Description
Exc condition / SN: 454610
1-11/16″ width at nut
2nd year of production
This 1984 Martin J-40 is in nice shape and it sounds great. These Martin J-40’s are always a nice balance, somewhere a bit between a dreadnaut shape and a large “000”. Measurement-wise, you could call it a “0000-40” with Dreadnaut body depth. Spruce top with Indian Rosewood back and sides, and a rounded “V” profile Mahogany neck.
* We chuckle when we say this J-40 is Martin’s official “Re-Issue” of a model they had never made. Technically it is a re-issue of an old 1930’s model, the Martin Archtop flat back “F-9”, which many enthusiasts would pay to change the arched top to a flattop. These retro-fitting luthiers sort of invented the “0000-28” in the mid-’60’s guitar using these old F-9’s. Martin took about 15 years to decide to make the guitar in production but for some reason didn’t name it a “0000” size, opting instead to name it a “J” (for Jumbo) for the size and a “40” because of the adornments of bindings and inlays. These J-40’s have big guitar depth, similar to a Dreadnaut. Later versions that were named J-40M guitars have thinner bodies commensurate with the “0”, “00” and “000” body sizes.
It gets even more confusing when you see that Martin also has floated the name, “0000” as well as “M” guitars…
The Rosewood peghead overlay features the “Martin & Co. Est. 1833” decal at the top. Gold Martin tuners with gold buttons. Ebony fingerboard features abalone hexagon inlays, and black side dot position markers on the bass side of the fingerboard binding. Rounded “V” profile Mahogany neck is in great shape with only one ding on the treble side of the neck by the third fret. Strap button installed.
The Spruce top has a fair amount of finish checking and some dings and scratches. Two very slight top cracks are repaired below the bridge. Ebony bridge has white bridge pins with abalone dots. Black plastic pickguard, and seven lines of purfling before the binding on the Spruce top. Two-piece Indian Rosewood back is separated by an interesting wooden backstrip. Rosewood back and sides have similar finish checking and dings/scratches as the Spruce top.
Lots of big sound, good balance, good playability.
Comes with a Martin hard case.
