Martin SWOMGT Review – A New High-End Benchmark

Body And Neck:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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If you are dropping nearly $2000 on an acoustic guitar chances are you have a Martin in your sights.

And this beautiful model from the iconic acoustic brand’s Sustainable Woods series has a few twists that are certain to impress, including – as the series name suggests – a guitar that is composed of woods from ecologically responsible sources.

Body And Neck

Instantly it’s a great-looking guitar – nothing too extraordinary, but if simple and stylish is what you want, you won’t go far wrong with the SWOMGT. It features Martin’s familiar OM (Orchestra Model) shape, with a 25.4” scale length.

For those of us who are eco-conscious (and that should be everybody these days), it’s reassuring to find that the woods on this guitar – even though unconventional – are very sustainable. The back and sides are made of sustainably-grown cherry wood, while the top is crafted from Sitka spruce, featuring an attractive tight grain, and finished with a polished gloss with aging toner. Interestingly, this Sitka is also referred to by Martin as ‘diaperwood’, as the spruce they use is rescued from a supplier who would have ground the wood to make diapers!

The theme of sustainability stretches into the neck (joining the body at the 14th fret), which is also made from cherry wood, with a 20-fret fretboard made from sustainable Katalox – a dark and dense wood discovered only recently in Central America – with a fingerstyle-friendly 1.75” nut width.

Hardware

Aside from the materials, the SWOMGT has a practical and elegant selection of hardware. The headstock – which is finished with cellulose nitrate red tortoise and shows off a raised golden Martin logo – features enclosed gold-plated Gotoh tuners, with a good grip and smooth action.

The guitar’s body is finished with the classic OM teardrop-shaped tortoise pickguard, while the tortoise theme continues to the dots on the end of the bridge pins. On that note, the bridge is crafted from sustainable Katalox, just like the fretboard, and the nut is made of White Corian.

Finally, as you’d expect with a guitar in this price range, a case is included – a black molded Martin case, which is strong but light, with a plush dark green interior. Classy and – for this green-fingered guitar – very appropriate.

Conclusion

It looks good and is ethically solid – so how does it sound? Thankfully, just like a Martin should!

Cherry wood is excellent at providing a big, rich tone with plenty of volume – perfect for recording or the stage, whether playing solo or with a band. It’s very well-balanced and manages to offer both mellow and bright sounds when required. Therefore, you’ll find it’s versatile for just about every style of acoustic guitar playing, although fingerstylists will really benefit from the generous nut width.

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