Yup, a beat-but-sweet 1886 Martin D-45! Sounds and plays unreal, a real keeper and a super bargain at four large.

FWIW, I'm gonna keep my old beat-up Martin C box. I still like to play it once in a while. And I can now look at it after customizing the face with some black paint, and a pocket knife.

1986, not 1886...

OK, yeah 1986 makes more sense!

Looks like a keeper.

By the way, I am glad to hear you are keeping your old Martin accordion. You have had it so long and done so much with it that it seems like it maybe has become part of you in some way. I was going to write to you and suggest that you might regret it later if you got rid of it.

-David

Hey Tom: Thats a great guitar, I have one just like it that is a 1998 model that is the heart and soul of the ryhthm section of our bluegrass band. Mine looks like its been through a war with belt buckle scratches in the back and the finish tore off the neck by my daughter's thumb rings. Oh yeah she has just about chipped all the wood out of the roset between the pick guard and saddle. But I love my old warhorse and she sure makes it talk. Mine has really opened up with both of my girls banging away on it. It can't do nothing but increase in value. Bruce

Beautiful guitar, Tom! Martin guitars have a wonderful sound.

Really pretty guitar, Tom! I play a Martin that my dad gave me about 8 years ago, but I had to leave it in Paris this last time to live with a luthier until I get back. Something happened to it (my brother Joel, who makes guitars, said it didn't look like it had ever been dropped and the luthier also couldn't figure it out) and the guy said he couldn't even understand how the neck was still attached after I've been playing it and traveling with it like this for about a year now. I went out and bought a Washburn with a funny body shape and a Batman bridge yesterday, but it actually has a good, bass-y sound. Just can't figure out how I killed my Martin. I'm really looking forward to getting it back. I LOVE that guitar.