Up for sale, a 2008 Martin D-42 dreadnought in near-mint condition, complete with the original molded hardshell case and factory paperwork. Featuring a solid Sitka spruce top with forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing paired with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, the D-42 can trace its upscale dreadnought lineage back to Martin’s Pre-War D-45. And while Martin’s style 42 has been around since the late 1800s, it wasn’t applied to a standard production model until 1996, making the D-42 a relatively recent addition to Martin’s lineup. Premium cosmetic appointments include abalone top binding and rosette, snowflake fingerboard inlay, and a vertically inlaid Martin logo on the headstock.

This Martin offers an extremely rich and detailed sound with ample projection and bass-register warmth. The low end has great boom and kick, with a sweet lower-midrange bloom, and the trebles are punchy and round with a sparkling cut. This Martin is emblematic of the company’s top tier craftsmanship, with excellent string-to-string balance and a high volume ceiling when played hard with a flatpick. This D-42 weighs 4lbs 9oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Medium C, full shoulders, measuring .840” 1st fret, .885” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, grained ivoroid binding, snowflake inlay
-Frets: Slender, pristine
-Scale Length: 25.4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
-Tuners: Martin-branded, butterbean buttons

Body Specs:

-Wood: Sitka spruce, Indian rosewood
-Bracing: Forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing
-Bridge: Ebony, snowflake inlay, compensated bone saddle
-Plastics: Tortoise pickguard
-Serialization: Stamp on heel block dates to 2008

This guitar is exceedingly well-kept and crack-free, featuring Martin’s aged toner on top. Cosmetic wear on the gloss lacquer finish is limited to a bit of faint scuffing in the clear coat central to the back, and just a few additional tiny marks on the body as a whole. The smooth finish on the neck profile is flawless. This guitar does have a slightly smoky odor which also extends to the case.

The original molded hardshell case is included, along with Martin's "Care and Feeding" pamphlet.