❌SOLD❌ Martin D-42K Custom Koa Dreadnought, 2005

Sometimes we run into guitars that are just spectacular in every way. This Martin D-42K Koa Custom, built between May and July 2005, is one such guitar. This guitar is visually stunning and has far more than just good looks. It plays very well, is extremely responsive with a full, rich and sparkling tone, and it’s quite light.

The Martin D-42K – the K indicates the use of Hawaiian Koa – is built in the classic Dreadnought pattern, using an Adirondack Spruce top paired with Hawaiian back, sides and head plate , Mahogany neck and Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge. Style 42 appointments add Abalone lining inside the top binding, fingerboard tag, and around the soundhole. A classic C F Martin logo is also executed in Abalone. The fingerboard and bridge features a classic Snowflake motif, again in Abalone.  Jescar Evo Gold frets have been added – these are somewhat harder than standard fretwire but not quite as hard as stainless steel fret wire.  The tuners are gold-plated Gotoh models with ‘butterbean’ buttons.

This Martin D-42K Custom substitutes Hawaiian Koa for the back and sides; the stock D-42 uses Indian Rosewood. This adds an amount of brilliance, clarity and detail to the tone, nicely balancing the full bass response that dreadnoughts are so well known for. The top here is Adirondack or Red Spruce rather than Sitka. Adirondack was the most common wood used for tops until the early years of WW2, when aircraft production took all available supplies and led to over-harvesting. Since 1941, Sitka has been the most common Spruce for guitar tops. Adirondack has a slight edge for note clarity and separation when played hard and fast, making it ideal for genres like Bluegrass.

This guitar is in very good condition, with the nitrocellulose lacquer finish settling naturally – the grain structure of the top, for example, is clearly visible in reflection.   A vintage toner was added to the finish of the Martin D-42K, with a dark filler on the Koa which helps bring out the grain and reduce finish sinking.

This Martin D-24K guitar was originally built without electronics, but it currently has an L R Baggs pickup system installed, with the controls unobtrusively inside the top edge of the soundhole.

The action is very good, and I was immediately impressed with how easy this is to play and get a great sound from.

The original hard shell case is included.