Martin D-45

Last updated

Martin D-45
Display of Gene Autry memorabilia-cropped.jpg
Gene Autry's original 1933 D-45, s/n 53177, photographed at the Autry National Center; one of only three pre-war D-45s with 12-fret neck (and longer body), all the remainder have 14-fret necks.
Manufacturer C. F. Martin & Company
Period1933–1942, 1968–present
Construction
Body typeSquare-shoulder dreadnought
Neck joint Dovetail
Woods
Body Sitka Spruce or Adirondack top
Rosewood back and sides
Neck Mahogany
Fretboard Ebony
Hardware
Bridge Ebony
Pickup(s) Optional L.R.Baggs Element Active
Colors available
Natural

The Martin D-45 is a steel-string acoustic guitar model made by C. F. Martin & Company. The model was manufactured from 1933 to 1942, and in a second production series since 1968. Martin originally made the guitar's sides and backs of Brazilian rosewood. Martins are ranked among the highest-quality, as well as among the most expensive guitars, and the D-45, regarded as one of the first "luxury guitars", [1] was listed in 2011 as the most valuable production-model guitar. [2]

Contents

History

First series, 1933-1942

The first D-45 was a dreadnought guitar based on the Martin D-28 with luxury ornamentation (the "45" designation), [2] made especially for Gene Autry who, in 1933, ordered "the biggest, fanciest Martin he could." [3] This guitar is now encased in glass in the Gene Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California. [4] The next year, Martin made one for Jackie "Kid" Moore, a "12-year-old singing cowboy from Milwaukee, Wisconsin." [5] These first two had a 12-fret neck; most others (except for the 6th, made in 1937) made afterward had a 14-fret neck. [6] Two more were made in 1936 and two again in 1937; [6] the D-45 wasn't catalogued until 1938. [7] Other versions included a D-45S (with a special neck, 1939) and a D-45L (left handed, 1940). [6] The D-45 was the top model of the dreadnought line, [8] which also included the D-28 and D-18 models, priced much lower.

In 1942, as a result of World War II, Martin officially ceased production of the D-45 (as well as other Martin models such as the archtops). [6] This first series of D-45's consisted of only 91 instruments. [1]

Second series, from 1968

David Crosby with his well travelled, second series Martin D-45, live in Belgium, 2018 David crosby-1547297410.jpg
David Crosby with his well travelled, second series Martin D-45, live in Belgium, 2018

The luxurious D-45 resembled the less ornate D-28 model enough to entice entrepreneurial guitar builders and craftsmen to modify the latter to look like the former by adding a pearl border and changing the stamps on the neck block, so they could sell them as the more expensive model. One of those craftsmen was Mike Longworth, a banjo player from Tennessee, who Martin hired specifically to bring the D-45 back. The new D-45, released in 1968, cost $1,200 and was the most expensive flat-top steel-string guitar made in the United States at the time. By 1969, Martin sold twice as many D-45s as during the entire 1933–1942 run; customers included David Crosby and Jimi Hendrix. [1] In 1971, a 12-string model was made, [1] and in 1973, another one. [6]

Longworth also designed a more affordable model, the D-41, making sure that the pearl inlays were done in such a way that the guitar could not be modified to look like a D-45. [1] Since 1968, Martin has produced a number of special versions, including the C.F. Martin Sr. Commemorative D-45 (200 guitars in 1996) and the C.F. Martin Sr. Deluxe D-45 (91 guitars in 1996). [6]

Post-1968 models, selection

  • D-45S (with 12-fret neck and slotted peghead, similar to 1936 models, 1969-1993) [6]
  • SD12-45 (12-string, two made in 1971 and 1973) [6]
  • D-45LE (with hexagonal outlines, 1987) [6]
  • D-45 Deluxe (with upgraded binding, inlays, etc., 1993) [6]
  • D-45 Gene Autry (12-fret neck, "Gene Autry" on fingerboard, 1994) [6]
  • D-45SS (Stephen Stills signature model, based on Stills' 1939 model, 1999) [6]
  • D-45 Celtic Knot
  • D-45 Golden Era
  • D-45 Authentic

Value

Models produced between 1933 and 1942 (also referred to as "pre-war Martins") are among the most expensive production-model guitars ever made. A listing for $135,000 was noted in a 2005 publication, [9] and in 2011, a Vintage Guitar ranking of valuable guitars saw the D-45 (models made between 1936 and 1942) in first place, worth between $250,000 and $400,000. [2] George Gruhn remarked that pre-war D-45s fetch "more than 20 times as much as a recent issue D-45, even though there is relatively little difference in design." [10] [11]

Notable owners

See also

Related Research Articles

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass-produce the seven-string guitar and eight-string guitar. Ibanez manufactures effects, accessories, amps, and instruments in Japan, China, Indonesia, and the United States. As of 2017 they marketed nearly 165 models of bass guitar, 130 acoustic guitars, and more than 300 electric guitars. After Gibson and Fender, Ibanez is considered the third biggest guitar brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. F. Martin & Company</span> American guitar manufacturer established in 1833

C.F. Martin & Company is an American guitar manufacturer established in 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin. It is highly respected for its acoustic guitars and is a leading manufacturer of flat top guitars. The company has also made mandolins and tiples, as well as several models of electric guitars and electric basses, although none of these other instruments are still in production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson SG</span> Solid body electric guitar model

The Gibson SG is a solid-body electric guitar model introduced by Gibson in 1961, following on from the 1952 Gibson Les Paul. It remains in production today in many variations of the initial design. The SG Standard is Gibson's best-selling model of all time. SG stands for "solid guitar".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson EDS-1275</span> Model of guitar

The Gibson EDS-1275 is a doubleneck Gibson electric guitar introduced in 1963 and still in production. Popularized and raised to iconic status by musicians such as John McLaughlin and Jimmy Page, it was called "the coolest guitar in rock."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Jazz Bass</span> Fender model of bass guitar

The Fender Jazz Bass is the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. It is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental frequency. The body shape is also different from the Precision Bass, in that the Precision Bass has a symmetrical lower bout on the body, designed after the Telecaster and Stratocaster lines of guitars, while the Jazz Bass has an offset lower bout, mimicking the design aesthetic of the Jaguar and Jazzmaster guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Flying V</span> Electric guitar

The Flying V is an electric guitar model introduced by Gibson in 1958. The Flying V offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its siblings: the Explorer, which was released the same year, and the Moderne, which was designed in 1957 but not released until 1982. The initial run of guitars used a distinctive wood of the Limba tree marketed by Gibson under the trade name "korina"; later models used more conventional woods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Explorer</span> Electric guitar model by Gibson Brands, Inc

The Gibson Explorer is a type of electric guitar model by Gibson guitars, released in 1958. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its siblings: the Flying V, which was released the same year, and the Moderne, which was designed in 1957 but not released until 1982. The Explorer was the final development of a prototype design that, years later, Gibson marketed under the name Futura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson J-45</span> Acoustic guitar

The Gibson J-45 Manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation, it is generally regarded as Gibson's most famous and widely used acoustic guitar model, as such it is considered the workhorse of guitars. The Jumbo guitar is signified by the "J" and not to be confused with C.F. Martin & Company's Dreadnought body style. In 1934 the jumbo was Gibson's competing response to Martin's "D" line body shape of 1930s. The jumbo is distinctive from Martin's dreadnoughts: The Gibson J-45 body depth remains over 4″ deep from endpin to neck heel, it also features a slightly larger body than a Martin D-28 as well as the shape of the two competing body styles being quite different; Squarish upper bouts on the Martins opposed to a rounded or “sloped shoulder” on The Gibson. While Martin did produce the first sloped shoulder guitar the specs of the J-45 are dissimilar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sigma Guitars</span> American musical instrument brand

Sigma Guitars is a guitar manufacturing brand originally released by C.F. Martin as a line of guitars at affordable prices to compete with the increasing number of imported guitars from Japan and elsewhere. The Sigma line was discontinued by Martin in 2007. The rights to the name were acquired by German company AMI Musical Instruments GmbH, which relaunched the brand with guitars being produced in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreadnought (guitar type)</span> Type of acoustic guitar

The dreadnought is a type of acoustic guitar body developed by American guitar manufacturer C.F. Martin & Company. The style, since copied by other guitar manufacturers, has become the most common for acoustic guitars.

Penco was a brand of guitars owned and manufactured by the Hoshino Gakki Co. in its factory of Nagoya, Japan. Ibanez guitars was another brand owned and manufactured by Hoshino Gakki. In the United States, Penco guitars were distributed by the Philadelphia Music Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collings Guitars</span> American stringed instrument manufacturer

Collings Guitars is an Austin, Texas based stringed instrument manufacturer. The company was founded in 1973 by BillCollings. In addition to acoustic guitars, Collings Guitars manufactures: electric guitars, archtop guitars, mandolins and ukuleles.

The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele, is an electric guitar produced by Fender. Together with its sister model the Esquire, it was the world's first mass-produced, commercially successful solid-body electric guitar. Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin D-28</span> Steel-string acoustic guitar

The Martin D-28 is a dreadnought-style acoustic guitar made by C. F. Martin & Company of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Victory Bass</span>

The Gibson Victory Bass was an electric bass guitar produced by Gibson Guitars from 1981 until 1986. It was a bass guitar variant of the Gibson Victory. It was not a successful model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson ES-350T</span>

The Gibson ES-350T is an electric guitar model from Gibson Guitar Corporation, released in 1955. The ES-350T is a further development of the Gibson ES-350 model from 1948 and as such has a completely hollow body. The unique feature of the Gibson ES-350T at the time of its market introduction was the reduced width of the rims. As a result, the guitar has a thinner body compared to instruments with a resonance body that is of full thickness. The ES-350T, together with its sister models Gibson ES-225 TDN and Gibson Byrdland, was one of the first models of the thinline guitar type.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson L Series</span>

The Gibson L series is a series of small-body guitars produced and sold by Gibson Guitar Corporation in the early 20th century. The first guitars of this series, Gibson L-0 and Gibson L-1, were introduced first as arch-tops (1902), and later as flat tops in 1926. The L series was later gradually replaced by the LG series in the 1940s.

The Gibson Country Western is a flat-top acoustic guitar model originally manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation between 1956 and 1978. For the first 6(7) years of its manufacture it was a round-shouldered instrument, which changed to square-shouldered in 1962. Sheryl Crow preferred the 1962 model, and uses a modern version of her 1962 instrument released under her name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Southern Jumbo</span>

The Gibson Southern Jumbo is a flat-top acoustic guitar model originally manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation between 1942 and 1978. For the first 20 years of its manufacture it was a round-shouldered instrument, which changed to square-shouldered in 1962. Several modern reissues have been created by Gibson, based on the round-shouldered version.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnston p. 116–17.
  2. 1 2 3 Greenwood 38.
  3. Johnston pp. 82–83.
  4. Boak p. 7.
  5. Soros.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Gruhn p. 450.
  7. Gruhn p. 421.
  8. Bacon p. 12.
  9. Brookes 274-75.
  10. "Martin d45 d-28 hd-28 copy dreadnought acoustic guitar". Music Gear. Tamer Lorin. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  11. Gruhn p. 7.
  12. "The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum-Marty Stuart's D-45". 19 April 2009.
  13. Boak p. 23.
  14. Schiller p. 180
  15. Gulla p. 243.
  16. "Gabor Szabo's Equipment".
  17. http://www.jamestaylor.com/biography/
Bibliography