Martin?s Performing Artists series of acoustic guitars are characterized by the use of a number of sustainable man made materials together with solid woods.
To the purest, they might not like the sound of a fingerboard made from Richlite or a nut made of Corian. But once you play one of these guitars you realize that they actually play and sound really nice, in spite of, or perhaps because of, those man made materials.
And you get the added bonus of a lower?price and being better for the environment.
Overview of the Performing Artist Series
Below is a list of all the guitars in the performing artist series.
There is reasonably wide price range in the Performing Artist series with the lowest priced model being $999 (USD MSRP) and the highest being $2449 (USD MSRP).
We can further split the Performing Artists (PA) into PA 5 series and PA 4 Series. The PA 4 series guitars feature solid backs and sides and solid wood necks, whereas the PA 5 series guitars have high pressure laminate (HPL) back and sides and laminate Birch necks. But you?ll see this in more detail as we look at each guitar below.
O.k. here they are:
- DCPA5
- DCPA5K
- DCPA5 Black
- GPCPA5
- GPCPA5K
- GPCPA5 Black
- OMCPA5 Black
- DCPA4
- DCPA4 Rosewood
- GPCPA4
- GPCPA4 Rosewood
- GPCPA4 Shaded
- GPC12PA4
- OMCPA4
- OMCPA4 Rosewood
These names may sound confusing at first but they are all logical and once we break down the individual guitars you should have a good understanding of the similarities and differences between these guitars.
All prices are the manufacturer?s suggested retail price (MSRP) in US dollars.
Performing Artist 5 Series
O.k. let?s start with the 5 series guitars and then we?ll take a look at the 4 series.
DCPA5 – MSRP $999
Let?s start with the Dreadnought models, beginning with the DCPA5. Let?s first take a look at the name to make it easier to understand and then we?ll look at the guitar?s specs.
D = Dreadnought size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
5 = HPL Back and Sides, Birch Laminate Neck
So it?s pretty simple when you look at it.
The DCPA5 features:
- Body Shape/Size: Dreadnought
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Mahogany Patterned Back and Sides
- Scalloped X Bracing
- Rust Birch Laminate Neck
- FSC? Certified Richlite Fingerboard
- 25.4? (645mm) scale length
- 1.75? (44mm) nut width
- White Corian Nut
- FSC? Certified Richlite Bridge with Compensated white Tusq saddle
- Cutaway: Yes
- Electronics: Fishman F1 Analog
In a lot of ways this guitar is similar to Martin?s X series guitars with the major difference being that they use Fishman F1 Analog electronics and that they all have cutaways. Some of the X series models don?t have cutaways and they have Fishman Sonitone electronics.
The F1 analog system is definitely a step up from the Sonitone though – so if you were going to be plugging in a lot, then the DCPA5 might well be preferable over something like the DX1AE (from the X series).
Especially so if you want a cutaway too.
DCPA5K – MSRP $999
D = Dreadnought size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
5 = HPL Back and Sides, Birch Laminate Neck
K = The HPL is Koa Patterned
The DCPA5K is essentially the same guitar as the DCPA5. There are a couple of differences:
- The HPL on the back and sides is Koa patterned
- The Birch Laminate neck is brown rather than rust colored
The HPL?Koa won’t make as much difference to the sound as if it was solid Koa but will make some?difference to the sound?- but?the choice between the two might also come down to which one you like the look of the most.
DCPA5 Black – MSRP $999
The last of the Dreadnoughts in the PA 5 series is the DCPA5 Black. This is very similar to the DCPA5 and the DCPA5K except for one major difference – and a couple of minor ones.
D = Dreadnought size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
5 = HPL Back and Sides, Birch Laminate Neck
Black = Black HPL Top, Back and Sides
The major difference is that it has an HPL top as opposed to the Solid Sitka Spruce top on the other two. In my opinion I would go for one of the solid top options (the price is the same) unless you?re really set on getting a black guitar.
The other minor differences are:
- Black Corian nut (as opposed to white Corian)
- Black Birch Laminate neck (as opposed to the Brown Birch and Rust Birch)
- Black Saddle
These are only cosmetic differences though.
GPCPA5 – MSRP $999
The first of our Grand Performance models is the GPCPA5.
GP = Grand Performance size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
5 = HPL Back and Sides, Birch Laminate Neck
The GPCPA5 features:
- Body Shape/Size: Grand Performance
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Mahogany Patterned Back and Sides
- Scalloped X Bracing
- Rust Birch Laminate Neck
- FSC? Certified Richlite Fingerboard
- 25.4? (645mm) scale length
- 1.75? (44mm) nut width
- White Corian Nut
- FSC? Certified Richlite Bridge with Compensated white Tusq saddle
- Cutaway: Yes
- Electronics: Fishman F1 Analog
The major difference between this guitar and the DCPA5 is the shape/size of the body. This is Martin?s Grand Performance size/shape. You can see the difference in size in the table below. The shape features a more defined waist as compared to the dreadnought.
| Dreadnought | Grand Performance | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Length | 40 | |
The only difference is the shape but this will affect the tone and feel of the guitar. It produces a less boomy and more mid-range strong, more rounded sound than the dreadnought (in my opinion).
>>Check out Six String Acoustic?s Full Review of the GPCPA5K here
GPCPA5K – MSRP $999
GP = Grand Performance size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
5 = HPL Back and Sides, Birch Laminate Neck
K = The HPL is Koa Patterned
Like the DCPA5K compared to the DCPA5, the GPCPA5K is practically identical to the GPCPA5 except that it has:
- Koa patterned HPL back and sides; and
- Brown (as opposed to rust) colored birch laminate neck
The choice between the GPCPA5K and the GPCPA5 will be down to what you like the look of the most and the subtle sound difference between the HPL Mahogany and HPL Koa.
>>Check out Six String Acoustic?s Full Review of the GPCPA5K here
GPCPA5 Black – MSRP $999
GP = Grand Performance size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
5 = HPL Back and Sides, Birch Laminate Neck
Black = Black HPL Top, Back and Sides
The major difference here is that it has a black HPL top in place of the Solid Sitka Spruce top on the other Grand Performance models. Again, in my opinion, I?d go for one of the solid top versions.
This is essentially the Grand Performance version of the DCPA5 Black outlined above.
OMCPA5 Black – MSRP $999
OM = OM (aka 000) size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
5 = HPL Back and Sides, Birch Laminate Neck
Black = Black HPL Top, Back and Sides
The last of the 5 series models is the OMCPA5 Black. This is essentially the same as the GPCPA5 Black and the DCPA5 Black – except that it is Martin?s OM shape/size guitar.
So this one has the Jett Black HPL top on it – so no solid top on this one.
You can see what the difference is between the OM (aka 000) size and the other sizes is in the table below.
| Dreadnought | Grand Performance | 00 | 000 (OM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Length | 40 | |||
Performing Artist 4?Series
Now we get into the PA 4?series. This series is characterized by solid wood backs and sides and solid wood necks. This also corresponds to a significant jump in price.
The other difference is the Dovetail neck joint – whereas the 4 series Performing Artist Models have a Mortise and Tenon neck joint.
O.k. let?s take a look at each guitar.
DCPA4 – MSRP $2,149
Starting with the dreadnought models again, let?s take a look at the DCPA4.
D = Dreadnought size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
The DCPA4 features:
- Body Shape/Size: Dreadnought
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Solid Sapele Back and Sides
- Scalloped X Bracing
- Select Hardwood Neck
- FSC? Certified Richlite Fingerboard
- 25.4? (645mm) scale length
- 1.75? (44mm) nut width
- White Corian Nut
- FSC? Certified Richlite Bridge with Compensated white Tusq saddle
- Cutaway: Yes
- Electronics: Fishman F1 Analog
Sapele is a Mahogany-like wood and is a great pairing to go with the Sitka Spruce top.
The DCPA4 will sound nicer than the DCPA5, no doubt about it. The only question is whether you consider that sound improvement to be worth the extra money. That?s entirely a personal decision that will differ depending on each person?s tonal preferences and their budget.
DCPA4 Rosewood – MSRP $2,399
The second and final dreadnought option in the 4 series is the DCPA4 Rosewood.
D = Dreadnought size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
Rosewood = Solid East Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
So, as you?ve probably guessed, the only difference between the DCPA4 and the DCPA4 Rosewood is that the latter has Solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides in place of the Sapele on the DCPA4.
This (as is usually the case with Rosewood vs Sapele/Mahogany) also bumps the price up a bit. But this doesn?t necessarily mean that your decision is only based on price. Some prefer the sound of Sapele back and sides over Rosewood and some are the opposite.
So the major decision between the two is essentially what you like the sound of more.
The Rosewood will help to bring out more pronounced highs and lows and more overtones.
The Sapele will help to produce a stronger mid-rangey, warmer type of tone with more subtle overtones.
GPCPA4 – MSRP $2,149
Now we get into the Grand Performance models, staring with the GPCPA4
GP = Grand Performance size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
You guessed it, the major difference between this and the DCPA4 is the body shape/size. That?s it really. That said, the shape makes a significant change to the tone.
You can see how the size differs to the dreadnought size in the table below. The shape features a more defined waist between the upper and lower bouts.
| Dreadnought | Grand Performance | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Length | 40 | |
The only other minor difference that I noticed was that the inlay dots are at the top of the fingerboard as opposed to in the middle.
GPCPA4 Rosewood – MSRP $2,399
GP = Grand Performance size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
Rosewood = Solid East Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
This model is the same as the GPCPA4 except that it has the Solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides.
You could also look at is the DCPA4 Rosewood except with a Grand Performance body shape.
GPCPA4 Shaded – MSRP $2,299
GP = Grand Performance size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
Shaded = Shaded finish on the top
The only differences between this and the GPCPA4 are cosmetic differences, including:
- The top is in a shaded finish
- The back and sides have a different look
I really like the look of this guitar but that?s my personal preference. The only consideration between this and the GPCPA4 is what you prefer the look of – and if you want to pay the slight increase in price for the shaded version.
GPC12PA4 – MSRP $2,299
The first, and only 12 string guitar in the Performing Artist series is the GPC12PA4.
GP = Grand Performance size/shape
C = Cutaway
12 = 12 string
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
The guitar is essentially, materials-wise, the 12 string version of the GPCPA4. The obvious difference being that it has 12 strings!
The other thing is that it has a wider neck (necessarily to house the extra strings). The GPC12PA4?s nut width is 1 13/16? (46mm).
OMCPA4 – MSRP $2,149
The first of the 4 series in the OM shape is the OMCPA4.
OM = OM (aka 000) size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
This model is essentially the same guitar as the DCPA4 and the GPCPA4 models, except for one major difference – the size/shape.
You can see the difference in the size of the OM (aka 000) compared to the Dreadnought and Grand Performance shapes in the table below.
| Dreadnought | Grand Performance | 00 | 000 (OM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Length | 40 | |||
OMCPA4 Rosewood – MSRP $2,399
Finally, last but not least, we have the OMCPA4 Rosewood.
OM = OM (aka 000) size/shape
C = Cutaway
PA = Performing Artist Series
4 = Solid Wood Back and Sides, Solid Wood Neck
Rosewood = Solid East Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
The OMCPA4 Rosewood is the same as the DCPA4 Rosewood and the GPCPA4 Rosewood, except that it?s the OM (aka 000) size/shape).
Said another way – it?s the same as the OMCPA4 except that it has solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides.
Final Thoughts
Though there are 15 different guitars in the Performing Artist series, there are more similarities than differences between each model. But the differences are enough that you should be able to find one that suits you – if you are looking for a guitar in this price range with a Sitka Spruce top.
As a quick Recap:
- 15 different performance artist series guitars
- 7 in the Performing Artist 5 series
- 8 in the Performing Artist 4 series
- The 5 series has 3 Dreadnought options, 3 GP options and 1 OM option
- The 4 series has 2 Dreadnought options, 4 GP options and 2 OM options
- The major differences between the 4 series and the 5 series is that the 4 series guitars have solid wood (Sapele or Rosewood depending on the model) and solid wood necks, whereas the 5 series guitars have HPL back and sides and birch laminate necks
Larry Owen says
Question: I recently visited the Martin Co. factory & played several guitars. Loved one in particular. Wrote the serial # down, but when I got home, I realized I had put it under the heading D-35, yet I thought I remembered it as a GP or OM shape. Any way I can find out what the model really was? Thanks.