The Sigma label was established in 1970 by the C.F. Martin & Co. to compeat with the invasion of more or les coherent Japanese copies of their own models on the world market. These first affordable Martin were ironically made in Japan but with exact specs and synergy that worked between the big guys and their subcontractor. The brand now belongs to A.M.I. (Acoustic Musical instruments, Munich), which incidentally is the European distributor of the famous American guitars. The specifications remain uncompromised, but in order to raise the best quality-price ratio, the subcontractor is now Chinese. It remains that for the amateur with a limited budget, the choice of a Sigma is highly recommended. All models come with a Cordura padded gig-bag, with back-pack carrying straps.