Description
What makes this guitar special: An earlier rendition of the Shenandoah series, assembled in Nazareth by Martin employees from parts originating in Japan-this one has the fit & finish of an American Martin with a few spec changes to make it affordable. It sports a solid Sitka Spruce top, with a mahogany back & sides that provide a pleasing midrange tone with just enough low end response and high end chime. Professionally inspected and setup by the experts at Cream City Music, it will arrive ready to play from the moment it hits your doorstep.
Condition: This one has definitely been played in, with some visible wear & tear, and finish checking throughout. There are various light scratches, dents, dings, nicks, and scuffs present, with visible pickwear on the top and some light fretwear. A previous owner mounted a strap button incorrectly, which resulted in some cracking and wear in the finish. There is visible glue residue along the edges of the neck block, and a paper thin gap along the neck heel, however the neck does not appear to have been reset. The bridge was reglued at some point, though not professionally. As a result there is a small gap visible between the back of the bridge and the top, however the bridge is stable. There is also a small crack through the rosette extending up through the pickguard, and some separation in the purfling on the treble side of the lower bout. This guitar plays great as is, but could also be a great restoration project.
Body: Double bound laminated mahogany back & sides with solid Sitka Spruce top in natural finish. Multi-ring black & ivoroid rosette. Rosewood bridge with bone saddle. Saddle has a lot of room left on it. Tortoise pickguard and ivoroid purfling.
Weight: 4 lb, 10.4 oz
Neck: D-shaped solid mahogany neck with pearl side dots and pearl dot inlays. 1 3/4" nut width, 25.4” scale length. Rosewood headstock overlay with gold Martin logo and chrome sealed Martin tuners in perfect working condition. Rosewood fingerboard is in good shape, and while frets show wear, they still have a good amount of life left. Neck is straight and truss rod is functional.
