Introducing rare pre-war Martin models such as the D-18, D-28, and D-45.

Martin OOO-45 (Pre-War)

The OOO-45 was produced from 1906 to 1942, with a total of 265 units made, and only 123 of the 14-fret models being rare, second only to the original D-45 and OM-45. Early models featured a 12-fret joint, slotted headstock, and torch inlays, and were known to be favored by Jimmy Rogers. In 1934, the 14-fret "OOO-45" was born, evolving from the OM model, and featured a solid headstock and vertical logo. It appears that forward X-bracing was discontinued on the OOO-45 model in 1935.

Its compact size and well-balanced sound made it highly valued for recording, and many people know that Eric Clapton, famous for his OOO-42, actually used an OOO-45, which was a modified OOO-28. This particular instrument, despite its OOO size, boasts an astonishingly rich volume, and combined with its linear response and delicate nuances, its sound is simply superb.

*The photo has been removed at the request of the buyer.

Martin D-45 (Pre-War)

The first D-45 was made in 1933 at the request of country singer Gene Autry, and 91 were produced by 1942. The second was ordered by Jackie Moore in 1934. It is said that only about 70 D-45s remain in existence, and most are owned by collectors, making them extremely rare and highly sought-after items that rarely appear on the general market.

The first 17 D-45s produced by 1938 featured snowflake inlays, one of which was owned by the late bluegrass musician Red Smiley. However, by the time he acquired it, the snowflakes had already been replaced with hexagons. Among them, the D-45S (S stands for Special), of which only two were made in 1936, is a special edition with a 16 1/4-inch wide body and is an especially rare model among the original D-45s. One of the two surviving examples is on display at the Martin Museum. Additionally, two D-45s with tortoiseshell headplates were produced in 1940, making them extremely rare.

Models up until mid-1938 featured forward-shifted X-bracing.RecruitScalloped bracing was used on all vehicles until production ended in 1942.RecruitGrover tuners were originally open-back type, but closed-back type tuners were used from 1939 to 1940.

At the time, the "45" series underwent stricter checks than any other Martin model in terms of materials and quality control. Consequently, only a limited number were produced, and only highly skilled craftsmen were allowed to make them. The jacaranda (Brazilian rosewood) used for the sides and back in pre-war models was exclusively straight-grained, and the weather checking of the paintwork was unique, unlike Gibson's, giving it a texture that suggested the paint had blended into the wood and worn away. Furthermore, the Japanese-made abalone shell used for the inlays had particularly fine chips, and its luster was completely different from that of more recent models. It's interesting to examine these details in person.

Known for its use by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Eric Clapton in the late 1970s, the D-45 was re-released in 1968 due to numerous requests from passionate fans such as Mike Longworth, and remains Martin's flagship model, continuing to influence countless manufacturers and luthiers. The sound achieved through the finest materials and Martin's exceptional craftsmanship is transcendent in every way, emitting a rich and brilliant resonance.

*The photo has been removed at the request of the buyer.

Martin D-18 (Pre-War)

In 1931, a prototype "D-1" was made at the request of major dealer Ditson, which evolved into the "D-18." In 1932, production of the 12-fret joint D-18 officially began. In 1934, the 14-fret joint D-18, which would become the standard thereafter, was born. Only 42 units of the 14-fret D-18 were produced in the first year. The D-18 sunburst featured here was not part of the production line at the time and was only available by special order, making its existence extremely rare.

　In 1938, a top plate brace (a flat reinforcing plate on the back of the top near the neck) was added. Models up until mid-1938 had forward-shifted X-bracing.RecruitThe width of the fretboard narrows by approximately 1.5 mm at the nut and approximately 3.2 mm at the 12th fret. The price in 1940 was $65 (D-28 $100). With the outbreak of war with Japan in December 1941, World War II began, and the effects of metal shortages due to the war began to become apparent. In 1942, the neck rod was changed from steel T-bar to ebony. In 1944, scalloped bracing was abolished as a measure to address insufficient strength when using heavy gauge strings. In 1946, the top wood was changed from Adirondack spruce to Sitka spruce. Also, the neck rod was changed back from ebony to steel T-bar. In 1947, the ebony fretboard and bridge of the D-18 were changed to rosewood (Jacaranda at the time).

The sides and back are made of quarter-sawn mahogany (a type of board made from a log, where only 1/4 of the wood is straight-grained). While the D-28 has a powerful sound with rich mid-low frequencies, the D-18 is a model that is appealing for its delicate sound characterized by sparkling highs. It has the versatility to handle not only strumming but also fingerstyle playing. Many artists, including early Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, and Takahiko Ishikawa, have been captivated by the sound of the D-18.

*The photo has been removed at the request of the buyer.

Martin D-28 (War Time)

The D-28, considered the basic model for modern acoustic guitars, was born as the first dreadnought guitar, the "D-28," from a prototype "D-2" made in 1931 at the request of major dealer Ditson. In 1934, the 14-fret joint D-28 was introduced, and according to records, only 52 units of the 14-fret D-28 were produced in its first year.

In 1938, a top plate brace (a flat reinforcing plate on the back of the top near the neck) was added. In 1939, the forward-shifted X-bracing was discontinued. The width of the fingerboard narrowed by approximately 1.5 mm at the nut and approximately 3.2 mm at the 12th fret. The price in 1940 was $100 (D-18 $65). With the outbreak of war with Japan in December 1941, Japan entered World War II, and the effects of metal shortages due to the war began to become apparent.

In 1942, the neck rod was changed from a steel T-bar to ebony. In late 1944, scalloped bracing was discontinued to address insufficient strength when using heavy gauge strings. The fingerboard inlays were changed from slotted diamonds and squares to a dot pattern. In 1946, the top wood was changed from Adirondack spruce to Sitka spruce. Also, the neck rod was changed back from ebony to a steel T-bar. In 1947, the D-28's herringbone trim and zigzag backstrip were changed to a black and white stripe and checkered backstrip.

To this day, countless artists have been captivated by the sound of the D-28. From country musician Hank Williams, bluegrass musician Rector Flatt, folk musician Rambling Jack Elliott, to Bob Dylan, Clarence White, the Kingston Trio, Tony Rice, and Jimmy Page, the list goes on and on. The D-28 boasts a rich mid-to-low range, producing powerful and well-balanced chord sounds. The tone of vintage instruments, in particular, is profound, with a solid core and enveloped in rich, natural overtones.