A Jumbo-size Refresh to Martin’s Classic J-40
The J-40 represents the largest of Martin’s time-tested Standard series instruments, and it’s the go-to Martin for guitarists who crave the thunderous sound and subterranean bass response that only a jumbo-size guitar can deliver. Moreover, this refreshed Standard series J-40 turns back the clock to Martin’s most cherished vintage era, elevating the J-40 with historic features from the company’s prewar era and introducing a selection of performance-minded enhancements. Most notably, the refreshed J-40’s solid spruce top now boasts GE-scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing to maximize its response and resonance. A set of rosewood back and sides then complements the top with complex overtones, shimmering highs, and enough booming low-end firepower to send nearby parlor guitars running. Plus, the select hardwood neck’s GE Modified Low Oval profile and 1.75-inch nut width are geared to please high-speed flatpickers, fingerstyle pros, and couch strummers alike with its fast and comfortable feel. You also get a host of Standard series refresh upgrades, including a thinner beveled ebony fingerboard and a sleek vintage heel. For the guitarist looking to rise above (both visually and sonically) the sea of dreadnoughts and 000s, the Martin J-40’s roaring voice is a jumbo-size revelation in 6-string form.
Related Videos: J-40 Standard Series Acoustic Guitar - Natural Aging Toner
Timeless tonewood formula
Since the dawn of the dreadnought guitar, spruce and rosewood have reigned supreme as a truly iconic tonewood combination. Martin’s refreshed J-40 carries on this time-tested tradition, starting with a resonant and responsive solid spruce top. Underneath the top, Martin’s GE-scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing recalls the booming bass drawl of the brand’s legendary prewar models. It’s all topped off with a set of rosewood back and sides that shimmer with crisp top-end chime, dense lows, and a rich harmonic depth that imbues your every note with harmonic complexity.
Superior square-shouldered jumbo power
Jumbo in size, jumbo in sound, the J-40 ranks among the most powerful and projecting of Martin’s body sizes. Unlike the usual jumbo candidates you’d find from other historic guitar builders, the Martin jumbo differs in its square-shouldered profile, and Sweetwater’s Martin obsessives are quick to point out that Martin’s jumbo profile is essentially a deeper variation of the brand’s M-style (or OOOO) body style. Technical tidbits aside, the sheer surface area of the J-40’s body produces a cavernous degree of low-end depth, along with enough volume and power to rise above even the most formidable of 6-strings. Plus, while it’s easy to peg the J-40 for a full-bore strummer, this guitar’s old-school Golden Age bracing ensures that it’s no slouch when it comes to more intimate sonic applications.
Standard series: revisiting timeless Martin tradition
Considering the storied history of Martin’s acoustic guitar engineering and building practices, there’s no question that the company’s iconic models stand firm as the backbone of American steel-string instrument design. With this sentiment top of mind, Martin presents the refreshed Standard series: a lineup dedicated to reviving the looks and tone of the brand’s golden-era vintage models while introducing a complex set of modern performance enhancements. The result is a comprehensive update to Martin’s most revered range of instruments, combining tonal authenticity with the comfort and versatility of a contemporary instrument. Across-the-board changes include remarkably responsive GE (Golden Era) bracing, thinner fingerboards with beveled edges, a slick vintage-style heel, angled nuts, and GE belly bridges equipped with bone or ebony bridge pins. What’s more, the refreshed standard series introduces a fresh new trio of Martin models back into the fold, including the iconic 000-17, D-17, and OM-45. Refreshed with a plethora of musician-requested features, the Standard series harnesses the power of these legendary acoustics and takes center stage once again.
Martin J-40 Standard Features:
- A refresh to Martin’s iconic Standard series J-40, reimagining the model with several key specs from the company’s golden-era models
- Solid spruce top supported by GE-scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing supplies massive unplugged punch and projection, along with a truly touch-sensitive response
- Solid rosewood back and sides deliver a deep and rich character with shimmering overtones, powerful low end, and clarity-packed highs
- Jumbo-size body hits hard with chest-thumping bass and superior projection
- Easy-playing genuine mahogany neck, capped with a slick satin finish and carved into Martin’s GE Modified Low Oval neck profile
- Sleek 16-in.-radius ebony fingerboard with traditional Style 28 inlays
- Nickel open-gear tuners preserve pitch-perfect stability and grant a touch of old-school charm
- Premium bone nut and compensated saddle, along with an ebony bridge and bone bridge pins
- Additional Standard series refresh features include a thinner fingerboard with comfortably beveled edges, a vintage-style heel, and an angled nut
- 1.75-in. nut width is slim enough for strummers and wide enough to accommodate fingerpickers
- High-class aesthetic appointments include white fingerboard binding, reduced hexagon inlays, and a gorgeous abalone rosette
