Martin Guitars Custom Shop Super D

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a Super D!

Martin Guitars and the dreadnought acoustic guitar shape have been synonymous ever since they shipped out the first examples in 1916. Ever since, it’s been woven into the fabric of American music. Can you imagine what rock and roll or country would have sounded like if the parlor guitar had continued to be the most popular shape? Would Elvis and company have made their journey to the Heartbreak Hotel if that low E string on the rhythm acoustic guitar didn’t go boom? Frankly, it’s impossible to imagine the trajectory of pop music without the dreadnought. Recently, our friends at Martin looked at this legendary shape and said “We have the technology. We can make it better than it was. Better, stronger, faster” (yes, Martin’s Tone Engineers do regularly quote the opening credits to The Six Million Dollar Man). The result? A bionic piece of supercharged perfection. Wildwoodians, we are proud to introduce the Martin Super D.

Built for Comfort

The Super D is Martin’s newest and largest body shape, and its size gives it incredible punching power. However, it is proportionally quite similar to a standard dreadnought, so it’s still quite comfortable to play–it’s not one of those big guitars where you’re like “WOW, this thing is huge” when you sit down with it. You’re much more likely to say something like “Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat, this thing sounds incredible!” The difference in size feels subtle, but the increase in sonic horsepower is immediately noticeable.

The Sound of the Super D

So, how does the Super D sound? First things first: it does something different than a dreadnought. It’s not meant to replace your beloved D-18 or D-28; rather, it’s meant to be another arrow in your music quiver.

In concrete terms, it’s about 12 dB louder and has 20% more internal air volume than a comparable dreadnought. In other words, it’s loud enough that somebody three counties over might ask you to stop playing “Freebird” so loudly! It creates a wall of sound that fills the room. Bluegrass guitarists often talk about seeking guitars that are “banjo killers;” well, if you traveled back in time to the forties, the Martin Super D would turn Earl Scruggs into a fine red mist with one G chord.

Strength in Subtlety

But, don’t get it twisted: the Super D is not a raw beast with only brute strength to offer. It has a tremendous capacity for subtle and nuanced performance. You’ll be amazed at its vast dynamic range and superb balance despite its powerful voice. Oftentimes with bigger guitars you really have to hit hard to get the top moving, but the Super D’s new proprietary bracing pattern also you to achieve plenty of volume with minimal effort, too.

Of course, the Super D also handles low tunings beautifully–try it in C standard and be amazed at the rib-rattling low-end AND the clarity. Or, tune it to open G and get lost in a forest of beautiful overtones. And if you’re a slide player? Forget about it! Those soulful Hawaiian guitar licks have never sounded so massive.

Lots to Love

Whether you’re a bluegrass player looking to assert dominance over a banjo player, a singer-songwriter looking to make a huge, orchestral sound with one instrument, or you just want a guitar that fills the room with powerful tone, you’ll find a lot to love about the Martin Super D. We’re proud to showcase this innovative instrument, and we have no doubt that you’ll find them as super as we do.