There are now seemingly endless choices of guitar/pickup combinations to suit the needs of players in a variety of styles. In the last few decades, pickups have come a long way for the performing acoustic guitarist. And the first acoustic-electric guitars-like the P-90-equipped Gibson J-160E that John Lennon made famous in his television appearances with the Beatles-didn’t really sound convincingly acoustic either, nor did instruments like Martin’s short-lived D-18E and D-28E of the late 1950s. The Martin GCP-13E is perfect for players who love classic Martin tone but prefer a more modern, balanced sound, while the Fishman MX-T electronics make it perfect for the stage.From the November/December 2019 issue of Acoustic Guitar | BY JANE MILLER AND ADAM PERLMUTTERĪcoustic guitarists who have been around long enough can tell stories about the days of trying to be heard in a band: standing still in front of a mic while battling feedback or using the earliest of aftermarket pickup options and sounding like all wires and no wood. The Fishman MX-T electronics provide volume and tone controls, a phase switch and a tuner all installed along the soundhole. All solid wood materials include a Sitka spruce top, mutenye back and sides and select hardwood (mahogany or Spanish cedar) neck. The preamp and tuner are powered by a single 9-volt battery that can be changed in seconds via the battery box in the guitar’s endblock. The built-in tuner automatically mutes the output when the tuning function is engaged, and the display changes color from blue to green when the plucked note is in tune. The tone control covers a range from a flat setting that preserves the GPC-13E’s natural acoustic tone in impressive detail to scooped midrange that transforms the sound closer to that of a Dreadnought. The Fishman MX-T electronics make the GPC-13E perfect for gigging players.
The playability is simply outstanding with the slim neck profile making it easy to transition from solo lines to chords. The tone is very well suited to fingerstyle playing, but the guitar performs equally well when strumming rhythm parts or picking single-note lines.
#FISHMAN SONITONE MARTIN FULL#
While it has the powerful, commanding bass and loud volume projection of a Dreadnought, the midrange and treble remain prominent, rich and full as well without sounding harsh. The GPC-13E’s distinctive tone delivers the uniform balance and wide frequency range of a modern flat-top without sacrificing the percussive attack and sweet overtones that characterize a classic Martin. (Image credit: Martin Guitar) Performance
A chromatic tuner is mounted below the high E string inside the soundhole with the display pointing up towards the player and the mute/activation button within easy reach. Tone and volume control knobs and a 180-degree phase switch are mounted along the edge of the soundhole above the low E string where they are easily accessible but invisible. The Fishman MX-T electronics are mounted inside the guitar without any holes cut into the sides, which preserves the guitar’s “full acoustic” looks and tone. The neck is also Pleked to provide optimum playability. The fingerboard and bridge are made of FSC-certified Richlite, which is sustainable and not subject to today’s import/export headaches encountered with rosewood or ebony. The neck provides exceptionally comfortable playability and features a 25.4-inch scale length, hand-rubbed finish, 1 ¾-inch fingerboard width at the nut, a slim Performing Artist neck profile and 20 medium frets, which are all easily accessible thanks to the cutaway body design.
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