Orchestral Manoeuvres

One of Martins most versatile models gets the Reimagined treatment, and comes out of it rather nicely.

- Neville Marten

We’ve reviewed several instruments in Martin’s Reimagined range, so an in-depth description of those reimaginings is probably not required here. But a quick rundown of the upgraders to this great-looking Orchestra Model includes: scalloped bracing; tinted top toner; old style Martin headstock script; open-gear tuners; bold herringbone binding; high-performance neck taper, and vintage-style fingerboard inlays.

It’s good to see Martin giving a bit of love to its Standard line, and not just concentrating on the super-high-end stuff such as the Authentic and signature models. It started with the upgrades to the now brilliant D-18 and – as this is the bread-and-butter of the company’s output – deserves to look right, play right and sound right.

Materials-wise the usual 28-style appointments apply with solid Indian rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top and bracing, and ebony fingerboard and bridge. It also has what Martin calls a ‘select hardwood’ neck – which looks much like the mahogany it always was but is now perhaps the African variety or Spanish cedar, a renowned and very mahogany like tonewood. Headstock overlay is rosewood too, while nut (44.45mm) and saddle (intonation compensated) are both bone. The tuners are Schaller’s take on the classic open-gear Waverleys found on Martins of yore. Overall build, as you would expect for almost three grand, is superlative in and out, although the rather pointy corners of the bone nut would benefit from a slight rounding off with fine silicon carbide paper or a gentle file.