It sounds like you may need a truss rod adjustment. I have a Bourgeois Slope D (dreadnought size) that has a very low action, but just today after not playing if for a while, I just tuned it up (had tuned it down a bit more because I wasn't playing it) and it played great in DADGAD, no buzzing, no clanging, no 88 Honda with a lightguage on! I also have two other guitars that I tuned to DADGAD and had no problems either, and neither have high actions, but they do have a little relief in the fingerboard (negative bow) which makes it work.toasty wrote:It ain't that simple - and I truely wish it was.Wombat wrote:Here's a possible explanation. Your guitar was probably set up to play with an easy action in standard tuning with light guage strings. To get to DADGAD you tune down, thus making certain strings a bit loose for the action. Those strings won't ring well. If you only play in DADGAD, use medium guage strings on the ones you tune down and light guage strings on the ones that stay the same. Since Martin tell you to only use light guage strings, check with a good guitar tech before following my suggestion and he/she will suggest what guage is the best match.toasty wrote:
Nowadays I flatpick Itrad tunes on a Martin in standard tuning because the instrument rings better that way. Don't ask me to explain why it does, it just does.
It is set up for SP mediums . Clatters like a 88 Honda with lightgauge on.
That is, unless you have a very heavy hand when you pick, then the saddle might need raising too. I believe I have Martin SPs on mine too. If these minor adjustments don't cure it, then maybe you need some fretwork or a neck reset on your Martin, Toasty.