1992 Martin D-45S Deluxe 12 Fret Slope Shoulder Limited Edition D-45 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Up for sale, a 1992 Martin D-45S Deluxe slope shoulder dreadnought acoustic guitar in exceptional, collector-grade condition and in perfect working order. Part of Martin's "Guitar of the Month" series in '92, this D-45S Deluxe features a slope shoulder design with a 12 frets clear of the body, just like the very first D-45s of the early 1930s. The undisputed king of Martin's dreadnought line of instruments, the genesis of the D-45 model was a special order in 1933 by singing cowboy Gene Autry, who plunked down $200 and requested the "biggest, fanciest Martin he could."

Only a handful of D-45s were produced in Martin's Pre-War years, and the model has historically been available in exceedingly small quantities compared to Martin's other dreadnought output, with this 12 fret design being much rarer than the 14 fret iterations more commonly seen. Part of a limited edition of only 50 instruments with the soundhole label signed by C.F. Martin IV himself, this D-45S Deluxe boasts high performance 1/4" width scalloped X bracing, a 1 3/4" nut, and an ebony bridge with wide 2 1/4" spacing and beautiful abalone snowflakes inlaid into both fluted edges. Abalone pearl is used throughout and borders the perimeter of the top, sides, back, and adjacent to the fingerboard, as well as around the middle soundhole rosette ring.  All binding is grained ivoroid, and the Brazilian rosewood headstock face features the Martin name inlaid vertically, with the Martin "M" inlaid on the individual ebony tuner buttons. The craftsmanship and detail of this Martin is jaw-dropping, and it's an instrument worthy of the D-45 name both aesthetically and tonally.

The unusual use of lighter, 1/4" scalloped braces on a 12-fret D model is a major contributor to this D-45's clarity and resonance. The guitar has ample projection and the sound is smooth and sweet with nice articulation when fingerpicked. Bright and clear with a very open and balanced sound when strummed with a pick, the guitar delivers low end which has just enough rumble and kick without being overbearing, and the top end has notable sparkle. We've had this Martin professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar and dialed in for optimal action with 12-53 strings.

The mahogany neck has a flawless and fairly slender C shaped profile with minimal increase in shoulder and overall profile depth as you travel up the fretboard. The profile depth measures .859" at the 1st fret, filling out to .941" at the 9th fret where the profile begins to transition into the neck heel. On the bound ebony fretboard, the original slender frets show just a touch of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-2, with virtually no wear further up the fretboard. The guitar has a clear, defined voice in every register, and the frets retain their full factory height with well rounded crowns. The scale length is a full 25.4" and the nut has Martin's wider Pre-War spec 1 3/4" width, ideal for fingerpicking. The headstock overlay is genuine Brazilian rosewood with a polished nitro lacquer gloss sheen and the C.F. Martin name inlaid vertically on the solid peghead. The Schaller-made gold tuning machines have ebony buttons, and these tuners turn smoothly and hold pitch as they should.

Crack-free and near mint, the body shows just a faint finish scratch or two in the pick path and on the back, and the solid back and sides are constructed of Martin's highest grade select East Indian rosewood. The Sitka spruce top is lightly ambered from the factory to accentuate the vintage appeal and inlay work on the top. Visible through the soundhole, the original parchment label with 10 of 50 limited edition numbering is intact, with the aforementioned C.F. Martin IV signature, and requisite Martin model and serial number markings on the heel block. A truly inspiring and expertly crafted Martin instrument in every respect, this D-45S Deluxe is a rare 12 fret example of the sound that has defined the Martin brand for the better part of the last century.

A molded black Martin hardshell case with blue plush interior is included.

A note on shipping: Shipping in the continental USA will be $175, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Three Day Express. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.