A stunning one-of-a-kind Martin Custom Shop 000-42, this exquisite guitar features some of the prettiest Guatemalan rosewood we’ve yet seen on a Martin, intricate abalone pearlwork to the top, fretboard, bridge, and headstock, beautiful curly Koa bindings, and a torrefied Adirondack spruce top. It’s a whole lot of guitar and, 10 years on, it remains in as-new condition.

A dry and articulate 000 with an open-midrange, warm and dark bass register and robust trebles, this guitar’s scalloped Adirondack braces and sonically well-selected tonewoods have enjoyed a decade of string tension to open up and mature. It’s a particularly good sounding Martin 000 that performs well played fingerstyle or flatpicked. Overtones are rich but not overbearing, and the guitar’s fundamental presence is well defined. It’s an expressive guitar that offers lots of soul well packaged in some seriously appealing wrapping.

Quarter-sawn Guatemalan rosewood back and sides that harkens pre-War style 45 Brazilian, attractively aged thermally cured Adirondack top, vintage style 42 pearl top trim and rosette, with wooden purflings throughout. The body, fretboard, and headstock are bound with curly Koa and purfled to match. Style 42 back strip and snowflake inlays, abalone alternate torch headstock inlay, C.F. Martin headstock stamp, gold Grover Sta-Tite tuners. Guatemalan rosewood fretboard, bridge, and headplate; tortoise celluloid under-finish pickguard.

The neck has a round carve with a hint of soft modified V in its genetics. 1-3/4” nut, .835” first fret neck thickness. 24.9” 000 scale, 2-3/16” string spread at the saddle. It’s a very comfortable neck carve that will appeal to the great majority of players.

Set-up in shop with 12-54 strings and standard action. In perfect condition with no repairs, mods, or playwear.

With original Custom Shop embroidered deluxe hardshell case.