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A pre-war Martin D-45 is a hallmark of design, craftsmanship, and sound. Learn about its history and watch John Bohlinger demo the 1942 gem.In 1933, a singing cowboy from Oklahoma plunked down $200 and ordered a new guitar from the Chicago Musical Instrument Company. A few months later, he had the fanciest dreadnought Martin had ever built—the first D-45, serial #53177. Its structural features are familiar to guitar geeks everywhere: scalloped and forward-shifted x-bracing, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Adirondack (red) spruce top, ebony bridge with ivory saddle, and a 12-fret neck with a slotted headstock.But that description also applies to Martin’s D-28, which was far more numerous in that era and only cost $100. What did the purchaser get for his extra $100? A lot of bling. His guitar had all the style-45 appointments—binding with abalone pearl inlays (on the top, back, sides, and neck heel), “boxed” inlay on the end piece, a completely bound fretboard with pearl inlays, a pearl inlaid rosette (as on the style 42), multicolored mosaic back strip, and an elegant torch headstock inlay by George H. Jones (aka “The Marquetrie Man”) of New York. But the guitar also boasted extra pearl binding around the headstock and, inlaid in abalone pearl on the fretboard in script large enough to be seen from the back of the hall, the new owner’s name: Gene Autry. Total D-45 production from 1933 to 1942 was 91. Meanwhile, Martin built 148 D-28 guitars in 1937 alone.At least one other musician was sufficiently impressed by Autry’s new guitar to order one. In 1934, Jackie Moore (called “Kid” because he was only 12) ordered a D-45S (the Srefers to its special feature, a solid headstock). You might think that, with two famous players and all that bling, D-45 sales would have spiked. You would be wrong. Pre-war D-45 sales were underwhelming. Martin didn’t build any D-45s in 1935. In 1936 they built two custom models, #63715 and #64890, both designated as D-45S—although in this instance the S referred to a different special feature: a 16 1/4″ body based on the F9 archtop. In 1937, Martin built two regular D-45s and a custom-ordered D-45S (#67460) with 12 frets and a solid headstock, a guitar that guitar dealer/historian George Gruhn remembers as “a particularly great one.” The company built nine D-45s in ’38, 14 in ’39, 19 in ’40, 24 in ’41, and 19 in ’42—the D-45’s last year until its 1968 reintroduction. Total D-45 production from 1933 to 1942 was 91. Meanwhile, Martin built 148 D-28 guitars in 1937 alone.Today, more than 80 years after Autry’s D-45 was built, these 91 guitars are coveted by players and collectors worldwide. I wanted to learn what accounts for the fascination. Is it just their rarity? Are these pre-war D 45s famous only for being famous?Read more about the D-45’s pre-war history here.

During an appearance on a recent episode of the GUNS N’ ROSES-centric “Appetite for Distortion” podcast, MONSTER MAGNET frontman Dave Wyndorf spoke what it was like for him and his bandmates to tour with METALLICA in the late 1990s. He said: “We had been through Europe many, many times headlining be…

JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill says that he and his bandmates had no say in which former and current members of the group will get inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
JUDAS PRIEST will be inducted into the Rock Hall next month. PRIEST will receive the Musical Excellence Award at the event,…

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See more about the prize on Sweetwater.Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard – Aged Sixties Cherry

Made in partnership with the Gibson Custom Shop, this Inspired by Gibson™ model is Epiphone’s impressive recreation of one of the most important and popular guitar designs of all time. The Epiphone 1961 Les Paul™ SG™ Standard pays tribute to the legendary original – the very first SG. In 1961, the original shape of the Les Paul model went on hiatus, replaced by an all-new design that is known today as the SG or “solid guitar.” Featuring a two-piece solid mahogany, double-cutaway body with Custom Shop Historic bevels, it also has the one-piece mahogany, fast-playing SlimTaper™ C-shaped neck profile of those legendary early Les Paul SG models. It also has a historically inspired long pickguard and comes equipped with a pair of Gibson™ BurstBucker™ humbucking pickups wired to CTS® potentiometers and Mallory™ capacitors, a Graph Tech® nut, and Switchcraft® output jack and toggle switch. The Epiphone Deluxe tuners feature a historically inspired double ring design. It is available in Aged Sixties Cherry and Aged Classic White. Of course, all of the legendary SG styling and cosmetic touches are here too, and a vintage-style hardshell case is also included.

John 5 Joins”We will carry out Mick’s wish and continue to tour the world as planned in 2023. No doubt will it take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick’s shoes so we are grateful that our good friend, John 5 has agreed to come on board and join us moving forward. We’ll see all you Crüeheads out on the road!”- Vince, Tommy & Nikki “I’m honored to carry on Mick’s legacy and am looking forward to playing these songs.” – John 5Statement on Mick Mars’ Retirement”While change is never easy, we accept Mick’s decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his health. We have watched Mick manage his Ankylosing Spondylitis for decades and he has always managed it with utmost courage and grace.To say “enough is enough” is the ultimate act of courage. Mick’s sound helped define Mötley Crüe from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together. The rest, as they say, is history. We’ll continue to honor his musical legacy. – Vince, Tommy & NikkiFor show dates and info, please visit: www.motley.com.

MÖTLEY CRÜE has officially recruited John 5 as its new guitarist following Mick Mars’s decision to no longer tour with the band.
Earlier today, MÖTLEY CRÜE released the following statement: “While change is never easy, we accept Mick’s decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his…

Gibson TV, the iconic, American guitar maker’s award-winning, worldwide online network, has released the second episode of “Metal And Monsters”, the network’s first show dedicated to the worlds of heavy metal and monster culture.
In the first-ever “Metal And Monsters” Halloween special, host Count D…

BUTCHER BABIES have shared the official music video for their cover version of rapper Saweetie’s chart-topping single “Best Friend”. The clip was directed by Dale “Rage” Resteghini and was filmed at the Bare Den adult entertainment club in Newton, New Jersey.
BUTCHER BABIES have been performing thei…

Hear Boise hardcore ragers Rejection Pact make a very brief appeal for actually giving a damn about others.
The post Track Premiere: Rejection Pact – “Indifference Is the Enemy” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.