We Tested the New Martin Road Series. | (Should We Be Worried?)

It’s the ultimate showdown: the newly refreshed 2026 Martin Road Series Retro vs. the legendary Martin Standard Series. We are putting them head-to-head in 5 key categories: Tone, Playability, Build Quality, Value, and Overall Legacy. Watch and listen as we compare the D-12E vs. the D-18 and the D-13E vs. the D-28. Does the new "Retro" styling, including aging toner and scalloped bracing, bridge the gap between Martin’s affordable line and their Nazareth-made icons? We have high-quality audio samples of both pairings so you can hear the difference for yourself! 🔗Pre-Order the new Road Series Today! - https://theacousticshoppe.com/collect... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👕Get Your TAS Merch!: https://theacousticshoppe.com/collect... 🪕Instruments At TAS -- ⌁Guitars: https://theacousticshoppe.com/collect... ⌁New Arrivals: https://theacousticshoppe.com/collect... ⌁Mandolins: https://theacousticshoppe.com/collect... ⌁Banjos: https://theacousticshoppe.com/collect... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 - Rules of Comparing! 01:02 - Road Series Refresh 01:34 - D-12 vs D-18 Flatpicking 03:08 - The Tone 03:38 - D-12 vs D-18 Fingerpicking 04:12 - Build Quality 05:06 - D-12 vs D-18 Strumming 05:53 - Playability 06:37 - D-13 vs D-28 Flatpicking 08:16 - Value 09:20 - D-13 vs D-28 Fingerpicking 09:45 - Overall Legacy 11:01 - D-13 vs D-18 Strumming 11:46 - Our Conclusions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🌎Follow The Acoustic Shoppe Everywhere! -- Facebook:   / theacousticshoppe   Instagram:   / theacousticshoppe   TikTok:   / theacousticshoppe   TAS Knows People Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1yM0Y64... Our Website: https://www.theacousticshoppe.com/ Reverb: https://reverb.com/shop/the-acoustic-... 🎙️We use Ear Trumpet Labs Microphones for instrument demos - Thank you Ear Trumpet Labs! https://www.eartrumpetlabs.com/ 👍Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit that bell icon to stay updated with all things Acoustic Shoppe. Follow us on our journey through the music world, and share your thoughts in the comments below! #BluegrassMusic #AcousticGuitar #GuitarInstrumental #MusicLovers #TheAcousticShoppeReviews