With a Little Help From Some Musicians, I Found The Ideal Guitar for Playing at Dwelling

I've played guitar for over a decade at present. Only because I went directly from higher and internships to a decorated office task, I never really had time to play more than than once or twice a week. That's why, fifty-fifty equally my playing improved twelvemonth after year, I never felt the need to trade my inexpensive Yamaha for a guitar that sounded better. But when the pandemic hit and I started working from abode, I plant myself with much more time to play — and much more time to exist frustrated by how my Yamaha sounded pretty weak and flat and could really only be comfortably played when I sabbatum in a specific chair and positioned my trunk merely so.

Then I did what any self-respecting Strategist author would do: I pitched a story that would allow me to ask neat guitarists about the best affordable guitars. One of those guitarists, Lillie W of the ring Lala Lala, told me about a sure guitar fabricated by Martin — the chosen make of my heroes Seth Avett, Jason Isbell, John Prine, and Radiohead's Thom Yorke — that has a body a little smaller than normal. She described information technology equally "more than manageable and, in my opinion, more fun" to play around the house. Together, her praise and my idols' reverence for the Martin sold me, and I justified splurging on (a left-handed model) of the guitar past reminding myself how much I was saving on a monthly subway pass. (I've used that tactic more than in one case this twelvemonth).

Martin Dreadnought Junior 10, Sitka Spruce

It's been 8 months since the guitar arrived, and in that time, I haven't gone more than a couple of days without using information technology. Non only does every chord I play now sound more complex and articulate — and therefore closer to the studio versions of the songs I'thou playing — but the guitar as well holds its tune for far longer, and frankly but feels heavenly to use (particularly with my favorite capo, tuner, and selection). The Dreadnought Inferior's bandbox and sapele surface is incredibly satisfying to the affect — far more then than the lacquered end on my laminated Yamaha — and looks beautiful against the contrasting mother-of-pearl inlays in the fretboard and around the sound hole. And, as Westward promised, I discover its lighter weight and smaller body makes it that much easier to reach for and, more important, that much more comfy to play, whether I'm standing up using a strap, lying in bed, or lounging on the burrow. While I picked upward the Dreadnought Junior after more a decade of playing, information technology's also a guitar that I (along with Westward and some guitar-shop owners) would recommend to true beginners, because its smaller cervix makes it much easier to get your fingers around when learning Ring of Fire.

Editor's notation: This guitar is currently out of stock, merely information technology'southward bachelor for pre-order and expected to send in Apr, according to the retailer.

Martin Dreadnought Junior Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Sitka

Photo: retailer

For those looking to play beyond their living room, for $100 more, y'all can get a version of the guitar that can be plugged into an amplifier or recording setup.

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Helped by Musicians, I Found an Platonic Guitar to Play at Home