The Martin D-45 has been the top of the line in the Martin Guitar Company's line of regular production instruments since its initial introduction in 1933, and its re-introduction in 1968. It has normally been used by the most prominent, top shelf artists on the largest stages.
Production of the Martin D-45 halted in 1942 due to wartime pressures, with 96 built from 1933. Martin re-introduced the model in 1968, but with some modernization changes, particularly the use of Indian Rosewood in place of Brazilian, and with Sitka Spruce for the tops instead of Adirondack Spruce. Adirondack had been discontinued for instruments in the early years of WW2 due to depletion of stocks, and anything available was used for aircraft components.
The Martin D45 is a distinctive guitar. It is based on a full sized dreadnought design and built similarly to the D-28 with Spruce top, and Rosewood for the sides, back and head plate. Mahogany is used for the neck, body blocks, linings and back braces and Ebony for the bridge and bound fingerboard. However, it also has distinctive inlays of Abalone or Puau shell for the C F Martin headstock inlay, Style 45 hexagonal position markers, rosette and purfling. On the Martin D-45, the use of coloured shell includes purfling - a trim layer to the inside edge of the binding - on the top and back, and on the sides. For the top and sides, the shell purfling traces the outline including the fingerboard on the top and the heel on the sides.
Now, the decked out Martin D-45 Acoustic Guitar dreadnought is the flagship model of the Standard Series. It is the most ornate of all the instruments, featuring hand inlaid pearl on the top, back, sides, and neck.
Premium tonewoods and all of the advancements of the reimagined Standard Series such as forward shifted scalloped braces, antique white binding and a high performance neck.
The Martin D-45 Acoustic Guitar is the choice for legends like Gene Autry and Neil Young, it’s the perfect guitar for any discerning collector or musician. Nothing says you’ve arrived like a D-45.
DETAILS:
- Body Size: D-14 Fret.
- Finish Top: Gloss.
- Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint.
- Back and Side Finish: Gloss.
- Bracing Pattern: Forward-Shifted X-Brace.
- Scale Length: 25.4in.
- Brace Shape: Scalloped.
- Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1-3/4in.
- Top Material: Sitka Spruce.
- Neck Shape: Modified Low Oval.
- Back Material: East Indian Rosewood.
- Neck Taper: High-Performance Taper.
- Side Material: East Indian Rosewood.
- Top Colour: Aging Toner.
- Bridge Style: Modern Belly - Drop in Saddle.
- Binding: Antique White.
- Bridge String Spacing: 2-5/32in.
- Top Inlay Material: Abalone with Multi-Stripe
- Bridge Material: Ebony.
- Top Detail: None.
- Bridge Pin Material: White Plastic.
- Pickguard: Tortoise Pattern.
- Bridge Pin Dots: Abalone.
- Pickguard Inlay: None.
- Saddle: Compensated Bone.
- Rosette: Abalone with Multi-Stripe.
- Saddle Radius: 16"
- Brace Material: Sitka Spruce.
- Back and Sides Colour: None.
- Brace Size: 5/16"
- Back Detail: None.
- Back Purfling/Strip: Style 45
- Back Inlay Material: Abalone with Multi-Stripe.
- Heelcap: Antique White
- Side Detail: None.
- Endpiece: Antique White.
- Side Inlay Material: Abalone with Multi-Stripe.
- Endpiece Inlay: Abalone Multi-Stripe.
- Neck Material: Genuine Mahogany
- Fingerboard Material: Ebony.
- Finish Neck: Gloss
- Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/8"
- Neck Colour: Dark Mahogany.
- Fingerboard Inlay Style: Style 45 Hexagon
- Number of Frets Total: 20.
- Fingerboard Inlay Material: Abalone
- Neck Joins Body At: 14th Fret.
- Fingerboard Binding Material: Antique White.
- Side Dots: Black.
- Headstock Shape: Solid with Square Taper and Diamond
- Tuning Machines: Gold Open Gear.
- Tuning Knob: Butterbean
- Headplate Material: East Indian Rosewood.
- Headplate Logo Style: Block Inlay
- Headplate Binding Material: Antique White with Multi-Stripe
- Nut Material: Bone.
- Includes hard-shell case.
- Pleked.
