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Product Details
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Martin / 1977 D-45 - "Only 76 made"

1977 was the year Martin experienced a labor strike, and partly as a result, only 76 D-45s were built that year.

That should give you a sense of just how rare it is to come across a 1977 D-45 in good condition.

Let's take a closer look at this particular example.

The top uses tight, high-quality spruce - you can tell just from the grain how good the wood is. The body features white binding and vivid abalone shell inlay, which shows off a range of different expressions depending on the light.

The back and sides are gorgeous quartersawn Indian rosewood, with a beautiful brown contrast in both color and grain. Like the top, it's decorated with white binding and abalone shell inlay, and even after nearly half a century it still retains a jewel-like beauty.

The multicolor center strip, so emblematic of the D-45, is built from carefully combined, colorful, precisely-made parts - a real showcase of Martin's craftsmanship.

The area around the soundhole is decorated with white/black multicolor celluloid and abalone shell - truly the crystallization of skilled handwork.

The black pickguard remains in its original state. The proof is in the spruce grain pattern that shows through the finish depending on the light - a pattern that only appears after the spruce top and the pickguard have bonded tightly together over many years. On many Martin guitars, the differing shrinkage rates of the wood and the pickguard material cause the pickguard to warp and pull on the wood, leading to the so-called "Martin crack." While this guitar does show a slight amount of lifting from age, there isn't a single crack in the wood - clear evidence it's been well cared for over the years.

The fingerboard is jet-black ebony, against which the abalone shell hexagon inlays shine vividly.

The ebony downbelly bridge is fitted with a short saddle and white bridge pins.

The mahogany neck has a comfortably substantial soft V shape - this grip is also one of the key factors behind its rich harmonic overtones.

The headstock, faced in Indian rosewood, carries the so-called "vertical logo," notable for its bold font and strong bevel work.

The tuners are GROVER 102Gs, characteristic of this era - they still retain a dazzling gold shine and are highly valuable parts in their own right.

Opportunities to find a 1977 D-45 in condition this good are extremely rare. We confidently recommend this to anyone searching for a Martin D-45 in truly superb condition.

[SPEC]
TOP: Spruce
BACK/SIDES: Indian Rosewood
FINGERBOARD/BRIDGE: Ebony
NECK: Mahogany
NUT WIDTH: 43mm
SCALE: 644mm
CASE: Original Hard Shell Case

[Repairs / Replaced Parts / Cosmetic Condition]
*As this is a used/vintage instrument, the following notes reflect what we could confirm during our own inspection. Thank you for your understanding.
*There are minor play-wear scratches, but given its age the cosmetic condition is excellent overall.
*Slight lifting is visible on the pickguard, but it has not led to any cracking in the wood.
*There is a touch-up mark on the upper right of the body top.
*Saddle has been newly replaced.
*Evidence of a neck reset is visible.
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Please note that all items are for sale in our Tokyo store.
There is a chance they might be sold out. All items are shipped tracked and insured. All import duties or customs fees are the buyers responsibility - please be aware of the requirements for your country. If you have any questions please ask.