Martinez - MC-18 Toledo 4/4

When played, the Martinez MC-18 Toledo 4/4 produces a round, woody tone, thanks to its laminated spruce top, enhanced by a wooden rosette around the soundhole which projects warm harmonics from the very first notes. The sapelli back and sides add depth to the bass notes, whilst the treble remains clear. The amaranth bridge transmits the vibrations of the strings with precision and gives body to every barre chord.

The okoumé neck, combined with an amaranth fingerboard, feels stable under the palm and glides smoothly from fret to fret. The double-action truss rod maintains adjustable neck action over time, a useful feature for a production guitar exposed to changing climatic conditions. Nineteen frets, marked with mother-of-pearl inlays at the 5th, 7th and 9th frets, help with positioning, whilst the 52 mm bone nut provides sufficient space between the strings for classical fingerstyle playing. The Martinez S3 tuning machines hold their tuning without excessive drift.

Finished in a natural satin finish that reveals the wood’s grain, this 4/4 classical guitar is ideal for beginners or those returning to the instrument in an educational or family setting. Alice medium-gauge nylon strings are fitted as standard and allow plenty of scope for improvement before the first change is needed. The included gig bag protects the instrument between lessons or whilst travelling, a useful feature for this beginner’s guitar manufactured in China under the Martinez brand.