The 40 series of guitars, Martin’s high end instruments adorned with Abalone and mother of pearl, was originally introduced in 1852, as a line intended for “ladies” with their more ornate designs such as abalone purfling, fancier inlays and ivory bridges. Though these highly appointment instruments would grow (in 1933, when custom ordered by Gene Autry) into the “king of all flat-tops”, the D-45, in 1899, the year this guitar was made, they were still mainly a parlor-style instrument intended for well educated women to perform for families and guests in the sitting room of their house.

Different times.

This example has had a fair amount of work done, including replacing the original ivory bridge (sometime in the 1930’s most likely) with an ebony belly bridge and new bridge plate, as well as a number of top crack repairs as is oft the case in Colorado, especially for a 126 year old guitar! The neck has been reset at some point, and during the procedure (as was unfortunately very common) the heel block separated and was reglued.

As was often the case in the early 20th Century, a hole has been drilled into the back of the headstock to hang it from.

The neck is a lovely, comfortable V profile that’s actually surprisingly slim despite the 1 7/8ths nut. This little guitar has some of the straightest grain Brazilian rosewood we’ve ever seen.

This guitar has a lovely, open, sweet sound that speaks of another era, but has a surprising amount of volume for its tiny size.

Comes with the original chipboard case.