Martin D Jr-10 Acoustic Guitar - Natural Spruce Reviews

I'm 60 years old and have been trying to love acoustic guitars, off and on, since the fourth grade. I never got along with dreadnoughts, though. I gave away the last one I owned, which was from a major and well known brand, just to be rid of it. Burt I still wanted an acoustic to compliment my Fender Telecaster. I didn't want a bright, biting guitar; my Telecaster can do that quite well, thank you. I wanted a balanced, warm sound from an acoustic that, at the same time, didn't make me feel like I was wrestling with it. I spent a lot of time researching acoustic guitars before I decided on this Martin, and I love it! This tone is what I was looking for, and it's beautiful, too. Good luck finding an acoustic guitar that has a higher price/quality ratio. I love this!

Just received my DJR-10 a few days ago and what a treat - perfect guitar for me to start playing again - picked at it after the recommended 24 hours and can't put it down - played a 1967 D28 I purchased new when I was in college for 325 dollars - and as you can imagine I loved it - sold it when we started a family (no more D28 but wife of 46 years still with me) - since I'm small to medium in stature and hand size - and remember the dread being a bit unwieldy for me - I decided to go smaller - also I really gravitate to finger picking - Tony (OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING customer service and knowledge) and I discussed a 0018 or 0028 - since I didn't know how seriously I would start playing we decided we would take things in 2 steps - start modest and move up - tossed around starting with a 000 jr or the D jr - decided on the D jr and glad I did - so very comfortable to play - great look and materials - and for it's size outstanding sound accross the range - already called Tony to thank him and when I do get serious about playing again there will be a 00 in the future - that said I will never sell the D jr - I like it that much and always it's nice to have choices - AND - I will always buy my equipment from SweetWater

I love the tone, the playability and the guitar's finish. Nice gig bag too!
Excellent tuners & factory strings.
I am very happy with the overall quality of this instrument and I would recommend it in a heartbeat.

This guitar sounds AMAZING man it just sounds so dang good and super resonant. You can just feel the sound waves and magical vibrations coming from this guitar from the heavens. I've owned all kinds of super expensive guitars through the years like a Gibson USA songwriter deluxe a Taylor 414 grand auditorium and this guitar for a fraction of the prices blows them both outta the water, The Taylor had lower action outta the box straight from the factory but it didn't sound near as good as this Martin and once I get the action lowered and set up with my choice gauge strings 11-52 this will seriously be the best acoustic I have ever owned or played. I just can't believe how great this thing sounds and feels for the price it's unbelievable and unbeatable FORSURE!

Sweetwater was great to work with ! Martin Jr 10 is amazing sound for small guitar . Bought to teach grand kids guitar , I changed strings on it to Exilir 80/20 sounds really good . I would buy again !

Beautiful sounding smaller dreadnought. I was looking for a couch gitar for the family and we are happy with my choice. The guitar was right on point, ready to play right out of the box. Sweetwater has great customer service, second to none.
I couldn't ask for a better sales representative. Thank you Isaac!

This little guy is a joy to own. Light, resonant, and rich sounding with all solid wood, and 3/4"nut. Super comfy size and I actually picked it up as an instrument to try and learn finger picking on. The scale is so short that is far easier than on longer-scaled models. I put on Pearse 80/20s to brighten it up a bit and added their luxe bridge pins which give it a little more volume and sustain I also had K&K mini installed. The brighter strings and pins also made it more fun to strum which I didn't anticipate. It's a great travel guitar and I also love the hand-rubbed oil finish also that it has no lacquer on the neck. No smudges or fingerprints. Wish all my guitars had that. I can't believe how much I like this little instrument and how often I play it considering all my other guitars are high-end Martins. Even with my add ons it was a great buy and is one of my favorite guitars.

The D-Jr-10 is everything I could ask for. It's so easy and fun to play and sounds so good that it has rekindled my passion for playing. The only negative so far was having to wait the 'highly recommended' 24 hours to let the guitar acclimate. Since that ended, I've hardly put it down.

First, the tone is just great – just what I was looking for. It rings with a warm almost earthy quality. Notes are clear and there's good sustain. It has plenty of volume for me when needed but can also be soft with fingerpicking. I suspect the Sapele sides and back keep things from becoming overly bright. Of course, strings are also a large part of how a guitar sounds. In reading reviews about the 'stock' Retro strings, it appears that folks either love them or hate them. Count me in on the love'em side.

The main reason I got a new guitar is I needed some smaller than the dreads I've been playing for the past 50 years. I'm an average sized guy, although my hands are somewhat small, and the dreads have always been a struggle for me due to their size and scale length. They were uncomfortable enough that it was difficult to play for any length of time. As I got older, this got worse and led me to play less and less often.

However, I recently had an opportunity to play my grandson's ¾ parlor guitar. At first, it seemed so little compared to my dreads, but it was so much more comfortable, that playing it was no longer a chore and I was having fun playing again. So, I decided I needed to get my own smaller guitar.

After checking around, I surprised to find that there are quite a few good smaller guitars out there. I was also surprised to find that these smaller guitars can provide great performance for far less $$ than in a 'full-size' one. I figured that it would be harder to get good sound out of a smaller package, and was prepared to pay more to get it. Glad I was wrong about that.

I found that I didn't have to go quite as small as a ¾, and eventually, I narrowed my choices to the D-Jr, the 000-Jr, and the GC Mini. Of those three, I chose the D-Jr, primarily because I liked its sound the best. The solid wood construction of the Martins was a key advantage over the GC Mini. I also liked the more standard 1 ¾" nut & string spacing on the Martins better than the GC Mini as well as the slightly longer scale. The D-Jr also has the same depth as a 000, so it sits closer to my body and is easier to reach around. All in all, it fits me perfectly.

Several D-Jr reviewers complained that the action was a little high. I have not found that to be an issue on the guitar I got. I ordered the guitar without any custom set up, other than Sweetwater's normal 55-point checkup.

Every guitar is different, and every player has their own preferences as to what they're looking for in a guitar. However, if you're looking for a great smaller guitar, you should check out the D-Jr. I wish I'd gotten one years ago.

I rarely am compelled to write reviews, and I should say up front that I'm a bit of a Martin fan boy- but this has just as much to do with the quality of sound and the playability of Martin guitars as it does the name and heritage.

With that out of the way, a couple of years back I decided I wanted to purchase a nice guitar for my daughter as a birthday gift. She's a new player, so I didn't wanna break the bank, but wanted to get her something that she could continue to play as her skill level increased. My first thought was a GS Mini Taylor as my son owns one and I'd had an opportunity to play it. But then I thought "what's the most value packed Martin that I could find" assuming they surely had something equivalent on the market. After doing some research, I stumbled across this guitar. The reviews seem solid and the specs looked fantastic for the price. I reached out to my guy at Sweetwater and placed an order. When the guitar arrived, my expectations were high-ish, but tempered. It is after all a 3/4 scale $500 guitar. But when I unboxed it a day later and took it for a spin, I have to say my mind was blown! I seriously didn't want to put the thing down. My son (that I referenced as being the GS owner) also had an opportunity to play it side by side against his guitar. He immediately vowed to sell the GS and purchase one of these beauties to replace it.

Fast forward to Christmas 2022. As it turns out, my wife also took note of my interest in this little guitar and thoughtfully placed one under the tree along with a nicely upgraded hard case! I was a little bit nervous that my daughter's guitar had been a fluke, a one off, a rare little gem that was different than the run-of-the-mill DJr 10- but I'm pleased to say that it was not the case. In fact, I might say that mine sounds even better (which I didn't think was possible).

As for placement in one's guitar collection. This is great for a smaller player, a beginner, or for anyone looking for a great value proposition. For me, this guitar feels the niche of travel guitar. I can haul it back-and-forth to our Michigan lake cottage from North Carolina without having to worry too much about something happening to it (unlike my go to HD-28). This is partly due to cost, but also do to the design and materials used in the guitars construction. Well, I miss having my HD 28 with me when I'm at the cottage? Maybe occasionally. But this little guitar is fantastically playable produces an incredible amount of clarity and punch and is just a blast to own. Super happy to have it in my collection.

Don't hesitate. No more research needed. Just buy it already. It's Sweetwater after all, so even if you disagree with my assessment (you won't), their fantastic customer service team will take care of you!

So obviously by the title I can't comment on a lot about the guitar and I won't. For as bad as I am since I am a beginner it sounds great to me, but what I can speak to is the customer service of this company. I am in sales and so for the last 20 years I have seen and had good and bad customer services and this company knocks it out of the park. They have been there for my questions from day one, and the guy who processed my order told me to make sure that I call him from here on out about anything. No automated phone calls, just incredible service and knowledge. I am sure I will eventually get an electric guitar and I am sure there will never be another company that I use for ANY musical instrument.

They are the best plain and simple!

Tone. Size. Build Quality. Value. Of course there are better Martins. Better Guitars. But the law of diminishing returns plunges precipitously after you own this one. a solid wood Martin. Phenomenal.

Thank you to Justin and his staff for outstanding service.

I recently purchased and received a Martin D Jr-10 Acoustic guitar. I am VERY extremely satisfied with the service from Sweetwater and the quality of the instrument. I've always wanted to own a guitar bearing the Martin logo and now I'm thrilled that I finally do.
From the start of my dealing with Sweetwater I was treated with respect and professionalism which blew me away. I grew up in a city which was home to a major guitar manufacturer for many years. A lot of the big names in the music business came to the small factory of that company to tell them what they wanted and sample their wares. But of course us local musicians never got anywhere near the inside of the factory and the guitars/basses were priced well above what the majority of us could afford. They were top quality. From the start of my conversation with Matt Christopherson, my Sweetwater Sales Engineer I felt like one of those big name musicians being catered to by that local guitar company. Matt and I discussed my playing needs, what I was looking for and then the customizations such as the level of the action, strings and other setup details I desired. Matt made pertinent suggestions such as including my purchasing a D'Addario Humidipak, something I had not thought of. I admit I was rather excitable that day yet Matt worked me through the deal with patience and kindness. I am very grateful for his efforts.
Matt had emailed me the FedEx tracking number and using that I was able to be right on my front porch to greet the FedEx driver and receive my new guitar.
After placing the package in my house, keeping it sealed for 24 hours so the guitar could adjust to my local temperature and humidity I was able to get to see my beautiful new light finish Spruce top Martin. With very little adjustment to the tuning using my electronic tuner I was able to begin playing. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE SOUND CAME FORTH FROM THIS JUNIOR DREADNOUGHT!! I had requested D'Addario Phosphor Bronze .013-.056 Med strings and the volume and resonance achieved with them on this moderately sized guitar is simply awesome! The action, as customized by the Sweetwater technicians allowed me to play away right from the start even though I've only had a nylon string guitar in my hands for the last couple years. And the sign-off cards confirming the 55-point Sweetwater inspection and the work done by the Luthier again made me feel like a professional being taken care of by a major guitar supplier. My thanks to those pros as well! I can't tell you how lovely this guitar is, pretty yet powerful yet sweet. I can strum away hard and get a strong, rich, full sound with bass strong as I like it. Then I can soften my strum or switch to fingerpicking and find the volume settle down to a quieter sound with echoing fade out at the end. Really a true Martin that reminds me of some I sample played 30-40 years ago. For the price you cannot ask for more.
I've gone on here but that's because I have a lot to say about the extremely high quality of service and product I've received from Sweetwater. I do and will continue to recommend them to musicians of all levels. I'll close by adding how amazed I was to be able to go back into the Sweetwater site after concluding my purchase and finding the EXACT guitar Matt had reserved for me reserved on the site, by the Serial. It just doesn't get any better than that! Thanks so much one more time to Matt and Sweetwater.

Can't beat it ! My 7 year old great niece loves IT! Perfect size for a young person to start on her musical journey. Great quality and sounds surprisingly good. Glad I bought her this. She is very happy and excited!

Sounds great, very comfortable to play, this would be a great guitar for younger players.

Received today and this guitar is absolutely beautiful. It is killing me to wait the 24 hours to allow the guitar to acclimate to the New Mexico weather. Tomorrow can't come quick enough. Really looking forward to playing this guitar. Sweetwater did a great job packaging the guitar and constantly kept me updated the whole time. Evan was a true professional and will definitely use Sweetwater for all my musical needs. A+++

5 stars for Martin and 5 stars for Sweetwater. It showed up in perfect condition, and was completely ready to go. Just barely needed tuning and sound great.

This is not merely a great guitar for the money, just a great guitar.

I was pretty wary of buying a guitar online, but I've had such a good experience with Sweetwater in the past that I figured I'd go for it. I was not disappointed. My sales engineer, Andy, was super helpful with all my questions (including some last minute order changes), and kept me updated as it was being inspected and shipped. The guitar was well packaged, and in great shape when it arrived. (I *was* disappointed in FedEx for taking forever, but first world problems, eh?)

I'm learning to play the guitar in middle age, and I have a history of repetitive stress injuries in my wrists from too much computer use. A 25.5" scale guitar is just way too painful for my small hands to play. Even a 24.75" gives me trouble. I had a sneaking suspicion that I would like the shorter scale on the Dread Jr. I also wanted the wider nut that it has vs. some of the comparable Taylors. I was on the fence for a while about buying a guitar without playing it in person, but being forced to play on a full scale guitar for a few weeks convinced me to bite the bullet. I am so glad I did!

Right out of the box, this thing plays like a dream. I had read reviews elsewhere complaining of the action being too high, but I did not find that at all. The neck is comfortable, and though the body is smaller than a full size dread, it's not so small that it feels like a toy. The strings it comes with are okay, but too mellow and quiet for my taste. I switched them out for D'addario Phosphor Bronze and THIS THING SINGS. The sound is really lovely; I couldn't be happier. Also, I would estimate that my accuracy improved about 30% immediately, just from having a neck that was appropriately sized for my hands. I can also play for hours at a time without pain, where before I'd have to stop after a half hour or less. LOVE. IT.

My only major dislike is the end pin—I wanted to use strap locks, but the end pin hole is a big ol' hole, so there was nothing to screw into. The end pin is the plastic variety that you have to insert yourself. I found it hard to push in, and I couldn't get it fully seated (apparently common in Martins). Even though it feels solid, it still makes me kind of wary about using a strap. But honestly I'm so happy with this guitar that I'd buy it again ten times, even if the end pin was a flashing foam unicorn. (Come to think of it, that would be cool. But I'd buy it even if it couldn't take an end pin.)

Thanks, Sweetwater, and thanks, Martin!

I do not do reviews usually...but put Martin 10's (MA170) on this little gem and be happy!

I bought this is a smaller guitar to keep in my office. Not meant to be for shows (if there were any). A just for me guitar. For that it is amazing. The neck is very well done. The frets are all well rounded and "sides" of the neck feel like glass. Also has a different nut size than normal, but I very much like as I frantically pick with with my fingers. The only "negative" I would give is not about the guitar but some online reviews. Some youtubers claim this is loud for its size. While I can hear it over music in the room and it would work for a small number of people, this is by no means a loud guitar. My 000 is louder. But that is why Peavey invited PAs in the 90's people. Very happy with this guitar.

We as a side note -- I keep coming back to Sweetwater because the guitars come in top condition. I live in Michigan and got this in December. Let it set for a day, opened it up and the darn this was still in tune. That is a sign of a well made guitar that has been handled with care. Thanks again Sweetwater!

The perfect "couch guitar" or songwriter's guitar, meaning something that you can leave on the couch so that it's easily accessible when inspiration hits. Why? Because it's smallish--37.5" long, 24" scale--and inexpensive enough that you won't cry when it's dinged, but it's a comfortable, good-sounding instrument with excellent craftsmanship. I have several expensive guitars that I would never leave out of the case (I have kids), so I need a couch guitar that sits out where I can see it. I played quite literally dozens of alternatives over a few weeks before deciding that this one is the winner. The Taylor GS Mini was great, too (and probably better looking); however, it's got a narrow nut, and my large hands appreciate the full 1.75" nut on this Martin. The GS Mini also has a "bright" tone and I like the "rich" tone of this Martin better. I also played a few Journey travel guitars with 1.75" nuts, which were very good and about 1" less long, but the Martin sounds noticeably better and is a bit cheaper, so that was an easy choice. The Martin's gig bag is a bit less nice than the GS Mini's and much less nice than the Journey's but the Martin bag is perfectly fine, and works well if you want to travel with it. Note, this is much bigger than the Little Martin--it is a totally different instrument, and far better IMHO.

I have been thinking about getting a Taylor GS Mini Mahogany for quite awhile, so the other day I found one with a top I liked, put it in my shopping cart and went to buy it the next day but it had already been sold, so I looked at the other ones Sweetwater had and decided to wait again for one with a top I liked. Meanwhile I stumbled across these Martin's and found out they had recently gone through a redesign. The one thing I was always hesitant about the GS Minis was the somewhat narrow nut, the Martin has a 1.75" nut so I decided to get the Martin. When it first arrived I thought it was not going to sound very full because of the size, after my first strum I was shocked how full and loud it was for the size, very balanced. So I may still get a GS Mini just because I want the mahogany top but I don't think it's possible to sound any better than this Martin. All solid wood Martin with a 1.75" nut... I think it's a great deal!

This guitar looks really nice and I thought it had a good sound. I originally tried it in a local music store some time back and sounded better than when playing it in my house. I already have the Yamaha CSF1M, which is a competitor in the smaller scale guitar market; and I thought they had comparably good sounds. In my opinion the cons for this Martin guitar are: (1) There was a rough spot in the finish; (2) The endpin is a bit challenging to "install" as it's hard to tell if I had it "right"; (3) The finish overall seems too sensitive when reading the manual and it looks that way too compared to the gloss finish on my CSF1M; (4) The gig bad seemed very poor quality, and (5) Martin's customer service is a bit concerning - there is no phone number on their website, you can only submit questions through their site, and I had a difficult time getting responses. Of course Sweetwater will always respond, but it could be a problem if one ever needs to talk directly with the manufacturer.

I did end up returning the Martin guitar, but it is a nice instrument overall; I just felt like the CSF1M was superior with a seemingly more durable quality, comparably good sound, gloss, and a great gig bag.