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Meet the D-19 190th Anniversary with Chris Martinplay button

Meet the D-19 190th Anniversary with Chris Martin

Martin Guitar Nazareth Factory Tour Part 1play button

Martin Guitar Nazareth Factory Tour Part 1

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Martin Guitar Nazareth Factory Tour Part 2

Martin

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When Christian Frederick Martin arrived on these shores in 1833, he probably had no idea that 190 years later the instruments he and his descendants crafted—first in New York City and later in Nazareth, Pennsylvania—would be iconic symbols of the American acoustic guitar. To celebrate those 190 years, the company, now headed by his great-great-great-great grandson C.F. Martin IV, has created a special anniversary D-19 dreadnought in a limited run of just 190. 

Martin D-19 190th Anniversary Body

A Stiffer Top for Greater Clarity

The original 1976 versions of the D-19 featured solid Sitka spruce tops and embraced Martin's early commitment to sustainability by "upcycling" cosmetically imperfect, but sonically sound, wood blanks, stained to match the back and sides. This special 190th Anniversary D-19 build follows in that tradition, using Adirondack spruce tops with slight cosmetic imperfections that have been patiently awaiting just the right project, and applying a digital microburst finish to achieve the look of figured mahogany. A big advantage of this is that Adirondack spruce is a stiffer and livelier tonewood that maintains clarity while being driven hard, delivering that classic, big dreadnought sound. 

Martin D-19 190th Anniversary Back

Solid Mahogany for Warmth and Balance

The Martin 190th Anniversary D-19 features solid mahogany back and sides, as well as a mahogany neck with Martin's traditional dovetail neck joint and a Guatemalan rosewood fingerboard. Mahogany, especially genuine mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is renowned for its warm, mid-focused and well-balanced sound in musical instruments. This is especially true when paired, as it is here, with a solid spruce top. This tonal synergy is further enhanced by the traditional dovetail neck joint, which maximizes the transfer of sound energy from the neck to the body, ensuring that none of your tone is lost in a less secure mechanical connection. 

Martin D-19 190th Anniversary Front

The Original Dreadnought Body Style

C.F. Martin Guitars, as we discussed in our Riffs article on the history of the D-28, developed the large body style exclusively for the Oliver Ditson Company in 1916, then began building dreadnought guitars under their own name when Ditson went out of business early in the Great Depression of the 1930s. The dreadnought, in those un-amplified times, delivered the volume and presence needed to cut through other instruments. This enabled the acoustic guitar to become, for the first time, a lead instrument in small groups, like the bluegrass bands that were just starting to appear. The 190th Anniversary Limited-Edition D-19 is a proud member of that tradition, with a big voice that's easily heard whether you're fingerpicking a folk tune or blasting out classic high-speed bluegrass runs. 

Martin D-19 190th Anniversary Headstock

Essential Musical History You Can Play

With almost two centuries as part of American musical history, it is no wonder that C.F. Martin & Company has become emblematic of so much—quality American craftsmanship, determination and fortitude, and the ability to blend tradition with innovation while paying close attention to both the needs of the player and the demands of the world.  Those who are fortunate enough to own one of these limited-edition Martin 190th Anniversary D-19 dreadnought acoustic guitars will have an instrument they'll be proud to play and that has, deservedly, withstood the test of time. 

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Adirondack spruce top, mahogany back and sides
  • Select hardwood neck, Guatemalan rosewood bridge and fretboard
  • Nickel open gear tuning machines, bone nut

collapse expand iconSpecs

Body
  • Body type: D 14 Fret
  • Top wood: Adirondack spruce
  • Back and sides: Genuine mahogany
  • Bracing pattern: Forward Shifted X Brace
  • Body finish: Gloss
Neck
  • Neck shape: Modified Low Oval
  • Nut width: 1 3/4"
  • Fingerboard: Guatemalan rosewood
  • Neck wood: Select hardwood
  • Scale length: 25.4"
  • Number of frets: 20
  • Neck finish: Satin top, Gloss back
  • Bridge: Guatemalan Rosewood
  • Saddle and nut: Compensated bone and bone
Electronics
  • Pickup/preamp: None
Other
  • Tuning machines: Nickel open gear
  • Orientation: Right-handed
  • Number of strings: 6-string
  • Case: Hardshell case

collapse expand iconWarranty

One year warranty on Martin Backpackers, Little Martins and Ukuleles. Limited lifetime on other Martin guitars.

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