Up for sale, a 1997 Martin CEO-1R Limited Edition in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original molded hardshell case and warranty card. The Martin CEO models are a series of acoustic guitars designed by (as the name would suggest) Martin’s CEO, Chris (C. F.) Martin IV, introduced in ‘97 and originally intended as a limited edition run with premium marquetry and construction. This original CEO was based on the SPD-16T dreadnought, and this first-year 1R variant is a notable rare version with East Indian rosewood back and sides, with less than 200 examples produced. Other unique features include the hexagon outline inlays on the fingerboard and bridge, and the carved ebony buttons on the tuning machines.

Tonewoods include an X-braced Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard, and this CEO-1R weighs 4lbs 9oz. Lively, articulate, and sweet, this CEO-1R displays Martin’s signature piano-like clarity and exquisite string-to-string balance, with bold, clear wound strings. The treble strings are crisp and immediate, the midrange is particularly full-sounding, and there’s a certain dynamism to the top, which has an open, relaxed quality only achieved via a soundboard that has had decades to naturally open up. This CEO-1R has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: Low Profile, measuring .815” 1st fret, .905” 9th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, hexagon outline abalone inlays with “C. F. Martin IV” inlay at 20th fret
• Frets: Slender, no wear
• Scale Length: 25.4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”
• Tuners: Schaller M-6, ebony buttons

Body Specs:

• Wood: Sitka spruce, East Indian rosewood (bookmatched)
• Bracing: X, scalloped
• Bridge: Ebony belly, hexagon outline abalone inlays
• Marquetry: Herringbone purfling, abalone rosette, N-20 black binding
• Plastics: Red tortoise pickguard
• Serialization: Stamp on wooden plaque on heel block dates to ‘97

Exceedingly well-kept and crack-free, this guitar exhibits faint case rash on top at the lower bout, with virtually no playwear beyond a couple very faint marks in the Aging Toner on top and a few tiny chips along the binding. The satin finish on the neck profile is flawless.

The original molded hardshell case is included, along with the serialized warranty card.