I am offering a Martin Custom Shop D-CS Large Soundhole from 2023, a crafted at the Martin Custom Shop in Nazareth (PA), USA, one-of-a-kind luxury acoustic guitar in all solid timber Dreadnought design featuring a large soundhole (!), hand-selected Adirondack red spruce top, back and sides made of wildly figured Madagascar rosewood, set hardwood neck with modified V-neck profile and 42.9mm bone nut, bound ebony fingerboard as well as high-quality Waverly Open Gear tuners in a radiant natural high-gloss nitrocellulose finish with faux tortoise pickguard and herringbone purfling in mint collector's condition, including Martin luxury hardshell case, certificate and professional setup with 12-gauge Elixir strings.

This exceptional 2023 D-14 Fret acoustic guitar from the Martin Custom Shop is a one-of-a-kind instrument crafted to special order, combining the classic HD-28 design with premium tonewoods of the highest selection grade and hand-picked specifications. The most distinctive feature is the enlarged soundhole, which, in the style of the 1935 Martin D-28 played by bluegrass legends Clarence White and Tony Rice, provides a more direct response, a punchier sound, and less dominant bass with warmer mids. This construction method is very rare at Martin and results in unique sonic characteristics.

In addition, the instrument features a finely resonant North American Adirondack red spruce top, which delivers a bright, powerful, and overtone-rich sound experience—particularly in the mid and high frequencies—and reproduces this even with a hearty strum, without compression. Due to its extraordinary vibrational response, the top, in combination with the scalloped X-bracing—also made of Adirondack—builds up an incomparable dynamic range that impressively conveys both classic strumming and, in particular, flat picking with varying picking intensity.

The back and sides, crafted from beautifully figured Madagascar rosewood—one of the finest alternatives to brazilian rosewood—further enhance the three-dimensional tonal depth with clear, well-defined bass tones.

All woods used in this guitar were, of course, hand-selected and thus meet Martin’s highest selection standards.

The combination of the classic 645mm scale length, the 42.9mm bone nut, and the Modified V neck profile ensures a comfortable, natural playing feel.

Technical Specifications:

• Origin: Nazareth, PA, USA (Custom Shop)
• Year of manufacture: 2023
• Body shape: 14-fret dreadnought with large soundhole
• Top: Adirondack red spruce (solid)
• Bracing: Scalloped “X” in Adirondack
• Back / Sides: Madagascar rosewood (solid)
• Neck: Selected hardwood with satin back finish, set-in
• Neck profile: Modified V
• Fingerboard: Ebony, bound
• Frets: 21
• Nut: 42.9mm, bone
• Headstock: Madagascar rosewood front veneer with Golden Era decal, polished
• Bridge: Ebony modern belly bridge with compensated bone saddle
• Tuners: Waverly open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs
• Body Bindings: White boltaron with herringbone purfling
• Rosette: Concentric rings
• Pickguard: Faux tortoise
• Finish: Natural High-Gloss with Aging Toner, Nitrocellulose
• Scale Length: 645mm
• Serial No.: 2774946
• Includes black Martin luxury hardshell case, all manufacturer’s papers (including Custom Shop certificate)

This is a one-of-a-kind instrument custom-built at the Martin Custom Shop and had a new price of just under €9,000.00 in Germany.

This Martin D-CS is in mint, extremely clean condition and technically flawless. Visually, there is practically no wear (see photos). The frets are flawless.

The instrument has received a professional setup with 12-53 Elixir Phosphor Bronze strings, and I (a long-time guitar teacher) will ship it fully insured with DHL for €49.99 within Germany or for €139.99 within the EU. Worldwide shipping available—individual shipping costs upon request.

All images shown are of the actual instrument for sale.