1980 Martin Custom Shop A-3 Mandolin

A beautiful and unique instrument, custom made at the request of CF Martin IV in 1980, before Matin even had a custom shop, in unfortunate but eminently restorable condition and with a story. I got a phone call recently from a woman who saw my name on the decal on the back of the peghead and looked me up. It came to her in this condition, had apparently been played with by children in her family, who had no idea what it was, for many years. Apparently I had sold it later in the 1980s, to I don’t know whom, and this is where it ended up; the serial number dates to 1980. It has a beautiful, fine-grained, select European spruce top with a heart-of-abalone sound hole ring, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, special 1920s style light abalone diamond-and-square inlays in an ebony fingerboard, and ebony nut and Kluson 353 tuners (one slightly bent). It originally had a tortoiseshell-type pickguard but alas, it’s gone, as is the bridge. There is one top crack near the bass bout, probably impossible to see in photos. There is one long side crack on the bass side which will go back together nicely, will want a sliver of rosewood replaced. Overall this is a gorgeous, one-of-a kind Martin instrument with top-quality materials and top Martin workmanship throughout, wanting attention. It comes with its original hard shell case, somewhat the worse for wear. Offered here as is for the bargain price of only $395 w/hsc