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Martin’s Inlay-encrusted Dread Gets a Golden Age Refresh





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Martin’s D-41 is a tour de force as it pertains to the art of acoustic craftsmanship, boasting stunning inlay work, superior tonewoods, and the booming, bass-heavy character that only a Martin dread can provide. This refreshed Standard series D-41 turns back the clock to Martin’s most cherished era, elevating the D-41’s late-1960s Martin formula with traditional prewar specs. Most importantly, the refreshed D-41’s solid spruce top now boasts Golden Era forward-shifted X-bracing to maximize its response and provide guitarists with a livelier and more resonant feel. A set of rosewood back and sides then complements the top with complex overtones, shimmering highs, and the D-41’s signature booming low-end wallop. Plus, the genuine mahogany neck’s GE Modified Low Oval profile and 1.75-inch nut width are geared to please high-speed flatpickers, fingerstyle pros, and couch strummers alike with its fast and comfortable feel. You also get several other Standard series refresh upgrades, including a thinner beveled ebony fingerboard and a sleek vintage heel. For more than 50 years, Martin’s D-41 has offered guitarists a beaming, bling-encrusted twist on the brand’s iconic rosewood dreadnought platform, and the refreshed D-41 only enhances that formula with definitive Golden Age style and sound.





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Crowned with intricate inlay work





For the uninitiated, deciphering Martin’s 40 series models can be a challenge. Just what differentiates these guitars from classic Martin dreadnoughts like the D-28, HD-28, and so on? In one word: trim. The D-41 flaunts dazzling inlay work around the breadth of its top, along with stunning abalone rosette and glittering reduced hexagon inlays on the bound ebony fingerboard. And while these upgrades are sure to draw the envy of every guitarist in sight, Sweetwater's discerning vintage Martin fanatics particularly appreciate how the D-41 wears a true genuine mahogany neck ? as opposed to the select hardwood neck found on Martin’s standard-issue dreads. And as a simple Martin gold foil logo simply wouldn’t do on a model so distinguished, the D-41’s headstock shines with a brilliantly inlaid CMF Martin logo.





Timeless tonewood formula





Back in Martin’s legendary prewar era, a single tonewood combination stood above all others: spruce and rosewood. It was the standard-issue choice for Martin’s most aesthetically extravagant models, from the 28 series all the way up to the flagship Style 45. And while mahogany now (rightfully so) enjoys an equal status in sound compared to rosewood, it’s tough to argue with the sheer visual elegance of finely grained rosewood and the sheer dynamic and expressive range of spruce.





Martin’s refreshed D-41 carries on this time-tested tradition, starting with a resonant and responsive solid spruce top. Underneath the top, Martin’s Golden Era forward-shifted X-bracing recalls the booming bass drawl of the brand’s mythologized prewar models to unleash a thunderous projection that will dominate any acoustic ensemble. It’s all topped off with rosewood back and sides that shimmer with crisp top-end chime, dense lows, and a rich harmonic depth that imbues your every note with copious harmonic complexity.





Setting the standard for steel strings everywhere





If there were such a thing as a “standard” acoustic guitar shape, it would undoubtedly be the dreadnought. It’s Martin’s most iconic model and a key component to the cannon-like projection and booming bass response that’s defined the Nazareth sound since the D-18 and D-28 appeared in the early 1930s ? and even earlier if you count Martin’s “Ditson” models! Whether you’re a flatpicking bluegrass phenom or a singer/songwriter strummer, a Martin dreadnought will provide you with a lifetime’s worth of superior steel-string tone.





Standard series: revisiting timeless Martin tradition





Considering the storied history of Martin’s acoustic guitar engineering and building practices, there’s no question that the company’s iconic models stand firm as the backbone of American steel-string instrument design. With this sentiment top of mind, Martin presents the refreshed Standard series: a lineup dedicated to reviving the looks and tone of the brand’s golden-era vintage models while introducing a complex set of modern performance enhancements. The result is a comprehensive update to Martin’s most revered range of instruments, combining tonal authenticity with the comfort and versatility of a contemporary instrument. Across-the-board changes include remarkably responsive GE (Golden Era) bracing, thinner fingerboards with beveled edges, a slick vintage-style heel, angled nuts, and GE belly bridges equipped with bone or ebony bridge pins. What’s more, the refreshed standard series introduces a fresh new trio of Martin models back into the fold, including the iconic 000-17, D-17, and OM-45. Refreshed with a plethora of musician-requested features, the Standard series harnesses the power of these legendary acoustics and takes center stage once again.





Martin D-41 Standard Features:


A refresh to Martin’s iconic Standard series D-41, elevating the model with several key specs from the company’s prewar golden era


Solid spruce top supported by Golden Era forward-shifted X-bracing supplies massive unplugged punch and projection, along with a truly touch-sensitive response


Solid rosewood back and sides deliver a deep and rich character with shimmering overtones, powerful low end, and clarity-packed highs


Big-bodied Martin dreadnought design ensures ample, chest-thumping bass response


Easy-playing genuine mahogany neck, capped with a slick satin finish and carved into Martin’s GE Modified Low Oval neck profile


Sleek 16-in.-radius ebony fingerboard with reduced hexagon inlays


Gold open-gear tuners preserve pitch-perfect stability and grant a touch of old-school charm


Premium bone nut and compensated saddle, along with an ebony bridge and bone bridge pins


Additional Standard series refresh features include a thinner fingerboard with comfortably beveled edges, a vintage-style heel, and an angled nut


Traditional Style 41 appointments include crisp white binding on the body and fingerboard, a multi-stripe abalone rosette, stunning inlay work around the top, and a faux tortoiseshell pickguard


1.75-in. nut width is slim enough for strummers and wide enough to accommodate fingerpickers