I have been playing guitar...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Pat B
I have been playing guitar since 1982. For fun, I took my 1988 Taylor 912 to a local guitar shop to see how it compared to the new Taylor 50th anniversary 814ce. I was really surprised how tight the Taylor sounded so for fun I tried a 2024 Martin J40 as well as other Martins. It was amazing how much better the J40 sounded compared to the 814ce. The J40 was definitely the best sounding guitar in the shop and I preferred it over the D28. After doing some research, I decided I would be happier with the 2025 J40. I called my excellent Sweetwater engineer (Will Crisp) and he was able to give me a much better price than on the web site. The 2025 J40 sounded great out of the box and after a month, the sound has really opened up. I think this is the best music purchase I have ever made. Thanks Sweetwater and Will!
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I own the 2024 J40....
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Kevin Williams
I own the 2024 J40. Simply sounds delicious. I own 8 Martin's through the D45 and nothing else sounds close. If you want the best sounding and playing Martin, look no further than the J40.
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Love this guitar! Beautiful tone,...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·K. Williams
Love this guitar! Beautiful tone, finish and playability. I have 4 Martin's. I love the sound, although pricey as are all Martin's. This one is simply exceptional, however. Deep, resonant and that wonderful Martin playing experience. As with all guitars, your experience is subjective. However, if you're looking at a larger Martin, put this one on your short list. Holds its own delightfully.
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Plays gorgeously! Beautiful rich tones...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Thomas Scherschel
Plays gorgeously! Beautiful rich tones from the rosewood back and sides. Absolutely beautiful. Every bit as advertised. The kind of guitar one keeps forever. Thank you Martin!
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I have always played a...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Neil
I have always played a dreadnaught guitar. I discovered that guitar was my passion when I began just over four years ago. I decided that I wanted to buy a USA built acoustic that would be my main guitar for years to come and something I could pass on to my future children or grandchildren. After many trails, I found that I liked the sound of an OM style Martin, but I did not like the amount of volume I was getting. I also don't particularly like the sound that I get from dreadnaughts. I feel they are too "boomy" as if the sound is coming out of a large bucket. So I started eyeing up the J-40 since its almost like a large OM style guitar (I believe its a Martin Grand performance style guitar with a dreadnaught depth). I watched countless videos on it and decided to finally buy it without ever trying one as no shop in well over a hundred miles from me has one in stock. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe guitar simply blew me away. It has great bass without being too boomy. It has an angelic clarity that I was looking for and all around, is a beautiful guitar to hear and to see. This is the first guitar that I bonded with within a week. There appears to be no flaws in the finish or construction and I swear it sounds better after the first week than the day I got it. If you are seriously considering this guitar, buy it. Sweetwater has a return policy and I don't believe you will need it with this guitar.
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I actively own & use...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Saint Pierre
I actively own & use four Martin guitars. I am a professional performer & recording artist that has preferred Martin Guitars for 31 years. They are tools for my trade. My D-35 finally needed to be replaced. I decided to purchase a J-40-12 string first. It's amazing sound production, quality, and ease of playability is unsurpassable for the price. When the time was right, it was an EASY DECISION, to purchase my new J-40 six string version next. The twelve string came with a factory installed Fishman Infinity VT pick up. The new six string is having the new designed Fishman Infinity Matrix Blend pick up installed after much detailed research; purchased from Sweetwater. The J-40 has absolutely blown away the D-35 by comparison in all areas. The J-40 guitars are almost a hidden secret in the values of the guitar world. I have about $10k invested with the purchase of both J-40's. The J-40's are MY GUITARS OF CHOICE for my solo guitar record albums, recording, and live performances. The J-40's are MY BEST FRIENDS! I highly recommend ONE or BOTH J-40's. These high end J-40's are NOT easy to find in local music stores! The J-40's are a RARE FIND... but a TREASURE indeed!
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This is the third Martin...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Chuck
This is the third Martin guitar I've purchased (the others being an HD35 and a D21) and it is amazing. Visually stunning, it plays like a dream, LOUD, with beautiful Martin guitar tone and a long sustain. This is a great guitar for fingerstyle playing as the bass isn't as "boomy" as a dreadnought style body. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the money in my opinion. Highly recommended.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nI have nothing negative to say about this guitar, but I've noticed that the Titanium strings are giving my left hand callouses and my right hand index fingernail a run for their money! The Titanium strings are MUCH harder than the Phosphor Bronze strings (MA 550T) I've been using. They seem to have an abrasive quality that wears away callouses and fingernails much more rapidly than other strings.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAt any rate, Martin hit the ball out of the park with this guitar.
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Another Amazing Guitar from Martin!
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Chuck
This is the third Martin guitar I've purchased (the others being an HD35 and a D21) and it is amazing. Visually stunning, it plays like a dream, LOUD, with beautiful Martin guitar tone and a long sustain. This is a great guitar for fingerstyle playing as the bass isn't as "boomy" as a dreadnought style body. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the money in my opinion. Highly recommended.
I have nothing negative to say about this guitar, but I've noticed that the Titanium strings are giving my left hand callouses and my right hand index fingernail a run for their money! The Titanium strings are MUCH harder than the Phosphor Bronze strings (MA 550T) I've been using. They seem to have an abrasive quality that wears away callouses and fingernails much more rapidly than other strings.
At any rate, Martin hit the ball out of the park with this guitar.
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I got my J-40 in...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Anonymous
I got my J-40 in 2018 through Martin's Custom Shop. The only changes to the standard J-40 is a beautiful dark sunburst finish (in my opinion it makes a stunning looking guitar even more so) and nickle tuners rather then the standard gold. This guitar plays and sounds amazing. Very comfortable neck, 7-11\/16 nut, very smooth sound across the range, very loud but not boomy at all and sustains forever. The available dynamic range is extremely wide - from loud but smooth to subtle. Notes can be distinct and it rings like a bell. Wonderful. As a Custom Shop order I was able to pick the guitar up at the factory (3 hours away from me), got a tour of their museum from Chris Martin and a factory tour. Very cool. The only negative, at least for me, is that it is a bit large for everyday practice so I bought a 00 parlor size for that.
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Good luck finding a better guitar.
Reviewed on www.musiciansfriend.com·Monkeysweeper
I bought my J-40 last year from an independent dealer in OKC. I couldn't have bought a better guitar in its price range. Beautiful Indian rosewood, top grade Sitka, scalloped braces, 1.75" nut, larger neck. The sound is perfectly balanced and it plays like a dream. I haven't played a guitar this nice since selling my '68 D-28, 20 years ago. If you're considering buying one; stop what you're doing and pull the trigger! You'll thank yourself every day, for the rest of your life, for having done so. Put a Tonewood Amp on it and lose yourself in guitar heaven.
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this guitar sounds as good...
Reviewed on www.sweetwater.com·Dana Reed
this guitar sounds as good as any I've ever heard. I've played for over 50yrs and heard and played a lot of different brands, models, custom handmade and there are none better. Mine is 30yrs old and the condition is as good as new. I am a bit over the top taking care of my guitars but to start with a guitar of this quality and add the age makes for an incredible instrument. try a new one and you'll agree as to the Martin quality, sound, and pedigree. treat yourself and fall in love everytime you even pick it up.. I do,, and I am one picky rascal.. you'll thank me later
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Plays like nothing else. A...
Reviewed on www.guitarguitar.co.uk·James N.
Plays like nothing else. A very expressive guitar with perfectly balanced sound. Lifetime guitar
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I wouldn't trade my 1988 J40m for any other guitar!
Reviewed on www.musiciansfriend.com·C
I taught for many years, play a variety of styles. This guitar can be heard in a group of other instruments but has a nice balance of sound.
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