2010 Martin DC-1E Very Good, Original Hard, $695.00
The Martin DC-1E acoustic guitar is a full dreadnought style body with a single cutaway, a natural semi-gloss finish, solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and the traditional Martin resonance which high quality spruce plus mahogany tonewoods produce. The most recent MSRP’s ranged around $1750, so the DC-1E is not the most expensive or ornate Martin; however, with its black Martin pick guard, tortoise-bound body, and multi-stripe Style 28 rosette, it is still a striking instrument. The rosewood bridge with white black-dot pins, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl-dot inlay, solid rosewood peghead overlay, and three-per-side enclosed chrome Martin tuners finish the picture of a quality guitar, topped off, of course, with the C. F. Martin gold foil logo on the headstock which says it all.
The playability and sound verify the quality promised by the name. Naturally, the DC-1E body dimensions are similar to those of most dreadnoughts: 11 ½” wide at the upper bout, 16” at the lower bout, and 4 ½” deep. What distinguishes it from most guitars in its price range—including many newer Martin models—is the solid quality from top to bottom. It plays with as much resonance as you will ever get from an acoustic dreadnought, but it also has an under-saddle pickup and end pin jack for even more power when needed. While the factory Fishman Prefix pre-amp (with built-in tuner) is useful for big venues, unplugged it plays with the warm, balanced tone for which Martin is famous.
The DC-1E offered here is not quite perfect but is in good playing condition. Structurally, the guitar has been re-conditioned and is very strong: straight neck, action at about 4/32” at the 12th fret low E (but with a high saddle which can be readily reduced if desired), flat top, solid bridge, tight tuners, and so on. Two cracks, one in the top lower bout and one in the back, have been glued and cleated, and are solidly repaired. Cosmetically, it has some slight pick wear around the sound hole. However, with the Sitka spruce top, the mahogany back and sides, and above all, the Martin logo on the center strip and headstock certifying that it was born and bred in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, this is a guitar which you will still play with pride.
The hard shell case is the Martin original made by TKL, and it is in very good condition. The hardware is all intact and works perfectly, and the green plush interior is in fine shape, as seen in pictures 1 and 3. It fits the instrument perfectly, affords excellent protection, and is an ideal complement to this fine guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55.00 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I believe that I have described this instrument fully and accurately. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions before offering to buy it, as its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.
Thank you for your interest in this fine Martin guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.