Introduction to the Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset
Martin’s 16 and 17 series guitars represent an affordable line of all solid wood acoustic guitars. First introduced in 1992, they offer premium tonewoods and appointments at accessible price points compared to Martin’s more expensive models.
The DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset model stands out within this series due to its unique slope shoulder dreadnought body shape. Most Martin dreadnoughts feature a standard square-shouldered design, so the sloped shoulders help the DSS-17 produce a more balanced and articulate tone. It also provides enhanced comfort and playability.
Other key features that make the DSS-17 special include its solid Sitka spruce top paired with solid mahogany back and sides. This tonewood combination produces a rich and resonant acoustic guitar tone, with the spruce providing brightness and projection while the mahogany adds warmth and sweetness. The DSS-17 also utilizes Martin’s scalloped X-bracing for optimal resonance and sustain.
Overall, the Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset combines premium appointments like solid tonewoods with a unique body shape to deliver an exceptional playing experience at a reasonable price point within the Martin lineup. For players seeking a great sounding and playing Martin acoustic without breaking the bank, the DSS-17 is an excellent option to consider.
Body Shape and Construction
The Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset features a slope shoulder dreadnought body shape. This gives it a slightly smaller waist than a traditional dreadnought, providing enhanced comfort and playability. Despite the more compact size, the DSS-17 still produces the bold, projecting tone that dreadnoughts are known for.
The DSS-17 utilizes solid tonewoods for the top, back, and sides. It has a solid Sitka spruce top, which provides brightness and clarity. For the back and sides, Martin selected solid mahogany. This adds warmth, richness, and some midrange punch to the overall tone. The combination of spruce and mahogany creates a balanced and versatile sound.
Inside the DSS-17 is a scalloped X-bracing pattern. By scalloping and thinning the braces, Martin is able to increase resonance without sacrificing structural integrity. This helps the DSS-17 produce very open and responsive tones, with excellent note separation and sustain. The scalloped bracing brings out the best in the solid wood construction.
Neck and Fretboard
The Martin DSS-17 features a High Performance Taper neck profile that provides excellent comfort and playability. This modern neck shape has a slim profile that tapers as it approaches the body, making it easy and enjoyable to play for long periods.
The width of the neck at the nut is 1 11/16 inches, which is a standard and comfortable width for most players. The 25.4 inch scale length ensures great intonation across the fretboard.
The fingerboard and bridge are crafted from solid ebony, which provides crisp note definition and helps accentuate the sparkling highs from the spruce top. The ebony is given an antique white binding that contrasts beautifully against the darker fretboard material.
Overall, the neck feels fast and smooth, allowing for easy transitions up and down the fretboard. The slim tapered profile should accommodate most playing styles comfortably. Between the quality tonewoods and ergonomic shaping, the neck and fretboard of the DSS-17 offer an outstanding playing experience.
Sound and Tone of the Martin DSS-17
The Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset produces a warm, balanced tone that showcases the guitar’s premium solid wood construction. The solid Sitka spruce top contributes brightness and articulation to the overall sound, while the mahogany back and sides add depth, richness, and resonance.
The scalloped X-bracing pattern inside the DSS-17 allows the spruce top to vibrate freely, resulting in excellent volume, projection, and sustain. At the same time, the mahogany body prevents the sound from becoming too bright. The end result is a very balanced and rounded tone.
When strummed, the DSS-17 has a smooth and even response across the tonal spectrum. It excels at providing both rhythm accompaniment and single-note melody lines. The notes bloom nicely and have a singing, vocal-like quality. The mahogany warmth is apparent, but the spruce top still allows the treble strings to cut through with clarity.
The DSS-17’s dreadnought body shape gives it impressive volume and bass response for its price point. It has enough projection to be used in performance settings with light amplification. However, the slope shoulder cutaway does help tame some of the booming low-end compared to a traditional dreadnought.
Here’s a brief audio sample demonstrating the balanced tone of the DSS-17 when fingerpicked:
And here’s an example of the DSS-17 being strummed to provide rhythmic accompaniment:
As you can hear from these samples, the Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset delivers an exceptional tonal experience from a mid-priced acoustic guitar. The solid spruce and mahogany tonewoods work together beautifully to create a warm, nuanced, and well-balanced sound.
Playability and Feel of the Martin DSS-17
The Martin DSS-17 is a very comfortable and playable acoustic guitar, thanks to its thoughtfully crafted neck profile and optimized action height.
The neck has a High Performance Taper profile, which means it starts out slimmer at the nut to facilitate intricate chording and transitions smoothly to a fuller rounded profile up at the 12th fret area. This provides excellent comfort and ergonomics for most hand sizes and playing styles. Even during long practice or gigging sessions, the neck remains comfortable without causing fatigue.
In terms of action height, Martin has set the DSS-17 up very well straight out of the factory. The action is low and buzz-free, allowing easy fretting across the entire fretboard without excessive pressure needed. Notes ring out clearly and articulately. There’s also sufficient clearance for more aggressive strumming or fingerpicking styles if desired.
The combination of the responsive solid spruce top and comfortable neck profile makes the DSS-17 a very playable instrument. It’s easy to play fast arpeggios, scale runs and chord melody arrangements cleanly and accurately. Notes have a clear attack and definition, with impressive sustain as well.
Whether you’re a beginner still developing fretting hand dexterity or a seasoned player who demands high performance playability, the Martin DSS-17 will rise to meet your needs. It’s a guitar built for comfortable, articulate and musical playing over extended periods. You can rely on its superb playability whether practicing at home or performing on stage.
Appearance and Finish Options
The Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset burst finish is visually striking and a key selling point of this model. It features a warm sunset-like burst pattern, with lighter amber tones in the center that gradually darken towards the edges. This not only looks fantastic, but allows the wood’s grain patterns to stand out beautifully.
The solid Sitka spruce used for the top has a fine and even grain, which the translucent finish really helps to accentuate. The mahogany back and sides have a richer brown hue, with a more pronounced grain pattern that adds visual interest.
The DSS-17 has tasteful appointments including antique white binding on the body, neck and headstock. The ebony fingerboard and bridge provide an elegant contrast against the spruce top. The fretboard inlays are simple yet classy small diamonds. Overall the look is very refined, balancing the traditional Martin aesthetic with a more contemporary burst finish.
Those looking for a visually impressive dreadnought with premium tonewoods at an accessible price will appreciate the DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset’s strong aesthetic appeal. Between the stunning burst, solid woods, and binding details, this is one sharp looking acoustic guitar.
Comparing the DSS-17 to Other Martin Models
The Martin DSS-17 has some unique qualities that set it apart from other popular Martin acoustic guitar models like the D-18 dreadnought and 000-17 auditorium.
Compared to the iconic D-18 dreadnought, the DSS-17’s slope-shouldered body shape gives it a slightly brighter and more articulate tone. The mahogany back and sides make it sound warmer and richer than the rosewood D-18. It also has a more comfortable feel for playing chords up the neck due to the sloped shoulder cutaway. However, the D-18 projects louder and has more low-end punch.
When looking at the 000-17 auditorium model, the DSS-17 dreadnought produces more volume and bass response. Its larger lower bout gives it more boom on the bottom end. The 000-17 compensates with a more balanced midrange and sweeter high-end chime. The auditorium style 000-17 may suit fingerstyle players who want more definition on each note.
Overall, the slope shouldered DSS-17 strikes a nice balance between traditional dreadnought and auditorium models. Its unique body shape gives it a clear, balanced tone that works well for various playing styles. It’s a versatile choice for those seeking an affordable solid wood Martin with comfortable playability and great sound.
Pricing and Value for Money
The Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset currently retails for around $1,999 at most authorized Martin dealers. This positions it as a mid-range acoustic guitar, priced affordably for a solid wood instrument made in America by a storied company like Martin.
The guitar typically comes with a high-quality hardshell case, providing protection during transport and storage. Some dealers may offer a Martin gig bag instead of the hardshell case, so it’s worth confirming exactly what is included with your purchase.
At its retail price point, the DSS-17 represents very good value for money. Martin has priced it accessibly considering the all solid tonewood construction, appointments like antique white binding, and the company’s reputation for quality and craftsmanship. It costs significantly less than Martin’s all-solid wood D-18 model, yet still delivers impressive sound and playability.
The DSS-17’s closest competitors in the same price range would be models from Taylor, Guild, Blueridge and other respected acoustic guitar manufacturers. It holds up very well against those comparably priced alternatives, making it a great choice for players seeking an affordable but resonant and great sounding slope shouldered dreadnought. Overall, the DSS-17 provides an excellent balance of quality, tone, and value.
Who is the Martin DSS-17 Best Suited For?
The Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset is a versatile acoustic guitar well suited for a variety of playing styles and applications. Here’s a look at who can get the most out of this model:
Recommended Musical Genres
With its balanced tone and good projection, the DSS-17 works well for many genres including folk, country, bluegrass, pop, indie rock and more. The solid spruce top provides enough brightness for strumming while the mahogany back and sides offer some warmth and bass response. This versatility makes it a good choice for singer-songwriters playing across multiple styles.
Player Skill Levels
The playability and comfortable feel of the DSS-17 make it a great choice for everyone from beginners to advanced players. The slim neck profile is comfortable for smaller hands while still accommodating more intricate playing. The action is set up well out of the box, facilitating easy fretting and smooth bending. The compact slope shoulder dreadnought shape is also ergonomic for new players. Overall, it’s an inspiring and rewarding guitar to learn on and continue playing as skills progress.
Recording vs Gigging Use
With its well-balanced tone and ability to stay articulate when mic’d up, the Martin DSS-17 is an excellent guitar for studio recording. It also has the projection to cut through a mix at louder volumes when playing live, especially with the help of a pickup. The durable all-solid-wood construction and included case make it road-ready for gigging and touring. Many musicians will find this guitar suits both their recording and live needs equally well.
Conclusion
The Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset is an exceptional slope shoulder dreadnought that punches above its weight. With its solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, it produces a beautifully balanced and nuanced tone. The scalloped bracing allows the tonewoods to really sing, resulting in excellent projection and sustain.
While the slope shoulder dreadnought shape gives it a unique look, it doesn’t sacrifice playability. The High Performance Taper neck and slimmer nut width make it comfortable and accessible. Visually, the Whiskey Sunset finish is simply stunning, showing off the guitar’s premium appointments.
Overall, the DSS-17 is an excellent choice for players looking for an affordable all-solid wood Martin with their own distinctive style. It works well for various musical styles and playing scenarios, from the couch to the stage. The value provided by its quality tonewoods and craftsmanship is tough to beat.
If you’re in the market for a new acoustic, do yourself a favor and try to get your hands on the Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset. Its inspiring sound and feel may just make it your next favorite guitar.