$3,999/£4,150, martinguitar.com

When America’s most well-known and storied acoustic guitar model releases one thing new, individuals have a tendency to note. From the X-brace to the dreadnought, to HPL and Stratabond necks, by way of to extra trendy improvements just like the polarising SC guitar again in 2020, Nazareth’s most interesting has continued to push the boundaries of acoustic guitar making when fairly frankly they may relaxation on their laurels and make conventional dreads and 000s endlessly and no person would complain.

I not too long ago visited the Nation Music Corridor of Fame right here in Nashville, and I can inform you that of all of the acoustics on show, Martin was the undisputed king. The query that should grip Martin is how do you outperform and enhance on the likes of the D-28 or the 000-18, and even newer devices just like the HD-35?

Enter then, the Inception – or to present it its full identify, the GPCE Inception Maple – the fruits of an enormous quantity of R&D on Martin’s aspect that has created fairly a stir throughout the guitar web since its preliminary tease after which reveal forward of NAMM 2024.

What’s the Martin GPCE Inception?

At its core, the Inception is constructed round Martin’s Taylor-nodding 14-fret Grand Efficiency physique form, however that’s about as a lot in frequent with a standard Martin as this guitar has. The large distinction is the woods concerned – so now we have an FSC-certified European spruce high, paired with the unconventional selection of maple on the perimeters, and an attention grabbing three-piece again of maple and black walnut. The thought right here is to level to the way forward for sustainable guitar-making with a mixture of considerable tonewoods and FSC-certified woods elsewhere.

Visually there’s additionally a giant departure, with the guitar being completed in Amber Fade Sunburst, and that includes maple inlays and gold tuners, plus that vastly distinctive three-piece again. The fingerboard can also be a bit completely different with a walnut board paired with hanging maple inlays – no pearl right here. There’s additionally an expanded cutaway with the intention to make upper-fret entry extra achievable, and LR Baggs electronics to assist it get amplified.

To make all these new woods work collectively, there’s lots of new stuff occurring inside – the X-bracing has been ‘skeletonised’, giving fairly an fascinating inner look and decreasing weight. Sonic channels have been created across the braces themselves to enhance resonance, whereas the walnut insert within the again is positioned behind the bridge to sweeten the tone.

What does the bracing on the Martin Inception do?

It takes so much to get acoustic guitar connoisseurs enthusiastic about something that doesn’t include some type of heavy historic tie-in, so credit score to Martin for shifting the needle with the Inception, and attracting those that have been intrigued by the woods and that skeletonised bracing.

Bracing just isn’t sometimes the very first thing guitar gamers take into consideration in terms of guitars, however they need to when it entails an acoustic one. Everyone knows that an acoustic guitar will need to have a braced high to help the strain from the guitar strings attempting to tug the highest of the guitar all the best way to the nut. Pressure meets rigidity and wooden surrenders if not braced.

These braces within the acoustic guitar might be scalloped, which ought to present extra responsiveness, or straight that are simply less complicated and more economical. Martin has taken this a step additional by creating skeletonized scalloped bracing. The idea being that it’s going to improve the highest’s responsiveness much more by chopping again on the mass of the bracing and permitting it to vibrate extra. In easy phrases much less wooden, simply as secure and extra even sound.

In follow, you may hear the distinction – in comparison with a daily Martin Grand Pacific form acoustic’s sound the Inception is rather more balanced and even total.

What woods is the Martin Inception made out of?

Sustainability is on the coronary heart of what Martin is attempting to realize with the Inception, and as such the guitar eschews using imported tropical hardwoods in favour of domestically sourced and sustainable choices. It’s one thing that we’ve turn out to be used to seeing from the likes of Taylor lately, nevertheless it’s greater than a bit of jarring to see maple getting used rather than tropical hardwoods like rosewood or mahogany on a Martin.

Maple just isn’t an unusual wooden for acoustic guitars in fact – however except for some pretty unsuccessful makes an attempt within the 80s, Martin has by no means actually gone there. Maple can also be a way more sustainable wooden in comparison with tropical hardwoods, and so it matches in properly with the FSC-certified spruce high.

Typically acoustics produced from maple are bigger in physique to compensate for the inherent sonic qualities of the wooden, however Martin wished the Inception to be a extra modern and compact instrument, which required a good bit of engineering and ingenuity.

A few of that concerned using the scalloped bracing and sonic channels talked about above, however the software of walnut right here is not only for appears. The insert on the again is definitely designed to sit down behind the bridge and soften the peaks of the maple.

What does the Martin GPCE sound like?

It’s exhausting to keep away from the Taylor-shaped elephant within the room everytime you decide up a Grand Efficiency Martin, and this vibe is simply enhanced if you throw within the Inception’s unconventional tonewoods and end.

It nonetheless feels like a Martin, nonetheless – albeit one with a bit of extra pronounced mid- and high-end frequencies than you is perhaps anticipating. As a fingerpicker, the depth and complexity of the guitar’s tone actually stands out – and that’s equally the case whether or not you’re gently plucking or stridently spanking these strings. The harmonic breadth and steadiness makes this an ideal bluegrass picker.

That isn’t to say that this can be a guitar missing energy, both – particularly given the smaller physique dimensions, it has the projection and punch to the sound that’s all of the extra spectacular given the complexity of the tone when picked.

If there’s one factor that may be a little missing is the bass response – in comparison with a standard Martin tone it lacks a few of that highly effective low-end thump, nevertheless it finally makes for a extra balanced instrument total – it’s very a lot a matter of non-public desire whether or not this is a matter for you or not. I definitely discovered the guitar’s depth and steadiness a compelling mixture, and it was a really exhausting guitar to place down when taking part in idly.

Plugged in, LR Baggs’ Anthem electronics system does a wonderful job reflecting the core sound, providing a heat and full tone with extra center and treble frequency, however a flatter bass response to my ear. The anthem’s mixture of inner mic and under-saddle pickup does an incredible job of making a trustworthy and natural snapshot of the unplugged tonality.

All issues thought-about, Martin’s Excessive Efficiency neck is a stable option to pair with what’s a really trendy route for the model. It’s quick and clean, and can attraction to gamers crossing over from electrical guitars, or these with smaller palms.

The walnut fingerboard is one other break with custom, however one which works properly on this context – it’s an extremely playable piece of wooden, and people unconventional maple inlays additional set issues off in a singular approach. The GP physique form pairs properly with the neck providing glorious really feel and entry all the best way up the neck.

Is the Martin GCPCE well worth the cash?

We’ve been used to seeing Martin experiment new designs and ideas at its Navajoa manufacturing facility in Sonora, Mexico – the SC-13E being probably the most notable instance – with all the value advantages that include it. The Inception, nonetheless, is crafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania – this can be a good factor from a construct, sound and playability perspective in fact nevertheless it additionally means you’re going to be paying what you’d count on to pay for established US-made Martin guitar fashions.

And brought on its deserves, it’s price each penny – as soon as I realised that this was not going to sound and play precisely like a standard Martin, I discovered this to be an inspirational and musical instrument that gives a splendidly balanced tone when picked or strummed. The one query is whether or not Martin can entice a special sort of participant (or attraction to its present viewers) sufficient to get them to half with 4 grand for the privilege?

Regardless, the Inception is without doubt one of the most fascinating, and also you sense vital, Martin guitars in a few years. Whereas it’s possible extra a begin level than the ultimate vacation spot of Martin’s journey to embracing extra sustainable tonewoods, it’s probably the most compelling proof but of the place the way forward for acoustic guitar is headed.

Martin GPCE Inception Maple alternate options

• Taylor 724ce Grand Auditorium V-Class $3,499
• Gibson 1942 Banner J-45 VOS $4,999
• Martin D-28 Satin Amberburst $2,799