1928 Martin 0-45 (Parlor Size, Brazilian Rosewood)

If the pre-war Martin D-18 represents the working musician's dream, the 1928 Martin 0-45 is something else entirely. This is Martin's ultimate expression of the guitar maker's art in parlor form: a small-bodied instrument wrapped in lavish abalone pearl inlay, built with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, topped with Adirondack spruce, and finished with a level of craftsmanship that the company's own modern luthiers describe with reverence. The Style 45 was the pinnacle of Martin's catalog, and in the parlor-sized 0 body shape, it creates an instrument of breathtaking beauty and remarkable intimacy.

These guitars are genuinely rare. Martin produced the 0-45 in very small numbers throughout the early 20th century, and surviving examples in any condition are scarce. A 1928 specimen represents the pre-war golden era of Martin construction, when the company was still using old-growth Brazilian rosewood (now restricted under CITES international trade agreements), Adirondack spruce from the forests of the northeastern United States, and abalone shell sourced and inlaid by hand with painstaking precision.

History and Context

C.F. Martin & Company introduced the Style 45 in the late 19th century as their most ornate guitar offering. The "45" designation referred to the trim level, not a model number, and it could be applied to various body sizes. The Style 45 featured the most elaborate appointments Martin offered: full abalone pearl border inlay around the top, back, sides, and soundhole; abalone "snowflake" fingerboard inlays; an ornate headstock inlay with the Martin logo rendered in pearl; and multi-stripe binding throughout.

The "0" in 0-45 refers to the body size. Martin's sizing system runs from the smallest (Size 5) up through 0, 00, 000, and the dreadnought shapes. The 0 body is what's commonly called a parlor guitar today, with a compact lower bout of approximately 13.5 inches. These smaller guitars were the standard before the dreadnought revolution of the 1930s, and they produce a focused, articulate tone with excellent balance across the frequency spectrum.

By 1928, Martin was building guitars with 12-fret neck joints (the 14-fret design didn't become standard on most models until the early 1930s), slotted headstocks, and bar-style frets. The construction was entirely hand-done, using hide glue throughout, with each instrument receiving individual attention that modern production simply can't replicate at any price point.

Production numbers for the 0-45 were always tiny. In any given year during this period, Martin might build fewer than a dozen 0-45 guitars, sometimes far fewer. The style was expensive even when new (roughly $100 in 1928, equivalent to over $1,800 in today's dollars, at a time when a working musician might earn $30 a week), and it was purchased primarily by wealthy amateurs and professional performers who demanded the finest available.

What Makes the 0-45 Special

Brazilian Rosewood: The back and sides are built from pre-CITES Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), a tonewood that has been restricted from international commercial trade since 1992. Brazilian rosewood is prized for its rich, complex overtones, stunning visual figure, and a resonance that improves with age. The wood used in a 1928 guitar came from old-growth trees that had been growing for centuries, producing tight, even grain patterns that modern plantation-grown rosewood cannot match.

Adirondack Spruce Top: Like the D-18, the 0-45 features an Adirondack (eastern red spruce) soundboard. In a smaller body, this stiff, responsive wood produces exceptional clarity and projection that belies the guitar's modest size. An Adirondack top that has been vibrating for nearly a century has developed tonal nuances that simply cannot be engineered.

Style 45 Abalone Appointments: The abalone inlay work on a Style 45 is extraordinary. The green, blue, and iridescent shell borders the entire body, runs around the soundhole in concentric rings, decorates the fingerboard with snowflake patterns, and crowns the headstock with an elaborate torch or logo design. Each piece of shell was hand-cut and individually fitted into channels routed by hand. The labor involved in a single Style 45 was enormous, even by Martin's meticulous standards.

Parlor Body Proportions: The 0 body produces a warm, balanced, and wonderfully intimate tone. It excels at fingerpicking, light strumming, and solo performance. The smaller body is comfortable to hold and play for extended periods, and the sound fills a room without overwhelming it. There's a reason parlor guitars have experienced a major resurgence among players who value tone and nuance over raw volume.

12-Fret Neck Joint: The 12-fret design places the bridge closer to the center of the lower bout, which many players and luthiers believe produces a more resonant, fuller sound than the 14-fret configuration that became standard later. The 12-fret 0-45 is considered by many to be the most musically refined guitar Martin ever built.

Authentication

With instruments commanding six-figure prices, thorough authentication is essential:

Serial Number Verification: Martin's records are remarkably complete. A 1928 guitar should have a serial number in the approximate range of 34,436 to 37,568. Contact Martin's customer service or a specialized vintage guitar dealer to verify the serial number matches the model and year.

Construction Details: Look for period-correct features including: slotted headstock with the elaborate Style 45 torch/logo pearl inlay; bar frets (not modern T-frets); pyramid bridge with bone saddle; 12-fret neck join; ebony fingerboard with snowflake pearl inlays; and the correct binding and purfling pattern.

Wood Identification: Brazilian rosewood has distinctive characteristics that an experienced luthier or dealer can identify. The grain pattern, color (ranging from chocolate brown to violet to near-black), and figure (spider webbing is common in high-grade stock) distinguish it from Indian rosewood and other alternatives.

Abalone Inlay: Original Style 45 abalone inlay has specific characteristics of hand-fitting: each piece is individually shaped, and close inspection reveals the subtle irregularities of handwork rather than the machine-perfect uniformity of modern CNC inlay work.

Finish: Original nitrocellulose lacquer from 1928 will show extensive checking (fine cracks in the finish) consistent with nearly a century of temperature and humidity changes. Under UV light, original finish fluoresces differently than repairs or refinishing.

Professional Appraisal: Do not buy a guitar at this price level without an appraisal from a specialist in pre-war Martins. Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Retrofret in Brooklyn, and Dream Guitars in Weaverville are among the dealers with the expertise to properly evaluate these instruments.

Condition Grading

Excellent/Museum: Original finish and hardware, no structural repairs, all abalone inlay intact, minimal checking. Neck straight, action playable. This condition is exceptionally rare for a guitar this old.

Very Good: Original finish with typical age checking and patina. All inlay intact. May have had minor structural work (neck reset, bridge reglue). Some finish wear from playing. Clean, well-maintained, and fully playable.

Good: Honest play wear, possible finish touch-ups or localized refinishing. All major inlay present (minor chips possible). Professional repairs like a neck reset, bridge replacement, or crack repair. Structurally sound and playable.

Fair: Significant wear and repair history. Missing or damaged inlay sections, refinishing, replaced hardware, multiple crack repairs. Playable but clearly shows its age and use.

Poor/Project: Major structural issues, extensive damage, missing components. May require significant restoration to become playable. Value based primarily on parts and historical significance.

Current Market Values

Prices for a 1928 Martin 0-45 with Brazilian rosewood as of early 2025:

Condition	Price Range
Excellent / Museum Quality	$125,000 - $200,000+
Very Good	$80,000 - $125,000
Good (Player Grade)	$50,000 - $80,000
Fair (Significant Repairs)	$30,000 - $50,000
Poor / Project	$15,000 - $30,000

Several factors influence where within these ranges a specific guitar falls:

All-original condition commands the highest premiums
Intact abalone inlay is critical (replacement inlay reduces value significantly)
Documented provenance, especially connection to notable musicians, can push prices well above these ranges
Original case (a period coffin case or shaped hard case) adds $1,000-3,000
Refinishing reduces value by approximately 30-40%
Replaced neck or bridge reduces value but is acceptable if done with period-correct materials and methods

For perspective, Martin has occasionally produced limited-run reissues of the Style 45 using Brazilian rosewood from pre-CITES stocks, with retail prices of $30,000-50,000. The premium for an original 1928 example reflects both the irreplaceable nature of the materials and the historical significance of the instrument.

What to Look for When Buying

Play it (or have a trusted player play it). The 0-45's reason for existence is its sound. A genuine 1928 example should produce a tone of extraordinary depth, clarity, and complexity. If it doesn't sing, something is wrong, whether structural issues, a poor setup, or hidden damage.

Inspect every piece of inlay. Style 45 abalone is both the guitar's defining visual feature and its most vulnerable element. Shell can crack, lift, or fall out over time. Examine every border section, every snowflake, and the headstock inlay under good lighting. Replacement inlay is acceptable but must be disclosed and priced accordingly.

Assess the top carefully. Look for cracks (backlight the top by looking through the soundhole toward a light source), belly bulge behind the bridge, and the overall health of the bridge plate (visible inside the guitar). Top cracks that have been properly repaired are common and manageable. An unrepairable top crack or severe belly bulge is a serious concern.

Verify the Brazilian rosewood. If there is any question about whether the back and sides are genuine Brazilian rosewood (versus Indian rosewood or another species), walk away until verification can be obtained. The price difference between Brazilian and non-Brazilian is enormous, and wood identification should be confirmed by someone with expertise.

Understand the CITES implications. Brazilian rosewood is listed under CITES Appendix I, which restricts international trade. If you're buying from another country or plan to travel internationally with the guitar, you may need CITES documentation. For domestic transactions within the United States, pre-CITES instruments are legal to buy and sell, but documentation of the guitar's age helps ensure compliance.

Budget for a setup. Even well-maintained vintage guitars may need professional setup work after a purchase. Budget $200-500 for a proper setup by someone experienced with pre-war Martins. These instruments require a gentle, knowledgeable touch.

The 1928 Martin 0-45 is more than a guitar. It's a piece of American musical heritage, crafted from materials that can never be sourced again, decorated with handwork that would cost a fortune to replicate, and carrying nearly a century of acoustic maturity in its voice. For the collector who appreciates the convergence of art, craftsmanship, and music, there are very few instruments that can match it.

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1928 Martin 0-45 (Parlor Size, Brazilian Rosewood)