An incredible sounding 15-year-old Martin 000-42 Marquis that’s aged well, shows less than average wear and tear, and has just been set-up in our shop. The Marquis line has since been discontinued, but in its day comprised of Golden Age-level instruments that were built with Indian rosewood instead of Brazilian. The top of this guitar is a particularly nice 1930s style cut of Adirondack red spruce with scalloped, forward-shifted bracing and a 1930s style bridge plate.

Dark, straight grained and quarter-sawn rosewood back and sides, style 45 backstrip, pearl purflings around the top, fretboard extension, and rosette, 30s style 45 pearl inlays in the fretboard, and old-style CF Martin logo on the headstock. Fossil mammoth ivory nut and saddle, Antique Acoustic unslotted bridge pins. Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer throughout.

This 000-42 remains in excellent condition and is crack free. The frets and finish show very little playwear, however there are a few fine scratches on the headstock face from string ends. The original pickguard is in the case pocket and must have been removed early in the guitar’s life as there is virtually no detectable ‘suntan’ or finish damage in that area of the top.

A dry, focused, powerful, balanced, and open guitar, this 000-42 is versatile and can handle a flatpick as naturally as fingerstyle playing. The basses are pronounced and well articulated, and the trebles are bold and rounded. The guitar’s midrange is nicely in proportion and very supportive. It’s a stellar sounding guitar.

1930s soft V neck carve with 1-3/4” nut width, 2-5/16” string spread at the saddle, and 24.9” scale. The neck is equipped with a truss rod and has a 1st fret neck thickness of .856”. We have the string action set at a lowish 4.5 to 5 64ths at the 12th fret with D’Addario XS light strings.

With original hardshell case