The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum-012-28 & 0012-28 Modern Deluxes (2024)

I don’t see many posts about these particular models, and can’t imagine they’re remotely close to being as popular as the 000s, OMs, or Dreads in this or any other series. I’m interested in one or the other, and curious if any forum members own or have been able to play one of these two models and if you had any insights you’d be willing to share?

Full disclosure, I never saw myself as a Modern Deluxe person until I purchases a 000-42MD; this guitar has blown away my pre-conceived biases about what a Martin should and should not be. That said, I would just love to see more single 0 or double 0 12 fret offerings like these in the current Martin catalogue — regardless of series.

I haven’t played either of those guitars, but I will offer my theory why Martin reintroduced smaller body 12-fret models in the Modern Deluxe series and not the Standard Series.

Zooming out, the market for smaller body 14-fret guitars is smaller than for 000/OM guitars, which is smaller still than the market for dreadnoughts. The market for smaller body 12-fret guitars is even smaller than for their 14-fret counterparts. Away from Martin, one has options in two directions to get smaller body 12-fret guitar that take after Martins—Eastman guitars, which are less expensive than Standard Series guitars, or boutique factories and solo luthiers. Pretty much all of the boutique factories offer smaller body 12-fret guitars in the Martin style—Collings, Bourgeois, Huss & Dalton, Santa Cruz, etc. Collectively, those companies (plus even more expensive versions made by solo luthiers) probably don’t add up to a lot of guitars, but they clearly have a following.

If I’m Martin, I don’t want to try to take market share from Eastman, since that is a race to the bottom. I’d much rather try to take market share from the boutique factories. The Modern Deluxe series is squarely aimed at buyers of boutique factory guitars and, if anything, Modern Deluxe guitars are priced below most if not all of the offerings from those companies. “Modern” tone, wood bindings, gloss headstocks with pearl-inlay logos—it’s Martin copying boutique factories copying Martin.

The boutique factories (and solo luthiers) have demonstrated that there is a niche market for premium, smaller body 12-fret guitars in the Martin style, and Martin is more likely to capture a share of that market with Modern Deluxe models than with Standard Series models. Just a theory.

I have the 012-28 Modern Deluxe - had it for about two months. I don't have an Eastman or a boutique builder small body guitar to compare it to, but I do slightly regret not spending a bit more on a Santa Cruz or Collings 0 size guitar tbh.

I waited 9 months for my lefty version to be built, and I would have hoped for it be more playable out of the box, but mine still needs a proper setup - the action is higher than I would like for fingerstyle playing, and I get a thuddy sound (not fret buzz) on the low E string on a hard attack - the problem seems to happen more when the humidty creeps up a bit. The lacquer is also coming away slightly at the side of the nut on the one side, which I will get my technician to fix when he does the setup.

I bought a 0012-28 MD and have documented my experience with it in posts 87, 89 and 101 on the Modern Deluxe Owner's Club thread. The lower bridge placement into the top's 'sweet spot' does provide an especially lovely tone, butI use capos a lot, and I find that 12-fret necks without a cutaway make pieces that venture up past the 12th fret a little awkward.

It's a delightful guitar and fun to play, albeit I have it for sale because my studio is small and with eight other guitars and two mandolins vying for my playing time, I don't play it very often.

I'm sure the next ownerwill really enjoy it.

slimpickings wrote: ↑

8:48 AM - Jul 11

I haven’t played either of those guitars, but I will offer my theory why Martin reintroduced smaller body 12-fret models in the Modern Deluxe series and not the Standard Series.

Zooming out, the market for smaller body 14-fret guitars is smaller than for 000/OM guitars, which is smaller still than the market for dreadnoughts. The market for smaller body 12-fret guitars is even smaller than for their 14-fret counterparts. Away from Martin, one has options in two directions to get smaller body 12-fret guitar that take after Martins—Eastman guitars, which are less expensive than Standard Series guitars, or boutique factories and solo luthiers. Pretty much all of the boutique factories offer smaller body 12-fret guitars in the Martin style—Collings, Bourgeois, Huss & Dalton, Santa Cruz, etc. Collectively, those companies (plus even more expensive versions made by solo luthiers) probably don’t add up to a lot of guitars, but they clearly have a following.

If I’m Martin, I don’t want to try to take market share from Eastman, since that is a race to the bottom. I’d much rather try to take market share from the boutique factories. The Modern Deluxe series is squarely aimed at buyers of boutique factory guitars and, if anything, Modern Deluxe guitars are priced below most if not all of the offerings from those companies. “Modern” tone, wood bindings, gloss headstocks with pearl-inlay logos—it’s Martin copying boutique factories copying Martin.

The boutique factories (and solo luthiers) have demonstrated that there is a niche market for premium, smaller body 12-fret guitars in the Martin style, and Martin is more likely to capture a share of that market with Modern Deluxe models than with Standard Series models. Just a theory.

Good post, and I think your theory is probably right. A couple of thoughts I have....

The 012-28 and 0012-28 are the only MDs that stand alone. That is to say there are no Standard versions of these. A standard version of these would be about $3600, with a mahogany (18 style) version (which appeals to me) coming in at about $3200. Tossing out the low (Eastman) and the high (most small and boutique makers), you've narrowed the competition dramatically. Larrivee and a small handful of others are left in that field, but they don't have Martin's cachet, deserved or not.
Now I don't profess to know Martin's market better than Martin, but I (for one) would be interested in a Std like that.

I have an 012-28 MD and love it!

I really love small guitars, I love wide necks, I love 12 fretters. When the 012-28MD and 0012-28MD were introduced I instantly adored them from the first youtube demo, never thinking I'd actually get one.
Supplies of the more unique Martins are, to say the least, thin on the ground here in NZ, but when I walked into a dealer and they had the 012, it was walking out with me whatever happened.

As you can see although you might expect it to be tiny, it's not a whole lot smaller than the 000 12 fret Arts and Crafts on the left here. I don't know if it is the terrified top, the liquid metal pins, the carbon fibre plate or just the general construction but it can give any of my guitars a good run for their money

I certainly don't regret that, but wish I could try it's 00 big brother too

After I played the 0012-28 the first time I had to have one. It has become my #1 guitar. I really like the comfort, and it's loud for its size with a nice punchiness... great for finger picking... but strums well, too.

And, it's gorgeous!

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

KevinANZ wrote: ↑

11:44 PM - Jul 11

As you can see although you might expect it to be tiny, it's not a whole lot smaller than the 000 12 fret Arts and Crafts on the left here.

I love the Arts and Crafts II! There used to be one at the Berkeley Instrument Exchange, it charmed my socks off. (But I didn’t buy it, so who knows where it is today?)