Martin Acoustic Guitar 42D Serial # 80650 (1942)....

Description

Martin Acoustic Guitar 42D Serial # 80650 (1942). The year was 1950, and Milton Beasley's rough-and-tumble band, the Southern Serenaders, was set to go on the air, over the 5,000-watt radio station WSLI in Jackson, Mississippi. The program was named "The Farmer Jim Show", hosted by disc jockey "Farmer Jim" Neal, and the featured guest that particular morning was none other than lanky Grand Ole Opry star Hank Williams. Hank never traveled with his own guitar, preferring to use whatever was handy at each stop, so, that day he borrowed Milton's Martin 42D double-ought dreadnought acoustic to play three songs -- "Lost Highway", "I'm a Long Gone Daddy", and a brand new tune, "Long Gone Lonesome Blues." The songs were captured on tape, and were later included in a deluxe 10-CD box set released by Mercury Records. As for the guitar, it has survived all these many years in remarkably nice condition. The neck was professionally reset by Martin a few years ago, otherwise it remains as it was back when Hank first strummed its strings. One of only six 42D guitars made in 1942, this is truly a rare instrument, inlayed with mother-of-pearl and rosewood; it has been owned by Mr. Beasley since 1947, when he purchased it from a Chicago-area musician. It's been in his hands ever since, and has been played on many famous stages, including the Opry, as well as on numerous recordings (Milton's big single was "Mississippi Boogie"). The guitar comes with a modern Martin case, and is ready to be played by its lucky new owner.

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