VG(+) Condition. The top has lacquer checking, a handful of dents and dings and one repaired crack. Sides have some scrapes and two repaired cracks. The back has lacquer checking and three repaired cracks. The neck has a sizeable area where finish has been rubbed off and a few other marks. Neck has been recently reset and the frets have been milled.
     All Mahogany body. Radiused Rosewood fretboard with Ivoroid dot inlays. Rosewood bridge. All-original parts.
     Great sound. Nice, crisp attack with a solid low end. This guitar is fun to play. It's set up great for fingerpicking, and the sound is clear and loud.

     Exceptional original condition. The top has a few very tiny touch marks, and shows polite lacquer checking. The back and sides just have a few small marks and slight lacquer checking. There are two very small side cracks that have been professionally repaired. The neck is in great original shape with just a few small marks. Bar frets are in great shape, peghead is really clean. Tuners are in exceptionally fine original condition.
     Adirondack Red Spruce top. Mahogany back, sides and neck. Top is multiple bound, back has single wood binding. Radiused Ebony fretboard with graduated Abalone dot inlays. Original pickguard and "belly bridge". Slotted peghead with original tuners and "CF Martin & Co" stamped on the back.
     Excellent sound, excellent condition. This is a beautiful original Martin. These guitars represent the most desirable of all the 12-fret, 00-18's. A good time to buy is right now, when this one is priced 15% or 20% below their pre-recession price.

     Excellent (restored, converted) condition. Has a few minor marks on top and back and one lacquer chip in back of neck.
     Originally was an arch top guitar with flat back, built on the "000" or "OM" form at Martin in early 1930's. Many players have noticed that the original archtop configurations didn't have the right tonality for them. Starting in mid to late 1960's, luthiers saw the possibility of putting a good flat top on these C-2's, to convert them into great sounding flat tops. Even by the mid-'70's they were talked about as a very viable way to get an 'older guitar sound' by doing these conversions.
     Beautiful quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. Full neck profile - deep rounded "V" that feels fine. The fingerboards have just a bit more radius in them than Martin uses in their flat tops today, but it is a great feeling fingerboard. Converted in about 8 years ago by Steve Helgeson, who did a very fine job with the symmetry of neck placement, angle of neck set, bridge, top, pickguard. As part of the restoration, Mr Helgeson masterfully refinished the back, sides and neck.
     The finish work is excellent - if you have to refinish an old guitar, this is what they should look like. Helgeson also chose a very nice Spruce top for the job and completed the conversion by inlaying 'style 42' abalone trim around top edge purfling and soundhole rosette. Newer Gabon Ebony fingerboard with elaborate 'snowflakes and cat-eyes' abalone inlay. Ivoroid bindings along fingerboard and around peghead to match outer body bindings. Greven tortoise pickguard. Gabon Ebony bridge. Bridge pins appear original, with large flat head with large inlaid dot. Tuners are Gold Waverly pre-war style open-backs.
     24.9" scale length. 1 3/4" width at nut. 2 1/4" pin spacing in bridge.
     This is a remarkable guitar for tone and playability. The set-up is great.

     Like New condition. No dents, dings or fret wear.
     Carpathian Spruce top. Madagascar Rosewood back and sides with 3-piece "wave" design on back. Top is bound with Herringbone and Ivoroid. Back has multiple Ivoroid bindings and fretboard has single binding. Mahogany neck with dovetail joint. Radiused Ebony fingerboard with graduated abalone inlays. Nickel Waverly tuners. Golden era style scalloped X bracing. 1 11/16" width at nut.
     Be sure to check out the artistic 3-pc wave design in the back - it is very unique and very strikingly beautiful.
     Very strong, resonant sound. This guitar came into us in almost un-played condition. After only a few days here it is opening up very fast!
     These guitars listed for $6999 when new in 2011. They were only made as a special custom shop limited offering of around 75 guitars.

      VG(+) condition.  Only a few cosmetic rubs in the finish, and some dings here and there. One extra strap-button hole beside the neck heel.
     All solid wood construction, with select Mahogany back, sides and neck. Top appears to be select Englemann Spruce. Rosewood fingerboard, bridge, peghead overlay and heel cap. Small Abalone "cut-diamonds" inlaid in fingerboard and bridge. Tortoise-celluloid bindings on top and back of body. Wooden herringbone back strip and sounhole rosette. Tuners replaced with excellent Kluson copies, most likely by Gotoh. Original frets with minor denting. Dovetail neck joint.
     The D-16's made prior to the mid-90's follow pre-war examples with advanced scalloped bracing. This is a great guitar, better sounding than a lot of the Martin's of that era and new Martins as well.

     New Condition. Never been owned or used. This guitar still has all hang tags, etc. It was brought to us as a new guitar and traded for other items. NO wear, no dings, dents, scratches, etc.
     Mahogany back, sides and neck. Select Spruce top. Rosewood peghead overlay. Ebony fingerboard and bridge and heelcap. Black bindings around top and back of body. Herringbone soundhole rosette. Nickel tuners. Matte finish except for glossy nitro-cellulose on Spruce top.
     Look... we've had lots of D-16's come through here since early 1990's. This is really one of the very best. It has a great response that is quick and sure. Very good balance. I really think you'd have to play through quite a few more expensive Martins (D-18, D-18V, etc), to find one that is as good as this one. I rate it "exceptional tone".
     Comes with original paperwork and hang tags.

     Almost New Condition. Only has a couple of tiny touchmarks. No wear, no problems, no repairs.
     Mahogany back, sides and neck. Adirondack Red Spruce top. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Appointments like a D-18, with multiple wood bindings around the top with tortoise back binding. 1 3/4" width at nut. 25.4" scale length. 2 5/16" pin-to-pin spacing at bridge. Vintage rounded "Vee" profile neck.
     Small graduated dot inlays in fingerboard. Intonated saddle. Aging toner on top. Tortoise pickguard. Nickel tuners.
     This is a very nice guitar in great condition. The sound is big and full.

     Adirondack Red Spruce top. Mahogany back and sides. Professional body overspray by Martin. Mahogany neck with radiussed Ebony fretboard.
     This guitar sounds like a Martin should. Thunderous bass and cutting highs, you'll hear this one from down the street.
     *Call for additional details.

     Exc(-) condition. This guitar has professionally refinished back and sides. The refinish appears to have been done some years ago by a skilled finisher... Except for the color being one shade lighter than original, you might not notice that it was done, as it has just enough wear on it to look 'correct'. Newer copy Rosewood bridge. Newer "correct looking" pickguard. Recent professional neck re-set, thin Maple bridgeplate replaced, and fret job. Some player wear on top and some stray pick marks. Small dings around body and neck. One strap button hole filled in side of neck heel. Strap button currently attached to bottom of heel cap.
     Top has one repaired pickguard crack on outside of pickguard. No back cracks or side cracks.
     Cuban Mahogany back, sides and neck. Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. Rosewood bridge. Sitka Spruce top.
     This is a very fine playing and sounding guitar. It has a very quick and positive attack with lots of tonal presence and projection. Any and all maintenance work has already been done by professional luthiers.

     Exc(-) condition. Un-cracked top and back. Several repairs on sides. One small Mahogany patch in treble side at upper bout. All original finish, with plenty of old finish checking on the top. Original Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Full "V" neck profile. Original Kluson DeLuxe tuners.
     This is a very good D-18, with lots of snap and power. Recently set-up and has very good playability.

     Exc(++) condition. One owner guitar. Hardly played. This guitar has a few random marks on the top. There are two typical pickguard cracks. Both have been professionally repaired and are hardly noticeable. Original lacquer is in great condition. No strap button ever installed.
     Spruce top, Mahogany back, sides and neck. Multiple tortoise bindings on top and singe tortoise binding on back. Brazilian Rosewood, radiused fingerboard with graduated pearl dot inlays. Original Kluson "Deluxe" tuners. Brazilian Rosewood peghead overlay and bridge.
     Huge sound. Wide open, but with a strong attack. Guitar has just returned from shop getting a professional neck reset & new Brazilian Rosewood bridge. and plays and sounds great. Comes with the original hardshell case that is also in fine condition.

     Exc(-) condition. Mostly all original parts, although original black plastic pickguard has been replaced with a more recent vintage style celluloid tortoise. Grover rotomatic tuners have been changed to newer Kluson vintage copy tuners. Never had a strap button in neck heel, never had a neck re-set.
     Appears to be an Adirondack Red Spruce top. Possibly new nut, frets and saddle. Finish checking on top. Some dings in the top. A couple of side cracks have been repaired very well. Uncracked top and back.
     Mahogany back and sides, Spruce top. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Dot inlays in fingerboard.
     This is a good guitar in nice shape with good set-up. Quick attack and good sound.

     VG(+) Condition. Frets and fingerboard are in very good condition with minor signs of fret wear. New faithful copy Rosewood bridge. Original black pickguard, re-attached. Two top cracks- one on each side of top near binding at the waists. Back of neck shows some very light dents and one wear point into finish behind 7th fret. Strap button installed on side of heel. Errant strap button hole filled in heel cap. Several back cracks repaired fine, but some non-professional treatment of lacquer is shown (could use professional lacquer touch-up and rebuffing). Several side cracks repaired. Jack hole filled in lower treble bout. Recent setup.
     Mahogany back, sides and neck. Englemann spruce top. Rosewood fingerboard, bridge and peghead overlay. Pearl dot position markers in fingerboard. Original Grover "Rotomatic" tuners.
     Full sound with good balance.

     Exc.(+) Condition. This guitar is pretty close to "un-played" condition. There are just a couple of light random scratches and a few tiny dings in the top, but for the most part it is very clean. The back and sides also have just a couple of random little touches and dings, but nothing of great concern. Frets and neck are in great shape. No strap button installed.
     Adirondack top with nice traditional sunburst finish. Mahogany back, sides and neck. Top is multiple bound, back has single binding. Radiused Ebony fingerboard w/ graduated Abalone dot inlays. Rosewood peghead overlay, Ebony bridge and pins. NIckel Waverly open-back tuners. No strap button installed on heel. 1 3/4" width at nut, 2 5/16" pin spacing at bridge.
     Very nice, open sound, especially for such a new guitar. Big presence and commanding tone. This guitar is probably the best used D-18GE we've ever had... It is set up quite well, has hardly been played, and sounds great.
     * This model lists for over $4800 as a new guitar, selling for $3699 at the discount price... This one is pretty close to new condition and sounds like the one you'd buy after trying out a dozen of them.
 

     New condition. No fret wear, no scratches, no dings, no strap button on heel - this one is really great original condition!
     Choice mahogany back, sides and neck. High-grade Sitka Spruce top with lots of "silk" figure. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Straight-through intonated saddle. Modified "V" neck profile. Advanced scalloped bracing. Small maple bridge plate. Gotoh pre-war style open-back tuners. Top has aging toner. Multiple tortoise binding around top edge. Single tortoise back binding. Multiple wood soundhole rosette.
     This is a very good flatpicking guitar. The attack is fast, "sure" and crisp. It has good balance and tonal depth.

     VG(+) Condition. There are several dings in the top, belt buckle scratches in the back and some nicks on the side. The neck and fretboard are both in great shape.
     Select Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides. Top is multiple bound with outer tortoise binding. Back has single tortoise binding. Mahogany neck, Ebony fingerboard with graduated Abalone dot inlays. Martin open-back tuners.
     Sound is wide open with lots of concentrated power.
 

     Excellent condition. All original finish. One 4" back crack repaired. Moderate player wear and some random dings. Bridge professionally replaced with faithful vintage copy. Neck recently professionally re-set. New frets. There is one other very small repair I'll tell you about below.
     Quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. Cuban Mahogany neck. Adirondack Red Spruce top. Original Ebony fretboard. Original open-back tuners. Original pickguard.
     All original braces. Original small Maple bridgeplate.
    There is one minor repair of the top binding, just up from end pin. This repair is very slight, but just enough to notice if you look directly at it. It appears that bass side of binding around top came loose for about one inch, and when glued back the outer ivoroid stood out a bit thicker that it's couterpart directly on other side of center line. To even it out, the luthier slightly scraped an inch of the outer ivoroid binding to make it smoothly match the opposite side.
     This is a very fine example of a late-issue 'Herringbone' D-28. It has never been gelded. It delivers lots of power, with great tonality.

     VG(+) Condition. There are a couple small marks on the top, including some pick marks below the strings. There's a belt buckle mark, and a couple of insignificant dings on the back and sides. There are no cracks, fixed or open. There is a little wear on the neck, and marks on the back of the peghead from the original tuners. Just came out of the shop with new frets and a neck reset. The original bridge and pins have also been recently replaced.
     Select Spruce top. Fine Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. 6-ply binding on top of body, 3-ply binding on back. Soundhole rosette is multiple bound. Mahogany neck, Ebony fretboard with graduated Pearl dot inlays. Newer Schaller tuners installed, but originals are in the case. Transducer pickup installed with 1/8" endpin in output jack.
     This is a very, very good sounding guitar. A good one for any player or collector, it's in solid shape and has great tone and playability. 

     VG(+) Condition. This is quite a nice guitar for playing. There are one or two cosmetic things that have us listing this guitar as "VG+" instead of "Exc-" condition. The top has two repaired cracks and routine dings. There are two areas on the back where finish has been rubbed away and some rubbed-off areas on the sides. One repaired side crack. The neck has a little finish worn away and a couple of light dings. Some wear on the frets. Previous strap button hole filled on bass side near heel.
     Sitka Spruce top, fine quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. Top and back are both multiple bound. Mahogany neck with radiused Ebony fretboard and graduated pearl dot inlays. Original Grover tuners. "Hot Dot" pickup previously installed with endpin jack. Oxbone endpins.
      Very nice, balanced tone. It has a big bottom end but not so much that the high notes are overpowered. The setup is great, this guitar is a fine player with a lot of "snap."

     Exc(-) condition. There are a couple of well-repaired minor top cracks, and some routine dents, dings and lacquer checking. There is a large area of finsih rubbed away on the back, and some buckle scratches but no cracks. The sides are dinged up a bit, and there is a hole filled on the bass side where a strap button used to be. All in all its pretty great condition, with no cracks in the Brazilian Rosewood back and sides.
     Spruce top, Rosewood back and sides. Top and back both have multiple Ivoroid bindings. Mahogany neck, radiused Ebony fingerboard with graduated pearl dot inlays. Original Nickel Grover tuners. Comes with pickup and endpin jack installed.
     Big sound that is powerful and balanced.

     VG(+) Condition. Owned for years by a semi-professional folk singer. There is moderate wear and random dings on the top. Recent bone nut. Recent professional fret milling. Fingerboard shows no pits. No strap button ever installed. Back has had a few polite cracks, call for more details. No cracks in sides. Spruce top shows one minor inch-long crack along bridge on center seam, and several random dings. Braces were scalloped years ago.
     Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck. Beautiful, wide-grained spruce top. Ebony fingerboard and replaced, over-sized Martin Ebony bridge. Black pickguard. Brazilian Rosewood peghead overlay. Original patent pend. period Grover tuners. Binding on back of guitar was re-glued professionally.
     This guitar has been in use, but not abused for many years, and has recently gone through very good professional setup.

     VG condition. There are several marks on the top of the guitar, including pick marks near the strings. The sides and back show normal signs of wear including two spots where the finish is worn through on the back. The front and back of the guitar have lacquer checking. There is a mark on the side where an old end pin was taken out and plugged. The neck is in good shape. Little fret wear and player marks on the back of the neck. No cracks on the guitar, everything is solid on this one.
     Sitka Spruce top, Rosewood back and sides. 6-ply binding on the top, 3-ply on the back with multiple bound soundhole rosette. Mahogany neck and Ebony fretboard. Graduated pearl dot inlays. Nickel Grover tuners, and strap button correctly installed in heel.
     This is a good sounding, good playing guitar.

     Exc(-) condition. Indian Rosewood back and sides. Honduran Mahogany neck. Adirondack Red Spruce top. There is some light-to-moderate player wear around soundhole and at lower end of pickguard. There are a couple of random dings on the top. Original nut, bridge, tuners, pickguard, case, bridge pins, etc. Original saddle is in the case, with newer intonated bone saddle installed in bridge.
     A few minor dings here and there, overall in great shape. All-original hardware with replacement bone saddle
     Unusually well-developed sound with no mushy bass. Very open sounding D-28 for this era. Punchy attack with great tone.
     * I phoned Martin about the guitar's top. They say the records do not show an official write-up for a change to "Red Spruce" top, but that the guitar build order does show a 'grade change' order for the top. The person at Martin speculated that it could've received a Red Spruce top as an 'up-grade' to the standard tops (Sitka), that the D-28's usually had.

     Exc(+) Condition. There are hardly any marks on this guitar at all. The top has a couple of insignificant dings and just a couple lines of lacquer checking. There is one ding on the sides on the treble bout, the back is very clean. The neck and peghead are in fantastic shape, no marks at all. There is a very small amount of fret wear on a couple of the frets.
     Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides. Top and back are multiple bound. Back has decorative center seam inlay. Mahogany neck. Ebony bridge and radiused fingerboard with graduated Pearl dot inlays. Nickel Grover tuners.
     Big, meaty sound. Great action, great shape.

     Exc(-) condition. Uncracked. Some player wear. A few stray marks on the top, and some belt buckle scars on back of guitar.
     Indian Rosewood back and sides. Sitka Spruce top. Mahogany neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Black pickguard. Schaller tuners.
     This guitar is set-up very well and sounds very good.
     Please excuse us for not having photos of this guitar, but it sold while it was out in the shop being set-up.
    

     VG(+) condition. One repaired top crack near binding at widest point of lower bout, treble side. Recent professional fret milling. Guitar shows signs of handling and playing, with small dings and lacquer chips.
     Indian Rosewood back and sides, Mahogany neck and Sitka Spruce top. Multiple bound top and back of body. Matching heel cap. Wooden decorative marquetry strip along back center seam. Graduated dot inlays in Ebony fingerboard.

     Nearly New condition. Yes, it was pre-owned, but only for a little while... and certainly not abused during it's period of ownership. NO wear, NO dings.
     Rosewood back and sides, with Mahogany neck and select Sitka Spruce top. Multiple bindings around top, back and sides of the body. Single white binding along fingerboard. Multiple binding on heelcap. Multiple bound soundhole rosette. Nickel Grover tuners. Strap button correctly installed in neck heel.
     This guitar is a real winner for sound! It has a very crisp, strong attack, with full voice. Balance is very good. You'd have to play through quite a few newer martins to find one with the soundpower of this one... it has a fine sound for a flatpicker.

      Exc(-) condition. No cracks. Neck has been reset. Recent fret job in fine condition. Typical finish checking on the top.
     Indian Rosewood back and sides, with back being 3-pc Rosewood with multiple purfling strips along outside of center wedge. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Pearl dot inlays in fingerboard. Bone saddle and nut. Original Schaller nickel tuners. Black pickguard.
     Multiple Ivoroid/Black/Ivoroid bindings - Top edge of body has 6-ply binding, back edge shows 3-ply, sides show 6-ply at top and bottom of body. Fingerboard bound with single ivoroid. Heel cap has 6-ply. Strap button professionally installed in heel at correct position.

     Exc(-) Condition. Top has a few random knicks and pick marks with a small amount of lacquer checking, as well as the normal Pickguard crack under the B string. The back has old repair on the treble side by the binding. There is also one repaired crack towards the center of the back and a hole from a former strap button near the heelcap... new strap button installed professionally in the heel. The sides are in great shape with just a few marks here and there. The back of the neck has a couple of dings around the fifth fret, there is a small amount of player wear on the fretboard.
     Spruce top (perhaps Engelmann), 3-Piece Rosewood back and Rosewood sides. Top, back, sides and heel cap are multiple bound. Neck is single bound. Mahogany neck, Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Graduated Pearl dot inlays in fretboard. Nickel Grover tuners. LR Baggs iBeam pickup professionally installed with end pin jack.
     The sound is very good, strong and clear.

     VG+ condition. This is a very nice guitar with a couple of repaired top cracks, but very little player wear. There is finish checking, mainly on the Spruce top. There are a few light mars on the Spruce top. The back and sides and peghead are all very nice with no cracks. Back of neck has some random dings. Top has 2 repaired cracks: Center seam reglued from bridge to binding, "Usual" pickguard crack repaired (under B string).
     Rosewood back and sides, Select Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany neck, and Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Gold Grover Rotomatics. Black pickguard. Abalone purflings around top edge of guitar and around soundhole rosette. Hexagon abalone inlays in fingerboard. White multiple bindings on top and back and peghead. Single white binding along fingerboard.
     The Rosewood of this period is usually always stated as "Indian" Rosewood... but this Rosewood is different. It has much different color than the Purple hues of Indian Rosewood, and other different characteristics. It may be Kingwood, a highly regarded Central and South American Rosewood.
     This guitar has just had extensive set-up and intonation corrected by John Joyner, here in Missoula. Typical of many 1970's Martin Dreadnauts, the bridge was originally located by Martin in the factory in a slightly wrong position, so that the saddle was in a place to cause it to NOT intonate correctly. John Joyner made a same-size copy Ebony bridge with saddle located correctly, so the guitar now plays in tune as it was intended to do. Mr Joyner also levelled the fingerboard, and also replaced the original cracked fingerboard binding with new matching binding.

     Exc(+) condition. Some very minor touches on this one. Light scratches on the top and back, but no dents or dings. Fretboard is in great shape.
     Good spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides. Top, back, sides, neck and peghead all multiple bound with Ivoroid. Abalone on top binding and soundhole rossette. Center seam inlay on back. Mahogany neck. Radiused Ebony fretboard with Abalone "Snowflake" inlays. Gold Martin tuners, and "Martin" logo inlaid in peghead with Abalone.
     This is a great guitar that is essentially brand new. Crisp sound and great attack.

     Near mint condition. This guitar looks unused.
     Sitka Spruce top. Rosewood back and sides. Top has Herringbone binding. Mahogany neck. Radiused Ebony fretboard with graduated Pearl dot inlays. Newer tortoise-shell pickguard added. Strap button installed correctly in heel.
     This is a nice newer Martin. It was owned by a very careful payer, looks new and has a nice big sound.

     This guitar is new from 2001. There are no sings of previous player wear. No strap button or end pin installed. The hang tags are still in the case.
     Nice Englemann Spruce top with flecks of bear claw. Figured Koa back and sides. Top and back are multiple bound with Ivoroide, top has herringbone purfling. Mahogany neck, radiused Ebony fretboard with abalone diamond inlays. Gold Martin tuners with Ebony buttons. Advanced braces, 1 3/4" width at nut.
     Very nice tone, especially when finger-picked. The bass is big and bouncy, and the highs ring out clean and clear.

    Exc(-) condition. Some moderate player wear on frets, but not buzzing. Random dings here and there on the top. Back shows shirt button marks. Strap button correctly installed in side of neck heel.
     Indian Rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. "Cut-through" intonated saddle. Pre-war style open-back tuners. Herringbone top purfling inside multiple ivoroid binding. Multiple ivoroid back binding. Ivoroid heelcap. Wood marquetry "zipper" inlet down center of Rosewood back.
     These "Vintage" versions of the HD-28 have several great features that harken back to the original 'Herringbone' D-28's of the 1930's and early 1940's. Diamond volute on back of headstock, straight-through saddle, small diamonds inlaid in fingerboard, advanced scalloped bracing, open-back tuners and aging toner on the Spruce top.
     This guitar sounds great and is ready to play.

     Like New Condition. This guitar is in very nice shape. It is hard to find any signs of wear, the pickguard shows almost signs of picking.
     Adirondack Red Spruce top. Indian Rosewood back and sides. Top is multiple bound with Herringbone and Ivoroid. Back has multiple Ivoroid bindings. Mahogany neck with radiused Ebohy fingerboard and abalone "cut-diamond" inlays. Nickel Waverly tuners. Ebony bridge. Ivoroid heel cap and end wedge. Decorative center seam inlay down back. Advanced, scalloped braces.
     This guitar has a big, warm sound. It plays great, and is essentially new except for the price.

     Exc(+) condition. Hardly any sign of prior use. There are just a few very small touch-marks here and there, but nothing bad at all. There is one area on back binding where lacquer has chipped off - about 1 1/2" long. It is hard to spot at first, but you can feel the edges of lacquer where it has chipped away.
     "0000" body size with depth similar to a dreadnaut. Rosewood back and sides. Select Sitka Spruce top. Multiple white/black/white bindings throughout, with 8-ply showing on top edge of body, 5-ply on back, and 3-ply seen at sides of body, top face of fingerboard and peghead. Heel cap is white and shows 3-ply layering. Multiple wh/blk/wh end wedge.
     Abalone soundhole rosette. Ebony fingerboard with abalone hexagon inlays. CF Martin logo inlaid in headstock. Gold tuners. Tortoise pickguard. Ebony bridge with intonated "boxed" bone saddle. Brazillian Rosewood peghead overlay.
     We've had quite a few J-40's over the years. Most of them have a great presence, especially in the bass. But some of them seem to have the nice low-mids and lows at the expense of the treble. This one, however, is balanced very well. The bass is absolutely great, with a huge bouncy attack on the low A and E strings. The highs are strong and have a beautiful lyrical sound that the microphone will love.