1939 Martin D-45 Pre-War (Brazilian Rosewood): The Holy Grail of Acoustic Guitars

In the world of acoustic guitars, no instrument commands more respect, more longing, or more money than a pre-war Martin D-45. Produced in tiny numbers from 1933 to 1942, the D-45 represents the absolute summit of the C.F. Martin company's craft during its golden age. And the 1939 examples, built at the peak of Martin's pre-war production quality, are the most desired of all. These guitars were constructed with Brazilian rosewood backs and sides, Adirondack spruce tops, and a level of ornamentation that Martin would not match again for decades.

The Birth of a Legend

The D-45 was born from a custom order. In 1933, singing cowboy Gene Autry asked Martin to build him a Dreadnought-sized guitar with the deluxe appointments of the company's Style 45, their most ornate trim level. Style 45 featured abalone pearl bordering on the top, back, sides, and around the soundhole, along with a distinctive "torch" headstock inlay and hexagonal fingerboard inlays.

Martin had previously offered Style 45 appointments only on their smaller-bodied guitars. Combining them with the powerful Dreadnought body (designated "D" for its 15.6-inch lower bout width) was something new. The result was a guitar of extraordinary beauty and equally extraordinary sound.

Martin built the first D-45 for Autry in 1933 and then put the model into limited regular production. Between 1933 and the halt of guitar production during World War II, Martin produced a total of just 91 D-45 guitars. Of those, the 1939 examples (serial numbers in the 73,000 range) are considered by many experts to represent the zenith of pre-war Martin construction.

What Makes the Pre-War D-45 Special

Brazilian Rosewood: The back and sides of pre-war D-45s are constructed from Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), a tonewood now listed under CITES Appendix I and effectively unavailable for new guitar production. Brazilian rosewood produces a complex, overtone-rich sound with deep bass, sparkling highs, and a distinctive "bloom" as notes sustain. No substitute has ever fully replicated its tonal properties.

Adirondack Spruce Tops: The soundboards are made from Adirondack (red) spruce, known for its stiffness-to-weight ratio and its ability to produce enormous volume without breaking up. Adirondack spruce is now scarce in the quality grades needed for guitar tops.

Scalloped Bracing: Pre-war Martins feature forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing. The braces are carved thinner (scalloped) to allow the top to vibrate more freely, producing greater volume and bass response. Martin stopped scalloping braces during the war years, and many players believe the scalloped bracing is a critical element of the pre-war sound.

Hide Glue Construction: All joints in pre-war Martins were assembled with traditional hide glue, which many luthiers consider superior to modern adhesives for acoustic properties. Hide glue creates a rigid bond that transmits vibrations efficiently between wood surfaces.

Hand Craftsmanship: Each pre-war D-45 was built by Martin's most skilled craftsmen in the Nazareth, Pennsylvania factory. The abalone pearl bordering alone required hours of careful inlay work. The level of handwork exceeds what any production guitar receives today.

Why 1939 Specifically

The 1939 D-45s are prized for several reasons. By 1939, Martin had refined its Dreadnought construction to a peak of maturity. The bracing patterns, top graduation, and overall setup had been optimized through six years of D-45 production and decades of broader Dreadnought experience. The wood stocks available in 1939 included some of the finest Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce ever used, with tight, consistent grain patterns that contribute to both tone and beauty.

The 1939 models also feature the iconic hexagonal fingerboard inlays and snowflake-pattern bridge inlays that define the D-45's visual identity. Some earlier examples had slightly different appointments, while wartime changes began affecting materials and appointments starting in 1942.

Value by Condition

Condition	Description	Estimated Value (USD)
Excellent/Near Original	Clean, all-original, minimal wear.	$400,000 - $625,000+
Very Good	Original finish with play wear, possible minor repairs.	$275,000 - $400,000
Good	Moderate wear, possible neck reset, minor top cracks repaired.	$175,000 - $275,000
Fair	Heavier wear, structural repairs, possible refinish.	$100,000 - $175,000
Poor/Project	Major structural issues, significant parts replacement.	$60,000 - $100,000

The highest recorded sale of a pre-war D-45 was approximately $625,000 at auction. Even in 1988, a mint-condition 1939 D-45 was already valued at $15,000, illustrating the extraordinary appreciation these instruments have experienced over the past four decades.

A recent Heritage Auctions listing for a 1939 D-45 (serial #73130) carried a starting bid of $150,000, with a buyer's premium bringing the total to $187,500.

Authentication: What to Look For

With values this high, careful authentication is essential:

Serial Number: Check the serial number stamped on the neck block (visible through the soundhole). Cross-reference with Martin's published serial number records. The 1939 D-45 serial numbers fall in the 73,000 range.

Neck Block Stamp: The neck block should bear the Martin stamp with the model designation "D-45" and the serial number. The font and stamping style should be consistent with known 1939 examples.

Brazilian Rosewood Verification: Genuine Brazilian rosewood has a distinctive appearance, with dramatic figure, color variation from chocolate brown to deep violet-black, and a characteristic sweet scent when lightly rubbed. Experienced appraisers can distinguish it from Indian or Honduran rosewood by sight and feel.

Bracing Pattern: Examine the bracing through the soundhole. Pre-war D-45s should have forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing with specific positioning relative to the soundhole. The bracing should show hand-carving marks consistent with period construction.

Tuning Machines: Original 1939 D-45s came with open-back Grover G-98 tuners. Replacement tuners are common (many were changed to enclosed tuners for practical reasons) but affect value.

Binding and Purfling: The abalone pearl bordering should show appropriate aging, with the iridescence slightly mellowed. The binding should be grained ivoroid that has aged to a warm amber color.

Bridge: The original ebony bridge should show the snowflake-pattern inlays. Bridge replacements are common on played guitars but should be noted.

Market Outlook

The pre-war Martin D-45 market is one of the most stable in the entire vintage instrument world. Supply is absolutely fixed at 91 instruments (minus any that have been destroyed over the past 85+ years). Demand comes from the world's wealthiest guitar collectors and players, including professional musicians, investment collectors, and institutional buyers.

Prices have risen almost without interruption since the vintage guitar market began in earnest in the 1960s. The trajectory from $15,000 in 1988 to over $600,000 today represents a roughly 40x appreciation, far outpacing inflation and most conventional investments.

Martin has produced numerous D-45 reissues and limited editions since resuming D-45 production in 1968, some using Brazilian rosewood from pre-ban stocks. While these are fine instruments valued at $10,000 to $50,000 depending on specifications and materials, they do not approach the value or mystique of the pre-war originals.

The intersection of extreme rarity, legendary tone, historical significance, and emotional resonance makes the pre-war D-45 one of the most compelling collectible instruments in existence. Whether hanging in a museum or in the hands of a working musician, a 1939 Martin D-45 represents something that transcends mere collecting. It is a piece of musical history, built at a time when craftsmen used the finest materials the earth could provide and built instruments they expected to last forever.

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