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Generally the playability is good though, I don't get as the hand fatigue playing it as when I first got it. I'm tempted to swap the nut & saddle back to stock and see what difference that makes. I do ponder selling it from time to time though if I'm honest, I just think I want a smaller acoustic, I find myself still lusting after a 00 size. I'm 40 this year and a 00-28 Reimagined is calling me!! Ha! But the J43 is such a pretty guitar still and it gives a great sound, which sweetens when strummed softer.
The thinking is that some fingerstyle players prefer high actions. Lowering the action on a new Martin is usually just a matter of sanding an amount off the bottom of the bridge saddle until you have lowered the action to your taste. Preferably using a measure. A lot of players might be confident enough to do that themselves. It doesn't alter much about the guitar and you can always buy another saddle if you cock it up. A lot of people might change to their favourite saddle material (often bone) and would need to go through this process anyway. Needing to alter the neck relief as a component of lowering the action is much less common.
Also, raising the action is more difficult. A full setup is a job for a tech or a luthier. So better to ship with an easy to adjust slightly high action.
IMHO very few new instruments on today's sophisticated market can be criticised for shipping with a high action really. I would expect to see it quite often and know it was an easy fix. Learning how to differentiate poor neck relief from high action at the bridge is a simple and worthwhile exercise for anyone buying. Or take a mate.
I'm sure there are some outliers that people have come across but a producer wouldn't last long in today's market shipping consistently bad setup.
I did talk to Alister at the Guitar Show last year. They can do different neck profiles, which is what I was interested in. I'm sure they could accomodate a different nut width. I much prefer 1 11/16" to 1 3/4" though. As far as I'm concerned, Atkin have got that right, and the current generation of Martins have got that wrong.
@artiebear Any tips on specific exercises? Thanks.
I'm not a million miles away @Jimbro66, I'm London based. The thought had crossed my mind to take it back to him to see what he/they could do with it. Tbh the corner of the bridge has lifted very slightly so it could/should go back under warranty. By lifted I mean it's not 100% glued down and there's a very slight gap on the bass side.
DavidR said: Not defending Martin particularly but on the "Martins have high action" issue. Yes they do. When they ship. Lots of new acoustics do. It's deliberate.
I totally accept this. This is an old post so I understand how they are shipped and why, in terms of action etc. Considering the sheer amount of technology at Martin (and many, many other manufacturers) it's absolutely purposeful the way they ship them out. I still want a 00-28!!
From feel and sound (and obviously I've only had one example of each) - there wasn't enough difference for me to want to spend a lot more on a 43, if I was buying new. Just my thoughts as a fairly hopeless acoustic player.