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I was looking at a row of Martins at Carter Vintage and saw one the didn't look right. It was blond back and sides. Checked the tag. Said Martin J65M. I never heard or seen on before. I is a narrow waisted jumbo shape. I picked it up and noticed it has a fairly flat shaped neck. It feels like a Gibson in your arms. It sounds like a morph between Martin and Gibson tone, bright yet full. Not a great bluegrass instrument more Americana in feel. It mine now. Oh my...
I just wanted to update this post. After a couple of days of hard playing, I found the J65 a bit bright for my playing. I went on Acoustic Guitar forum and found that the J40 is the same basic shape, but with rosewood sides and back. I listened to videos and decided that the J40 was what I wanted. I sold the J65 to the friend I went to Carter's with and found a J40 that was in mint condition. Now that I have had it for a couple of weeks, I am in guitar heaven. It is an Ace of all trade. It does everything extremely well. It plays grass like an HD-28, finger picks like a parlor guitar and has the mids for folk and other genres. I am just amazed. While like the J65 it is a morph between Gibson and Martin, it lies more solidly on the Martin side, which I prefer. Just thought I would share this experience that while not directly mandolin related can be easily appreciated by the Mandolin Cafe family.
When you bought a J40, you bought a fine guitar!
Thanks for posting this! I've been curious about the J40.
It's always nice to find an instrument that really fits you!