The overall tone of this guitar is outstanding. Very balanced and warm. The cutaway seems to diminish the bass just a little, but for me it's worth it to have easier access to the upper register. The quality of the sound is excellent, my only complaint is a slight rattle in the electronics when I'm tuned in D, but once again it's worth it to have the preamp. It is incredibly expressive, it really shines when playing very soft fingerstyle, then it takes on a beautiful "bell-like" sound. The guitar is perfect for my playing style, and believe me that is where it gets tricky for me to find a single guitar to meet my expectations. I play fingerstyle blues, ragtime and country as well as flat-picking and aggressive rock strumming. This variety of music should actually demand multiple guitars, but I can summon upon it to do all of them tastefully. I wish it had better harmonics, but the quality of its warm, earthy bass makes me quickly dismiss the idea. I am a singer/song-writer at heart and I could find no better tool in the price range. It sounds great by itself, and everyone who has heard it pauses to admire it. I took it out for its first show two days after its purchase in probably the worst possible conditions. An open airy outdoor wedding with four hundred guests on a cold rainy day. When playing along side my partners Seagull, which has an excellent tone, it quickly made him feel inferior. I got lost on the way to rehersal the day before the show and had ten minutes to set up and be playing music for the wedding party. The Fishman F1 Analog almost instantly allowed me to achieve a great sound, and the brand new strings met the cold air and stayed in tune throughout the gig. That won me over immediately, as I greatly attribute a guitars quality to its ability to stay in tune. I've now tested it in multiple environments and it's beautiful in all of them. The action might be a little high for most rock guys and strummers. However, for me the action, the string spacing and the nut width are perfect for transitions between fingerstyle and picking. I also have a little trick i use for correcting this. I usually keep the guitar tuned in D and then place my capo to achieve standard tuning, this will bring the strings down a bit along the length of the neck, so for me, no mods are required. I havent had a chance to record with it, but I look forward to it. The F1 electronics really impressed me when directly in to a p.a system and even more through an amp, and believe it or not its built in tuner is decently accurate. I got the last one in Zzounds had in stock and she's a beauty. The grain in the top is gorgeous.

It was shipped with a Martin hardshell case that I was not expecting! That was an awesome bonus. The only materials I wish this guitar had are an ebony fingerboard, bone nut and saddle, and a solid mahogany neck. But hey, there i go wishing to pay an extra thousand bucks. I am very pleased with the tonal properties of the sapale. I absoltely love the large tuning machines and their ratio. I'm also happy that it had two endpins, as I despise the old-school shoestring headstock tie method. The materials used are excellent, it made a guitar that performs well beyond its price range.

I'm really not a gearhead or electronics wizard, I'm a musician who appreciates the advances in technology but wants to get down to what i do and do it quickly. For me the Fishman F1 is perfect. It has 5 very musical presets and a volume and blend control. I'ts two rubber coated knobs that are very low profile, and a completely recessed digital tuner interface. I have a classy, traditional look with just the right blend of modern technology. And my guitsr desn't look like someone cut a giant hole and installed a Kenwood car stereo in it. There is no learning curve because it doesnt color and distort the guitars sound it simply allows you to tweek it to suit your means of amplification. There is no doubt in my mind that you could dial both knobs to half way and plug in to just about anything and have a good sound. If not, it's probably not the guitar, check the amp or the sound man.

Of course it is high quality, it is a Martin. My only complaint in this department is the slight rattle that I get when tuned in d. It doesnt do it in standard and it hasn't even been enough of an issue for me to check it out, hell it might be an easy fix. The finish is awesome, it's not super glossy, but it's pretty and it seems to repell fingerprints. The wood selection on my guitar particularly is fantastic, it has a beautiful ripple effect in the grain. It was flawless, not a scratch or blemish anywhere. I appreciate Martins quality control standards. I definately feel like I can depend on it. Now I dont believe that they are built as durable as the high end Gibsons, but I can't afford a four thousand dollar pricetag. I usually prefer a Martins tone anyway. I believe as long as I dont beat it up, and take proper care of it, I'll be passing it down to my son.

It's absolutely worth the money.

I havent needed any service, but I've made this rating based upon friends who have. Ive always heard that Martins service was good.

I love its elegance, tone, playability and simplictic beauty.

Active Musician

Acoustic Rock, Blues / Fingerstyle Country & Ragtime

Wonderful, thick, boomy sounds that you've come to know from Martin guitars. The first strum gave me goosebumps. Compared to my Ovasion, well there's really no comparison, Martin by a mile. Sounds great with my Egnater 20 and I have also had great results recording with it.

My Martin DCP4 Performing Artists Series came with a hard shell case, great smell when you open the case!

Very easy to play, action is great and the sound is inspiring.

Extremely well made, top knotch guitar. No backup for me, she's my one and only acoustic. My only comlaint would be that instead of making an ebony finger board it's some synthetic material, doesn't effect playability but for a $1000 plus guitar, you'd expect more.

Worth every penny, would buy one again if this one were to turn up missing.

I've heard they have great customer service but lucky for me, have not had to find out.

Beautiful finish, very easy on the eyes.

20+ years playn guitar

Rock/Blues/Metal

The sound quality is superb, it responds perfectly to however I play whether I'm playing aggressively or not. I've played it in the studio, outside, in the living room, and it is consistent

In its entirety, the DCPA4 is well thought out. I, especially, like the battery compartment location. The materials are perfect, as you would expect.

All one need do to get great sound is strum or pick the strings, but having the tone, volume, phase, and tuner controls so handy is a blessing and they're very responsive.

The DCPA4 is a working musician's instrument and I believe it will be the last acoustic electric 6-string I'll need, unless I feel grandiose and buy a more expensive model.

The value of my DCPA4 is flawless, worth every penny.

I've not needed to solve a problem, so haven't spoken with Martin's Customer Care department.

In terms of WOW, all I need do is open the case, and watch people's expressions and I know, they're wowed. Then, when I strum that first chord or pick that first arpeggio, they all but purr, metaphorically speaking.

50 years experience, Guitar, Keys, Vocals. Studio Musician, Working Band/Lead, Rythm, and vocals,

Classic Rock, Classic Metal, Celtic Rock,

Guitar novice for personal pleasure.

accoustic rock, country, blue grass, blues, bossa nova. I am particularly interested in finger style country and classic pop (a

Played most of my life for family enjoyment. Guitar and piano.

Country and gospel

10 years

Christian, blues, rock, country.

Guitar has that fantastic, boomy Martin sound. The first strum out of the box was magic. What a complete joy to play, highly recommended.

On board tuner, EQ plus all wood Martin for under $1,0000....you just can't beat it.

If your sound is big, thick and flat out wonderful, shouldn't be much of a problem getting the sound your looking for, I know I didn't. Action is a tad high but nothing a good setup won't fix.

It's a Martin, of course it's made well. My only complaint in the black richlite fingerboard. Not sure why ebony would have been so hard to use. I mean this isn't bottom line guitar here, it doesnt effect playabilty so I'll knock off 1 point.

I got a price match of $984! Beat that Guitar Center, I dare ya!

Haven't had to use but I hear it's the tops!

Beautiful guitar, very sexy!

20+ years

Beatles, Rolling Stones...Blues, POP, Metal

BEEN PLAYING FOR OVER 40 YEARS IM A GUITARIST MAINLY DAB IN OTHER INSTRUMENTS

I HAVE NEVER LIKED LABELS ON MUSIC THOUGH IT SERVES ITS PURPOSE I WOULD SAY I TRY AND CREATE CULTURALLY MIXED MUSIC

Jam at home

Counrty, Christian

Jam at home

Christian and Country