The one and only Martin, themed on Old America, the only one in the world, "Great Train Robbery SPECIAL"

In the 19th century, the laying of a railroad across the American continent began to profoundly transform the era of western expansion.
The symbol of that era was the steam locomotive, chugging along with tremendous force, billowing smoke.
Only members of the privileged class at the time could ride it.
And loaded onto this train's mail car was a vast amount of gold coins,
Brave and reckless train robbers who seize once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and pursue them.
The grand drama they unfolded was later recreated in numerous Hollywood films.

And this D-28 "Train" is the guitar that captures that adventure and romance.

This was passed down to us from a guitar collector on the West Coast of the United States, along with its history and the memories attached to it.
The American West Coast is a dream city that has nurtured countless stories up to the present day, starting with Hollywood, known as the mecca of cinema. The landscape woven by blue skies and endless sunlight is more than just an urban vista. Recently, San Francisco was selected as the next Olympic host city, and as seen in daily sports news coverage, it's also a familiar place where players like Ohtani are showcasing their baseball prowess.

First, note the fingerboard. A six-car steam locomotive races powerfully from the neck end to the head tip. Alongside it, scenes are recreated in exquisite inlay work using Avalon pearl and stone: a robber holding a pistol to threaten passengers, a figure clutching a bag of gold coins, and gentlemen and ladies raising their hands.

One of the finest inlay artists in the instrument world, he began making acoustic guitars in 1972 and crafted solid-body guitars under Rick Turner of Alembic Guitars in 1975. Learning the basics of inlay from Turner to conceal scars from failed body drilling became the catalyst for his subsequent exploration of inlay art.

Robinson then honed his skills through countless inlay projects, and by the mid-1980s, he had become known as a master craftsman—the go-to person for stunning inlay work on instruments.
He has worked with nearly every major American guitar maker, including Martin, Gibson, Fender, Santa Cruz Guitar Company, National Resonator, Kevin Ryan, James Olson, Lance McCallum, and Kathy Wingert, and has also received orders from hundreds of individual customers.

In 1994, he published the seminal work THE ART of INLAY. This book reveals several secrets of his technique. "When I was learning inlay methods, other artists were very kind in offering advice," he says. "So I thought this book would be a way to pass on some of that advice to the next generation." It features not only photographs of works he has crafted, but also details on tools and materials, making it one of the bible books for luthiers today.
This book was revised in 1999 and 2005. (Photo shows the 2005 revised edition)

In early 2002, thirty years after building his first guitar, Robinson received a call at his Northern California workshop from Dick Bork, Special Projects Manager at C.F. Martin & Company."He said they were about to build their millionth guitar, and CF Martin IV, the great-grandson of the company's founder, thought something special should be done to mark the occasion," Robinson explains."I had made two very luxurious guitars for Martin, the D-45 China Dragon and the D-45 Peacock, but Dick said he was looking for something with even more decoration and something that encapsulated the company's 171-year history. I was very honored that they chose me for such an important project."

And so, what was completed is what is known as #1,000,000.
He has since continued to reach milestones at the top of the acoustic charts, including #1,500,000 and #2,000,000.
Incidentally, the D-200 DELUXE, produced to commemorate the 2,000,000th unit, is currently trading at nearly ¥20 million.

His delicate yet bold approach breathes vivid life into this guitar's story.

The pickguard and binding also make this guitar truly special. Crafted from sterling silver, they feature intricate and meticulous engraving.

Sterling silver is a high-quality silver material used in premium jewelry and accessories. With a purity of 92.5%, it possesses an elegant luster. This decoration, extending not only around the body's perimeter but also along the back stripe and both sides of the neck, represents the ultimate in luxury. Over time, it develops a deeper, more profound shine alongside the guitar.

This instrument was crafted by Greg Rich, who once ran the Rich & Taylor custom guitar workshop, and his masterful craftsmanship shines through in every detail. He is also an indispensable figure in Gibson banjo history; his tenure at Gibson captivated enthusiasts so profoundly that it is referred to as the "Greg Rich Era."

Banjo-making techniques saw significant progress, particularly during the instrument's heyday as a mainstream instrument in the 1920s and 1930s. It is rare for modern banjo makers to not only match both techniques but also surpass them.
Greg Rich is one such individual who, through a lifelong series of works, inherits the structural and decorative standards of revered past makers, capturing and distilling the vibrant spirit of the banjo's past into contemporary banjo artistry.

Greg Rich, who was in Newport Beach, California, became intrigued by the exciting instrument he heard in the movie "Bonnie and Clyde."He learned about vintage banjos from collector Randy Snotty Greg, then took classes in San Diego covering architecture, metal sculpture, wood carving, and custom painting. Under Randy's guidance, he taught himself the essentials of all these skills.

After that, I lived in Snotty's workshop and began crafting custom-built banjos and performing custom repairs. My reputation for custom repairs quickly spread throughout Southern California. My specialized skills and approach—aiming to make instruments look as original and aged as possible—caught the eye of renowned collector and musician Mack Yasuda, leading to my responsibility for repairing and restoring Tsumura's legendary banjo collection.

In the mid-1980s, spurred by the bluegrass music revival, Gibson sought to restore its struggling banjo line to its former glory. The company turned to Greg Rich,Under Rich's leadership and rich creative spirit, granted the authority to handpick staff from the company's finest stringed instrument makers, a new banjo division was launched. The brilliant Gibson banjos crafted during his tenure are regarded with the same admiration and respect as the company's master models from the 1920s and 30s, while many more unique art guitars and banjos are personally prized.

Guitar instruments crafted by Greg Rich have been adopted not only by stars like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Garth Brooks, but also by some of the world's most renowned instrument collectors.After leaving Gibson in 1993, Greg Rich worked on projects like the Goldstar Banjo and Rich & Taylor Banjo, and in 2021, he was inducted into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

Moreover, there's an anecdote that this Great Train Robbery Special was originally intended for the hands of Clint Eastwood—a titan of cinema who has won four Oscars in total as both director and actor. A blade truly imbued with the "soul of the Western," perfectly suited for him, an icon of Western films and a music enthusiast.

This guitar is a museum-quality acoustic instrument that conveys timeless romance to the present day.
Touch it, and the winds of the frontier era will blow into your heart.

This guitar is also featured on the top page of the Synchro Music Mook/Martin GUITAR BOOK 2.