1941 Martin D-45

[John Link]

A genuine "certified by George Gurhn" pre-war D-45. Gurhn also appraised its worth at $175,000, based on photographs. This surprised me in that the original finish has been deeply tampered with and he was aware of that. Original tuners gone too, although the $100 Martin replacements should work better than anything that was available in 1941. It has been partially stripped, then over-sprayed with shellac and lacquer, with a final coat of solvent to dull the finish, "to keep the finish thinner" and "avoid heavy buffing". Gryphon is asking $135,000 for it.

https://shop.gryphonstrings.com/product ... -d45-53459

While prices for certain instruments surprise me, this one surprises in spades because the "holy grail" original finish is, well, not there, covered up, tampered with, however you read the ambiguous description. But I do find the idea of spraying a solvent on top of a gloss finish an interesting way to dull it. If the refinish had been taken to high gloss, it would have been out of character for such an old instrument.

I'm restoring a hundred year old Brazilian parlor guitar that had a sunburst painted onto it with a brush, complete with runs and sags, and brush marks all over the rest of the instrument. So I had to strip and refinish it. Gloss nitro looks ridiculous on it. My plan has been to dull it with wet/dry sand paper, but a shot of solvent might be a better approach. I wonder what solvent Dan Blom used?

[John Parchem]

I think I will pass on this one even though it is a deal at 135,000.

[Dave Bagwill]

WITH the hardshell case, Parchem!! C'mon, buy it and I'll drive up to see and play it!