2002 Martin 000-28 LD, Lonnie Donegan #36/72
Fantastic Martin 000-28 LD Lonnie Donegan Signature Guitar in excellent condition. Released in 2002 as a strictly Limited Run of 72 guitars the 000-28 LD was C.F. Martin's salute to the King of Skiffle, Lonnie Donegan. Donegan became famous for playing “Skiffle,” an accessible amalgam of American country, jazz, blues, and folk. His popularity resulted in 34 Top Thirty hits from the late ‘50s to the early ‘60s and importantly acted as inspiration to a vast array of British musicians including all four of the Beatles, Mark Knopfler, Brian May, Albert Lee, Ron Wood and more. Such was his contribution to British music he was awarded an Ivor Novello Award in 1995 and named a Member of the British Empire in 2000.
This guitar is number 36 of 72 and features fine, figured Indian Rosewood back and sides with a Solid Sitka Spruce top. Bracing is Scalloped 5/16'' in Martins traditional 000 pattern. The solid Black Ebony is punctuated with a some truly unique position marker inlays – a crown representing Donegan's MBE status on the 3rd fret, “SKIFFLE” spelled out in pearl at the 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets, and Lonnie Donegan's name in stylised letters between the 18th and 20th frets. The guitar is finished in high gloss throughout with dark grain filler to the back and sides and the top is finished in Martin’s 1935 Style Sunburst at Donegan’s request. The guitar is uniquely appointed with Gold plated Grover Tuners and a mixture of Style 45 and Style 28 purfling and rosette. The traditional C. F. Martin” gold foil logo is joined on the headstock with an inlayed Water Rat and G.O.W.R inlayed in pearl honouring the Grand Order of Water Rats, a British entertainment industry charitable organisation.
The guitar is in fantastic condition, it has been played but very well looked after. As a 20 year old instrument it has very little wear or of obvious signs of use. A fabulous sounding Rosewood 000, it is full of detail and harmonic content. Rarely on the Market this 000-28 is perfect for the fan, collector and player alike. The guitar comes with its original plush lined Martin case in equally good condition.
Full spec -
MODEL 000-28LD (Lonnie Donegan)
CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: 000-14 Fret
TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
ROSETTE: Style 45 - Maple and Black Fiber Inlays
TOP BRACING PATTERN: 000 14-Fret
TOP BRACES: Scalloped 5/16''
BACK MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
BACK PURFLING: Style 28
SIDE MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
ENDPIECE: Grained Ivoroid
ENDPIECE INLAY: Black/White Boltaron®
BINDING: Grained Ivoroid
TOP INLAY STYLE: Black/White/Black
SIDE INLAY: none
BACK INLAY: Black/White
NECK MATERIAL: Solid Mahogany
NECK SHAPE: Low Profile
NUT MATERIAL: Bone
HEADSTOCK: Solid/Tapered
HEADPLATE: Solid Indian Rosewood/Old Style Logo (Less Est. 1833)/Rat & G.O.W.R. Abalone Pearl Inlay
HEELCAP: Grained Ivoroid
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
SCALE LENGTH: 24.9''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14 # OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1 11/16''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2 1/8''
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Crown at 3rd.,S at 5, K at 7, I at 9, Double F at 12, L at 15, E at 17, Lonnie Donegan Btwn 18th & 20th Frets
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss/Dark Filler
FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss/ 1935 Style Sunburst
FINISH NECK: Polished Gloss/ Dark Mahogany Stain/Dark Filler
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
BRIDGE STYLE: 1 Style Belly
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2 1/8''
SADDLE: 16'' Radius/Compensated/Bone
TUNING MACHINES: Grover Gold w/ Large Knobs
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin SP 4100 Light Phosphor Bronze
BRIDGE & END PINS: White w/ Tortoise Dots
PICKGUARD: Black/ Beveled and Polished CASE: 533 Geib Style™
INTERIOR LABEL: Label Signed By CFM IV and Lonnie Donegan- Numbered in Sequence w/Total(72)
ELECTRONICS: Fishman® Gold Plus Natural II