Best 25.4" Scale Martin Acoustic Guitars in 2024
Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, strings will feel stiff and more difficult to bend, but the tone will feel brighter. It will also be less likely to produce fret buzzing and rattling when strumming hard.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
Martin Grand J-16E 12 String
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Ivory Tusq Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. Martin D-35 Johnny Cash
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (4 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (4 votes)
Martin D-35 Johnny Cash
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. Martin D-18 Modern Deluxe
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (2 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Martin D-18 Modern Deluxe
- Gold Frets
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (2 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe
- Gold Frets
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
5. Martin D-45 Modern Deluxe
What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Won't get out of tune (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (2 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (4 votes)
Martin D-45 Modern Deluxe
- Gold Frets
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
6. Martin M-36
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (4 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Martin M-36
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Martin D-42
What our users think
- Tuning stability: Sightly unstable (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (4 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Martin D-42
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
8. Martin D-41
What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Easy (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (4 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Martin D-41
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
9. Martin HD-35
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (4 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (4 votes)
Martin HD-35
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
10. Martin D-35
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (4 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Martin D-35
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Electronics
- Compensated Saddle
- Solid Top Wood
- Solid Side Wood
- Solid Back Wood
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock