What is considered a pre-war Martin?

Any date before then is considered “pre-war,” in the context of Martin guitars. After that point, designs may have changed, and the herringbone purfling that CF Martin used to use on its D-28s, for example, that was imported from Germany became unavailable for a number of years.

How much is a 1930s Martin guitar worth?

You’ll need the cash of a rock star to pluck this acoustic guitar from its hard-shelled case. Bidding on the 1930 Martin OM-45 Deluxe will start at $875,000 but it’s expected to reach between $1.75 million and $2 million Thursday.

Why are pre-war Martins so expensive?

So since WWII, the supply has been both rare and tightly controlled; as a result it’s extremely expensive.

What years are pre-war Martins?

The 91 D-45s that Martin produced between 1932 and 1942 may be the most coveted flattops ever made. What makes them so special? In 1933, a singing cowboy from Oklahoma plunked down $200 and ordered a new guitar from the Chicago Musical Instrument Company.

What is the most expensive Martin guitar?

Kurt Cobain’s 1959 Martin D-18E guitar, famously played in Nirvana’s historic 1993 “MTV Unplugged” performance, has smashed the world record price for a guitar at auction, selling for US$6,000,010 at a Julien’s auction in Hollywood today.

Why is Martin so expensive?

Martins are expensive because they are high quality and have a reputation for that quality. In my opinion they are over-priced though, and for the price of a good Martin you can buy a hand made one from a reputable luthier.

What’s the world’s most expensive guitar?

David Gilmour’s “Black Strat” Just Became the Most Expensive Guitar Ever Sold, at $3.975 Million.

What is a pre war guitar?

Pre-War Guitars came about because of their mutual deep passion for the magical tone of 1930s-era acoustic guitars. The result are one-of-a-kind handmade guitars with a sound, look, and playability like no other.

What do the numbers mean on Martin guitars?

Style numbers indicate the construction materials and appointments of the guitar, and this system allows for several combinations between body shapes and styles. The first letters or numbers indicate the body shape (0, 00, OM, D, etc.) that are followed by a style number (15, 18, 28, 45, etc.), and separated by a dash.

Why are Martin guitars so hard to play?

The problem is that every Martin I’ve played has been orders of magnitude more difficult to play than the comparable Taylors. The person at the music shop says that it’s because Martin ships their guitars with high action and heavy strings opposed to Taylor who ships them with lower action and lighter strings.