The original J-40 model was introduced in 1985 and helped pave Martin's pathway beyond the jungle of Dreadnought models that had dominated what a large Martin guitar looked like. The rosewood body with deep sides delivers ample bass but the narrower waist helps the treble response to balance it. That deeper curve at the waist also means the guitar sits lower on your thigh when seated so it feels like a smaller guitar than it actually is. The neck binding and inlays, with a pearl soundhole rosette, are all details that have defined Martin's more deluxe standard models. Combined with its low-profile neck and smooth string action the J-40 is a both iconic and contemporary Martin acoustic guitar.
