Dreadnought guitars

Martin drew the dreadnought in 1916 for the Ditson company and named it after the battleship, and for a century it has been the shape most people mean when they say acoustic guitar. Big bass, big volume, and the voice of bluegrass, country and most of the folk revival. Gibson's slope-shouldered J-45 and J-35 are the same idea with a rounder shoulder and a drier, punchier sound.

The range here runs from 1950s and 60s Martin D-28s and D-18s and 1940s and 50s J-45s, through the current Martin Standard and Modern Deluxe series, to Sigma dreadnoughts for players starting out. Every one is set up on the bench before it leaves, and vintage examples are described with repairs and replaced parts stated. Play them at Victoria Park Market in Auckland.