Martin D-35 Johnny Cash

Name: Martin D-35 Johnny Cash
Brand: Martin
Price: 6078 USD
Availability: Discontinued

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Key Features

A commemorative model resembling Johnny Cash's D-35, his favourite guitar
Rich, sparkling tone produced by a combination of high-quality tonewoods
Sturdy construction with wonderful resonance thanks to forward-shifted X-bracing
Experience effortless fretting and crisp attack using the naturally smooth ebony fretboard

Martin D-35 Johnny Cash Overview

Play with a wealth of history behind you. The Martin D-35 Johnny Cash is a dark, striking, and tonally exquisite model that pays tribute to the legend himself. The D-35 was favoured by Johnny Cash; its shimmering trebles and rich lows made up that wonderfully clear and twangy sound he is known for. Experience the same tone with this guitar courtesy of a gorgeous spruce top, resonant rosewood back and sides, and a sublime ebony fretboard. The combination of these three meticulously chosen tonewoods results in a sound that sparkles across the whole frequency range.

It's not enough to have just three glorious tonewoods, a reliable guitar must be robust enough to endure every gig, thriving performance after performance. Mounted inside the body of the Martin D-35 Johnny Cash is scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing, providing incredible stability and tonal resonance. The ebony fretboard is also wonderfully durable; play and play without the worry of it wearing away, it can handle the frequent attack of your skilful fretting. The Martin D-35 Johnny Cash is a stunning guitar in both looks and sound… a truly magnificent, long-lasting investment.

Product Ref: 170413

Full Description

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A divine tonewood duo

East Indian rosewood and Engelmann spruce. There really isn't a more exquisite tonewood combination. Crafted from rosewood, the back and sides of the D-35 Johnny Cash offer a beautiful, rich tone, embellished with brightness and sparkling clarity. Fingerpick, strum, and deliver crystal-clear, pitch-perfect solos - rosewood's response is even across the whole frequency range, giving you a wonderfully consistent sound. Its dark and complex resonance creates a beautiful undercurrent to a full-bodied tone, whilst a certain amount of 'zing' gives it that sharpness needed for excellent definition. All of these tonal qualities, as well as its sturdiness and reliability, make rosewood a popular choice for acoustic guitars. So, you know it’s a trustworthy feature.

Complementing the back and sides is another reliable tonewood - the spruce top. Spruce has a broad dynamic range, perfect for any gigging musician who needs good volume and sound projection. Its crisp articulation makes the world of difference for a range of playing styles whilst its balanced tone gives it a huge amount of versatility. For a beautiful, clear tone in which every single note rings out with glistening definition, spruce does not disappoint. And its combination with rosewood enhances such sparkling clarity even more, resulting in a simply glorious acoustic sound.

Flawless fretting

The divine properties of the D-35 Johnny Cash extend from the body and travel up the select hardwood neck; so you can be sure that every single part you touch will be filled with practical and tonal attributes waiting for you to explore. A select hardwood neck is a welcomed feature for any avid guitarist as such strength is needed for the thinnest part of the guitar. But the showstopper really is the ebony fretboard attached on top. It is what makes this guitar stand out from others out there. Not only does its naturally shaded colour work perfectly with the D-35's overall black and glossy appearance, but it also brings a wealth of characteristics that make playing this guitar a sublime experience. Ebony's high oil content gives it a smooth and fast finish, lending itself to quick and immaculate fretting techniques. Its high level of durability also means it can handle the frequent attack of your fingertips without wearing away. Whether it’s a simple guitar practice session at home or a sold-out gig with an awe-struck crowd, the ebony fretboard promises to thrive and deliver.

Now onto the more enticing attributes of ebony... its stunning sonic capabilities. Ebony is an extremely responsive tonewood that offers a beautifully bright sound, making it a gorgeous accompaniment to rosewood and spruce. Project your music with purpose and brilliant volume, ebony's snappy and crisp attack ensures that every single note cuts through the mix astonishingly well, leaving nothing unheard. This exquisite sound produced by a high-quality tonewood is exactly what acoustic players look for and the D-35 Johnny Cash delivers it with pure excellence.

Stability and durability

We all know that beauty comes from within, and the D-35 Johnny Cash is no different. Even the inside of the rosewood and spruce body has been meticulously designed for robustness and superb sound. Scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing has been mounted inside to offer more expansive vibrations, stability, and a depth of tone. Such a complex construction might not redeem itself with a simpler title, but each part entails a unique and necessary characteristic. The scalloped shape of the bracing means parts have been scooped out, allowing the spruce top to vibrate more freely and resulting in a more dynamic sound that retains structural reliability. Scalloped bracing is an enticing feature, particularly on Martin guitars as it takes us back to their "Golden Era" when all their steel-string guitars featured this sturdy and resonant brace shape. Such instruments are still held with such high regard now, and so you can trust that the D-35 Johnny Cash has been constructed with history, experience, and an abundance of knowledge behind it.

The benefits of scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing do not stop there. An X-bracing pattern offers an exceptionally sturdy structure that accommodates high-tension steel strings. Tune up and play without worrying about any potential guitar body tragedies, X-bracing is strong enough to withstand any amount of pressure. Martin have also employed an innovative modification to their bracing on the D-35 Johnny Cash by shifting it forward half an inch closer to the soundhole, enhancing the bass frequencies even further. It does this by allowing the lower bout more freedom to vibrate so you end up with a beautifully resonant sound that teams well with the shimmering clarity and brightness of rosewood and spruce.

Striking appearance

If you're going to play an instrument that encompasses so much sonic and practical magnificence, then you'll want it to have an aesthetic to match. The D-35 Johnny Cash showcases pure simplicity and excellence, whilst also being visually striking. Subtle embellishments have been added to the gorgeous dark, gloss finish, making this guitar truly stunning. Grained ivoroid binding flows like a ribbon around the D-35's outline, showcasing its elegant silhouette, whilst an ebony fretboard blends seamlessly into the rich black of the guitar's top. An intricate soundhole rosette and square tapered headstock then bring even more subtle yet eye-catching details that make the D-35 Johnny Cash look absolutely beautiful. And to preserve its divine construction and sound, a ply hardshell case is included, making travelling less of a plight. Prepare to deliver an unforgettable set.

Legendary tone

We can't ignore the fact that this guitar has been designed to replicate the iconic sound and style of Johnny Cash, it really is perfect for Cash lovers. Everything from structure to tone has been scrupulously considered in order to commemorate the legendary-singer songwriter. But it also allows for tonal versatility too, so you won’t be limited in sound. Achieve the crisp attack, brightness, and clarity that Cash demonstrated whilst still having the opportunity to explore a range of sounds presented by the resonance of the lower bout and forward-shifted bracing. You will be sure to have your audience tapping their feet and swaying whilst being completely captivating by your music. And, more importantly, you will be truly immersed in a mesmerising playing experience with the D-35 Johnny Cash.