Chinese Martin D45 Review and Comparison with real Martin guitars

[@HelpfulMike]

Hey everybody, I highly recommend you play a guitar in person before buying it if possible! I now regret my Chartin purchase. Please SUBSCRIBE to my channel if this video was helpful, thanks!

[@kko-punch7059]

I bought 4 Chinese made acoustic guitars from AliExpress. 2 jumbos ( j200, guild F15 types), a 12-strings Martin, a Taylor. They were made according to the specs of these famous name brands. They surprised the shit out of me. They sound really good, they are nicely made. I did play those original versions at music stores. Definitely they sound a little different from the original ones. I can’t afford to pay $5k for jumbo Gibson or Taylor’s. I definitely enjoy playing these Chinese instruments. They are not bad at all.

[@superkonek7808]

could u send me the link to these guitar in aliexpress???

[@kko-punch7059]

@@superkonek7808 you might have to shave the action lower and change to thinner strings for easier playing . I’m happy for these $400 12-strings

[@tgh223]

@@superkonek7808 save your money they junk

[@JayValorMusic]

kill me, but I think the Chartin sounds better than the other two Martins. Im actually impressed and weirded out lol. Never been a fan of full mahogany guitars though, even though i will say that martin makes the best of them!

[@michaelashe5265]

Full mahogany guitars have a warmer and deeper sound than other guitar types. Like I said in the video, the recordings really doesn't do the Martin D-15M justice. This thing sounds and plays WAY better in person than the Chartin. And I forgot to mention the Chartin smells really weird, like chemicals. The real Martin smells like real wood.

[@JayValorMusic]

A buddy of mine has the Martin D-15M, and i love playing it. I enjoy the sound, just not for the style of music i play lol i need that spruce top! Plus that dark Rosewood tone has stolen my heart ever since i picked up a D-35. Enjoy that D-15m tho man, its a work of art

[@michaelashe5265]

Yeah man, I'm loving this thing but my next guitar will be a Martin spruce top of some kind. I'm probably going to donate the Chartin to a school or something.

[@VinhWiBi]

I ordered one in Mar 24 after watching your video and some others. It said on the website solid Rosewood on back and side plus electronic pickup for $529 plus tax. The only thing I did was replaced original string with Martin silk and steel strings. It sounds full, clear and bright with and w/o pickup. The setup is almost perfect with bone nut and bridge. It becomes my favorite guitar over my ~$800 range guitars.

[@hunterscott7592]

I have one of these as well, and luckily bought it from a local guy who had gone through it pretty well. Plays and sounds great

[@bungle0]

They get their bone from the employees who died making them.

[@sccanj]

So no different than any American company

[@sdriza]

good sound

[@Joe-mz6dc]

This kind of hubristic stupidity is what has allowed China to achieve more success in the past decade than any other country on Earth. But by all means, keep up the insultation and perhaps it will eventually result in your country being able to compete against them. /s

[@elsizzle2000]

Hahaaaa

[@cast390]

I dont give a fuck what anyone sez,theres is NO REASON on this planet for a guitar to cost 8k.or more.

[@banacek60chord43]

cast390 The reason is simple, it's to part people from their money in the belief they are getting something that poor people can't have.

[@MrNonaste]

Banacek60 Chord Your answer is very cynical. Sadly, human nature being what it is, you're absolutely correct and it makes me wonder how the human race as a species has survived on this planet.

[@MrNonaste]

tree.house True. Making something by hand is an art form when done by a craftsman and of course that kind of artwork has value. Having said that a CNC machine can do it far more quickily, more accurately, and far cheaper with the same quality materials for a fraction of the price. Since I'm not Paris Hilton guess which one I'll buy.

[@CL-ky2ul]

cast390 I agree, it's wood people!

[@banacek60chord43]

CNC works very well with woodworking machinery. you don't think all those inlays on top guitars are hand cut, do you? It's the hand finishing that's key, along with a good set-up; which of course is labour intensive & costly. If the base is a 'dog', though, it can be a waste of time. There's something the Chinese just don't get, about producing quality items.

[@sollyharr]

i bought a chibson les paul and after a few upgrades its better than any real les paul ive owned so its worth taking a risk sometimes...

[@CaliforniaCarpenter7]

I think those five star reviews were a mix of employees and folks who don’t quite have the ear that you do. I was stoked that what I heard on the recording was what you said you heard in person - mostly because I want one of these, and I’m glad that your playing was representative of the sound I can expect. It also sounds bright, which I am a big fan of. I’m a strummer for the most part and I play with Elixir Nanoweb because of the sharpness. Thanks for the review, dude! I’m either going to get this Chartin or one of the new Guild dreadnoughts.

[@arendyzelman7421]

Great review, Mike. I had the pleasure of playing, over the weekend, a Martin D28, HD28, a D35 and a D45 at my Martin dealer. I do own a Chinese guitar and the immediate difference I can share playing the Martins is that you can actually feel the body of the guitar vibrate as it's played. The Chinese copy feels dead in your hands. Almost like the back and sides are laminate, and the top feels like it's been cut too thick, in comparison to the Martins. Either that or no effort's been made to try and replicate Martin's bracing pattern (a lot of the proprietary sound of Martin guitars is down to choice of woods, and careful, proprietary bracing, among others). In the end all you're getting with the Chinese Martins are just visually correct copies. They don't sound the same, and they come with intonation, action and other problems that are absent on a Martin. I spent a further $200 at a luthier to get mine into playable form that in retrospect I should have spent on a Yamaha LL16 for similar money, or saved it for a real Martin.

[@HelpfulMike]

Yes, I agree with everything you said! The difference between the way my real Marting D-15m feels when it resonates and the way the Chartin feels is striking. Even though my review is quite negative on the Chartin, I can tell that it probably took a good amount of work building it. I told the seller I would likely make a youtube video and leave a review so I was surprised to receive a guitar that buzzes and had scratches! It makes me think the sellers on these sites don't have the actual guitars and that they all get sent out from a huge factory.

[@HelpfulMike]

Btw, I just researched the Yamaha LL 16, damn those things look like a good buy. I would prefer to have one of those too.

[@arendyzelman7421]

The Yamaha is made in China, but in a Yamaha-built factory, by trained artisans, or in similar fashion in Indonesia. A small portion of higher-end Yamaha are still made in Japan, but are sold at Martin-like prices. As an all-solid wood guitar (no laminates) the L series are a tremendously good buy. And they now come with proprietary, pre-aged woods. But they don't sound nearly as good as a Martin. :)

[@dlmullins9054]

Wow!

[@quad1000]

3:35 "The saddle I think it's called..." LOL. wow.

[@MrHoW2Guitar]

Wow! Your Martin d15 sounds amazing, classic Martin tone.

[@HelpfulMike]

Try one in person, so nice!

[@mrsubmarine4265]

I have owned a Martin DM when they first came out in 1995 or so - From Hanks in Denmark Street. There was a batch of about ten to chose from. I was told that the DMs were made from bits of old wood lying around the Martin yard. It's a really good guitar for the price. It resonates and you feel it on your chest, which is a good sign, due to the lack of lacquer applied. The top has aged nice and got darker. Very easy to play. As mentioned previously in a comment below - the Martin DM top is spruce, not mahogany as the Mike states incorrectly. I think the back sides and neck are mahogany, hence from the name DM - M for mahogany.

[@HelpfulMike]

The DM has laminated mahogany or sapele on the back and sides, and spruce on top.

[@garymisener9578]

Mike, I just heard you say 0.55 seconds into this video that the Martin DM model was solid mahogany on the "front". That is NOT CORRECT as that "sound board" top is solid Sitka spruce. I have a Martin DM myself and the spruce grain runs down through the sound hole. That is how you can tell the difference between a laminate top and a solid spruce top. I also have a few more expensive C.F. Martin (D-42) and Guild (F-50R & F-512) acoustic guitars as I have enjoyed playing guitar for over 52 years now. And to @cast390 you have absolutely NO IDEA what you are talking about!

[@spwstrat]

I have no plans on buying a Chinese Martin copy, but after stumbling across this video, I just sat though the entire thing. Great, articulate, well thought out review, I agree with your assessment. The D-15M definitely has the best tone of the three, but the other two aren't bad by any means.

[@hek8ay]

nice review, thanks for pointing out the shortcomings.. quite a clear difference in sound between the 3 guitars

[@BlackLocustMusic]

They all sound fine and in a recording NO ONE would say anything negative because they wouldn't know any different.

[@Chinacoustic]

Abbey said the removal was down to copyright issue and dh gate took the listing down - its back up now but a different listing

[@dannyscoggin]

You paid 500 for that? IH man u should have saved it. Your not that far away from getting some really good quality guitars around 700-900

[@michaelashe5265]

+Danny Scoggin You are correct sir. :(

[@TempoDrift1480]

Your not real far away from keeping your opinion to yourself aey?

[@visiblemode]

This is a really rational approach. I really like your style.

[@andrewbrockis3085]

Excellent review. Thanks for taking the time.

[@beagleguitar]

I was gonna say kind of the same thing. On your recordings, I preferred the Martin copy out of all of them. But I was wondering how it felt/sounded in person. I have an old Seagull S6 that doesn't sound like anything special in person, but for some reason it records really well. Thanks for the review!

[@michaelashe5265]

In person the real Martin (D15M) plays, and sounds way, way better. It just feels so much better in the hands, and you can not only hear the sound, but you can feel the resonation. And the chords sounds so much cleaner and purer. It's hard to describe, but the Chartin has these distracting overtones. Also, like I said below, I love the smell of my real Martin, but the Chartin smells bad.

[@PreachTheGospel07]

The D45 sounds really good.

[@swamisatcitananda5689]

Nice review, thanks.I reckon I'll take the same gamble as you've done, with the exception that I'll specify the "Martin" on the headstock. Just so's I can tell my friends it's genuine & see what they think.

[@JJSterry]

gotta say i thought my Martin DM is one of the nicest sounding guitars i've played and that was 17 years old when i bought it - really resonant, maybe in part due to the lack of lacquer on it...?

[@BaktaBak3]

The Martin D15M sounds (and looks) best. That one is a keeper for sure !

[@michaelashe5265]

+BaktaBak3 Yes, it is a beauty and I still love it every time I play it. It also smells the best. The Chartin smells terrible, I forgot to include that in the review!

[@BaktaBak3]

+Michael Ashe Guess that Chartin "stinks" all the way around :-) Thanks for the post .

[@theeeddboyy6020]

I recently bought a Takamine G Series at a pawn shop for $80. It's a discontinued model, I saw ones selling on eBay for about $350-$500. Had to get it. Put some new strings on it, and it's an amazing guitar.

[@jmartz49]

I am very thankful that I paid $325 for a brand new Brazilian D-28 in 1968. Not even tempted by a Chartin - unless I need to go on TV with Abalone front. But my 2001 000-15S gets picked up a lot too - all mahogany guitars are very sweet.

[@TekhnoKowboy]

Hi Mike, really liked the sound of the D-15M, what was the action like when you first bought it and did you have to re-set it. Lovely guitar.

[@michaelashe5265]

It played like a dream right from the shop. "Haight Street Music Center". Very unlike the Chartin which still has high action even after a set up. I never even play the Chartin.

[@banacek60chord43]

Michael Ashe Not value for money then.

[@tonycurtis2891]

Very very nice job sir ! I live down under, listened to you about the Chinese D45, I then ordered one & it is the BEST looking guitar ever! Everyone just loves it! I placed Martin strings on it & BOY, what a guitar! Best to go with the plain D45 without the Fishman, keep it simple hey, it is flawless! Plays better than any US Martin I've ever played.

[@michaelashe5265]

+tony curtis Consider yourself one of the lucky ones!

[@fernandocesar2389]

Chinese shit is good for a bonfire.

[@BStanley346]

Hey Mike, any chance you could link me to tabs for the chill fingerstyle number that you played at 4:27? I would really love to learn how to play it. Also thanks for the great review!

[@bkpro1984]

I actually like the tone of the Martin DM. To my ears it nails that classic, deep, robust Martin tone.

[@HelpfulMike]

Yeah, it all really comes down to personal preference in the end...

[@benjamincoaton3731]

Excellent review my friend. Very thorough inspection of sonic and visual qualities. There is another factor that we should be aware of and that is the age of the Chinese Martin D45 compared to the othe 2 guitars. As guitarists know, the wood on a guitar resonates more with age. Hopefully time will be your guitars friend. I also have a D45 and I think it is my best guitar by far. I think that you received a bad example. Such a shame you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase. Those scratches are unacceptable on the pickup control unit. Thanks for the review and hope to see more.

[@georgerobinson1457]

Also I have had them checked, that is real abalone! It is of a lower grade than Martin uses but you can buy a Chartin D45 with upgraded abalone but you will be paying more of course!

[@Karl61290]

Just to update you on my Chinese Martin, Well it was taken to my luthier as the action on it suddenly started to get higher, this was due to problems with humidity. There was also a problem with the soundboard starting to bow , coupled with this the bridge started to lift. My Luthier told me it is a problem anyone is going to have buying a Chinese guitar as their woods are new and not totally dried out . He has done a good job on it , now it is playable. Also the pickup sounds better now this is due to him removing the saddle in order to take a bit off the bottom to get the action down a bit , then discovering a right mess of wires inside and he sorted this out for me. His opinion on the guitar, well I do not think he was that impressed with it, personally I am not . I think I was sold on it being a D45 which is a guitar I have always liked , it looks good and feels good but that is where it ends. This guitar will be used for street busking and my pride and joy Lowden O25 will stay at home. My general opinion on the whole guitar buying saga is basically, they have good points like the workmanship carried out on the headstock done in abalone, instead of all that Martin shit plastered all over it. The delivery which surprised me how it went through so smoothly and cheaply, not like when I ordered a weissenborn from the States and got totally shafted by import duty that totally pissed me off . Guitar wise, well I think a lot of it is hit and miss, just like Mikes guitar mine came from the same factory as his and I echo everything he has said about them ...........I will not order another Chinese guitar.

[@michaelashe5265]

Sorry to hear you've been having a few issues with yours, but it sounds like they're now resolved which is good. I never even play mine. I'll be donating it soon. I tried "Guitars Not Guns" but their local chapter isn't active right now....

[@darrellscottPerkins]

I have one also, a little fancier. but a d-45. It might have been put together a little better, it is a martin build inside, had it set up and action is low with no buzz anywhere. I can see the back grain inside and out and they do look the same. It does sound decent. I have several acoustics, 2 Wetchers, 2 Takamine 341's and the d-45 copy. Not saying the copy is any better but it looks good on a stand onstage, my amp can make any guitar sound better with tone controls, at least to most in the audience and it isn't bad to play scott

[@joseonate111]

Thank you for the video review. Very helpful. From your description, overall I get the sense that there's no pride in the workmanship of the instrument. The pride and attention to detail usually shows, and it comes through in the sound and playability. To me some things are deal breakers: bad intonation makes a guitar useless. The electronic pickups were terrible, pointless altogether. For $500 any player is way, way better off buying the best Yamaha at that price range.

[@johnbee9957]

In cases where all woods are identical, a satin finish will always outperform a high gloss finish due to the tops ability to breath and reverberate.

[@Karl61290]

Hi Mike just to say something about the Pickup system I had fitted in my Chinese Martin. I opted for the top of the range Prefix-Plus T , I was not disappointed with this system that they installed , I thought at one point I had an issue with it but this turned out to be a guitar cable issue. If you look at the true price of this system it is listed at around $500-600, although it can be bought cheaper on Amazon. What intrigues me about it, and it is what made me choose it, is the fact that it had such good reviews. Although it comes out of a Chinese factory which is understandable. I have since found out via the Luthier who is looking at my Chinese Martin, he has recently fitted this system into a guitar at quite a cost. He interestingly said that the system he fitted came from China…….I must get him to have a good look at my system and to see if there are any similarities ……..probably came from the same factory!

[@csmcclelland]

The D-15M definitely sounds and looks the best, no question

[@upcycleelectra8311]

Looks like you got sold a pup ive got the same copy with head stock marking.. Mine came nicely set up with perfect action Swapped out the strings bridge & pegs for bone sounds Great For the price.. Yes solid top Semi laminated back & Sides

[@cliffw2000cliff]

Dude, great video and excellent sound comparison. If you read this I have a question. If you had it to do over again would you still buy and/or would you leave off the electronics? Thanks for sharing...

[@michaelashe5265]

Cliff Warren Thanks Cliff. If I could do over again I wouldn't even get the guitar! BUT, yes, I would leave the electronics off. They add weight and make the guitar feel unbalanced, to me at least, or maybe it's heavy & awkward due to the overall design of the guitar? And it sounds too muddy through the amp. I never even play this thing. :( It was going to be the house guitar for my open mics but I decided to use my older Martin DM for that instead.

[@Karl61290]

HI Mike Great review .......It appears I have exactly the same guitar as yours , deluxe version Ebony bridge and fretboard , same Martin case as you have ( which is now falling apart and has never really closed easily). I had them put the top of the range Fishmann pickup system on mine, the Prefix T-plus, which was $100. One nice thing is they put my Initials KP on the headstock in abalone as I wanted it nothing to do with Martin, they made a beautiful job of that. It maybe AAA spruce on the soundboard, they also said it was all solid wood, but take a look at the inside edge of where it is cut out for the Fishman .......you can see straight away it is laminate, not solid wood. When it arrived I was blown away with it , lovely guitar, but after a month it seemed to have this problem of the the action suddenly rising , quite considerably I am afraid , this could be due to humidity coming from China, also the soundboard behind the bridge has started to bow, but there could be a far more serious issue .......on the left had bottom of the bridge where it is attached to the soundboard you can nearly slide a piece of paper underneath it which could indicate the bridge is lifting. I have taken the guitar into a luthier for him to have a look at it, I am at this moment waiting for him to contact me with either good news or the bad news .......it cannot be fixed. I took the gamble , thought I would be a lot safer paying a bit more and going for the deluxe model . I have always liked the look of the Martin D45, its the guitar Neil Young used on his " Old Man " recording, The guitar I got certainly does look good , if I can get something sorted out on it I will be happy , if not I have a place on the wall for it as a nice bit of decoration. Incidentally, using hind sight what I have spent on buying the deluxe model and what it could cost to put it right .......I would maybe have better off going after the Sigma D45. So these guitars from China......buyer beware , some have received a good guitar , some have not. I will keep you posted as to what the luthier says about it

[@michaelashe5265]

Yes, keep us updated on what happens with your guitar. Btw, my case doesn't close very well either! I forgot to mention that in my review. Another thing I forgot to mention is that I don't like the smell of the guitar. It's kind of like glue or plastic. My real Martin smells great! The action is way too high on mine but they can't lower it without sanding all the frets down. I regret this purchase. Never buy a guitar you can't play in your own hands first folks!!

[@Karl61290]

Hi Mike ..........I am sure they came from the same factory , mine stinks as well , I hate the smell of it, also it has that guitar strap button on it in exactly the same place. I have a 23 year old Lowden that smells great, just like the day I bought it, it has always been cased and looked after , also it is SOLID WOOD , not laminate!.

[@sinanyener]

One thing's for sure; the fakes don't stand the test of time.. The top can't stand the string tension and the neck bends in ways beyond repair..

[@zac3392]

Thanks for the review you did a great job... you are believable and didn't try to use big words and catch phrases, just called it like you saw (heard) it and that came across realistically... I am rethinking ordering a Chartin now...

[@bramblechops]

Funny ! I agreed with your comments on the three guitar sounds exactly. Great vid mate.

[@barrywuthrich8530]

does it say, "made in China" anywhere on it? I can see some problems with people getting shafted, if not.

[@jimcarleton3190]

Wish I was in SF. I'm located on long Island, NY. I saw another post saying stay away from the ones that say "drewdnaut" misspelling dreadnought. This one has that spelling error. Any thoughts? Thanks

[@michaelashe5265]

+Jim “JC” Carleton I would steer clear of these things altogether, unless there are close up pics (Or video) of the actual guitar they'll be sending you.. If you don't like it once you receive it, how easy do you think it will be to return it for a different one? I never investigated but I assumed the cost of shipping would be enormous. Then they would have to ship another, I wonder if they cover the shipping on that? And what if the one you send back gets lost? Seems like a nightmare to me.

Cool. You've just made this straight forward. I definitely agree on everything you've said so far. My conclusion is that I'm definitely not buying a 8 thousand bucks guitar… and for those who may want a 45 ish sound, chartin guitars are good enough, specially for the price-quality comparison. specially if you are a bit out of the budget. Thanks for your video.

[@AiMR]

The Chartin is totally missing the low end warmth.

[@AiMR]

Nah, just buy a Martin and get great sound from day one that only improves with age.

[@hirskdubbi]

+Eric Blair ok i'll have to sell my house to afford one

[@AiMR]

hirskdubbi Or just lose the snob attitude and shop for guitars by sound, not brand name.

[@caomarvins2283]

+Eric Blair have played most models of martin, only the models that equivalent or above D28 will give you a very nice sound when they are brand new. The others take approximately 1 year.

[@AiMR]

Cao Marvins This isn't a Martin and was probably manufactured more than a year ago.

[@Captain__UwU]

I thought tone wise, the Martin solid Mahogany was the best, then the fake. I did not like the sound of the laminate Martin at all.

[@pastore4200]

martin should not be surprised people are buying knockoffs, the real list at over 8000$, got myself a knockoff,requested real abalone on front & back and rosette, I did, complete fret job, new tuners, hand cut polished bone, nut and saddle, intonation is perfect, paid extra for real rosewood back and sides,,the guitar is soooooo good, I own real mart & taylors, you need to keep in mind this is a 400? 500? dollar guitar, they need work and you do get what you pay for

[@aaronk7323]

Where did you get yours from? I like the idea of requesting what you want and actually getting it. Thanks.

[@banacek60chord43]

Did you buy a fake Rolex while you were at it? These things are like a Ferrari with pedals! If you don't think the Martin is worth $8,000 [and I don't] don't buy one. With $500 I can find a used guitar ten times the Chartin's worth and it'll get better.

[@spartacus1988]

pastore4200 bello !!! china teaches

[@banacek60chord43]

spartacusale China teaches buyer beware & all that glisters really isn't gold.

[@spartacus1988]

Banacek60 Chord hai assolutamente ragione, ma bisogna spiegare in America e tutti i paesi che vendono prodotti a prezzo elevato solo per il marchio .... tra cui l'Italia !!!! anche se calcola il costo dei materiali una chitarra è fatto di legno e non può costare $ 10, 000 o 30.000 .... anche è stata fatta da Leonardo da Vinci

[@saraelizabethloerlein1139]

I actually bought a 000-15M over a D-28 over the summer. I love all-mahogany guitars. Although mahogany is very common on the back and sides of acoustics (for its flat-tone feature/equal high, mids, lows)...Mahogany grabs an entirely different voicing on the top. I 100% agree, mahogany guitars rule. However, I was pretty surprised with the Chinese copy. Immediately I noticed its poor finish though. If I ever order one I would just request satin instead.

[@michaelashe5265]

Ahh, I was considering the 000-15M too! But ended up with the D15M. Yes, these all mahogany guitars sound so smooth. And regarding the finish on the Chartin, my girlfriend and her friend HATED it when they first saw it. They said it looked like plastic. It smells bad too, I never even play it.

[@festushaggen2563]

The D-15 sounds beautiful. The Chartin is actually a little tempting because it looks nice, save the scratches, and for the fact that I don't have $8000 for a real one. I'd probably never buy a fake but if put in front of me for cheap, I'd think about it. Just being honest.

[@ChanceJCox]

im not sure if this has been addressed or not, but the first sound test for all three guitars is beautiful. is it a song i can look up? thank you!

[@michaelashe5265]

Thanks so much. That's actually part of a little instrumental song I came up with. I've never recorded it, I just like to play it from time to time. Thanks again. :)

[@ChanceJCox]

i really really enjoy it, im sure it'd be a hit if it was recorded!

[@michaelashe5265]

ChanceJCox Thanks!

[@kimwestwood8840]

The DM 15 sounds sweet. I love Mahogany wood

[@surrealchemist]

If they didn't try to pretend to be a martin they could just sell some decent budget price guitars. I don't mind so much if its a big company like Gibson, but Martin kinda rubs me the wrong way because its such an old family owned down to earth kinda company which puts a lot of artistry into what they are doing and people should be supporting.

[@brockmccain8616]

Curious on your thoughts, Seems like you gave some solid pro's and cons. Curious what exactly you paid dollar amount for this, and if you consider if you paid the same dollar amount at a US music store if you feel like you got a better/worse quality? Let me know what you think!

[@FuzzWoof]

If it's any comfort, I've had that Fishman preamp on several very expensive and definitely non-Chinese guitars in the past and they ended up rattling on all of them, so if anything that's authentically made, haha.

[@averageguysopinion139]

You are right about the D15M being the best. It's simplicity in design and sound make it what it is.

[@HelpfulMike]

Yep, and the video doesn't do its sound justice. And it feels so good in the hands too, it's the best acoustic I've ever owned by far. Love the natural smell too.

[@chester777ful]

Both the Martins sound better than the Chinese guitar but i suppose what you pay for the Chinese guitar makes it a good buy

[@crankyboiy]

Man the fishman external makes it sound so much more mellower, nice pick up.. Pun intended

[@michaelashe5265]

Yeah, it's pretty good. Really clear tone. And it's nice how you can remove it when not in use. I heard you can also have them installed permanently.

[@powermrkkk]

Are you SURE it is not counterfeit FISHMAN?? :)

[@banacek60chord43]

That's one thing they are good at. I bought a Fish[y]man and can't tell the difference between that and the real thing, which is after all made there. It can be made to sound even more mellowerer on the old Marshall amp.

[@Chinacoustic]

Hiya, I just received one of these and have two very shorts videos of my channel, doing a full review in a few days ;) loved the video BTW

[@Chinacoustic]

PS also preferred the d15, then the chartin ;) based on your sound test

[@QueerAndUnplugged]

I own 2 Martin D35s - one is a 71 (wish I bought one in 69) and the other is a 2010. The 71 Martin tone is exquisite - lots of harmonics. The 2010 has more "push" to it but nothing like the 71's overtones. There's really no point in comparing a Chinese knock off Martin D -45 to just about any Martin using rosewood for the sides. The former is cheap and looks imitation OK...but NOTHING sounds like a Martin!

[@HelpfulMike]

Yep, gotta love Martins!

[@QueerAndUnplugged]

Treat them right and they will love you right back!

[@banacek60chord43]

QueerAndUnplugged Sadly, I don't think that's the case with the Chinese stuff. I had one on the bench [a very low end one] but couldn't do a thing with it. Apart from the appalling finish, alll the components were there, in the same place as the one they were copying but it just didn't work. I spent a whole morning trying to set it up and had to quit and send it back! Didn't like to admit defeat but there you go! It was an 'Elevation' just in case you are tempted.

[@ff1luver]

I have the D15M as well. I love it! I will play it forever for sure.

[@HelpfulMike]

Yup, it's a beautiful instrument! I play it everyday. I've haven't even picked up the Chartin since around the time I made this video. I really wanted to like it, but I just can't. My housemate and her friend both really prefer the sound of my real Martin D15M to the Chartin. I really need to do another sound test with fresh strings on the real Martin.

[@ff1luver]

Put some elixir lights on. The best sounding strings for the acoustic yet in my opinion.

[@ROY-COLLEY]

Yer I have to agree with myterrybear ,there do seem a lack of treble on the Mahogany one ,Who was the seller of the Martin D45 Please ?

[@michaelashe5265]

The seller was "Allguitar" on DHGate.com. They're no longer using the word 'Martin' on any of their ads apparently. I don't recommend you order from them, or anyone else, but I know it's tempting!

[@ROY-COLLEY]

ok cheers , If I did Order I would have my own name on it anyway

[@AlbinacersGaming]

Did you do the test with all the same make and model strings(New as well)?

[@HelpfulMike]

Yes, the strings were all the same (Martin SP med/light gauge) but the Martin's were a couple months old. The Chartin was the only one with fresh strings. I really should have had fresh strings on all of them...

[@auraman1000]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder..... and hearing in the case of a musical instrument. I've never really gone for expensive guitars like Martin and to me this proves the case, the Chinese guitar seems to have more clarity and attack, apart from the build issues it's the better guitar. Thanks for the review.

[@Lancefrei]

If you want a genuine bone saddle and nut, they are about $1 on many Chinese websites.

[@juana1483]

Where, where, where, huh????😮

[@minder4u1]

I have a great idea Mike, go to the beach play the D15 and use the Chartin for firewood, I am just a bad guitar player but even I can hear the difference

[@samuelcantley5500]

Thank you for letting me know about this guitar my dad's thinking about buying one I told him stay away from these Chinese guitars not a piece of garbage if your gas goes out in the winter time good thing to use for to keep yourself warm but in the fire

[@ve8628]

1.DM-15 2. Chartin 3.DM I had a solid mahogany (top, back, sides) Ukulele (I don't play ukulele), and man...such a warm tone. Mahogany is definitely one of my favorite tone woods, so warm and rounded.

[@kleinball]

Pitseleh at 4:50 ?

[@michaelashe5265]

+kleinball Good ear!

[@Ripprock1]

Martin does laminate???? Thanks for the info and vid.

[@dougs1792]

Hey there, I bought one of these and while it sounds ok it seems kind of tough to play. Pretty sure the guy at the guitar shop would laugh at me if I asked him to set it up properly. Either way I have had similar priced guitars including a Takamene and I have to say I would not waste my money again. I'll go for the real thing next time. Thanks for the helpful review..just confirms I made a mistake.

[@michaelashe5265]

Yep, it's not comfortable to play even after a professional set up. It just doesn't feel good in my hands, or smell good. I think I've only picked it up twice since making this video.

[@banacek60chord43]

Nothing wrong with Takamene, unless the Chinese are copying them too.

[@jimcarleton3190]

Looking to buy one of these locally for $425. Very helpful info. Great job.

[@michaelashe5265]

+Jim “JC” Carleton Are you in the SF bay area? I'll sell you this one for less than that.

[@michaelpilot1000]

Nice review. My guitars ranging over 45 years playing, 54 Strat, 77 Gibson Maurader, 73 Lyle elect, Ovation Breadwinner, 1981 Strat,,ect. All my guitars have been a consesion one way or another, ether cost as the Lyle made in Japan in the 70's or just the limits of each. Of course my 54 Strat is very popular but, even it is still 1950's tech. Funny, my Japanise Gibson style copy was not great , but look how far Japan has come in building guitars and pianos and I expect the same will happen in a short time with China. I was rather surprised the Chinese built guitar stood up as well against real Martins and yes I wore my headphones.

[@robinsongguitars]

Your Martin DM has a solid Sitka Spruce top, not Mahogany. The back and sides are Mahogany, probably laminate, due to the price point. I played a DM back in 2002 and wasn't impressed. The Chinese guitar sounds... well... Chinese: very thin with not a lot of presence. Would not be inspiring for me to play. Most likely would not mellow with age. The polyester finish (easier and faster process) is probably 2-3 times as thick (boo) on the Chinese guitar than a real Martin, which has nitrocellulose lacquer. Now you know why a Martin D45 costs ten grand. Looks nice, though. Nice video...

[@hillbillyhardrocker5547]

The DM has a solid SPRUCE top.

[@VidarLund-k5q]

The sound board. That's the name of the Martin Magazine..

[@Zod741]

Sitka spruce top on the DM. Maybe you need new strings - it's a nice sounding guitar.

[@dlmullins9054]

I am shocked! I think the fake sounds better than either of the Martins.

[@HelpfulMike]

Yep, I know it might sound that way on the recording to some ears. But in person it's a different story, I assure you. My big regret in making this video is that I was too easy on the Chartin. I basically gave it to my sister for free since I never played it.

[@dlmullins9054]

@@HelpfulMike Ok, i have several high end Martin's, Gibson's etc. 170 in all and i hate to watch some reviewers be dishonest. I don't think you are but the China copy i bought is about the best value guitar i have ever owned. It hangs right in there with both my Martin D-35, My D-28 and even my Gibson j-200. In fact i like it better than the 35. Maybe they have improved a lot since this video, but i suggest anyone who wants a great inexpensive flat-top to get a China copy and see for yourself. I think you got a bad one. At least that is what it looks like. I doubt you are being dishonest, but you may be a little prejudiced owning your real Martin's ? Go watch more reviews and comparisons before taking one reviewers word for it. I am very happy i bought mine.

[@fernandocesar2389]

@@dlmullins9054 you should have an ear surgery!

[@Amanet13]

Id totally go with Chinese for the money.Sounds better from all of them.Might not be as deep as your favorite Martin but for me,in the studio is good

[@dlmullins9054]

And you should check your bias.@@fernandocesar2389

[@Chris1Kent]

totally agreed with your opinions regards tone,also thro the pick ups, shame the mahogany 1 don't look like the chartin ..

[@ruscoelee]

Try a Fishman Aura pedal with both pick-ups and see what you think. I use one and I swear by it! I also use it with a Boss Compressor. I wish I'd spent a bit more money and brought the Fishman pedal with the Compressor built in. The advantage of using the pedal is you can use a cheapo electro acoustic live and leave you better quality guitars safely at home.

[@norbertgros6606]

Est ce que c'est du bois en plastic ou du bois d'arbre? Si c'est du bois en plastic, le son sera moins chaud que le son du bois d'arbre.

[@TheInfiniteWay]

"blink blink" or true sound without any doubt Martin D-15M is the real sound I love it.

[@yinyangja]

Thanks...you did a great job comparing. And this video should help people not make the mistake of buying these. Too bad it cost you $500. Anyway, for that money someone could get a really nice acoustic guitar or for $899 there is the Martin Custom D which is actually made in the Martin factory and has solid Spruce Top and solid Mahogany Back and Sides, plus it will hold it's value.

[@HelpfulMike]

I've never heard of the Custom D, I'll have to look into it. And yes, people really should only buy guitars that they've actually played in their own hands. (Unless it's just an investment guitar that you never plan to actually play. Even then I don't recommend buying them online.)

[@robschwartz3004]

If you had a real Martin hd-28 you bought 3 months ago ,would you even consider buying this China Martin d-45 ? I was thinking of buying because it looks like a 8000$ guitar ( to impress people) but after watching your review I wonder if I would end up playing my Hd-28 for the sound.

[@michaelashe5265]

+Rob Schwartz A few months before getting the Chartin, I played a used HD-28V at Guitar Center. Oh man, that thing was a beauty and was only $1200 I think? I wish I had bought it, it was probably the best guitar I've ever played. (I went back a week later to play it again but it was gone) To answer your question, you would NEVER play the China Martin if you had an HD-28, I never play mine. :(

[@robschwartz3004]

+Michael Ashe ~Actually my older brother in another state has the hd28v, I bought the hd 28 thinking that is what he had, so I broke down and bought me my first really good guitar thinking it was like my big brothers, That's why I was thinking of the china version to do him one better, Guess I will let him win another one.( he always does better than me, ha ha) Thanks for the honest advice. By the way ,the shop wanted 3100$ for my hd28 & I got it after walking out and back in the next day for 2200$ . Honest I am not sure if they made a mistake coming down that much as it's brand new with case so I bought it. Not as good as the deal you passed up but pretty good anyway huh? Thanks again for the advice and videos.

[@michaelashe5265]

+Rob Schwartz Sounds like you got a great deal. The used one that I played was like 10 years old. It sounded and played INCREDIBLE but the fact it was used turned me off a little even though technically older guitars are supposed to sound better. Anyway, enjoy your authentic Martin and don't waste your time with Chinese guitars you don't play before buying.

[@brianearlhaines]

The 1st guitar (Martin DM) has a solid Spruce top and laminate Sapele back and sides. There is no mahogany on that guitar. The 2nd guitar (Martin D-15M) is all solid Mahogany. The 3rd guitar (So-called Chartin D45) Has a Spruce top (probably solid) and Rosewood back and sides (probably laminate). I would say that comparing either of these Martin guitars to the Chinese one is very unfair because of the wood they are made out of. Sapele is like Mahogany so both those guitars are going to have very different tone than the Knock off. Off course the all Mahogany one is going to sound deeper and richer than the other ones. That's what Mahogany does.

[@michaelashe5265]

You make great points, and others have made similar comments. I just added an annotation with the correct wood types on the DM, thanks.

[@banacek60chord43]

brianearlhaines Sapele is mahogany family, the grain is much straighter,so not so decorative but easier to work and 'springier'.

[@E11ww]

I like how the chartin sound, but WOW the d15m sound so so good!!!

[@tonycurtis2891]

Mike was a Fishman fitted?

[@scottpc1234]

i own a chartin I can't speak for anyone else and I don't know about y'all but this is as close to a d-45, a guitar that is made down the road from my house that retails for $9,000 as I'm ever going to get so for $299 + free shipping YAHOO froggy went a courtin lol

[@rjmprod]

good review they all sounded different but I thought good.

[@jaydavis7258]

Good review. I own a Martin D35 and I have wondered about the Chinese models. Now I have a better idea of what to expect. Craftsmanship is the key to everything and that is obviously lacking. You may have even found more as you played it. Solid wood IMO always sounds fuller and obviously will age better than a laminate. Good info...

[@HelpfulMike]

+Thomas Davis I'm guessing there are some good Chinese models but it's a gamble I'll never take again. I'm thinking my next guitar will be a Gibson, maybe a Taylor. But it's hard to resist Martin guitars.

[@igorkhomenko9680]

Martin D15M all the way. Even on YT sounds so much more 3D and full of life. Does it smell swiss chocolate :) As sweet as it sounds... ? Thanks for comparison. I was about to get a chinitar, but then went with local buy.

[@michaelashe5265]

+Igor Khomenko Good choice! And yes, it's the best smelling guitar I've ever played! Love it. My next guitar will probably be mahogany back and sides with a brighter sounding wood on top.

[@deenohh3739]

I like the DM the best by far. BTW The DM has a spruce top not mahogany. The all mahogany martin sounds good but emphasizes the lower mids. Sounds warm but doesn't have top end sparkle. The fake sounds like a decent couple of hundred dollar acoustic. Nothing special but sounds like it was worth the cost. In my experience almost all of these Chinese made guitars need some fret work as well as other detail stuff. I have found as of late almost all have really good woods and basic construction and finishing is far better than the cost would indicate. Where they cut corners is on the detail work like fret finishing and qc. Most of the makers throw very few flawed guitars back. A little spit and kleenex and it gets shipped.

[@terryburns1041]

I've had over 82 guitars since I started playing most of them we're Gibsons and fenders and brand names I bought one of these and truthfully I don't really see much difference in the Chinese guitar compared to a Gibson. I did have to make a few adjustments here and there but all in all very nice guitar

[@HelpfulMike]

+Terry Burns You must have gotten a good one. I'm sure there are good Chartins and Chibsons out there but if they send you a crappy one you're basically stuck with it.

[@musichead7036]

What strings do you use? I just started playing guitar not to long ago (3 months) and my G string broke.

[@michaelashe5265]

Martin SP med/light gauge (Great compromise of playability & tone) The Chartin's were about a week old, the two Martin guitars had strings that were about two months old. Been meaning to do another sound test with fresh strings on the real Martin D-15M.

[@nibrashzamanrahat9358]

One should not buy a guitar without playing it...!!!

[@HelpfulMike]

I fully agree!

[@banacek60chord43]

Only if you can send it back.

[@MusicMan922]

Nibrash Zaman Rahat At least not if you plan on using it as a performance guitar. I once bought a cheap, student model Gitano nylon-string from eBay that I intended to use just as a practice guitar. It has served me well for that purpose. Otherwise, I agree that you should play a guitar before you buy it.

[@robbiefest]

Nibrash Zaman Rahat I've bought about 20 guitars via ebay. Maybe 3 of them weren't good. Some of them have been fantastic. You just need to know what you are buying. If you're buying a second hand guitar at a fraction of the new price, you have to take your chances.

[@garyschube]

YES, hands down...hands on FIRST!!

[@ruchirsajwan]

ROFL Chartin!! D-15M is the best!

[@angiep3883]

the fake martin sounds hella good. it has a different sound than the other martin. it has less bass tone. but that doesn't mean it's bad. It just has a different sound. dang!