Martin 1981 D-45 [Shipping Free~8/31]

Product Description

Martin / 1981 D-45

Prized by legendary Japanese artists like Kazuhiko Kato, Konosuke Sakazaki, and Kosetsu Minami, Martin's flagship dreadnought has long been the guitar many players dream of owning, admired through decades of recordings and performances for its rich tone and luxurious presence.

This 1981 example is in outstanding condition.

- Fine-grained spruce top
The spruce top shows a beautifully fine, even grain, clearly selected with care for this instrument. Beyond the white binding, abalone shell purfling and multi-stripe celluloid trim frame the soundhole.

- Pickguard
Guitars from this era used a lacquered-in pickguard, which often lifted or cracked over time due to the differing expansion rates of the pickguard material and the wood beneath (known as the 'Martin crack') - a common reason for pickguard replacement. Remarkably, this example has kept its original pickguard intact.

- Indian rosewood
Martin switched to Indian rosewood for sides and back in the late 1960s/1970. This guitar uses Indian rosewood cut with quarter-sawn grain, giving it a beautiful, Brazilian-like striped figure. As with the top, it's trimmed in white celluloid with abalone shell accents, and the center strip uses multi-color banding for added visual richness.

- Fingerboard
The jet-black ebony fingerboard is set with abalone shell hexagon inlays. Being a natural material, no two patterns are alike, giving each one its own distinct beauty and shine. White binding runs along the fingerboard edge.

- Neck
The mahogany neck uses a soft V-shape profile with comfortable heft, supporting relaxed, confident playing.

- Bridge
The ebony belly-down bridge is fitted with white bridge pins (abalone dot) and a short saddle. Saddle material shifted from ivory to Micarta around 1980, a defining feature of D-45s from this decade.

- Headstock
The Indian rosewood veneer headstock adopted the squared-off shape used from the 1970s onward for a stylish look, topped with the abalone shell vertical logo essential to any D-45.

- Tuners
Gold-plated Schaller M6 tuners engraved with the Martin name provide a lightweight, stylish look along with smooth, dependable tuning.

[Specs / Included Case]
TOP: Sitka Spruce
BACK/SIDES: Indian Rosewood
FINGERBOARD/BRIDGE: Ebony
NECK: Mahogany
NUT WIDTH: 42mm
SCALE: 646mm
CASE: Non-Original Hard Shell Case

[Repair history / replaced parts / cosmetic condition]
*As a used/vintage item, this reflects only what our inspection could determine. Thank you for your understanding.
- Scratches and light surface wear consistent with age and playing use.
- Evidence of a past neck reset.

[Playing Condition]
Action at the 12th fret: 2.5mm (low E), 2.0mm (high E)
Saddle protrusion: approx. 1.0-1.5mm. No buzzing or dead notes; plays well.

[6-Month Assurance Warranty]

[Return policy] Try it at home for 6 days after delivery - if it's not right for you, return it for a refund (return shipping at buyer's expense).