The History of the Martin D-45
Why is it called the "world's finest acoustic guitar"?

When someone describes an acoustic guitar as "the pinnacle of acoustic guitars," the first name that comes to mind is the Martin D-45.

Why is it so revered and deified as such a special entity? The reason lies in its perfection as a musical instrument and its historical background, which transcend the simple category of "high-end guitar."

The D-45 was born as Martin's flagship model, a culmination of their technology and luxurious craftsmanship. It features the finest selected tonewoods, meticulous inlay work by skilled artisans, and, above all, the ideal tonal balance that only the dreadnought body shape can achieve.

This single game encapsulates everything a player dreams of pursuing throughout their life.

When discussing the history of the D-45, it's impossible to ignore the "pre-war" model. Only 91 units were produced between 1933 and 1942. However, its glorious history was abruptly interrupted by the shadow of World War II.

In the 1940s, Martin faced harsh realities under wartime conditions. In addition to a severe shortage of materials such as metal and wood, the cessation of imports from Japan, a major source of mother-of-pearl essential for inlays, was a major factor in making D-45 production difficult. In 1943, production of Style 40 series guitars, characterized by their lavish inlays, came to an end, and the D-45's history came to a close.

After the war, around 1945, Frank Henry Martin became the third president of the company. However, perhaps due to his strong aesthetic sense that "simplicity and modesty are the essence of a guitar's elegance," Martin was unable to resume production of lavishly decorated high-end guitars for a long time after the war. As a result, the luxurious pre-war D-45 disappeared from the market and became a legend.

This historical context provides one answer to the question of why pre-war D-45 models hold such special value and command high prices in the modern era.

And now, adding further momentum to this pre-war D-45 story, Martin has launched an unprecedented project. It's called "Project 91."

The number "91" in this project refers to the total number of pre-war D-45s produced. Martin has thoroughly researched the specifications and characteristics of the 91 original instruments, and is attempting to reproduce the features of that era, corresponding to their serial numbers, as faithfully as possible using modern technology.

The models that have been announced are truly worthy of being called "modern-day reproductions of legends." For example, there are attempts to recreate the Gene Autry specification that marked the beginning of the D-45, and to revive the rare 1936 D-45S with its large body, unraveling the history carved out by the craftsmen of the past, one step at a time.

Each guitar is unique, and this epic journey of recreating original models scattered around the world using modern technology is expected to be a project spanning several years. Perhaps one day we'll be reunited with that cherished D-45 we once owned through this project. Thinking about this, one can't help but be struck by how rich and ever-evolving the history of vintage guitars truly is.

The reason the Martin D-45 continues to captivate many players as the "ultimate acoustic guitar" is not simply due to the specific wood used. However, the existence of "Brazilian rosewood (Jacaranda)" is an important topic that cannot be ignored when discussing the history of vintage guitars.

Pre-war models featuring Brazilian rosewood (Jacaranda) possess the lustrous tone and profoundly deep bass characteristic of pre-war Martins. It has a depth reminiscent of the deep ocean, producing rich overtones that fully capture the nuances of the player's fingertips. The rich and brilliant sound produced by this rare and precious wood is, I believe, the sound many guitarists dream of.

On the other hand, the D-45, which became mainstream after 1970 and uses "Indian rosewood," is by no means a substitute for Brazilian rosewood.RecruitThis model boasts excellent attack, a more balanced and rich mid-low range, and the sparkling high frequencies characteristic of Martin guitars. Numerous top artists have chosen this Indian rosewood model as their stage companion, seeking its delicate yet brilliant sound, precisely because of its merits. Its refined tonal balance, which transcends the boundaries of vintage and perfectly fits the musical landscape of each era, is what has broadened the appeal of the D-45 model and solidified its enduring position.

Today, due to the strict import and export regulations imposed by the Washington Convention, opportunities to encounter a D-45 with Brazilian rosewood (Jacaranda) are extremely rare. Although Brazilian rosewood was used in a very small number of custom models even after the 1980s, Martin's launch of "Project 91" in the present day, when the situation surrounding wood is more difficult than ever, is extremely significant. The fact that Brazilian rosewood has been chosen again as a material in this ambitious attempt to revive the legendary 91 guitars makes the significance of creating a Brazilian rosewood guitar in the modern age all the more precious.

In the future, opportunities for us to actually see or touch a D-45 with a Brazilian rosewood body will become even more rare and difficult to obtain than before. However, the essence of the "D-45," a masterpiece that has been loved across generations and specifications, transcends the framework of the individual characteristics of the wood and will continue to fascinate many players as the very pride of the Martin brand.

The D-45 continues to reign as the pinnacle of acoustic guitars, but a deeper look into its history reveals that it has undergone continuous trial and error in its unseen internal structure and intricate details.

Every time we examine the details of successive generations of the D-45, we are struck by the weight of history—how Martin has preserved the "sound of its golden age" while evolving the guitar to meet the demands of players of each era.

This isn't limited to the D-45, but the evolution of the truss rod is a prime example of a "dramatic, invisible change."

Nowadays, adjustable truss rods, which allow you to adjust the neck curvature of an acoustic guitar, are a standard feature. In fact, this groundbreaking mechanism was invented by Gibson as early as the 1920s. Nevertheless, Martin consistently used non-adjustable truss rods (such as T-bars and square rods) until 1985.RecruitI continued doing so.

One factor behind this might be the fact that they possessed an established repair technique called "neck reset," similar to that used for violins. But above all, I believe it was their absolute pride in traditional techniques and the resulting "dedication to sound." Their unwavering adherence to their own methods, without being swayed by common sense or ease of adjustment, is extremely significant. That's why the transition to adjustable trusses in 1985, though not visible from the outside, was an extremely dramatic change in specifications.

When you actually play them side by side, you can definitely hear the difference in sound.RecruitWhile the guitar with the original truss rod produces a strong, robust tone, the guitar with the adjustable truss rod has a more flexible, well-balanced sound, giving the impression of being very easy to handle.

What's interesting is that in the 1990s, after adjustable trusses had become commonplace, a limited number of models with square trusses were produced, perhaps due to a strong longing for the 1970s D-45. This shows how deeply Martin's tradition and dedication have taken root and how much they are loved by their users.

The deep, robust sound of pre-war models and the refined tonal balance of modern models—all of these have their roots in the intricate details of the actual instruments. I believe there's a certain pleasure in comparing the differences between different eras and contemplating why a particular D-45 produces such a tone.

We hope you will enjoy learning about these detailed historical details in the D-45 Gallery, which will be described later.

It was always the leading artists of their time who made the D-45 name known around the world. Starting with the pioneer Gene Autry, countless legendary musicians have picked up the D-45 and spun historically famous songs with it.

Its opulent ornamentation gives it an overwhelming presence. Furthermore, the depth of its low frequencies supports the music, while its dazzling high frequencies cut through the ensemble. I believe artists chose this guitar not simply because of its luxurious appearance. It must have been the "ultimate tool" for expressing their souls through sound and delivering them to their audience.

The "D-45" is a guitar that continues to fascinate players even as times change, and it is the best partner that accompanies the lives of many artists and guitar enthusiasts. However, even though we refer to it simply as the "D-45," its appearance and tone are never the same, from the pre-war models of the 1930s to the re-production period and up to the present day.

At Advance Guitars, we have handled numerous D-45s in the past, and have deeply engaged with each and every one of them. The more we examine the details, the more we see the history of the relentless challenges and evolution of craftsmen, truly worthy of being called "the world's finest."

Now, please take a look at the precious D-45s that we have had the pleasure of handling. "Even with the same model name, it's amazing how much individuality can differ depending on the year and history of each individual gun."

Through the gallery, we will delve deeper into its supreme charm.

This historic guitar was restored over eight years by TJ Thompson, the world's most famous repairman. The first D-45 was made in 1933 at the request of country singer Gene Autry, and 91 were produced by 1942. It is said that only about 70 of these guitars remain in existence, and most are owned by major artists or collectors, making it extremely rare for one to come up for sale. Among these original D-45s, there was a model named 'D-45S', where the 'S' in the model name stands for Special Order, and a total of seven D-45S guitars were made. This instrument is one of them.

The original owner of this guitar specified a nut size of 1 5/8" (15"), slightly narrower than the standard Martin sizes of 1 11/16" or 1 3/4" (1939). Country artist Wilma Lee Cooper once owned this guitar and had it repaired and restored by Sho-Bud in Nashville. At that time, it was found that the top was too thin to support the tension of the strings. The next owner sent the guitar to the renowned luthier TJ Thompson for extensive repairs to restore it to a playable condition. This process took a full eight years and cost several million yen in repairs alone. It is a valuable model when discussing pre-war D-45s.

TOP: Adirondack Spruce
BACK & SIDES: Brazilian Rosewood
NECK: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
TUNERS: Closed Grover G-111 Tuners Gold
NUT-WIDTH: 41.3mm (1 5/8")

This is also an extremely rare original D-45, the ultimate instrument.

At the time, the '45' series underwent stricter checks than any other Martin model in terms of materials and quality control, resulting in limited production numbers and the fact that 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 paint was unique, unlike Gibson's, giving it a texture as if the paint had blended into the wood and worn away. Furthermore, the Japanese-made abalone used for the inlays has particularly fine chips, and its luster is completely different from that of more recent models. The D-45 was revived in 1968 and remains Martin's flagship model, continuing to influence numerous manufacturers and luthiers to this day. The sound achieved through the finest materials and Martin's exceptional craftsmanship transcends all other aspects, emitting a rich and brilliant resonance.

This instrument was originally owned by Jimmie Dolan, a country musician from California who had hits in the 1950s. Having been cherished and used by a professional musician for many years, it sounds exceptionally good. Furthermore, its understated appearance exudes a powerful, almost mystical aura that only top-quality vintage instruments possess. It was manufactured in 1942, the final year of production for the original D-45, due to metal shortages caused by the war.RecruitThis guitar features an ebony truss rod. Weighing in at a light 1.88 kg, it offers a stress-free, free-spirited sound that is incredibly pleasing. A truly miraculous masterpiece, the ultimate for any Martin enthusiast.

TOP: Adirondack Spruce
BACK & SIDES: Brazilian Rosewood
NECK: Mahogany, Ebony Truss Rod
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
BRIDGE: Ebony
TUNERS: WAVERLY
Nut width: 42.3mm
WEIGHT: 1.88kg
SOUNDHOLE TO X-BRACING: 43mm

Among the Martin D-45 models, the Tree of Life stands out with its particularly luxurious aura. This model is crafted by the Martin Custom Shop's team of artisans and has the appearance of a true work of art.

The Tree of Life series sometimes appears in limited production runs, and there are various inlays on each guitar depending on the year of production and concept (such as commemorating Martin's founding or customizing the body). Each model is extremely rare and not part of the regular production line.

Take a look at the decorations added to the D-45.

summary

The D-45 originally began as an order from Gene Autry. Later, members of CSN&Y used the D-45, and influenced by them, Kazuhiko Kato, Mamoru Horiuchi, and others started using the D-45 on stage. Its brilliant tone, different from the dreadnoughts of the time, undoubtedly astonished many artists and Martin fans alike. The vertical logo, hexagon inlays, and elegantly gleaming body decorations captivated those who saw them, making them think, "Someday I want to buy a D-45 and play it."

Following in the footsteps of artists such as Kiyoshi Taguchi, Masashi Sada, Kosetsu Minami, and Kounosuke Sakazaki, many others have owned a D-45, and even today, the sound of the D-45 is carried on by many artists through records and videos. The "D-45"—even as times change, it remains an object of longing and perhaps a legendary guitar that continues to fascinate players.

At Advance Guitars, we take this history into account and will convey the appeal of the D-45 to everyone through actual instruments.
When you visit our store, please be sure to try out the D-45. Hearing its sound firsthand will undoubtedly open up a whole new world for you.

one thing:A D-45 now? I used to think that way sometimes. But now, having handled countless D-45s, including pre-war models, I wanted to take another look at this model, the pinnacle of acoustic guitars. When I examined it down to the smallest detail, I discovered a continuous stream of new things. It was a very rewarding writing experience.

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