The sound of a Martin guitar is synonymous with the rich, warm tones of fingerpicking. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting out, the right Martin guitar can make all the difference in your playing. However, a perfect choice making is sometimes difficult.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the best Martin guitars for fingerpicking. From the classic dreadnought to the smaller parlor models, we’ll cover the features and specifications that make each guitar ideal for fingerpicking.
We’ll also talk about the different types of wood used in Martin guitars and how they affect the overall sound. And we’ll add some points on how to choose the right guitar for your playing style and budget. So without wasting more time, let’s roll!
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Martin D-18 acoustic guitar |
| Check Price |
 | Little martin LX black acoustic guitar |
| Check Price |
 | Martin guitar D-15M |
| Check Price |
 | Martin guitar Road series D-10 E |
| Check Price |
 | Little Martin LX1E |
| Check Price |
| Martin 000-12E Road series |
| Check Price |
Top Martin Guitars For Fingerpicking
If you are new to fingerpicking, then you should start with a guitar that has a higher action. Once you get the hang of it, you can move on to the next level by adding some additional pieces of equipment.
Martin guitars are premium handmade guitars that offer a terrific tone and a professional sound. Most of the martin guitars deliver enhanced playability along with a great sound. Due to tot these reasons martin guitars are the top choice of most fingerstyle players.
This article discusses the top brands of Martin guitars for fingerpicking, including some of the most popular models. We take a look at top Martin guitars for fingerpicking and help you choose one that will be ideal for your fingerstyle playing.
- Martin guitar Road series D-10 E
- Little Martin LX1E
- Martin 000-13E Road series
- Martin D-18 acoustic guitar
- Little martin LX black acoustic guitar
Little Martin LX1E
Specification:
- Brand: C.F. Martin & Co.
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Spruce;Mahogany
- Back Material Type: Mahogany
- Neck Material Type: Stratabond
While the Little Martin is our smallest guitar, it is very big on tone, quality and versatility. The LX1 model features a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany high-pressure laminate HPL back, sides and top.
One of the most enticing aspects of the Little Martin LX1E is how Martin created it with materials that are both ecologically friendly and sturdy, as well as capable of delivering a classic Martin tone!
The fingerboard and bridge are composed of FSC Richlite, a long-lasting composite material that provides old-school Martin tone with modern reliability. The top is made from 100% solid spruce, providing a stable foundation for the maple neck and rosewood fretboard. All these materials have been chosen for their inherent acoustic qualities.
The LX1E’s mahogany body is finished with a single-ply nitrocellulose lacquer that provides great clarity while minimizing unwanted resonance. This finish is easy to maintain and provides a smooth surface for fine fretwork.
The neck is made from rosewood, which is a hardwood that has a beautiful tone, particularly when used in conjunction with an acoustic instrument. The neck is made of maple that features a rosewood fingerboard and 12 nickel-silver frets and is fitted with Martin’s classic diamond inlays. The LX1E’s electronics are simple and direct.
Body
This little Martin LX1E electric guitar has a nice look and feel. It features a comfortable, low action, and is set up for easy playability.
The little martin LX1E guitar is a classic instrument that has been made famous by great artists like Jimi Hendrix, Tommy Emmanuel, and Johnny Cash. This composite material is virtually immune to temperature and humidity fluctuations while maintaining a sleek, smooth playing surface.
Affordable
It is a fun, affordable instrument to add to your collection. The Martin LX1E electric guitar is a very affordable martin guitar if you are looking for a guitar that will be able to stand the test of time.
Along with an affordable price tag, the little martin also offers a nice amount of playability.
Playability
This little Martin electric guitar comes with a rosewood fingerboard, and it has a very comfortable, low action. The LX1E guitar offers a wide range of sounds and is set up with a 25-watt amplifier and a set of Duncan Designed pickups.
Structure
This model has a solid spruce top with a mahogany body and spruce neck and fingerboard. This is a fretted instrument. This item has a very nice tonal quality. The body has a spruce top, spruce sides and back, and a mahogany body.
Indian rosewood is used for the fingerboard, bridge, and soundhole. The little Martin LX1E comes in a beautiful blue finish and is finished with a phosphor bronze pickup.
- Made from sustainably harvested wood
- Durable construction
- The lightweight design is great for travel
- Sustainable wood-certified parts.
- Handcrafted to create excellent sound
- Some players might feel the tone is less rich.
Martin Road series D-10 E
Specification:
- Brand: Martin
- Color: Natural (Sapele Top)
- Top Material Type: Sapele
- Body Material: Sapele, Wood
- Back Material Type: Sapele
Handmade with heavy-duty materials, time-tested styles, and innovative designs, Martin Guitar’s Road Series delivers unique guitars that any musician will love to play. With a variety of body styles and sizes, you can find the solid wood guitar that works best for your playing style and music type—rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and much more.
The Martin D-10 Road Series is a step up from the D-10. The D-10 is a solid instrument with the Martin name that has a larger body, better tone, and more features. It is a solid instrument that will last you a long time.
The D-10 is made of hardwood back and sides. Hardwood is strong and durable. The D-10 has a solid body, which means that it does not have the hollow sound of an acoustic guitar.
Although the D10-E is an entry-level guitar by Martin’s standards, it is far from being a beginner’s instrument. It’s a fantastic guitar, made by a firm that knows acoustic – and acoustic-electric – guitars inside and out.
The D10-E is a perfect example of a guitar that is neither too basic nor too sophisticated or complicated. The best way to describe the D10-E is as a more affordable version of the D12-S.
It is designed for those who are new to acoustic guitar playing but have some experience with electric guitars and want something that will allow them to explore all the possibilities of acoustic guitar playing, without breaking the bank.
SOUND:
The Sapele structure of the D-10E Road Series Guitar provides variety in sound. It can be used to produce medium, light, and bright results.
The Fishman MX-T electronics on this Martin professional guitar include an auto-mute option for the audio output. The dreadnought guitar body type adds a rich and outstanding sounding bass to the solid wood construction.
APPEARANCE:
The Martin D-10E acoustic-electric guitars are made entirely of Sapele and have a satin finish. Each one features a mortise and tenon neck joint, scalloped X-brace, mother-of-pearl pattern fingerboard inlay, high-performance tapered neck, and chrome enclosed gear tuners, making them as appealing to the eye as they are to the ear.
MATERIAL
The Martin D-10E is handcrafted from the highest-quality wood and designed to withstand late-night jams, extended studio sessions, and a lot of strumming or plucking.
This acoustic-electric guitar is made of solid wood and has unique designs, professional sounds, and fun playing styles.
PLAYABILITY:
In addition to Martin’s well-known tone, these acoustic guitars have improved playability, making them enjoyable to play regardless of experience or skill level. These acoustic guitars provide a natural playing experience whether you’re performing rock, country, folk, bluegrass, or jazz.
The Martin D-10E is an improved version of the Martin DRS1 and DRS2 models, which are quite popular. The main distinctions can be divided into three groups: aesthetics, electronics, and the presence of an integrated tuner.
This guitar looks like a standard guitar in most aspects. It’s a wooden guitar with a solid body. The top features a mahogany veneer. It also has a bolt-on neck and is available in two versions – with rosewood fretboard and with an ebony fretboard.
- Great for beginners who want a reliable acoustic
- Easy to learn
- A classic instrument with a modern look and feel
- Provides you with a superior quality product
- Keep your audience enthralled with your performance
- Fewer features as compared to other acoustic guitars.
Martin guitar D-15M
Specification:
- Brand: Martin
- Color: Dark Mahogany
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Back Material Type: Mahogany
Handmade with heavy-duty materials, time-tested styles, and innovative designs, Martin Guitar's 15 Series delivers classic acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars that any working musician will love to play. With a variety of body styles and sizes, you can find the solid wood guitar that works best for your playing style and music type—rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and much more.
This Martin D-15M is a great guitar for beginners because it is light and easy to learn. It is made of mahogany wood and features a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany body. It has a rosewood fretboard and nickel strings.
While it has a simplistic design, it was manufactured using excellent materials to produce a high-quality instrument. The sound of the D-15M is more refined than that of the D-15, and it will suit most players.
This is the best martin guitar straight out of the box, and it’ll only get deeper and sweeter with age. It’s a flexible nylon string guitar that may be used for fingerpicking and strumming.
The body has a very strong neck with a very nice wood finish. A single-coil pickup works well for this model. This Martin guitar for fingerstyle can be tuned to B, E, A, and D. It features a hardshell case and a gig bag.
The D-15M is a very affordable acoustic-electric guitar, but it’s also not that cheap. It costs around £400 in the UK and $500 in the US. If you are looking for a good quality guitar for fingerstyle at an affordable price, the D-15M is definitely worth considering.
Body
The Martin D-15M is equipped with a three-piece maple neck with 24 jumbo frets. The body is made of mahogany wood and features a solid Sitka spruce top with a gloss finish. This classical guitar for fingerstyle is designed to be a comfortable instrument to play on the go, as it features a slim body and a long scale length.
Playability
The D-15M is a very versatile fingerpicking guitar that has been designed to be comfortable to play for hours on end. The neck is comfortable and has a slim profile, while the body is thin enough to sit comfortably on your lap. You can also rest the guitar for fingerstyle on a stand if you want to practice in a different environment.
Sound
The D-15M is equipped with a two-piece solid Sitka spruce top and solid Sitka spruce back and sides. These materials are chosen because they sustain free, which means they don’t resonate as much as other woods when plucked. This is very important for acoustic guitars, as it creates a more natural sound.
Extra features
It has an adjustable truss rod, and it is equipped with volume control, tone control, and a 3-way pickup selector. It has a split single-coil pickup configuration and nickel strings.
Notable Players
The Martin D-15M was played by John Mayer during his 2012 North American tour. Other players who have played this Martin guitar include Jimmie Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Popper, Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Chris Stainton, Johnny Goudie, and David Lindley.
The D-15M is a very well-built Martin guitar for fingerstyle with a solid feel and a warm, rich tone. The headstock is maple with nickel trim. It comes in a beautiful, solid-color finish and it is made in the USA.
Martin 000-12E Road series
Specification:
- Brand: Martin
- Color: Natural
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Siris
- Back Material Type: Siris
Handmade with heavy-duty materials, time-tested styles, and innovative designs, Martin Guitar’s Road Series delivers unique guitars that any musician will love to play. With a variety of body styles and sizes, you can find the solid wood guitar that works best for your playing style and music type—rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and much more.
Martin 000-12E Road series guitar is designed with a solid spruce top, koa body, rosewood fretboard, and spruce wood neck. The body is made of koa wood while the neck is made of wood. Similarly, the fingerboard and bridge are made of rosewood. Furthermore, it has a 12-inch scale length and is available in Natural color.
Martin 000-12E Road series is a new series guitar from Martin Guitar, which features an innovative guitar design. It has a modern and unique shape and a classic Martin sound. The guitar has a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides.
This guitar is also designed to make it easier to learn and play. With the combination of Mahogany and Rosewood, the guitar can give you a warm sound and a good feel. It features an innovative neck profile and a new body shape.
The 000-12E features a traditional Martin sound with an expanded range of tonal options and a new look that incorporates elements from the classic Martin 000-14. The new 000-12E has a wider body and deeper fingerboard, as well as a shorter scale length.
SOUND:
The Sitka spruce and Siri’s wood construction of Martin’s 000-12E Road Series Guitar produces crisp, strong, and precise overtones with excellent balance.
The Fishman MX-T electronics on this Martin professional guitar include an auto-mute feature for the audio output. The auditorium body shape complements the solid wood construction by amplifying and balancing the guitar’s lyrical notes.
APPEARANCE:
Siri’s wood backs and sides and Sitka spruce tops distinguish the Martin 000-12E acoustic-electric guitars.
Each guitar is finished with a gloss finish throughout and features a mortise and tenon neck joint, scalloped X-brace, mother-of-pearl pattern fingerboard and rosette inlay, high-performance tapered neck, and chrome enclosed gear tuners, making them as appealing to the eye as they are to the ear.
PLAYABILITY:
In addition to Martin’s well-known tone, this guitar has improved playability, making it enjoyable to play regardless of experience or skill level. This guitar provides a natural fingerstyle playing experience whether you’re performing rock, country, folk, bluegrass, or jazz.
The 000-12E has beautiful rosettes and binding, as well as an MX-T electronics system that allows you to plug in and play! With a soft-shell casing and a built-in tuner, it’s ready for the stage.
It is a perfect choice for both home and stage use, featuring a powerful 500-watt amplifier and a high-quality speaker cabinet. It comes with a built-in tuner and has a full complement of effects.
- The extra weight and feel of a solid body will make a huge difference in your playing.
- Adds a deeper and darker tone, so you hear every note and articulation.
- Can be used as a backup to your acoustic.
- Reduce overall noise level
- Sustainable wood-certified parts.
- The bridge is not much durable.
Martin D-18 acoustic guitar
Specification:
- Brand: Martin
- Color: Natural
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Siris
- Back Material Type: Siris
Handmade with heavy-duty materials, time-tested styles, and innovative designs, Martin Guitar’s Road Series delivers unique guitars that any musician will love to play. With a variety of body styles and sizes, you can find the solid wood guitar that works best for your playing style and music type—rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and much more.
The Martin D-18 acoustic guitar is one of the most popular acoustic guitars in the world that offers a rich, warm tone with a bright and dynamic response. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and mahogany neck and fingerboard.
The guitar also features a natural ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets. The Martin D-18 acoustic guitar also includes a rosewood bridge and saddle. The D-18 comes in a Martin hardshell case and is a very versatile guitar.
It is ideal for beginner guitar players as well as advanced players. However, beginners may find it a bit more expensive for themselves.
Body
The body of the guitar is made of solid Sitka spruce and abalone. The neck is made of solid mahogany, the headstock is made of ebony and rosewood, the bridge is made of rosewood, and the saddle is made of rosewood. It has a maple soundhole, stainless steel strings, ebony tuners, and a hardshell case.
Tone
Solid mahogany is softer than other woods. It has a richer tone. The Martin D-18 acoustic guitar has a rich, warm tone with a bright and dynamic response.
In fact, because of its consistent tone, this guitar is one of the most popular among session musicians. It works well with other musicians because it doesn’t overpower the bass guitar or the vocals, nor does it get lost behind more strong instruments.
Appearance
The Martin D-18 acoustic guitar also includes a rosewood bridge and saddle. Rosewood is a hardwood with a warm tone. Rosewood is also very durable. The Martin D-18 acoustic guitar also features a natural ebony fretboard that is easy to play on.
- It's a great choice for beginners as it is easy to tune
- Amazing tone
- Feels incredibly light and well balanced
- The neck has a lot of sustain
- Excellent sound quality
- A bit pricey
Little martin LX black
Specification:
- Brand: C. F. Martin & Co.
- Color: Jett Black
- Top Material Type: Jett Black HPL Textured Finish
- Body Material: Jett Black HPL Textured Finish
- Back Material Type: Jett Black HPL Textured Finish
Handmade with heavy-duty materials, time-tested styles, and innovative designs, the Little Martin series delivers classic acoustic guitars that any musician will love to play. These models are made from sustainable wood-certified parts and are available in a variety of different wood types, so you can find the solid-wood guitar that works best for your playing style and music type—rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and much more.
This beautiful Jett black HPL text finished martin guitar for fingerstyle is built with a gorgeous HPL textured finish and features a rich mahogany body and neck. This model features a 24.75″ scale length, and a 1.68″ nut width.
The guitar is equipped with a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard. A stunning custom inlaid Martin logo is inlaid on the headstock and bridge plate, and this beautiful instrument is ready to rock.
The back, sides, and tops of the LX Black variant are all made of black high-pressure laminate (HPL). It’s great for travel, student practice, or just hanging out at home or over the campfire. Parts of this model are Sustainable Wood Certified.
Variety
Martin LX guitars are available in a variety of models, including the popular LX1, LX2, and LX3 models. Each of these Martin guitars features a modern slim-waist profile and has a comfortable and responsive neck. They are all equipped with a wide variety of features, including a patented Martin Zero fretboard, and a variety of body styles and options.
Performance
The LX series of Martin guitars are designed to perform in a variety of musical genres, including blues, jazz, folk, and rock. This guitar is also a great choice for the beginning fingerstyle guitarist and is very comfortable for beginners due to its slim profile.
Body
LX Martin guitars are built with the same high-quality materials and craftsmanship as the Martin Standard series guitars. The LX series of guitars are designed to perform in a variety of musical genres, including blues, jazz, folk, and rock.
Besides being a full-sized acoustic guitar, the LX series is also a great choice for an electric guitar. It features a variety of colors and finishes, including traditional mahogany, classic alder, and a variety of finishes with a “stripe” design.
The LX series features a high-quality satin finish with a solid mahogany body and a solid mahogany neck. The LX series is designed for the player who wants to add a touch of class to his or her acoustic or electric guitar.
- Highly portable due to its lightweight and compact size
- Highly affordable
- Built from premium materials
- Beautiful finish.
- Gives a professional sound
- A bit uncomfortable for beginners
In this section, we will answer a few faqs to clear your mind further.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between fingerstyle and fingerpicking?
Fingerpicking and fingerstyle guitarists use distinct techniques, although the end result is frequently the same.
Fingerstyle guitarists pluck the strings and single notes with their fingers in rhythm with the thumb. Fingerpicking is more frequent on acoustic guitars and includes plucking numerous strings with one or two fingers from each hand.
The sound of fingerstyle guitar is similar to that of classical guitar, although the technique can produce a variety of timbres depending on the finger placement.
The most common way to play the acoustic-electric guitar is to place the first three fingers on the fretboard and the fourth finger in the middle of the body. In this position, the strings are plucked by using the tip of the finger. Placing the finger on the second fret will cause the string to be plucked at the second fret, and so on.
The best Fingerstyle guitarists use open positions when playing chords or single notes.
Is fingerpicking harder than strumming?
Because of the differing finger locations, fingerpicking can be more difficult than strumming. The way you pluck the strings is the fundamental difference between these two fingerstyle playing techniques.
Strumming involves plucking each string with your thumb and index finger in a more circular motion. Fingerpicking, on the other hand, involves plucking each string with your index finger at a different location.
The two fingerstyle playing techniques are not mutually exclusive. You can play in a strumming fashion while also using some fingerpicking to add interest to your music.
Although both methods are commonly employed in playing style, many songs can only be played with one or the other.
What fingers do you use for fingerpicking?
For fingerpicking, the best fingerstyle guitarists prefer to use their index finger and the ring finger. Some players use the middle finger as well. The thumb is used less often but can be used to accent notes and chords.
Why martin guitars are expensive?
Martin guitars have a long history of being built using the highest quality materials and are renowned for their sound. They’re also pricey, with many models exceeding $10,000.
The fact that Martin guitars are made in small quantities is the most common explanation for their high price. Because of the restricted output, supply cannot keep up with demand, resulting in large price increases over time.
Martin guitars are prized by musicians due to their high level of customization, which includes hand-carved wood and hand-painted finishes. These characteristics make them a luxury item that should be saved for rather than purchased on impulse.
Which guitar is best for beginners for fingerpicking?
For beginners, the Martin Road series D-10 E is suggested as it is more convenient in playing style as well as in texture. It has a preferable grip which makes it easier and more comfortable for beginners to play it accordingly.
Moreover, it is neither too expensive nor too cheap which makes it an affordable acoustic-electric guitar for fingerpicking.
How do I start learning fingerstyle?
Start by listening to some fingerstyle guitar music. Then practice. Once you have the basics down, try learning a song with a different style. The best way to learn is to play along with someone else’s recording or to get a metronome and just practice on your own.
Start with a metronome. If you have an acoustic guitar, use the song “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana to practice. Another good way to learn is to read music books and then find songs that match the notes on the page. The idea is to play the notes as they are written, not as a chord.
Conclusion
In short, this article proved to be a comprehensive guide for anyone who is looking for the best Martin guitar for fingerpicking. It covered all the important aspects one should consider while buying a Martin guitar for fingerpicking.
Whether you’re looking for a guitar to play at home, in the studio, or on stage, we’ve got you covered. So, follow us on a journey through the world of Martin guitars and discover the perfect instrument for your fingerpicking needs.