OM and Auditorium

Martin 000-45 1940 Jim Reeves Owned, Natural

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Specs


Instrument	OM and Auditorium
Brand	Martin
Model	000-45
Finish	Natural
SKU	GF10898-A
Handedness	Right
Made In Year	1940
Top	Adirondack Spruce
Back and Sides	Brazilian Rosewood
Neck/Fingerboard	Mahogany/Ebony
Bridge Material	Ebony (Replica)
Tuners	Grover G98 (Original)
Neck Profile	Soft V
Neck Depth	.821" @ 1st - .963"@ 9th
Scale Length	24.9"
Radius	16"
Nut Width	1.686"
String Spacing at Saddle	2.147"
Contains Brazilian Rosewood (Y/N)	Y
Case	1940s Bull's Head Harptone HSC with green flannel lining
Modifications/Repairs	Older nitrocellulose refinish, replica CVG ebony bridge, original bridge plate with bridge saver maple plugs (evidence of previous bolted bridge), circumferential rim crack along lower bass and treble bouts (evidence of previous maple cleats in waist, but 7 remain in lower bout), 3 uncleated top cracks extending below bridge (3 additonal hairline surface level ones), 2 "B-string" cracks fingerboard plane and refret (4 replaced inlays), 1mm binding gap on lowe back, neck reset (with maple shim under extension), replica celluloid pickguard, bone saddle, internal rosette spliced in with non-accurate material near pickguard, replacement ivoroid/abalone dot pins

Description

A pre-war Martin 000-45 is the crown jewel of any guitar collection; for late country music legend Jim Reeves, it was the reward of a successful career. Mr. Reeves had a true rags to riches origin story, and by 1964, when Jim passed in an airplane accident in Nashville, TN, he was one of the most popular singers in the world. He owned a small collection of fine Martin guitars, and this 1940 000-45 was Jim's rarest and most valuable. The 000-45 went on display at The Jim Reeves Museum, known as Evergreen Place, between 1981-1997, and after the closing of the museum, it entered into a prominent collection. It has been our great pleasure to provide a number of professional structural and cosmetic repairs, bring out its full sonic potential, and be tasked with finding it's next custodian.

C.F. Martin and Co. produced only six 000-45 examples in 1940, their second to last year of production for the model. The "45" style was at the top of the catalog for Martin flattop guitars: featuring abalone binding along the top, sides, and back. With the 000-45 costing twice as much as a 000-28, the highest end model that Martin would make once the U.S. entered WWII, one could make the argument that the greatest show of the brand's craftsmanship was left behind in these final examples. In the 1970s/80s, many of these pre-war guitars found their next owners; and by this time they were now in need of neck resets, refrets, and reglued bridges. This guitar received that work 40+ years ago, in addition to a common for the era nitrocellulose refinish. Our repair staff had the opportunity to provide a clean refret, neck reset to correct neck angle geometry and scale length/ intonation issues, factory replica bridge, replica celluloid pickguard, and removed several of the cleats on a very old rim crack. Jim Reeve's 000-45 now presents close to as he had it in 1964, and likely playing/sounding better than when he was still around writing on it. It is quite the showstopper; and as they say, this old guitar has many more songs left in it.

The 000-45 comes in a period correct Bull's Head Harptone case with green flannel lining that has been with the guitar for many years.

Demo Video