Martin OM-42PS Paul Simon Limited Signature Edition 1997

Sitka Spruce Top, East Indian Rosewood Back & Sides

Mint Condition

Paul Simon & C. F. Martin & Co - A Perfect Collaboration

C. F. Martin & Co. announced in early 1997 a major collaboration with one of the most significant recording artists and songwriters of our time, Paul Simon. The OM-42 Paul Simon Limited Edition Guitar was introduced at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, and began to appear in stores in mid–1997.

The OM-42PS guitar was designed to meet Paul Simon’s exacting requirements for tone, size, and action. Paul personally participated in the development of the prototypes which led to the final OM-42PS specifications. He preferred the smaller “OM” body size combined with the long (25.4”) scale length which proved to be particularly applicable to his fingerstyle technique and his desire for a strong yet balanced tone.

The OM-42PS is tastefully appointed with tortoise colored bindings throughout. Hand-crafted entirely with solid woods, the sides and back are constructed from select grade East Indian rosewood, and the top is bookmatched from quartersawn Sitka spruce.

The perimeter of the pearl rosetted soundboard has been painstakingly inlaid with highly colored Style 42 abalone pearl top inlay. At Paul Simon’s specific request, the adjustable neck is sleek and low with a comfortable 111⁄16” neck width at the nut, but with the slightly wider “OM” neck width as you move up toward the twelfth fret.

A Style 45 pearl inlaid C.F. Martin headstock is bound in tortoise and fitted with the highest quality vintage style ivoroid button Waverly® nickel- plated open-geared tuning machines.

A genuine ebony tortoise bound fingerboard features the original Style 42 snowflake pattern in abalone pearl, with Paul Simon’s signature delicately inlaid in mother of pearl between the 19th and 20th frets.

A deluxe five-ply vintage series Geib® style hardshell case has been designed to house this special guitar.

The edition was initially limited to 500 guitars for sale worldwide. The edition size of “500” was taken from “Suite 500”, Simon’s office address within the classic “Brill” building on Broadway in Manhattan however C. F. Martin & Co have confirmed only 223 guitars were actually produced and made available for sale in 1997. The interior label of each instrument was numbered in sequence (i.e. 1 of 500, 2 of 500, etc.) and was personally signed by Paul Simon and C. F. Martin IV, Martin’s Chairman and CEO, the 6th generation of Martin family members to manage the esteemed guitar firm.

In general, both Paul Simon and C. F. Martin & Co. steer clear of product endorsements. As a result, both wished to develop a special guitar that would help fund a charity of particular interest to Paul Simon. Paul is the co-founder of The Children’s Health Fund, the nation’s largest health care program for homeless children, so choosing a charity was easy.

Paul Simon is acknowledged to be one of this century’s finest singer/songwriters and performers. While other musicians crank out quantity, Paul Simon has labored with the highest standard of perfection in the details of his writings and recordings, which stretch from the late 1950’s to the present. And it shows. His lyrics are nothing short of poetic, and his compositions are meticulously layered without the feeling of being over- produced.

Of course, he is widely known for the legendary partnership of Simon & Garfunkel, but after their breakup in the early 1970’s, it was Paul’s talent that emerged in album after album of award winning and memorable material. From his first solo release in 1972 titled simply “Paul Simon” to his 1990 release of “Rhythm Of The Saints”, Simon’s work has bridged the gaps between poetry, music, and art. Perhaps Paul’s most interesting endeavor was his controversial Grammy award winning release ”Graceland”, a project that influenced and inspired the “World Music” movement, and set the stage for dozens of new musical genres.

After an initial New York meeting to discuss limited edition possibilities with Martin’s artist relations manager Dick Boak, Paul Simon traveled to Nazareth with his son Harper (also a great guitarist) to try out the complete array of Martin guitar sizes, shapes, and styles. After several hours of playing, Paul zeroed in on two sizes: the “M” (Grand Auditorium) and “OM” (Orchestra Model). Martin built four initial prototypes for Paul to try: two “OM” models and two “M” models. For his particular playing style and touch, Paul loved the clarity and balance of the “OM” size. He paid particular attention to the feel of the neck, opting for a custom variation of the typically wider “OM” neck width. In respect to appointments, Paul felt that as a limited edition or collectable, the model should be ornate but tasteful, easy to amplify, and perfect for use on stage and in the studio. Two final OM-42PS prototypes were built for Paul’s approval prior to unveiling at the NAMM Show.

Paul had been writing the score for the Broadway musical entitled “The Capeman”, which opened in New York in the fall of 1997. As with all of his projects, he focused an intense creative energy on the score. The word around Broadway was that the music was extraordinary, setting a new standard by which musicals would be judged. It is interesting to note that the two acoustic guitars being used in the show were the initial prototypes from the limited edition.