Martin 000-42 Guatemalan Rosewood/Adirondack Custom Shop "Premium Handselect Woods"

In early April 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the Martin factory in the USA once again and select special woods for my own Custom Shop models. During this visit, a truly exceptional piece of Guatemalan rosewood caught my eye. And just like that, the idea for a very special and exclusive Martin 000-42 was born!

Anyone familiar with Guatemalan rosewood knows that this material can vary widely. This applies to color, grain, and tone. When I saw the piece of Guatemalan rosewood shown here, I knew immediately that I was holding something special. The color is very dark, with brown and violet tones. I was particularly drawn to the rather wild grain and the small amount of light sapwood. While marking it out with the template, I had the idea to omit the usual center stripe on the back and instead let the wood speak for itself, subtly integrating the light sapwood. In addition to its unique visual characteristics, this piece also has an excellent tap tone.

To complement this, I was able to select a premium Adirondack spruce. Adirondack is known for its strength and projection. This particular example is outstanding in both sound and appearance. It's also paired with Golden Era scalloped X-bracing made of Adirondack.

Visually, I primarily drew inspiration from the 000-42 Modern Deluxe. The unique two-tone inlays of select abalone and mother-of-pearl give this instrument a very special visual appeal. These inlays adorn the headstock, fingerboard, and bridge. Also typical of Style 42 guitars are the select abalone binding on the top and the soundhole rosette. Furthermore, all edges are bound with flamed European maple. No plastic on the entire guitar!

So here is my latest creation! A Martin 000-42 Custom Shop with hand-selected tonewoods and meticulously considered specifications. A truly unique instrument for players and collectors alike!