C.F. Martin 000-45 Pre-War Guitar (1933-1942)

Only 123 of them were ever built. Between 1933 and 1942, the C.F. Martin Guitar Company in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, produced what many luthiers and players consider the finest acoustic guitars ever made: the 000-45 with a 14-fret neck joint. Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Adirondack spruce top. Abalone pearl inlay covering nearly every visible edge. Each one was assembled by hand in a small factory where the workers had been building guitars the same way for nearly a century. Today, a pre-war Martin 000-45 in excellent condition can sell for $300,000 to $400,000.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: C.F. Martin 000-45 (14-fret, pre-war)

• Year: 1933-1942

• Category: Musical Instruments

• Condition Range:

  • Player Grade (refrets, repairs, wear): $80,000 - $150,000
  • Very Good (minor repairs, honest wear): $150,000 - $250,000
  • Excellent (original parts, light play wear): $250,000 - $350,000
  • Near Mint (barely played, all original): $350,000 - $400,000+

• Record Sale: Over $400,000 for pristine examples at major guitar auctions

• Rarity: Extremely Rare (123 total production, 14-fret model)

The Story

The Martin 000-45 represents the convergence of peak craftsmanship and irreplaceable materials. In the 1930s, Martin was using tonewoods that no longer exist in commercial quantities. Brazilian rosewood, now regulated under CITES international trade restrictions, gave these guitars a warmth and complexity that modern substitutes struggle to match. Adirondack red spruce, nearly logged out of existence by the 1940s, provided the top wood with a stiffness-to-weight ratio that produces powerful, clear projection.

The "45" in the model designation refers to Martin's most elaborate trim level. Style 45 guitars feature abalone pearl inlay on the top border, around the soundhole, along the fretboard, and on the headstock. The binding is ivoroid with multiple layers. The amount of handwork required for a single Style 45 guitar was extraordinary, even by Martin's painstaking standards.

The 000 body shape, slightly smaller than the dreadnought that would eventually dominate Martin's lineup, was the professional standard of the era. It offered balanced tone across all registers with a clarity that dreadnoughts sometimes sacrifice for volume. When Martin added the 14-fret neck joint in 1934 (replacing the traditional 12-fret design), the 000-45 became the ultimate fingerstyle and small-ensemble guitar.

World War II ended production. Martin shifted resources to support the war effort, and the exotic materials dried up. When production resumed after the war, the guitars were never quite the same. The pre-war mystique has only grown since.

How to Identify a Pre-War 000-45

• Serial number: Martin serial numbers are stamped on the neck block inside the body. Pre-war 000-45s fall between serial numbers approximately 52000 (1933) and 83000 (1942). Martin maintains complete records and can verify any serial number.

• Body dimensions: The 000 body is 15 inches wide at the lower bout, 11-5/8 inches at the upper bout, 4-1/8 inches deep.

• Neck joint: 14-fret models (1934 onward) are more desirable than the earlier 12-fret versions. Count the frets from the nut to where the neck meets the body.

• Bracing: Pre-war Martins use scalloped X-bracing. The scalloped braces are thinner and more responsive than the straight braces Martin adopted after 1944. This bracing pattern is a primary driver of the tonal difference.

• Materials: Brazilian rosewood has a distinctive grain pattern and a sweet, complex scent when the case is opened. Adirondack spruce tops show a tight, even grain.

• Tuners: Original pre-war tuners are open-back Grover or Waverly machines. Replaced tuners reduce value.

Value by Condition

Player Grade ($80,000 - $150,000)

Refretted, possibly with a neck reset, some replaced parts. The guitar plays well but has been worked on. Crack repairs are common and expected in 80+ year old instruments. A player-grade pre-war 000-45 still sounds extraordinary.

Very Good ($150,000 - $250,000)

Original frets or sympathetic refret, minor crack repairs, honest play wear on the top and back of the neck. All major components are original. The guitar shows its age but has been well cared for.

Excellent ($250,000 - $350,000)

All original parts including tuners, bridge, nut, and saddle. Light play wear consistent with careful use over decades. No structural issues beyond minor age-related checking. These guitars represent the sweet spot for serious collectors who also want to play.

Near Mint ($350,000 - $400,000+)

Barely played. Original everything. These are museum-quality instruments that somehow survived 80+ years without significant use. Extraordinarily rare at this level.

Known Variations

• 12-fret vs. 14-fret: The earliest 000-45s (1933) had 12-fret neck joints. Martin transitioned to 14 frets in 1934. Both are valuable, but the 14-fret models are generally more desirable to players.

• Year-specific details: Bracing patterns, bridge shapes, and inlay details evolved subtly across the production run. Earlier examples (1933-1937) are generally considered more desirable.

• "War-time" models (1942-1944): Materials began to change as wartime restrictions took hold. These transitional guitars are less sought-after than pre-1942 production.

Authentication and Fakes

Outright fakes are rare given the extreme difficulty of replicating 1930s Martin construction. The greater risk is misrepresentation:

• Rebuilt guitars: Some instruments have been so extensively repaired that little original wood remains. A qualified luthier can assess originality.

• "Converted" guitars: Occasionally, lesser Martin models are upgraded with Style 45 inlay. The inlay work will not match Martin's factory precision.

• Martin factory records: Martin keeps detailed production logs. Any guitar can be verified by contacting Martin directly with the serial number.

• Expert appraisal: For guitars in this price range, an appraisal from a recognized vintage guitar dealer (Gruhn Guitars, Elderly Instruments, Carter Vintage) is essential before purchase or sale.

Where to Sell

• Specialized vintage guitar dealers: Gruhn Guitars (Nashville), Carter Vintage (Nashville), Elderly Instruments (Lansing, MI), Retrofret (Brooklyn), and Emerald City Guitars (Seattle) all handle instruments at this level.

• Heritage Auctions / Christie's / Bonhams: Major auction houses handle high-value instruments, typically charging 15-25% buyer's premium.

• Private sale through dealer networks: Many pre-war Martins change hands through private dealer networks. Commission rates typically run 10-15%.

Expected selling costs: Auction houses charge 15-25% seller's commission. Professional appraisal runs $200-$500. Insured shipping for a $300,000 guitar is $500-$1,000+. A climate-controlled hard case is non-negotiable.

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