Willis Music Oxmoor Product Profile
Martin John Mayer Signature
Handmade in USA, vintage tint solid Spruce top, solid Rosewood back and sides, Ebony fretboard, Auditorium size body, Tusq® saddle and nut, real lacquer finish, custom hardshell case included
There can be no doubt that this is a special edition Martin guitar when you see it face to face. The appearance is stunning yet fairly restrained considering its price. The trend towards smaller body acoustics continues with the John Mayer and while I’m not typically a fan of the sound these auditorium size guitars have this is an exception.
The first thing I noticed about the Mayer is how beautiful the vintage tint makes the top look. The lacquer has been treated to give this guitar the look of one considerably older and the result is magnificent. Combined with the rich chocolate brown of the Rosewood body you’d be hard pressed to find a more appealing instrument. I do think there is some design conflict in that the JM features a traditional herringbone pattern top inlay that encompasses it which maintains the retro vibe, but the modern looking abalone inlay on the soundhole clashes, in my opinion. I can only assume John Mayer wants it there and since it’s his model so…. The fretboard features a classy inlaid John Mayer signature resembling the Eric Clapton signature on the EC model.
The tone of this guitar is full and moderately bright. What it lacks in low end thump is made up for in the warm midrange the Rosewood body creates. Usually small body acoustics suffer from their diminished size in terms of overall frequency character, but the JM’s soundhole bracing alleviates any potential “tinny-ness” so we’re left with a remarkable even tone. The sustain in particular is amazing whether you’re high on the fretboard or playing open strings. The JM is loaded with a basic saddle pickup which offers the player no tweaking capability. Again, in this price range the lack of control is unusual but the sound plugged in couldn’t be argued with. Why clutter and cut when it’s no needed?
I was very taken with the fretwire used on this guitar. It’s thin and has a more pronounced angle than I’m used to feeling on Martin guitars, and I found it extremely comfortable. I had no tuning issues when using a capo, a problem I deal with regularly, so I will look into this fretwire when the time comes for a fret job on my personal acoustic. I have to mention the case included with the JM guitar because it is a work of art. Not only is the top arched to provide maximum protection should an impact occur, but John’s blues trio logo is stitched on the case’s front. The interior is very plush and reaffirms Martin’s consistent top ranking in not just building a great guitar but making sure the whole package lives up to their name and heritage.
Many of the Martin signature models don’t appear to be much different than standard editions, but the John Mayer definitely stands out. While still not a big fan of small body acoustics I cannot deny that this model sounds and plays like a dream.
Reviewed by: Mike McAfee
Contact reviewer at: oxmoorstore@willis-music.com
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About the Contributor:
Manager Mike McAfee is a 13 year plus Willis veteran who has hand picked each employee on his floor because they excel in providing a superior experience to every customer. The confidence, knowledge and courtesy you encounter lives up to an environment tailored for each department of their store. The home-like piano experience alone is worth a visit, and no other store in town carries the stock or selection of Willis’ Oxmoor location. Please accept Mike’s personal invitation to see first hand how hard we’ll work to make sure you’ll always come back home to Willis Music at Oxmoor Center.
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