Introduction
The Martin 000-42 acoustic guitar has earned its place as one of the most revered instruments in the storied history of C.F. Martin & Co. First introduced in 1934, the 000-42 helped establish Martin’s "000" line of small-bodied guitars, which have become synonymous with the company’s craftsmanship and tone over the past century.
Featuring an elegant Auditorium body style with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, the 000-42 delivers the warm, balanced tone that Martin is renowned for. The addition of scalloped X-bracing gives these premium tonewoods the resonance and projection to shine. Other distinctive specs include a mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard, 14-fret neck joint, and short 24.9" scale length. Together, these attributes make the 000-42 exceptionally comfortable and playable for a variety of techniques and musical styles.
While the 000-42 pays homage to Martin’s vintage Golden Era guitars, modern enhancements like an Liquidmetal bridge and titanium truss rod give it the stability and reliability demanded by today’s players. Whether you’re a fingerstylist, vocalist, or collector, the 000-42 is widely considered one of the finest acoustic guitars money can buy.
Martin 000-42 Design and Construction
The Martin 000-42 features an auditorium body style, which is slightly smaller and more balanced than a dreadnought. The auditorium shape produces a warm, nuanced tone that works well for fingerstyle playing and light strumming.
Specifically, the 000-42 has the following body dimensions:
- Length: 19.4"
- Width: 15"
- Depth: 4 5/8"
At 19.4" long, the 000-42 has a length that falls between a parlor guitar and a dreadnought. The more compact body produces excellent resonance and intimacy.
The 15" width provides enough room for the solid wood top to vibrate freely and project sound. And at 4 5/8" deep, the body offers a comfortable balance against your body.
Compared to Martin dreadnoughts like the D-28, the 000-42 has a tighter low end and more balanced midrange. The smaller body prevents the bass frequencies from becoming too boomy. Overall, the auditorium style provides a vintage voice that works well in a mix.
Tonewoods
The Martin 000-42 features premium, solid tonewoods carefully selected for their acoustic properties and impact on the guitar’s tone. The top is solid Sitka spruce, revered for its strength, lightness, and ability to produce a clear, bright sound with excellent projection. Sitka spruce is the most common top wood used on steel-string acoustics. The back and sides are solid East Indian rosewood, prized for its rich, warm sound.
The combination of solid spruce and rosewood creates a guitar with a beautifully balanced tone. The spruce provides crisp highs and articulate midrange, while the rosewood offers depth in the low end. Together, they generate a full, well-rounded acoustic voice. The spruce top allows the 000-42 to deliver volume and "bloom" when strummed, while the rosewood back and sides add sweetness and sustain. The rosewood’s density also gives the guitar some "punch" on the low end, providing rhythmic drive when strummed. Overall, these premium solid woods enable the 000-42 to produce warm, balanced tones with excellent projection – ideal for fingerstyle playing, light strumming, and vocal accompaniment. This makes the guitar versatile across many musical styles.
Martin 000-42 Neck and Fingerboard
The Martin 000-42 features a neck made of solid mahogany, which adds warmth and richness to the overall tone. Mahogany is a dense, strong wood that helps provide stability and sustain. The neck has a smooth satin finish that allows for fast, comfortable playing.
The fingerboard and bridge are made of ebony, which is known for its hardness and crisp tone. Ebony enhances the clarity in each note and provides excellent intonation across the entire fretboard. Its dense composition prevents the wood from absorbing moisture, ensuring the fingerboard remains straight and stable.
This guitar has a 24.9" scale length, which is on the shorter side for an acoustic guitar. The reduced scale length means less tension on the strings, making the 000-42 very comfortable to play. The short scale also contributes to the warm, intimate voice of the guitar.
The 000-42 fingerboard has 20 frets total, with 14 frets clear of the body. This 14-fret neck joint allows easy access to the higher notes on the fingerboard. The medium wire frets are neatly finished for smooth playability. Overall, the neck and fingerboard specifications make this an exceptionally comfortable guitar to play.
Scalloped X-Bracing Enhances Projection and Resonance
The Martin 000-42 features scalloped X-bracing under the top, which is painstakingly carved and tuned by hand. This non-scalloped bracing pattern was pioneered by Martin in the 1930s and has become a signature component of many of their premium acoustic guitars.
The X-shape itself provides strength and stability to the thin solid wood top, allowing it to withstand the tension of the strings without warping. The scalloped design takes this a step further by carefully carving away excess wood in between the braces. This scalloping allows the top more freedom to vibrate, enhancing its resonance and projection.
The result is a top that is incredibly responsive, projecting the guitar’s tones with vibrancy and clarity. The notes bloom with a fullness that can only come from a top that’s free to resonate without inhibition. Players will also notice excellent balance across the tonal spectrum, with clear, ringing treble and tight, focused bass.
The scalloped X-bracing contributes greatly to the 000-42’s ability to provide such warm, balanced tone and excellent volume. It allows the premium solid wood top to reach its full potential, rewarding players with the kind of vintage Martin sound that has earned the company its sterling reputation. For fingerstyle players in particular, the dynamic resonance and quick response of a scalloped top is a must-have.
Hardware
The Martin 000-42 is equipped with high-end hardware that contributes to its excellent playability and resonance. It features chrome enclosed tuners that provide smooth and accurate tuning stability. These sealed tuners prevent contamination from dust and debris that could impede functionality. The nut and saddle are both made from bone, which transfers string vibrations more efficiently than synthetic materials. Bone has a natural resonance that enhances sustain and clarity.
The ebony fingerboard is decorated with simple yet elegant diamond and square fretboard inlays. These understated inlays allow the beauty of the rare ebony wood to shine while providing subtle visual markers. The inlays are made from fiber material that integrates seamlessly into the fretboard. Overall, the hardware components on the Martin 000-42 are thoughtfully designed to maximize playability while retaining the guitar’s natural acoustic properties.
Martin 000-42 Craftsmanship
The Martin 000-42 represents the pinnacle of acoustic guitar craftsmanship. Every detail of the guitar, from the premium solid wood construction to the hand-rubbed finish, exemplifies Martin’s commitment to old-world quality and precision.
The all-solid wood body is crafted from the finest selections of Sitka spruce, East Indian rosewood, and mahogany. Master craftsmen hand-select each tonewood for its exceptional resonance and beauty. The woods are then joined using traditional mortise and tenon joints, ensuring a solid structural foundation.
Throughout the guitar’s construction, Martin luthiers employ meticulous attention to detail. The dovetail neck joint is cut and fit by hand, allowing for the perfect mating of neck to body. The ebony fingerboard and bridge are cut, shaped, and slotted with precision. The scalloped X-bracing is delicately carved and tuned to provide optimal resonance and projection.
The true hallmark of Martin craftsmanship shines through in the final hand-rubbed finish. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish is thin and resonant, showcasing the tonewoods’ natural beauty. The neck is shaped to an ideal playing profile and finished in silky satin. The aging process enhances the patina, luster, and vintage appeal.
From its inception to final inspection, the 000-42 exemplifies Martin’s passion for acoustic excellence. Each instrument must pass rigorous quality control measures before earning the storied Martin decal. For discerning players and collectors, the 000-42 represents the pinnacle of precision, playability, and tone.
Sound and Playability
The Martin 000-42 delivers a warm, balanced, and articulate tone that projects beautifully. The solid Sitka spruce top provides crisp highs with complex overtones, while the rosewood back and sides add rich, deep lows and midrange. This combination produces a highly nuanced and responsive sound.
When strummed or picked, the 000-42 has excellent volume and sustain. The scalloped X-bracing gives the guitar enhanced resonance and projection, allowing it to fill a room without being overly loud. Single notes and chords ring out with clarity. The guitar also has a pleasing natural compression when played harder, adding warmth and balancing the tone.
The 000-42 excels as a fingerstyle guitar, with warm low end, defined midrange, and crystalline highs. The dynamic range allows for varied articulation depending on your attack. The sound also pairs nicely with vocals, providing robust rhythmic support without overpowering the voice.
In terms of playability, the 000-42 has a comfortable short-scale neck and slim profile that make it easy to navigate across the ebony fingerboard. The modern 14-fret neck joint also provides excellent upper fret access. Whether playing open chords, barre chords, or single note lines, the 000-42 feels fast and smooth. The light string tension facilitates intricate fingerpicking while still providing ample volume when strummed.
The 000-42 combines vintage craftsmanship with modern playability. Its premium tonewoods and thoughtful bracing deliver exceptional tone, while the comfortable neck profile and short scale length make it a versatile and playable instrument suitable for various techniques and musical styles. The guitar’s warm, balanced sound projects beautifully, allowing the musician’s technique and musicality to shine through.
Martin 000-42 Modern Deluxe: A Contemporary Twist
The Martin 000-42 Modern Deluxe edition puts a contemporary twist on this classic acoustic guitar. It incorporates modern design innovations while maintaining the exemplary craftsmanship and tonewoods that Martin is renowned for.
The most significant upgrade is Martin’s proprietary Vintage Tone System (VTS). This begins with an "aged" solid Sitka spruce top that has been torrefied to mimic the tonal qualities of vintage wood. The top is paired with forward-shifted scalloped bracing that Martin claims enhances the guitar’s resonance and natural sustain.
The Modern Deluxe also features upgraded components, including a Graph Tech nut and saddle and Schaller gold tuning machines. But perhaps the most eye-catching upgrade is the Liquidmetal bridge pins, made from a strong, lightweight alloy that aims to improve harmonic vibration and sustain.
So how does the Modern Deluxe compare tonally to the standard 000-42 model? Players report the aged spruce top and VTS bracing give it a particularly sweet, vintage-like voice. The solid rosewood back and sides provide the warmth, depth, and nuance you’d expect from an all-solid Martin. It’s an acoustic that blends the past and present beautifully.
The Modern Deluxe comes at a premium price, but for players seeking the latest in Martin design and innovation paired with their masterful craftsmanship, it presents an enticing option. The unique blend of vintage appointments and modern upgrades make this 000-42 a true standout.
Collectibility and Value
The Martin 000-42 has long been a coveted instrument among collectors of fine acoustic guitars. Its exceptional craftsmanship and coveted features make it a true investment-grade instrument.
For vintage guitar collectors, the 000-42 is the epitome of a highly-prized Martin acoustic. Models from the 1930s and 40s are especially rare and valuable. The limited quantities produced and the pristine condition required make these guitars extraordinarily expensive.
More attainable for collectors are 1950s and 60s versions. While not as pricey as pre-war models, these still trade for substantial sums when in top condition. Provenance also boosts value – original case candy, hang tags, and paperwork affirm authenticity.
For players, the 000-42 has excellent appreciation potential. Martin’s consistent quality and finite production quantities give the 000-42 long-term value stability. Models purchased new or in mint condition will likely hold their value or even gain over time.
The 000-42 appeals to collectors on many levels. It represents the pinnacle of Martin craftsmanship across several desirable eras. It also embodies Martin’s legacy of innovation, evolving from the original 000 shape to the 000-42 and beyond. Finally, its warm, balanced tone makes it musically collectible too.
Owning a 000-42 means acquiring a real piece of guitar history. This collectibility, rarity, and quality craftsmanship all support the 000-42 as a wise investment for vintage guitar enthusiasts.