Feature:
I give this the highest rating because I like the austere, elegant look of this guitar. There's just enough there to make it look finished without looking gawdy. The Gotoh tuning mechanism is very accurate and responsive. The binding on the neck, the top and bottom of the body is very attractive. The solid Sitka spruce top grain is awesome and the finish is so fine. And of course the 3 piece back is a striking feature.
Quality:
Exemplary! The construction of this instrument is masterful. The woods and finish are awesome! The impression it gives is one of a very fine instrument, but yet it is not fragile and can be put through the paces with some abuse mixed in without affecting its appearance, construction and function adversely. But one still needs to take some common sense measures to maintain its looks and playability, like not storing it in a position where the neck is loaded, storing it in its case and ensuring that the air during heating season is adequately humidied.
Value:
This guitar is like an old friend to me, one whose companionship I value greatly. I don't ever want to part with this one.
Desirability:
No comment except that, "I BOUGHT IT!"
Sound:
I bought my D35 in 2000. I use Martin SP guitar strings (custom light gauge -- .011). With new strings, the sound is incomparable. However, as the strings get older, it seems to lose its brightness a bit more noticeably than on my other acoustics (a 2003 Gibson J100xtra and a 1984 Guild D16M). It's got a very integrated sound, very together, not noisy. Intonation is excellent. I am basically a fingerstyle player and it responds very well to the subtle nuances that really make the quieter picking tunes I play sound that much better. But I do have to change strings fairly often (once or twice a month) to keep the sound just the way I like it.
Support:
I've not had any real need to solicit the services of Martin's support. So I'm just guessing on this one!
Overall:
A fine instrument overall, in terms of sound, playability and construction. The D35 is proof positive that a Martin guitar is deserving of its enduring reputation as a superior American-made instrument.
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