• Martin Tone machine!

  
  As reviewed by Scott Bandy on 12/1/2011

  The first time I saw this thing it caught my eye and stood out to me from all the other guitars in the store (even guitars triple the price)...then I played it and Wow! I came back to the store about five times and eventually bought it. At that point, I knew I had a great guitar but I didn't yet know just how nice it was. The more I play it the more I love it. The tone is beautiful and very balanced. The highs, mids and lows ring so clear. It will need a little bit of tweaking with the set up but that is to be expected with any new acoustic. They play it safe with the set up so a player can set it up to suit their individual tastes and styles. I am a pro musician/recording artist and I do about 170 shows a year. Yes I am a full-timer. I have been playing a Taylor 810ce for the past five years or so and I think this guitar may be my new favorite, although my 810ce is still very sweet. I just love this thing. Fine craftsmanship and detail....but it's the tone and feel of this thing that sold me. It's a truly great instrument that any pro should be proud to own. The Fishman Aura system is second to none. Sure there may be a bit of a learning curve but just like anything else just take a little time to learn what it does and you are in business. The Aura blows away all other systems and reproduces the actual acoustic image. Try one...you won't be sorry. Martin got it right with this series. Look out Taylor...you've got some serious competition!

  4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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• A Jewel of a Guitar

  
  As reviewed by Matt C on 4/4/2011

  I wasn't expecting to pick up a guitar when I went into the store. I screwed around with some acoustics and then came across this thing. I immediately noticed a difference between this guitar and the others I played in the store that day, or at any other time/place. I spent a few hours playing it, putting it back, trying others, and going back to it. Every single other guitar I pulled off the wall I pretty much put it back after a few minutes and grabbed the GPCPA3 again. I even put back the more expensive $2.5k Martin sitting right next to the GPCPA3. I even began to get an audience from the store staff and fellow shoppers, as none of them had picked up this guitar yet, and all of them said they were amazed at the quality of the sound. The sound is sooooo rich and evenly distributed lows to highs. Not one characteristic overwhelms the others... one of the most evenly balanced sounds I've ever held in my hands. I loved that they minimized the footprint of the electronics penetrating through the wood. So many acoustic/electrics have a large square box cut into the wood... the GPCPA3 only has 3 small holes. I believe that helps with the resonance in comparison. And ah! The wood! Good quality, the finish is smooth and doesn't seem to absorb hand gunk to badly. The smell is awesome too! lol! Plugging into an amp yielded impressive results too. I plugged it into a Fishman Loudbox Performer, and I was impressed. The different mic models were of very good quality, and I was not able to distinguish any difference of tonality... very good quality. The only complaint I have is that a few of the GPCPA3s in the store had rusty strings, and the action needed adjusted... both easily fixed. I believe that better guitars exist out there ($5k? %10k? $15k? ... lol), but I considered it and decided I'd probably only come across a guitar this spectacular in stores only a couple times in my life, so I bit the bullet and walked out of the store with it... and the Fishman.

  3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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• Had to pay more to upgrade, but well worth it.

  
  As reviewed by Steve on 1/25/2011

  After a string of few defects with a new dc-16rgte I decided to bite the bullet and go with a slightly more expensive martin. I loved the dc plugged in thanks to the aura system. Unplugged it had a real lack in bottom. Decided after the fact that with the issues and the unplugged tone it was time to step it up to the next level. Granted it was only a baby step at $250. The new fishman f1 is amazing, although you need to spend time to learn how it works. The tone unplugged is amazing. Full and rich. The way a martin should sound. My only complaint would be the action. But it may be the strings as I have yet to change them. Plus I only live a couple hours from the factory so I plan on taking it in for a full action job. I wouldn't buy anything else even if you don't like martin until you hear this one. I can't wait to hear the sound come out in the next 3-5 years.

  17 of 18 people found this review helpful.
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