Martin HD-40MS (1996)

Martin / 1996 HD-40MS

Marty Stuart, who created classic country and bluegrass songs such as "Hillbilly Rock," "Same Old Train," and "Burn Me Down."
This instrument is a signature model produced as his musical partner.
It is also a rare item, limited to a production run of just 250 units.

—The HD-40MS, based on the D-40

While the D-40 is Martin’s flagship model, it features premium woods but features a more understated abalone shell inlay.
This instrument is packed with his unique attention to detail; as indicated by the "HD" designation, herringbone trim is applied to the Dreadnought body.
The top is made of spruce with a beautiful, uniform grain.
The bracing pattern is scalloped X-bracing.

The rosette features a beautiful herringbone inlay made of abalone shell.

The pickguard features a tortoiseshell pattern.
Combined with the herringbone trim, it evokes the feel of a pre-war model.

The sides and back are made of straight-grained Indian rosewood, and the backstrip features a herringbone pattern.

The fingerboard is made of ebony and is adorned with five decorative motifs: a bull’s horn, a hoof, a heart, a flower, and a die.
These inlays are meticulously crafted using 103 pieces of various materials, including mother-of-pearl, gold pearl, black pearl, abalone shell, and composite stone.
Marty Stuart’s signature is inlaid in abalone shell on the 20th fret.

The ebony down-belly bridge is fitted with a short saddle.

The mahogany neck is profiled from Marty’s own D-45 and offers a slim, C-shaped feel.
It offers a comfortable grip and is well-suited for modern music.

The headstock, made of Indian rosewood veneer, features a gold-leaf C.F. Martin logo instead of the vertical logo.
This may have been Martin’s intention to tone down the flashiness of the logo and highlight the inlay decorations.

The tuning machines are open-back tuners engraved with the C.F. Martin logo.
The gold-colored housing and butterbean buttons enhance the instrument’s luxury and authenticity.

[Staff Comment: Hoshino]

Although this is a Martin from the 40s series, the playful inlays and herringbone decoration make this a guitar packed with Martin’s attention to detail.
Just by looking at the wood, you can tell that high-quality materials have been used, so whether you choose it as a signature model or simply for its musical quality, this is a piece that is sure to satisfy.

[Specs/Included Case]
TOP: Spruce
BACK/SIDES: Indian Rosewood
FINGERBOARD/BRIDGE: Ebony
NECK: Mahogany
NUT WIDTH: 43mm
SCALE: 647mm
CASE: Original Hard Shell Case

[Repair/Modification History / Replaced Parts / Cosmetic Condition, etc.]
*Please note that this is a used/vintage item, and the information provided is based on our inspection.
Please be aware of this in advance.
- The instrument shows scratches and scuffs from playing, consistent with its age.
- New frets, nut, and saddle have been installed
- The Marty Stuart signature strap is not included.
- The hard case opens 180 degrees due to the stretching of the latch strap.

[Playing Condition]
- String action at the 12th fret: 2.4 mm on the 6th string side, 1.9 mm on the 1st string side
- Saddle height: approx. 3.5mm–4.0mm
-Plays smoothly with no muting or buzzing; in excellent playing condition.

[Peace of Mind Warranty: 6 months]

[Online Shopping Assurance]
Since we cannot offer customers the opportunity to try out the instrument before purchasing, we provide a 6-day trial period after the product arrives.
Please take your time to try the product at home, and if you are not satisfied, we will refund the purchase price.
*You are responsible for round-trip shipping costs.