Pre War Martin Guitar

Ge Autry's original 1933 D-45, s/n 53177, photographed at the Autry National Cter; one of only three with 12-fret neck (and longer body), all the remainder have 14-fret necks.

Ernest Tubb with his customized 1938 D-45, s/n 70594 (publicity shot). Before Tubb purchased it, this instrumt would have had snowflake inlays in the fingerboard, replaced with 2 pearl blocks plus Ernest Tubb in pearl letters along the fingerboard (also, Texas Troubadour in gold paint on the headstock).

This is a list of the 91 original (pre-war) Martin D-45s made by C.F. Martin & Co. betwe the years 1933 and 1942, gerally recognized to be the most desired, and highly valued, acoustic guitars ever made; in American Guitars - An Illustrated History, author Tom Wheeler describes them as among American guitar's irreplaceable treasures.

Martin 000 18 Pre War (ohsc, Usa)

It is not known exactly how many still survive, however as information is available in print form or via web information, sale invtories, and so on, it can be collated here.

While associated information is from other sources as available, one particularly valuable source being the Martin D-45 Master List by Robert (Bob) Hamilton and Bruce Herrmann.

Instrumts marked [E] are those known to exist according to either information contained herein or a separate version of the Martin D-45 Master List.

Pre War Guitars Co. Om Mahogany, Level 1, Modern Neck Profile

Special order for Ge Autry, Ge Autry on fingerboard, 12 fret model with slotted head and torch inlay on headstock, currtly in the Autry National Cter in Los Angeles (see illustration at right); photographs and other information available here.

This guitar was originally supplied to Mr. Autry at a cost of $210.00, including $10.00 extra for the pearl head and bridge inlay.

Made for Jackie Kid Moore, 12 fret model with solid headstock featuring torch inlay. Prestly in Hank Risan's Museum of Modern Instrumts (MOMI) collection.

Buying Your First Vintage Martin Acoustic

First 14 fret model (14 frets clear of the body), special wide body (16 1/4 Inches). On loan to, and on display at, the Martin Museum in Nazareth from collector St Juhl according to.

D-45S Special wide body (16 1/4 Inches). Illustrated on p. 207 of Arl Roth, Complete Acoustic Guitar, 1985 (photo provided by Gruhn Guitars, Nashville),

Also on p. 263 of the hardcover version of George Gruhn/Walter Carter book Acoustic Guitars and Other Fretted Instrumts where it is credited to Steve Shaw, therefore pottially included in the collection of the late Stev Kern Shaw (refer Miscellaneous section).

Catch Of The Day: 1941 Martin D 45

Third and last 12 fret model, all remainder are 14 frets; the only 12 fret instrumt with solid (non slotted) head and vertical C F Martin inlay as per 14-fret models. Made for Harold A. Wagler, initials HAW in fingerboard. Illustrated on p. 248 of

And on page 263 of the hardcover version of George Gruhn/Walter Carter book Acoustic Guitars and Other Fretted Instrumts. Additional background information and photos of this guitar available here.

Previously owned by Ernest Tubb. Has additional rosewood overlay on headstock with Texas Troubadour in gold paint, Ernest Tubb in pearl lettering plus two non-original hexagon inlays in fingerboard, THANKS in large painted white letters (with gre shadowing) across the back. Restored by Marty Lanham of the Nashville Guitar Company in 2020.

Ask The Expert: Do Vintage Guitars Live Up To Their Reputations?

This instrumt has ornamtal rhinestones inserted into the head, snowflake inlays have be replaced by more modern hexagons (graved RED and D-45 at the 12th and 19th frets, respectively), also the original D-45 back has be replaced by a later D-28 back at some point. Now in the collection of Mac Yasuda. Illustrated in his book Rhinestones and Twanging Tones.

Special order with unique (?, for a D-45) sunburst top, tortoiseshell headstock veer, F-9 (archtop) style hexagon fingerboard inlays (the latter later adopted as standard on D-45s from 1939 onwards) and additional white stripes on edges of fingerboard (also as per F-9 archtop). The Teeter Guitar, owned at one time by noted repairman Don Teeter and illustrated on the cover his 1980 book Acoustic Guitar: Adjustmt, Care, Maintance and Repair Volume II,

And as a foldout on page 49 of the 1st edition of Walter Carter's Martin book. Sold by Lark Street Music in 1987 for $18, 000 according to this interview with Buzzy Levine;

D Pre War

Formerly owned by Ernie Howery, Dave Portman and Jim Rickard; bought by Howery for $200 in the mid 1950s, th by Portman for $720 and a banjo in trade in 1962.

This instrumt was used by Tony Rice on one track I Don't Want Your Mandolins Mister of his 1994 duet CD Tone Poems with David Grisman, and is illustrated on the cover of Acoustic Guitar magazine, January 1996, reproduced here.

Most rectly in the collection of the late Stev Kern Shaw, now on display in the collection of instrumts bequeathed by him to Belmont University,

Rare 1920 Pre War Martin 00 45 Acoustic W/ Custom Inlay

D-45S. The 'S' was for a 'special neck' which was narrower than 1 11/16, previously owned by Wilma Lee Cooper. Cited in a post by John Arnold in this web page,

Having be for sale at Gruhn around 1990, in somewhat poor condition. Now extsively restored and refinished by TJ Thompson after 8 years, including addition of a thin layer of wood to the underside of the top to correct previous over-thinning. Formerly in the collection of Mac Yasuda; illustrated in his book Rhinestones and Twanging Tones. Listed for sale at Carter Vintage Guitars, Nashville, as at March 2020, asking price $145, 000.

For sale via Gruhn Guitars in 2012, asking price $185, 000 (invtory no. AA8729). Purchased by Jim Irsay, CEO/Owner of the Indianapolis Colts.

Category: Vintage Martin Dreadnought

Appears (with 11 other prewar D-45s) in a photograph of guitars from the Mac Yasuda collection in The Vintage Guitar volume 3, copy and relevant information here

Previously owned by the well known Martin historian Mike Longworth and was on display in the Martin museum from 1974 to 1995 according to this article

Prior to being consigned to auction at Christie's in April 1995 (the guitar failed to sell at that time). A 1981 photograph of this guitar in the Martin museum is available here.

We Cracked The Pre War Code!

With a low estimate ($30, 000-$40, 000) but did not sell at that time. Listed again for auction at Skinner's, Boston Auction 2892B Lot 23, with same estimated sale price ($30, 000-$40, 000), as at May 2016.,

Fairly heavily restored though with partially original finish (sold price $110, 500). The same instrumt was subsequtly offered for sale by Carter Vintage Guitars in January 2016, invtory no. GF959, asking price $150, 000.

Surfaced in 2011 from the family of the original owner, who reportedly played on the Grand Ole Opry radio show several times, but all original and very lightly used; auctioned at Skinner's, Boston

Vintage Pre War 1945 Martin D 18 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Subsequtly sold to a private collector via Emerald City Guitars, Seattle in 2022; more information and serial number visible via this YouTube video.

Surfaced in 2011 (offered on eBay for $325, 000); purchased from seller by Gary Dick of Gary's Classic Guitars, details and pictures available here.

D-45S Made for Austin Woods, Austin on fingerboard, oversize pickguard; currtly on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville. Illustrated on p. 248 of,

How Pre War Guitars Are Recreating Acoustic Guitar History, One Lovingly Aged Instrument At A Time

Known to exist, repaired by Martin during the period 1966-2001. Originally owned by Wiley Jordan, whose band Wiley Jordan and the Sons of the South was popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He had the first radio and TV Country music show in Mississippi. He was the sole owner and it was passed on to his childr.

) and prestly in the possession of country/folk/Americana performer Gillian Welch; see Miscellaneous section for more information in this and Wilma Lee Cooper's other original D-45.

Last original series D-45 made, subject of an article in Great Acoustics section of Acoustic Guitar magazine, May 2000, facsimile available here.

Gear Review: Pre War Guitars Model Hd

The actual guitar illustrated is incorrect, and is in fact 1939 instrumt #72160 previously owned by Jim Rickard). Most rectly in the collection of the late Stev Kern Shaw, now on display in the collection of instrumts bequeathed by him to Belmont University,

About his one time considerable collection of vintage style 45 Martin instrumts including 6 pre-war D-45s. This collection was sold in 1976 to finance the purchase of his house and the building in which his business was located. The best sounding (1942) D-45 was sold to Ktucky musician and repairman Harry Sparks for $7, 500

The well known U.S.-based Japanese collector Mac Yasuda has an extsive collection of American vintage guitars including 14 original D-45s according to this report

Parlor — Pre War Guitars Co

Among others, some of which are detailed in the section above. In 2001 he published The Vintage Guitar Vol. 3 which includes one photo of 12 D-45s as reproduced here,

As well as individual photos of 4 instrumts. In 2010 he published another illustrated book in Japan, the Martin Guitar Book as detailed here,

Which shows two D-45s (one pre-war s/n 75594, one rect) on the front cover. Among his collection is a 1940 (or 1941) D-45 previously owned by Bernie Leadon,

Martin D 18 Pre War Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar W/ Case

Another is s/n 74011 originally custom built for K MacKzie (see relevant try in main numeric section above); another is reportedly an instrumt previously owned and played by Charlie Monroe which was purchased new in 1942.

The late Stev Kern Shaw, son of well known clarinetist Artie Shaw and grandson of Broadway composer Jerome Kern,

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