For Sale: MINT Custom Shop Martin HD-35 w VTS top, Maple Binding, Baggs iBeam pickup *SOLD!*

[Peterw]

MINT Martin Custom Shop HD-35 with Martin's advanced Premium Vintage Tone System, maple binding, and LR Baggs iBeam pickup with volume control. Martin's VTS process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXdibaNFz-Q re-creates the sought-after vintage Martin tone in a new instrument. The 35-style 1/4" scalloped bracing gives this guitar tremendous responsiveness and volume. The result is a guitar that's drop-dead gorgeous in appearance and tone, with monster volume, and superb playability. VTS Sitka spruce (with beautiful golden color and some nice bearclaw) on East Indian rosewood, one-piece mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge. Current setup is 3/32" (bass) and 2/32" (treble) action using 0.053"-0.012" Elixir phosphor bronze strings, suitable for fingerstyle and moderate flatpicking/strumming. Includes bone-with-paduak-inlay bridge pins by Bob Colosi, ebony strap button, and LR Baggs iBeam pickup. Like-new deluxe Martin 545 Geib-style archtop case (cabernet lining). This custom guitar is a stunning heirloom-quality handmade original from Martin in essentially new condition. The new list price was $5,803.50. This is a giveaway price on a fantastic guitar (I'm selling only for personal financial reasons). $SOLD$ plus shipping of your choice; I'll absorb the PayPal. [email protected]

I don't have recording equipment, but here's a good review of the standard production HD-35. To my ears, this Custom HD-35 with the VTS top sounds the same, but has "more" of the classic HD-35 tone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJaBxMdT8TQ&t=228s

[Peterw]

Monday bump!

[mikealpine]

I just had to chime in on this one. I usually favor a Taylor sound. Went on a Martin factory tour and went into the room where they let you play whatever is hanging. I grabbed a dread off the wall and was floored, sat there not wanting to get up. After that, nothing else in the room interested me. I'm not in a position to buy, but this is a fantastic deal. Absolutely draw-dropping sound. Best of luck!

[Stevien]

Wow, what a deal here! These Martin dreads not only changed history in their ability to flood a room with sound, but add to that a 35 series Custom version, with all wood (no plastic) bindings, etc! And this being a one-of-a-kind custom order, is the best of all worlds! If I could handle a dread, this would be my lifetime keeper! GLWS!
Steve

[gtownjeff]

35's are my favorite Martin Dreads. Wish I could afford this one at this time. Alas, it's a beuty!!

[Peterw]

Thanks for the nice comments-- yes, this guitar is tone volcano. But what's amazing to me about it is that it's not only powerful but it has a really sweet delicate, feathery edge and is responsive like an OM. I guess that's what the Martin "vintage tone system" and the 1/4" scalloped bracing do.

[fongkachlangtu]

beautiful guitar, I love the binding <3

[jafranks]

Really nice--PM sent.

[Stevien]

Surprised this one is still here!!
Steve

[Peterw]

This is about $300 than the retail price of a new factory-produced standard HD-35 and you get a way, way nicer guitar in new condition. Just sayin'... :-)

[Bluside]

The maple binding is beautiful. Is this the only real difference between your custom and a standard HD-35?

[Peterw]

Hi Bluside, thanks. No, main difference is the "Vintage Tone System" top-- basically Martin bakes the top (it's a little more complicated than that...) to dry it and get it molecularly as similar as possible to a 1930's vintage top. That adds a lot of power and beauty to the tone. It's also bearclaw sitka, which you don't see usually on the production guitars. Martin's really got that down now. It's an expensive feature. There are also little things, like the neck is truly one-piece mahogany instead of having the edges of the headstock spliced on like production HD-35s, it has a nicer (beveled) pickguard and things like that. It also comes with a Geib-style case instead of the thermoplastic case. And presumably there's a higher level of human involvement in the Custom Shop. I added the Colosi pins, ebony strap button, LR Baggs pickup.

[Stevien]

Another custom feature on this one: you mentioned this one has 1/4" scalloped bracing. I believe the standard 35 series dreads have 5/16" bracing, making them durable as a tank, but less responsive. This one seems to have all the needed bells & whistles! Again, I'm surprised she's still here!
Steve