C. F. Martin 000-45S Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1976)
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Item # 12347
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C. F. Martin 000-45S Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1976), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 381326, natural lacquer finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original molded blue plastic hard shell case.
This is a very special Martin, a 12-fret 000-45S from 1976, America's bicentennial year. This beautiful and extremely rare pearl Martin is one of only 11 made during that decade; 3 in 1974, 2 in 1975 and 6 in 1976. The D-45 was re-introduced in 1969 and despite its higher price built in much larger quantities, while this 12-fret 000 is one of a select few. Perhaps the appearance of an original 1920s 000-45 on the cover of Stephen Stills' first solo LP spurred Martin into re-issuing the model; in that era interest in older Martins was running high. Limited numbers of 14-fret 000-45s and 12-fret D-45's were also built through the 1970s but 12-fret 000-45 models are the rarest of the lot.
This 000-45S has numerous deluxe features including a beautiful super tight-grain spruce top on the superbly high-grade Indian rosewood body. Lavish Abalone trim adorns all the edges and soundhole rim. The round-backed mahogany neck has a bound ebony fingerboard with 1930s style hexagonal pearl block inlay and the Martin logo in abalone on the bound headstock, which a 1920s 000-45 would not have had. The ebony belly bridge and black pickguard are also technically later features. This is not a re-issue of an actual previous Martin instrument but a continuation of their top-end tradition into the 1970s. It is a simply beautiful guitar, as fine an instrument as Martin made during the 1970s.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This guitar presents in extremely fine condition with very little wear but showing several old repairs, at least some of which looks to be Martin factory work. The finish is super clean overall, showing only minimal signs of use. The lacquer has some fine handling marks but that's about it. There is an old splice to the top center seam that appears be Martin factory work, with the top finish redone at the same time. We can only assume this was a warranty repair from not long after the guitar was made as the lacquer has definite age to it. There is also a grain split to the top along the upper edge of the pickguard, similarly neatly repaired. Both of these repairs show small cleats added under the center seam and top edge of pickguard.
The original bridge has been shaved down slightly, with the saddle also lowered but still maintaining decent height. The pickguard is a replacement; the original curled-up guard remains in the case with a notation it was removed in 1992. Even with these maintenance repairs this is a fine playing and wonderful sounding guitar, almost 50 years old already and just mellowing in. We can only imagine how good this would sound if it had been played every day since 1976! As it stands this is a truly lovely instrument, one of Martin's finest of the period complete in the original molded case. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a very special Martin, a 12-fret 000-45S from 1976, America's bicentennial year. This beautiful and extremely rare pearl Martin is one of only 11 made during that decade; 3 in 1974, 2 in 1975 and 6 in 1976. The D-45 was re-introduced in 1969 and despite its higher price built in much larger quantities, while this 12-fret 000 is one of a select few. Perhaps the appearance of an original 1920s 000-45 on the cover of Stephen Stills' first solo LP spurred Martin into re-issuing the model; in that era interest in older Martins was running high. Limited numbers of 14-fret 000-45s and 12-fret D-45's were also built through the 1970s but 12-fret 000-45 models are the rarest of the lot.
This 000-45S has numerous deluxe features including a beautiful super tight-grain spruce top on the superbly high-grade Indian rosewood body. Lavish Abalone trim adorns all the edges and soundhole rim. The round-backed mahogany neck has a bound ebony fingerboard with 1930s style hexagonal pearl block inlay and the Martin logo in abalone on the bound headstock, which a 1920s 000-45 would not have had. The ebony belly bridge and black pickguard are also technically later features. This is not a re-issue of an actual previous Martin instrument but a continuation of their top-end tradition into the 1970s. It is a simply beautiful guitar, as fine an instrument as Martin made during the 1970s.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This guitar presents in extremely fine condition with very little wear but showing several old repairs, at least some of which looks to be Martin factory work. The finish is super clean overall, showing only minimal signs of use. The lacquer has some fine handling marks but that's about it. There is an old splice to the top center seam that appears be Martin factory work, with the top finish redone at the same time. We can only assume this was a warranty repair from not long after the guitar was made as the lacquer has definite age to it. There is also a grain split to the top along the upper edge of the pickguard, similarly neatly repaired. Both of these repairs show small cleats added under the center seam and top edge of pickguard.
The original bridge has been shaved down slightly, with the saddle also lowered but still maintaining decent height. The pickguard is a replacement; the original curled-up guard remains in the case with a notation it was removed in 1992. Even with these maintenance repairs this is a fine playing and wonderful sounding guitar, almost 50 years old already and just mellowing in. We can only imagine how good this would sound if it had been played every day since 1976! As it stands this is a truly lovely instrument, one of Martin's finest of the period complete in the original molded case. Overall Excellent Condition.