1977 Martin SOM-45 Special Edition (1 of 56) Orchestra Model Acoustic Guitar w/ Case, OM-45

Up for sale, a 1977 Martin Special Edition SOM-45 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original molded hardshell case. This rare Martin is one of just 56 of these instruments crafted in 1977, the first ever reissue of Martin’s OM-45 model. Originally introduced in 1930 and only produced for a few short years, the OM-45 was Martin’s original highly ornate design (predating the D-45 by three years) and their most expensive model at that time, boasting premium marquetry and widely considered the finest fingerpicking guitar on the market.

This SOM-45 benefits from the servicing due an instrument of its vintage, with a new vintage-spec tortoise pickguard, full refret, bone nut and saddle, and a Schatten HFN Artist undersaddle piezo pickup. Tonewoods include a Sitka spruce top with forward-shifted scalloped X bracing, Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, and bound ebony fingerboard. Even among Martins (and OMs in general), this instrument is fantastically even-tempered with exquisite detail, highly responsive to both flatpicking and fingerstyle playing. There’s plenty of projection on tap, with a shimmering kick, high volume ceiling and excellent string-to-string balance. This SOM-45 weighs 4lbs 10oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Soft V, measuring .805” 1st fret, .905” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, abalone hexagonal inlay
-Frets: Medium, refret, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-2
-Scale Length: 25.4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, bone (modern)
-Tuners: Grover Rotomatics
-Serialization: Stamp on neck block dates to ‘77

Body Specs:

-Wood: Sitka spruce, Indian rosewood
-Bracing: X, forward-shifted, scalloped
-Bridge: Ebony, bone saddle (modern)
-Electronics: Schatten HFN Artist undersaddle piezo (powered by 9V)
-Plastics: Vintage-spec tortoise pickguard (replacement)
-Marquetry: Abalone purfling and rosette

The top presents cleanly, with a few short, cleated splits extending beneath the pickguard. The gloss Natural lacquer finish exhibits subtle “shattered glass” checking, with some pick wear across the soundhole and a few minor dings on the body as a whole and one additional repaired split on the back. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is clean and smooth.

The original molded hardshell case is included.