The Martin D Jr-E Satin is a fantastic example of why you don't necessarily need a full-size Dreadnought to get a big Martin sound. This compact D Junior has a solid spruce top, solid sapele back and sides, scalloped X-bracing, and a full 24.9" scale length, giving it a surprisingly grown-up voice while keeping the physical size noticeably easier to handle. It's comfortable on the couch, comfortable on the road, and comfortable for players who love the sound of a Dreadnought but don't necessarily love wrestling with one. Add Martin's E1 electronics, a built-in tuner, and a softshell case, and you've got one seriously useful little acoustic-electric.
The D Jr-E is part of Martin's Junior Series, and the whole idea behind these guitars is pretty simple: give you much of the playing experience and tonal character of a full-size Martin in a more compact package. The D Junior body is smaller than a traditional Dreadnought, but Martin didn't turn it into a toy. The solid spruce top gives it plenty of dynamic range, while the solid sapele back and sides bring warmth, punchy mids, and clear highs. The scalloped spruce X-bracing helps the top move freely, and the result is a guitar that has considerably more authority than its dimensions might lead you to expect.
And then there's the neck — which is one of the reasons these guitars are so easy to love. Martin uses a Performing Artist Profile with a High-Performance Taper, a 1 3/4" nut, and a 24.9" scale. That's technically a shorter scale than Martin's traditional 25.4" Dreadnought scale, but it's still long enough to feel like a "real" full-scale acoustic rather than a kid's or travel guitar. The Richlite fingerboard has a gently beveled comfort edge, and the guitar is Plek'd for precise fretwork. If you like modern Martin necks, this is a very familiar and very comfortable place to be.
The Satin finish is a big part of the D Jr-E's appeal, too. The natural spruce top and natural-stained sapele body have a straightforward, understated look that feels appropriate for a guitar designed to be played rather than fussed over. Faux tortoise binding and pickguard, a single-ring faux-abalone rosette, Style 28 faux-abalone fingerboard inlays, and satin chrome enclosed-gear tuners give it just enough traditional Martin flavor without making it look overly fancy. The Richlite bridge and fingerboard are also extremely practical choices for a guitar that's meant to travel and see plenty of playing time.
Plug it in and you've got Martin E1 electronics with a built-in chromatic tuner, along with onboard controls for shaping your amplified sound. It's a simple, useful system that makes the D Jr-E equally comfortable at home, on a small stage, at rehearsal, or wherever else you decide to drag your guitar. And because Martin includes a softshell case, you're not immediately shopping for something to carry it in.
If you've always liked the idea of a smaller acoustic but didn't want to give up that Martin feel and Martin voice, the D Jr-E Satin is worth putting in your hands. It's compact without feeling compromised, comfortable without feeling like a "mini" guitar, and capable of making a whole lot more noise than its size suggests. Basically, it's a Martin that's unusually easy to live with — and that's a pretty great combination.
