Introduction
Martin Guitars has been a leader in acoustic instruments since 1833, building a reputation for impeccable craftsmanship and tone. Their Road Series offers players high-quality, American-made guitars at accessible prices.
The Martin DRSG dreadnought acoustic-electric is part of the Road Series line. It features a solid Sitka spruce top and siris back and sides. With its dreadnought body shape, Fishman Sonitone electronics, and satin finish, the DRSG delivers versatile acoustic performance and stage-ready amplified tones at an affordable price point. This Made in the USA guitar even includes a hardshell case.
Martin DRSG Specs and Features
The Martin DRSG dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with siris back and sides. This combination provides a balanced and articulate tone with good volume and projection.
The top is made from solid Sitka spruce, which is a popular choice for its clarity, responsiveness, and balanced tone across the tonal spectrum. Sitka spruce is known for its strength and flexibility as well.
The back and sides are constructed from siris, an affordable mahogany-like tonewood that adds warmth and richness to the overall sound. Siris offers great resonance and sustain.
The DRSG has a standard dreadnought body shape with a 25.4" scale length. The dreadnought design produces a bold, booming acoustic tone that projects well. This makes it an ideal choice for flatpicking and strumming styles.
For electronics, the DRSG comes equipped with Fishman Sonitone passive undersaddle piezo pickups and an integrated preamp with volume and tone controls. The Fishman Sonitone system accurately reproduces the natural acoustic tone when plugged in.
Other hardware appointments include a mahogany neck with a smooth satin finish, a black Richlite bridge and composite fingerboard, chrome sealed tuners, and a white Corian nut.
The DRSG is proudly made in the USA at Martin’s Pennsylvania factory. Overall, it offers an impressive set of specs and features at a very affordable price point.
Sound & Tone
The Martin DRSG produces a rich, balanced tone that projects well for a smaller-bodied dreadnought. The solid Sitka spruce top provides clarity and articulation in the high end, while the siris back and sides add warmth and resonance in the lows and mids. There is a nice sustain across the tonal spectrum.
The unique combination of spruce and siris tonewoods gives the DRSG a lush, rounded sound with impressive volume despite its smaller dreadnought body size. The spruce produces the crisp highs while the siris provides a solid low-end, resulting in great tonal balance.
When plugged in, the Fishman Sonitone electronics accurately reproduce the DRSG’s natural acoustic tone. The undersaddle pickup and preamp system captures the nuances of the guitar, giving it a very realistic amplified sound. The EQ controls allow you to shape the tone to suit different live or studio settings.
Overall, the DRSG delivers a rich, resonant dreadnought sound with enough projection and sustain to handle both strumming and fingerpicking styles. The spruce and siris woods blend beautifully, while the Fishman pickup preserves the acoustic tone when plugging in.
Playability & Feel
The Martin DRSG has a comfortable and easy-playing neck profile that is suitable for players with small to large hand sizes. The neck shape provides a smooth feel that facilitates both chording and single-note playing across the fingerboard.
The guitar’s string action is set low and smooth right out of the box, making fretting effortless up and down the neck. Even rigorous strumming and picking do not cause buzzing or rattling notes, thanks to the quality setup from the Martin factory. The action is adjustable too, allowing players to fine-tune it to their personal preferences.
Overall, the DRSG exhibits excellent build quality and attention to detail. The neck joint and bridge are solidly crafted, and each guitar receives a professional setup before shipping to ensure optimal playability. There are no sharp fret ends or uneven frets across the fingerboard.
Despite its full-size dreadnought body, the DRSG is relatively lightweight at around 4.5 lbs on average. The guitar feels well-balanced and comfortable when played seated or standing with a strap. The weight and proportions make it easy to handle during longer practice or gigging sessions without fatigue.
Aesthetics and Appointments
The Martin DRSG has an understated yet elegant aesthetic, featuring a simple satin finish that allows the beauty of the tonewoods to shine through.
The top is solid Sitka spruce, one of the most desirable and traditional acoustic guitar top woods. Sitka spruce has a lightly colored appearance with subtle grain patterns that give the DRSG a clean, refined look.
The back and sides are made from siris, an affordable mahogany alternative. Siris has an attractive deeper brown coloring with varied grain patterns. While not as decorative as premium rosewoods, the siris still provides an organic, natural appearance.
The DRSG foregoes any ornate binding, rosette, or inlay work. Only simple black binding traces the top, back, and fretboard edges. This pared-down design contributes to the guitar’s understated appeal.
The satin finish is available in a natural color or an optional black finish. The natural model provides a light, airy look, while the black has a deeper, richer appearance. Either finish option retains the natural open-pore look of the wood.
Overall, the DRSG has a refined yet organic aesthetic, thanks to its satin finish and attractive solid wood construction. While simple in decoration, it remains an elegantly appointed acoustic guitar.
Included Hardshell Case
The Martin DRSG comes with a high-quality hardshell case for protection and storage. Having a sturdy hardcase is a huge benefit for any guitar, especially for a dreadnought with its large body size. The included case helps prevent dings, cracks, or other damage during transport and storage.
The hardshell case features a durable wooden exterior with plush interior lining to keep the guitar safe. The neck is supported by a contoured neck rest, while the body is cushioned by the soft interior padding. The case securely latches closed and has a reinforced handle for easy carrying.
Martin is known for including quality branded cases with many of their guitars. The included case with the DRSG is well-constructed and built to last. It provides peace of mind for owners, knowing this guitar has a proper hardcase right out of the box. While soft gig bags have their place, a hardshell case is essential for maximum protection and proper care, especially for long-term storage.
The Martin DRSG dreadnought is a fairly affordable guitar, so having the hardcase included is excellent value. Comparable hardshell cases can easily cost $100-$150 on their own. Overall, the high-quality included case adds great value to the DRSG package.
Comparable Guitars & Value
The Martin DRSG is very competitively priced for a USA-made acoustic guitar, coming in at $599-$699 for the dreadnought model with a case included. There are a few other acoustic guitars in this price range worth considering as alternatives:
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Yamaha FG800 – Yamaha’s budget dreadnought has an all-laminate construction with a solid Sitka spruce top. It lacks the bass response of the Martin but provides great value around $300. The satin finish and slim neck make it very playable.
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Blueridge BR-160 – Blueridge offers all-solid wood historic dreadnoughts in this price range. The BR-160 has a Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The vintage appointments and rich tone make it an appealing option.
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Takamine GD30CE – This dreadnought cutaway model from Takamine has a solid spruce top with laminate back and sides. The slim neck and built-in tuner provide excellent playability for around $450.
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Seagull Original S6 – A Canadian-made acoustic, the Seagull S6 offers all solid wood construction with a cedar top for a warm, rounded tone. It sells for around $500, making it a great value.
The Martin DRSG compares very favorably against others in its class and price range as an American-made acoustic guitar. The combination of solid Sitka spruce, quality Fishman electronics, and included hardshell case make it an excellent value buy. It’s a top contender if you’re looking for an affordable USA dreadnought.
Who is the Martin DRSG Best For?
The Martin DRSG is an excellent choice for a wide variety of guitarists looking for a quality, affordable American-made dreadnought. Specifically, it’s ideal for:
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Flatpicking and Strumming Players: The DRSG’s bold, projecting dreadnought tone makes it perfect for aggressive flatpicking and rhythmic strumming. The volume can keep up with jam sessions or live performing.
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Singer-Songwriters: Singer-songwriters will appreciate the balanced tone that provides the perfect supporting accompaniment for vocals. It also records well for songwriting demos and albums.
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Gigging Musicians: Thanks to the Fishman electronics, the DRSG works great for gigging on a budget. Just plug it into an acoustic amp or PA system. The included hardshell case also protects it during transport.
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Beginning and Intermediate Players: The easy playability, quality construction and affordable price make the DRSG a smart choice as a step-up guitar for beginners. The versatility also aids development.
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Folk and Country Players: The vintage dreadnought sound excels for folk, country, bluegrass and Americana. It has the crispness for fast picking and the warmth for strumming.
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Electric Guitarists: Electric guitarists can use the DRSG as an acoustic for composing or unplugged practice. The neck feel will translate well.
Overall, the Martin DRSG matches well with a wide variety of musical genres and playing applications, from the stage to the studio to the living room. Its versatility, playability and value appeal to beginners and professionals alike.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Rich, balanced tone from spruce/siris tonewoods
- Impressive volume and projection for a smaller body
- Easy playing neck and string action
- Solid build quality and setup
- Fishman electronics for amplified tone
- Includes hardshell case
- Made in USA
- Excellent value for an American dreadnought
Potential Cons:
- Tone may lack some high-end brightness and articulation compared to higher-end models
- Laminate back/sides instead of solid woods
- No cutaway for upper fret access
Conclusion
The Martin DRSG is an excellent choice for musicians looking for a high-quality, American-made acoustic-electric dreadnought guitar at an affordable price point. This review has covered all the key details about its tonewoods, sound, playability, appearance, included case, and value compared to alternatives. To summarize, the DRSG’s solid Sitka spruce top and siris back and sides produce a rich, resonant dreadnought tone. It’s comfortable to play thanks to the smooth satin neck and low action. The Fishman Sonitone pickup provides natural amplified tone. Ultimately, the Martin DRSG punches well above its weight class, offering incredible value as a gig-worthy US-built acoustic-electric under $1000. Players looking for an easy-strumming guitar with bold dreadnought projection will find their match with the DRSG. It covers all the bases as an excellent workhorse guitar suitable for songwriting, practice and performing across many musical genres.