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1977 Martin M-38
With its bound headstock, pearl soundhole rosette, multi-layered bindings, style 45 backstrip and fingerboard inlays, and simplified style 45 side inlays bordering the neck heel, the M-38 is the most ornately accented Martin model below Style 41, and the only style below 45 that has inlays bordering the neck heel. It’s a uniquely ornate guitar in the model lineup.
Built with scalloped bracing and a small maple bridge plate, the M-38 is a particularly good sounding option among 70’s Martins. It’s lightly built and responsive and has a very wide open voice with a pretty bass response that’s balanced well with a strong set of trebles. With its 000/OM body depth and larger-than-dreadnought width the M-38 has a sound that’s unique among Martin models.
This particular example is an early M-38, built in the first year of production, and features a serial number that’s still in the 300,000s. The first batch of M-38s were numbered in the low 390s, for comparison. The guitar is in excellent condition and is largely original, including finish, frets, tuners, bridge, and pickguard. The saddle slot has been slightly widened to correct intonation, and a new compensated bone saddle has been installed in our shop. The guitar has seen its neck reset in the past and is set up with our shop standard 5-6 64th action and 12-53 strings. There is about 3/32 of saddle above the bridge for further action adjustments. Original frets show light playwear, finish is quite clean and free of excessive wear. There is a pickguard margin crack that’s been glued, a hard-to-spot bit of repaired impact damage at the widest part of the lower bout’s treble side. There is play wear throughout the top of this guitar, and there is a K & K pickup currently installed.
1-11/16” nut, 25.4” scale, 2-1/8” string spread at the bridge. Rounded neck carve with a hint of softened V.
With period or 1960’s high-quality hardshell case.
