Tools of the trade - Stephen Stills’ Martin 000-45

 

Stephen Stills and his 1920's 12 fret 000-45.

"That 000 sings like nothing you've ever heard"

So said Stephen Stills about his 1920's 000-45 which featured on the cover of his self titled album.

The 000 was the loudest and biggest guitar that Martin produced before the Dreadnought. Unlike the 0 and 00 of the period, the 000 was long scale. 126 were made between 1922 and 1931, the last year of production before the switch to 14 fret.

The first three photos show Stills with the guitar.

The last two photos show the Stephen Stills signature version produced in 2005. 

There were 91 made, all with Adirondack tops. For reasons unknown to me, the edition did not feature the torch headstock inlay of the original. Instead, they got the "C.F. Martin" in pearl.

… and let’s confess: everybody was afraid for this beauty out in the cold, snowy location of the cover picture 😉 and also about the cigarette Stephen was baldly holding while finger-picking 😳