Martin | D-45 | 1977 | SN:R-248577

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• Model: D-45
• Year: 1977
• Top:  Spruce ?German
• Back and sides: Brazilian Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Nut Width: 1 11/16″
• String Spacing: 2 1/8″
• Scale: 25.4″
• Body Length: 19 7/8″
• Lower Bout: 15 5/8″
• Upper Bout: 11 3/8″
• Body Depth: 3 3/4″, 4 3/4″
• Bridge: Ebony
• Binding: Ivoroid
• Rosette: Abalone
• Backstrip: Marquetry
• Purfling: Abalone

This is a Brazilian D45 from the 70′s with an unusual story, I leave to the owner to tell. Suffice to say. This guitar is in excellent condition with figured Brazilian Rosewood back & sides, abalone hexagon fingerboard inlays, vertical CF Martin peghead logo, abalone trim on the top back and sides w abalone endpin in the style of the original 1969 D-45s with ivoroid binding on the neck and body edges.

The prior owner Len had this to say:”I have here a very unique Martin D-45.  The serial number is R-248577.  As you may know, Martin made a total of 235 Brazilian D-45′s in 1968 and 1969.

Here is the background of this guitar, according to information from C.F. Martin Guitars…. In 1969, the original guitar w serial number 248577 was stolen from the Martin factory and never recovered.  This for some reason came to Martin’s attention in 1977 as they were going over some records.

Martin has a policy that if a guitar is stolen or broken at the factory, they will make another w the same details and serial number to be sure there exists a guitar for all serial numbers shown. So, in 1977, 8 years later, they built this guitar w the same specs as the 1969 it replaces and gave it the same serial number, this time with an R in front of it.

So there you go, this is the last built of the 68-69 series of 235 Brazilian D-45′s.  It is now 42 years old yet in amazing condition.  There have been no repairs or overspray on the original finish. Very minor finish crack along the pickguard edge, as is common on these.  My luthier who inspected it says leave it as is, a non issue structurally”

References: Martin Guitars, a History by Mike Longworth.

Pictures kind courtesy of Lenny Gerthoffer.
©2009

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