Like many, North Carolina luthier Ken Hooper aims for the high bar set by pre-war Martins, always keeping that gold standard in mind when crafting his guitars. Also inspired by Wayne Henderson and Don Wilson, among others, he meticulously crafts acoustic flattops and mandolins, preferring red spruce, hide glue, and a light construction. This strong sounding and beautifully appointed 12-fret D-42 was made in 2020, using shipwrecked Brazilian rosewood and Appalachian red spruce from nearby Maggie Valley. This guitar has nice projection with that rich Brazilian Rosewood tone. Comes with a Calton hard case.