C. F. Martin D-41S Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1970), ser. #264093, original black hard shell case.

C. F. Martin D-41S Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1970), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 264093, natural lacquer finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. We often feel the fairly rare 12-fret Martin Dreadnought guitars are widely overlooked or under appreciated- but this spectacular example is not only a great guitar but as rare as it gets. Either a single production sample or custom order, this 1970 D-41S is the ONLY example of this model shipped that year, as well as the first example of a D-41S ever made. Constructed around the middle of 1970 it missed being made of Brazilian rosewood by about a year but features some extremely tight, finely-grained Indian nonetheless-likely chosen especially for this guitar. Again, only ONE of this model was made in 1970-this one. On top of that only five more total were built in the entire decade of the 1970's. For comparison 426 regular 14-fret D-41's left the factory in 1970 alone, alongside over 3500 14-fret D-28's so when we say " rare" it's not an exaggeration! Rarity aside for the moment, this is also a just very beautiful and great sounding guitar, built of the most select materials with a super tight-grained spruce top bordered in pearl and abalone, also used for the soundhole ring. The ebony fingerboard is bound and inlaid with multi-hued abalone blocks. The tuners are gold-plated Grover "Thinline" units, a feature of Martins of this period. With a big, booming sound and wide comfortable neck this is a great old-time music or practically anything else, and we think the 12-fret models are often tonally more muscular than their 14-fret brethren. With nearly 50 years of aging under its belt, this guitar has mellowed in nicely making for a great looking, fine playing guitar with a very powerful voice, especially for the era it was built in. Designed as a showpiece and absolutely the coolest 1970 Martin we have ever had. TRULY one of a kind!Overall length is 40 3/8 in. (102.6 cm.), 15 7/8 in. (40.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 5 in. (12.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.). Very clean overall, with some very small dings and scuffs to the finish and hardly any play wear. The neck has been reset and playability is excellent, there are small nicks into the finish just along the fingerboard but overall a very clean job. We don't know where this guitar went in 1970 after being built, but it is still waiting to be really played and enjoyed almost 50 years later. Excellent + Condition.