What is Digg?77 Comments
- Brainwave, on 10/12/2007, -3/+46Buying a guitar and not playing it is like buying a hooker and just staring at her.
- ScornForSega, on 10/12/2007, -4/+37A tragedy? If you really want to play a Martin D-45, scoop up 7 grand and go hit Guitar Center. You can beat that guitar to hell and you're the only one who will give a rat's ass.
A 67 year old D-45 is more a piece of history than an instrument and it should be preserved. Destroy that and we all lose another connection to our past. - Sp0rAdiC, on 10/12/2007, -7/+20But isn't what makes these vintage guitars pieces of history the way they sound? What good is preserving them if nobody will ever hear them again?
- slushpuppie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13 When I was in undergrad me and a friend actually made a pilgrimage to the Gruhn Guitar Shop in Nashville (where this particular guitar is).
We were admiring this very guitar (I would imagine, although I suppose the could have sold it and they replaced it). It was in a locked glass case of course, when an employee walked over to us, introduced himself, and said "Want me to get that out so you can have a better look?" Of course we told him we would rather he not get it out for fear of somehow doing some stupid thing to mess it up (I couldn't live with myself if I broke a pre-war Martin).
The point is, even the people who handle this guitar agree that it is meant to be played and enjoyed, not just looked at.
Anyways, in conclusion, it's a great guitar and it's an even better guitar store. They had all sorts of amazing guitars and banjos (among other instruments). If you ever go through Tennessee be sure to check it out. - harumph, on 10/12/2007, -10/+23expensive old vintage guitars are a tragedy, they end up selling for so much that they will eventually just end up in a glass case, unplayed. this despite the fact that they sound better than modern guitars.
- therippa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5If you look at the repair order, it's insured value was $6290 when shipped by UPS in 1988
(and go Martin! I own a left-handed D-28) - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4For a Martin that is average price for an old one like that, only true guitar that appreciates in value over time.
but for those who have only played with ***** guitars , evne they can tell the difference in a Martin - jackiefax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I owned a Martin 00-18 during the sixties and loved it. I am 55 years old now and working poor with a family.
I wish to hell that I had not smashed my beautiful guitar against a tree trunk when I was enraged about my girl seeing another guy! Good news is that she is my wife now and that we have three beautiful children.Bad news is that my guitar would fetch around 15 thousand bucks which I could sorely use! - tmpoirier, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3agreed, but considering this particular guitar was less than $50 when bought, that's a big deal.
- Misanthrope, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I have a prewar OOO-18 (1938 I believe). I think it's only worth about $15,000 is better condition than mine is. I just like the history of the guitar, and it sounds amazing. I need to get it restored.
- Thezeppelin62, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2i have been to gruhn guitars store and seen it. its pretty cool. they have better guitars though.
- sfrench, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2In vintage martin-land, these are top of the pile. The combination of prewar construction, materials, and low production volume is what drives the prices of these so high.
Construction:
Guitar top bracing patterns changed post-WW2, the prewar bracing is considered to be sonically superior. If I recall correctly, this is because the prewar bracing is not as robust/stable/study, and they switched for repair issues.
Materials:
Back and Sides are Brazilian Rosewood, which is now an endangered species and while not impossible to get on a guitar, the price to do so is prohibitive to most people. Additionally, the wood that is now available is far inferior in quality to what was available in 1940.
Additionally, the D45 is the "fanciest" standard model that Martin makes, and therefore has cosmetic embellishments (all the shiny stuff) which tend to drive the price up.
Production Volume:
D45 - 91 were made from 1934-1942 (85 were made after 1937)
The most expensive Martin that I can think of was the 1939 000-42 that Eric Clapton played for his MTV Unplugged appearance. At auction, it went for $500k (before auction fees). This is one of those prewar 40's series guitars as well. It probably was a $100k guitar even if Clapton wasn't it's owner.
URLS:
D45 Info: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/style45.html
General Info: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/martin.html
Clapton Auction: http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/000040.html
Edit: If I owned this, I would play it every day (at home.. maybe with security guards stationed outside the door). These guitars do not deserve to be locked in a display case. - zephc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Somehow I knew it'd be a Martin. Always a pleasure to play them.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Talk about irony.
- wendelgee2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Martins are amazing...I played one (not mine sadly) for a week straight without it losing tune...I was flabbergasted.
- PABeachBum, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Maybe once you get past the age of 13, you might understand such things.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2unless they sell it 10 years later for $250,000
- Easty, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For that sort of money, it should make everyone within 50 miles orgasm immediately.
- Lnomis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Will it blend?
- TheDowntownKing, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The guitar does sound flat-out amazing, but it is not $100,000 sound.
- kylesiue, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1good thing the article says
"In exceptionally fine condition and with original hard case, this instrument is PRICED at $100,000."
ARGH - uptwolait, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That would barely pay the sales tax on Eric Clapton's "Blackie" Stratocaster, which sold for almost a million in 2004.
http://www.forbes.com/fyi/2005/0314/061.html - bothra, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Go Gruhn! My buddy repairs guitars there, he says there's more valuable ones than that there.
- khag7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i actually leave him unblocked because so many people react to him. when you block him and then see 10 comments talking about him it makes you wonder "what the hell is going on.. oh yeah that guy i blocked"
its kind of funny watching everyone freak out on this guy. someone needs to get kevin rose to ban this guys IP from registering - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2except your guitar you buy from walmart will be poorly set up cheap korean made piece of ***** that would be better off as firewood
and a martin guitar is hand crafted incredibly nice to play work of art :-)
and one from 1940 will be worth ALOT over time
and the one from walmart would get about $5 from ebay if your lucky - daede, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1And here's a 2 million dollar guitar. Just 'cause they're asking $100k doesn't mean they'll get it.
http://www.maverick-music.com/scripts/vintage-guitars.asp?idproduct=1211 - colinmhayes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1try looking up the retail price of a normal martin d-45, it might help.
- DYMongoose, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@kylesiue
My comment was in response to the article's description, not the article itself - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How much of the worth of the guitar is just due to the fact that there's all that mother-of-pearl in it?
After all, even a PS3 can go for $100,000 if you put enough jewels on the case. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1that looks amazing,
i would LOVE to be able to play just a chord on it, but i'd be too terrified of damaging it,
some nice guitars in gruhn, just checking out their inventory on the website (its gotta be just a 1/4 of their stock) but its always amusing to find a schecter 7 string listed on the same page as 3 prs dragons :D - shaun944, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1old guitars MUST be played. One of my friends has a couple pre-war gibsons, and they are the sweetest sounding guitars I have ever had the pleasure to hear/play. I've played them for hours on end and you never cease to be amazed, and each is so unique in sound.
The older the wood gets the better the sound (usually). $100k is a ton for a guitar, but if you can afford to spend that kind of money on one, I'll bet you're playing it. - JoCliMe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Aw crap, I just pawned mine : (
- TomRemixed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Go to Guitar Center and check out the $400,000 Martins. $100,000 is nothing close to the price of some of the guitars I've seen.
- eclectro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1NPR "all things considered" did a piece on how guitar collecting has gone through the roof.
- Chip53, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Sweet.
- masterdieff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Dugg because that's freakin' ridiculous.
- rockstarphil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Drooling over pre-war Martins makes me remember a story about the forgettable Whoopi Goldberg / Drew Barrymore movie, Boys on the Side, that had a scene featuring the Indigo Girls. On set, one of the Indigo Girls dropped/broke/severely damaged a beloved pre-war Martin and was crestfallen. (ack!) The next day, Whoopi supposedly showed up with a "new" one -- same year, same model. It's not like those guitars are a dime-a-dozen -- that took some genuine effort to find a replacement for that guitar...
I just six-degrees-of Kevin-Bacon'd an article about guitars to Whoopi Goldberg. Go me. - Erato949, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1This isn't even that bad as far as string instruments go. It's insane the amount of money high level classical string players have to pay just to get a good instrument; a decent instrument can cost you 40 grand. My violin teacher's instrument (not exceedingly rare) was $400,000 and yes he plays it as did I a few times. Of course you hear about the Strads selling for rediculous amounts in the tens of millions. I say guitar players are ***** lucky.
- akward, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0thats an amazing guitar, wish i could afford it
- ArchieAndrews, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1an email to abuse@digg.com doesn't hurt either.
- DrewBledsoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0No Stairway
- p_o_b, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Gruhn is a place that every guitar player must go to at least once in their life. There are incredible guitars that any other store would have armed guards ready to beat down any one who looks at it too hard, and the guys at Gruhn are more than happy to let you play it. Great, great bunch of people.
- notkevinbacon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it's actually full of coke.
tons and tons of ***** coke. - Jordan559, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@Brainwave
You would not use a $100,000 stamp or coin now would you? Its a collectors item. If you fork up the $100,000 you can do what you want with it. Play it, display it, or burn it... - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Doesn't even have a pickguard...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I, for one, welcome our new chicken pickin' overlords.
- maeon3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'd use the money to hire my own personal band to play me any song I want for a year.
- extremophile, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1these are not really guitars, but objects of cultural fetish.
they are worth every cent.
i would love to see Ry Cooder play slide on one...
i would love to have seen one smashed to bits by the Sex Pistols and chewed up by their fans. - uhdean, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Block beachbabe22 SPAMMER!
- DYMongoose, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Worth = not necessarily true, as worth is a relative term. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $500 for it. Don't get me wrong, it's cool... I just have no use for it.
Priced... now there's a more appropriate word. -
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