42 comes packaged in a deluxe Martin hardshell guitar case, providing premium protection for your investment.

Sound & Tonal Characteristics

The Martin D-42 is known for its full, balanced sound that projects with ease. The solid Sitka spruce top produces clear and articulate highs with sparkling harmonics, while the East Indian rosewood back and sides provide a warm, resonant low end.

The mids are focused and punchy, allowing each individual note to ring true. There is a dynamic range and responsiveness to the D-42 that allows the player to convey emotion and feeling through their playing technique and attack. Notes bloom with sustain when played softly, yet still retain their clarity when aggressively picked or strummed.

In the studio, the D-42 excels at cleanly capturing the nuances of fingerstyle playing while also handling strummed chords with an organic, unprocessed sound. On stage, the D-42 projects with volume to spare, allowing guitarists to be heard over full bands. The crisp trebles cut through without being harsh, and the lows have enough boom to provide rhythm and bass lines.

Compared to other acclaimed Martin dreadnoughts like the D-28 and D-18, the D-42 has a slightly warmer, richer tone with more low-end punch and thick mids. The rosewood back and sides attributes to this, while still retaining the balanced tone Martin is known for. If a responsive, versatile professional-grade dreadnought sound is called for, the D-42 delivers in spades.

Playability & Feel

The Martin D-42 has an extremely comfortable and playable neck profile that makes it a joy to play for long sessions. The neck has a smooth satin finish and a Performing Artist Taper that provides a slim and fast feel.

The action on the D-42 is set up low and fast right out of the factory, so you don’t need to worry about potential fret buzz or making adjustments. It’s ready for any playing style, from intricate fingerpicking to aggressive strumming.

The ebony fretboard has a 16" radius that allows for easy bending, and the fretwork from Martin is immaculate with perfectly dressed ends. The string spacing at the saddle is slightly wider than some other acoustics at 2 3/16", giving your fingers a bit more room between the strings.

Overall, the D-42 feels like an extension of your hands thanks to the comfortable neck shape and low action. Your fingers will fly up and down the fretboard with ease, and the guitar invites you to keep playing for hours on end. The ergonomics and playability are truly top-notch.

Pricing & Value

The Martin D-42 typically has a street price around $4,000 for a brand new model purchased at an authorized Martin dealer. This positions the D-42 at the higher end of the premium acoustic guitar market.

For those looking for a deal on a used D-42, you can often find examples between $2,500 and $3,500 depending on their condition and year. Older, vintage models from the 1960s and 70s sometimes sell for over $5,000 due to their collectability.

Given its all-solid wood construction from rare, high-end tonewoods like East Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce, the D-42 certainly justifies its premium pricing. Most guitarists view it as a serious investment in your musical craft, rather than an impulse purchase.

The D-42 holds its value incredibly well over decades, both due to Martin’s reputation and the woods growing more scarce and expensive. Most owners consider it an heirloom-quality instrument that can be passed down for generations.

While not cheap by any means, the D-42 delivers uncompromising quality and tone that makes it worth the investment for serious players. When compared to other all-solid rosewood dreadnoughts from Taylor, Gibson, and other luthiers, the D-42 is competitively priced.

Who the D-42 Suits Best

The Martin D-42 is a versatile acoustic guitar that will appeal to players across multiple genres and skill levels. However, it really shines for certain uses and players.

Genres

With its balanced tone and crisp articulate sound, the D-42 pairs especially well with genres like folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, and singer/songwriter styles. The punchy mids and warm low end are ideal for driving rhythms, while the clear trebles let notes shine through in fingerpicking passages.

While versatile enough for rock, pop, and jazz, the D-42 leans more towards traditional acoustic genres where its dreadnought body was originally designed to excel. The robust projection is perfect for guitar pulls and jam sessions where you need to be heard alongside other instruments.

Gigging vs Recording

With its solid all-wood construction and elegant appointments, the D-42 certainly looks the part on stage. The onboard electronics provide the flexibility to plug into a PA system for live gigs. It’s also an exceptional studio guitar, capturing the nuance and richness of the rosewood and spruce tonewoods. The balanced sound mixes nicely with other instruments in a recording.

Player Skill Level

The D-42 is a good fit for serious intermediate players ready to invest in their first premium acoustic. The playability and setup allow you to grow into the instrument over years of playing. However, it’s equally at home in the hands of seasoned professionals and session players looking for the perfect studio and stage companion.

While beginners may be tempted by the appeal of such a storied instrument, the D-42 truly shines when played by someone who can unlock its full potential. The craftsmanship and materials justify the price only for those with the skill to showcase what it can do.

Alternatives to the Martin D-42

The Martin D-42 has a few variations within the Martin catalog, as well as comparable models from other premium acoustic guitar brands.

Martin D-42 Special and Modern Deluxe

Martin offers upgraded and aesthetically unique versions of the D-42 in their Special and Modern Deluxe model lines. These feature additional appointments like intricate pearl inlays, beveled armrests, polished buffing, and customized materials. They come at an even higher price point than the standard D-42 but offer a more ornate take on the classic dreadnought design.

Martin Vintage Series

Martin’s Vintage Series includes reissues of previous D-42 models from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1960s. These aim to recreate the look, feel, and tone of the original guitars using period-correct materials and specifications. Vintage D-42s appeal to players looking for an old-school sound and vibe.

Premium Dreadnoughts from Other Brands

Taylor, Gibson, Guild, Larrivee, and other high-end acoustic guitar makers offer all-solid-wood dreadnoughts to rival the D-42. These vary in tonewoods, appointments, and pricing but provide alternatives for players wanting a top-tier rosewood dreadnought sound from a brand besides Martin. The Taylor 810e and Gibson Hummingbird are two examples.

Pros and Cons

Pros

The D-42 features high-end solid Sitka spruce and East Indian rosewood tonewoods that produce a balanced, articulate tone perfect for live performances or studio recording. The solid wood construction allows the guitar to resonate freely and project with fullness.
Martin’s exceptional build quality and attention to detail is on full display with the D-42. From the comfortable performing artist neck taper profile to the polished gloss finish, pearl inlays, bone nut and saddle, this guitar is crafted to the highest standard expected from Martin’s top-tier Standard Series.
The tonewood combination and forward-shifted bracing pattern gives the D-42 excellent dynamics across the tonal range, with clear trebles and deep low end. The rosewood back and sides bring out the rich, warm mids that Martin acoustics are known for.

Cons

With a street price hovering around $5,000, the D-42 sits at the very top end of the acoustic guitar market. While the premium materials and hand-crafted quality justify the high cost, it remains out of reach for many players.
The bass response, while full and resonant, may be too boomy for those who prefer a tighter low end. The D-42 favors warmth over quick decay.

Conclusion

The Martin D-42 dreadnought acoustic guitar clearly lives up to its reputation as one of the finest acoustic guitars ever crafted. This review has covered the D-42’s exceptional build quality, premium tonewoods, impressive sound, top-notch playability, and distinctive high-end appointments that make it a coveted instrument.

To quickly recap, the D-42 delivers a rich, balanced tone with excellent note definition and resonance. The solid Sitka spruce top and rare East Indian rosewood back and sides provide the foundation for complex overtones, sparkling highs, and deep low end. The mahogany neck promotes smooth playability across the ebony fretboard.

Overall, the D-42 represents the pinnacle of Martin’s expert craftsmanship, continuing the company’s legacy of creating iconic acoustic guitars played by professionals on the world’s biggest stages. The D-42 certainly comes with a high price tag, but for discerning players looking for the ultimate rosewood dreadnought, it’s an investment that pays off in tone and longevity.

If you have the opportunity to try a D-42 at your local guitar shop, by all means take it for a test drive. Let your own ears and fingers confirm the ringing tones and comfortable feel. While the D-42 may be out of reach for some players, hearing and experiencing this benchmark acoustic guitar first-hand is something every guitarist should do at least once. The D-42 remains our top recommended premium rosewood dreadnought, and an acoustic guitar that belongs on every player’s wishlist.