Martin M-21 Steve Earle Custom Signature Edition

Mitch demos the M-21

On the occasion of a family trip into New York City last weekend, I had time to visit Matt Umanov's Guitar Store in Manhattan and meet one of the guys behind the counter, Mitch Distefano.  An accomplished guitarist himself, Mitch grew up hanging out at the store and has worked there off and on for years while teaching guitar, helping various artists with their songwriting, DJ'g in the City, and performing with various bands.  While pulling down various guitars for me to play, he regaled me with tales of recent celebrity walk-ins, which are a common occurrence at this guitar mecca in the heart of the West Village.  Carlos Santana, for example, anonymously walked in wearing a skull cap recently and other customers were too busy playing away on their instruments to even notice him before he headed back out the door without a word.  Johnny Depp, on the other hand, came in with a bodyguard who had to shoo away the paparazzi to allow him to buy two high-end guitars in peace.

After sampling the Martin 000-28, the HD-28, and a clean 1974 D-18, I asked Mitch whether he had any particularly interesting guitar in the store.  He handed me a beautiful shaded-top Martin M-21 Steve Earle Custom Signature guitar, which Matt Umanov helped Steve Earle design.  The M-size combines a jumbo-sized body (0000) with the slimmer depth of a 000 model.  Matt Umanov helped develop this particular combination after he converted a Martin archtop to a flat top in the 1960s. It was later used as the pattern for the Martin M model, which debuted in the 1970s and has been used extensively by Steve Earle.  First issued in 2008, the M-21 boasts a solid Italian Alpine Spruce top with forward-shifted scalloped bracing, solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides, and a dressed down look that combines various style 18, 21, and 28 appointments.  The old-school headstock, butterbean tuner knobs, and tortoise-color pickguard complete the vintage-looking package, which will set you back $4,000+.

This is a sweet guitar.  The low profile solid Mahogany neck and East Indian Rosewood fretboard plays easily.  The M-sized body is comfortable and light to handle.  The guitar has wonderful presence and a full sound all the way through its high to low registers.  I especially liked the rich bass response. Meanwhile, the understated appointments give it a classic Martin look and feel.  The shaded top on this particular guitar is an additional option that makes for a handsome instrument that looks as good as it sounds.  Give it a try when you get the chance.  You will not be disappointed.