"Molly Tuttle recalls her initial accumulation of $2,000 through busking, performances, and Christmas money from her grandparents, and describes how her first Martin guitar wound up in Arizona's Musical Instrument Museum."
Molly Tuttle, the renowned bluegrass artist, has a deep-rooted connection with Martin acoustic guitars. This relationship, evident in her performances and recordings, dates back to her early days in music.
Tuttle's first encounter with a Martin guitar was when she bought her first nice guitar as a kid. This was a Martin model, a significant investment that cost her $2,000. As she grew as a musician, she aspired to own a Martin guitar, viewing them as the instruments of choice for her favourite guitar players.
In college, Tuttle graduated to a '48 D-18, a vintage Martin guitar. This guitar, like many others in her collection, experienced travel and wear during her tours. However, she felt that she was damaging the vintage Martin due to travel and lack of adjustable action, leading her to sell it. This vintage Martin is now housed in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
Since selling the vintage Martin, Tuttle has been using different guitars. One of her most notable choices was a Simon & Patrick guitar, a sister brand of Martin, which she described as a reliable workhorse for gigs.
Tuttle's distinctive bluegrass-based sound is partly attributed to the guitar pick of choice she revealed last month. This unique pick has contributed significantly to her sound. More recently, she has been using a custom, tour-proof Martin guitar at her shows.
Tuttle met a woman in Nashville who works with Martin, who asked if she played Martin guitars. This encounter led to her meeting with Martin representatives and eventually to her current Martin Crooked Tree dreadnought guitar, which she showcased along with her bluegrass licks in recent videos from 2025.
In "Villain Heart," Tuttle specifically featured a Martin guitar, illustrating the importance of the guitar in her creative process. The natural wear on her current Martin guitars is a testament to her long-term dedication and deep connection to the brand.
In conclusion, Molly Tuttle's relationship with Martin acoustic guitars spans from early career use of sister brand instruments to her current prominent use of Martin’s high-end dreadnought models, such as the Crooked Tree, which are integral to her sound and musical expression.
- Molly Tuttle, fascinated by her favorite guitarists' preference for Martin guitars, aspired to own one during her growth as a musician.
- In college, Tuttle owned a vintage Martin D-18 guitar, but found it too delicate for the wear and travel of tours, eventually selling it to the Musical Instrument Museum.
- After selling the vintage Martin, Tuttle began using other guitars, including a reliable Simon & Patrick guitar for gigs.
- Recently, Tuttle showcased her Martin Crooked Tree dreadnought guitar in her videos, a result of her meeting with Martin representatives after being asked about her Martin guitar use in Nashville.
- As demonstrated in her songs like "Villain Heart," the Martin guitar plays a crucial role in Tuttle's creative process and musical expression.
