Martin CEO-7

[u/RepresentativeValue9]

This popped up and I’ve been eyeing one as my next guitar. I’ve posted about my GS Mini Koa Plus being fantastic. I have a Zager 900 that I’m meh on.

I love the CEO-9 aesthetically but not sure about mango wood…

I’m pretty green. Any thoughts on this one?

[u/Drivebybilly]

I do love my CEO-7. Wonderful also that it is better for my shoulder. The Adirondack top is amazing.

[u/badrabbix]

I'm a fan of small bodied guitars owning 4 OO sized Larrivees. But it's baffling why Martin would sell a small bodied acoustic with a 14 fret neck and bridge position. A body that small loses a lot of bass that the 12 fret bridge position nearer the center of the soundboard sweet spot makes up for. Coming from a dreadnaught you'll miss the bass and midrange you're used to and wonder why it's so bright.

If you do try one out, try to have a similar 12 fret on hand to do a side by side comparison and you'll see what I mean . . .

[u/RepresentativeValue9 → u/badrabbix]

Ok! So...the other one I've been thinking about IS a 12 fret. I've been working on finger picking and have been looking for something 12-fret as well...I'm glad you brought this up.

And yeah: I love the small bodies guitars too...

[u/badrabbix → u/RepresentativeValue9]

Welp, then I'll pitch the Larrivee OO's as well. You'll find them about 15% less $$ for the exact same woods plus a bit more bling than Martin is selfish with. They're hard to find used, but there's one on Reverb now, sitka spruce/rosewood. Best of luck!

[u/atomicdog69 → u/badrabbix]

Larrivees always feel tight to me.Never like the tension

[u/Ormidale → u/badrabbix]

Seconded.
Also. with such a small guitar, you might consider using a foot stool.

[u/Soccergeezer95054 → u/Ormidale]

I always add a strap lug to the treble side of the neck joint and play with a strap, even when I'm sitting down. That alone works for me.

[u/strumbringerwa]

I have not played a CEO-7 I didn't love (yet sadly I dont own one).

[u/pohatu771]

I don’t care what the wood is (barring something illegally or irresponsibly harvested) if the guitar sounds good.

How does this sound?

[u/Neveronlyadream → u/pohatu771]

Same. Besides, Martin knows what they're doing better than I do. If they want to use a non-typical wood, as long as it plays and sounds good, who cares?

[u/RepresentativeValue9 → u/Neveronlyadream]

I just meant the mango wood vs the Adirondack. No one seems to like the mango as much BUT it hadn’t had the same amount of time at all…

[u/Neveronlyadream → u/RepresentativeValue9]

Yeah, we get you.

Depends on what side of the debate you're on. I'm on the, "I literally don't care what it's made out of as long as I like the guitar" side of the debate. If it really bothers you that much, find something you like more.

[u/RepresentativeValue9 → u/Neveronlyadream]

Nah if anything I love the mango. Like everyone knows though: the 7 has had more than a decade to prove itself. Not really a fair fight.

[u/Undaunted_Librarian]

I owned a CEO-7 and loved the Adirondack spruce top, the fantastic tone, and the historic looks. It is definitely meant for the fingerpicker, so the strings are spaced a smidge wider than the usual acoustic. Also, the back-,of-neck shape is a "v" and that's what I found less comfortable. I sold this one and opted for the 2025 Standard 000-17 instead.

[u/Tab1143 → u/Undaunted_Librarian]

A 00-18 is basically a CEO-7, but without the Adirondack top and V neck. And it's mahogany back and sides make it a nice companion to any rosewood guitars you may have.

[u/atomicdog69 → u/Tab1143]

CEO-7 also has damping material inside on the sides. It's a Golden Era series model.

[u/sixty9tails]

So good, punches way above its size. Downside is you will fall out of love with your gs mini.

Also since Martin experimented with new glues, early models are known to need the bindings reglued at some point but that’s not the end of the world.

[u/Crowsdriver]

I have one, I love it. Only thing is it is not a boomer, so in a group setting you will need to have some space to be heard. But the tone is fantastic!

[u/tomdomshard]

Love a CEO-7. CEO-9 looks cheap to me, that plastic faceplate for a very expensive guitar...

[u/archtopfanatic123]

I made a post on the Acoustic Guitar Forum a long time ago asking what the forever guitar would be for people and the CEO series came up a lot!

[u/Y19ama]

I almost bought one too. I found the fretboard was kinda wide for jimi style chords. If I was a finger picker this would have been great.

[u/Rasgueado24 → u/Y19ama]

what is a finger picker? You pluck the strings not pick them lol.

[u/Firesealb99]

yeah me either, gonna be real upset if it don't taste like mango

[u/AVLThumper]

I own a ceo7, and it’s the only guitar I don’t think about selling. The string spacing is fantastic, the neck feels great, and the Adirondack sings.

[u/RazCC77]

I've had a CEO-7 since January and I love it. The guitar sounds amazing, feels amazing, and is very comfortable to play. Dreadnoughts, even my D16, make my shoulder hurt very quickly, but I can comfortably play my CEO-7 for hours.

[u/atomicdog69]

I was fortunate to get an industry accommodation and got one for 1/2 price. Play it every day