Martin D-35 David Gilmour 12-string Custom Signature Edition 2021

Carpathian Spruce Top, Sinker Mahogany Back & Sides

12-string Acoustic Guitar

Mint Condition

For over forty years his Martin D12-28 12 string was a constant in David Gilmour’s recording & songwriting palette. When this guitar went to auction in 2019 Martin were delighted to be able to work with him to create a 12 string for his music today. The David Gilmour signature models are the first D-35s ever made with neck, back and sides of sinker mahogany, chosen by David for its warm, rich tones and exquisitely beautiful grain. A Carpathian Spruce top delivers unparalleled 12 string tone with vintage gloss finish and antique white binding providing classic ‘Golden Era’ Martin style. In addition, a special David Gilmour headstamp is featured on the reverse of the headstock. The signature models were originally limited to 250 pieces however Martin only actually produced 72 12-string guitars and every label is hand-signed by David himself, ensuring this guitar’s place on every collector’s wish list.

Martin’s Vintage Tone System

Martin’s Vintage Tone System (VTS) is a proprietary torrefaction (thermochemical aging) process applied to the tops and braces of their VTS guitars to achieve the sound of an aged and played-in instrument. The Vintage Tone System allows Martin to age the woods to a specific time period without the typical change in color that results from most roasting processes. Martin VTS guitars not only look and play like lovingly-cared-for vintage guitars, they also have that sought-after sound.

Very special tonewoods for a very special guitar

While rosewood is traditionally used for the sides and 3-piece back of the D-35, David Gilmour specified exquisitely grained sinker mahogany for his new instrument. Why? Probably because mahogany-bodied acoustic guitars are simply a better choice for tracking. As a back and side material, mahogany exhibits a natural compression, punchy midrange bloom, and strongly focused, earthy, and somewhat dry fundamental without a preponderance of ringing overtones. An acoustic guitar with mahogany back and sides sits nicely in a track without requiring excessive processing, which is why engineers and studio guitarists tend to prefer “hogs” for layering in full arrangements. But the “sinker” mahogany used for the back and sides of the Martin D-35 David Gilmour 12-string Custom Signature Edition is no ordinary mahogany. Sourced from old-growth trees that have been (partially) submerged in riverbeds, the wood’s age and altered cellular structure make for a very special, stable tonewood with unique sonic characteristics.

These attributes are complemented by another prized tonewood that was used for the guitar’s top: Carpathian spruce.

Carpathian spruce, sourced from mountain ranges in eastern Europe, exhibits the superior stiffness of its American Adirondack counterpart, while maintaining the lightness and lower density typical of many European spruce varieties. When used for an acoustic guitar top, Carpathian spruce’s combination of strength and elasticity yields robust volume, projection, tonal richness and sparkling high end with a broad dynamic range and crisp articulation that’s ideal for a wide variety of playing styles, from aggressive strumming to delicate fingerpicking. Together, the tonewoods that comprise the Martin D-35 David Gilmour 12-string Custom Signature Edition join forces to create a harmonious relationship between the notes you play, helping chords to ring out in cohesive splendor.

The Martin D-35: drenched in history

The political turmoil and social upheaval of the 1960s served as an incubator for some of the greatest music ever made. Martin dreadnoughts had played a major role in the folk music of the post-war years, and as folk and rock music edged inexorably closer, Martin launched a new guitar in 1965. In sync with the ’60s zeitgeist, the D-35 was born of ecological concerns. Brazilian rosewood was fast becoming unsustainable, but Martin had a stash of rosewood from D-28 2-piece backs that had been set aside due to the presence of small defects. The solution? Using smaller pieces of wood, Martin luthiers could trim away any flaws and fashion a guitar with a stunning 3-piece back.

But the D-35 was not just a D-28 with a fancier back. To differentiate the sound of this new model, Martin used lighter bracing: 1/4-inch for the top, and 000 back bracing. This created a louder, more resonant tone that lends itself beautifully to vocal accompaniment. Perhaps that’s why artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Judy Collins, and David Gilmour gravitated to the D-35. Style 35 appointments such as a bound fingerboard, more ornate body binding, and of course, the striking beauty of its 3-piece back also add a touch of distinction to this child of the ’60s. Gilmour’s purchased his 1971 D12-28 in 1974, and used it on the iconic Pink Floyd albums of the mid ’70s and for decade thereafter.

Specifications
String Type: Steel
Number of Strings: 12
Body Shape: David Gilmour Dreadnought
Color: Natural
Finish: Gloss
Top Wood: Carpathian Spruce
Back & Sides Wood: Sinker Mahogany
Binding: Antique White
Neck Wood: Sinker Mahogany
Neck Shape: High Performance Taper
Radius: 16"
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay: David Gilmour Dots
Number of Frets: 20
Scale Length: 24.9"
Tuning Machines: Chrome Closed Gear
Bridge Material: Ebony
Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Bone
Nut Width: 1.8"
Case Included: Martin Hardshell Case