Martin Guitars D-200 Deluxe for $135,000: Luxury or Waste of Money?
It may be expensive, but you get a free watch!
2,8 / 5,0 | 
This Martin D-200 Deluxe is arguably one of the most expensive list price guitars ever. Celebrating Martin’s 2000000th serial number since 1833, what makes it so special?
Martin D-200 Deluxe from 2017
Now, the D-200 Deluxe isn’t a brand new release. Back in 2017, the guys and girls at Martin must have been enjoying some pretty strong substances to come up with this one.
To mark their two millionth serial number since production of the D-200 Deluxe began in the early 1800s, Martin put together this extravagant guitar. Naturally, a special limited edition model is nothing new from manufacturers. However, does this price tag lead us to believe it’s any different from anyone else?
Exquisite Materials?
There’s no beating around the bush, this Dreadnought acoustic guitar costs €149,990 / £127,800 / $135,000, depending on where you’re based. Therefore, we’d hope to find a fingerboard derived from the wooden casket of the devil himself, or strings made from the thickest Unicorn hair… Right?
Initially, things start off pretty tame. We’ve got Rio rosewood back and sides, accompanying an Engelmann spruce top. Although, the spruce top does feature some aluminium engraving to signify that this guitar has been made in collaboration with notable watchmaker, Roland G. Murphy.
Working our way up the mahogany neck, we’ll find more of that fancy rosewood on the headstock. Just like you’ll find on a guitar a tenth of this price, there’s a bone nut. Moreover, we’ve got open nickel tuners. Therefore, it’ll stay in tune most of the time. And so it should for the money!
Watchmaker Design Language
In addition to the aluminium inlays across the body, the fretboard inlays are also a work of art. Featuring shells and wood and a custom watch theme.
Most guitars come with a free gift, be that a sticker or a set of picks. Not here. Collectors should welcome the addition of what Martin call a wearable edition from RGM. Yeah? I would hope you’d be able to wear it too. Joking aside, the timepiece features design elements from the Martin D-200 deluxe and shares the unique serial number.
Limited Edition
Buy now while stocks last! Unsurprisingly, there are still some of these guitars available. Limited to just 50 units worldwide, you can purchase a D-200 Deluxe from *Thomann directly.
Personally, I can’t see the justification behind the hefty price tag. Furthermore, the word deluxe just doesn’t quite cut it. There aren’t enough adjectives in the English language to best match the price. Was this John Lennon’s first guitar? No. Did Kurt Cobain clutch it in his dying moments? No.
They’d have both laughed at the price, and the lack of pickups. However, you can’t knock Martin for trying…
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