Martin mini hd 528 parlor or terz guitar IN EC+ CONDITION. It sports a K&K pickup.

Rarest Size 5, solid Indian rosewood back & sides, Sitka spruce top with scalloped braces, ivoroid binding, herringbone top trim, abalone rosette, ebony fretboard (1 5/8" nut, 21-3/8" scale length) & straight bridge, long saddle, diamond & square inlays, solid peghead with decal, nickel Waverly gears, vintage top toner. This guitar comes from Martin strung with MSP4050 Custom Light strings. It is tuned G, C, F, Bb, D, G (low to high). Possible to tune to standard pitch with medium gauge strings (MSP4200). Body dimensions are: upper bout ~8 1/8", lower bout ~11 1/4", depth ~3 5/8". Body length 15 3/4", total length ~33 1/2". Wooden archtop hardshell case, crushed green velvet lining.

Label Numbered and personally signed By Martin IV and Dick Boak. He wrote a "letter" explaining how to use this beautiful instrument. He wrote

" Dear Martin Enthusiasts,

The fact that you are reading this letter means you are probably one of a select group to have in your possession one of the Size 5 “Mini-Martin” guitars. These little instruments are very close to my heart and I am proud to have played a part in reviving them for this special Martin edition. As many of you know, Size 5 Martin models came to be known as “terz” guitars because the instrument was invariably tuned to a minor third (3 half notes) above standard guitar tuning or G, C, F, Bb, d, g. 

The Mini-Martin is equipped from the factory with Martin MSP-4050 Custom Light “SP” Phosphor Bronze strings. I recommend that you first tune your Mini-Martin to standard pitch (E, A, D, G, b, e). You’ll see that the strings are not stretched quite tight enough. Play the bass “G” note at the third fret, then tune the low “E” string up to that note. Accordingly, tune all of the remaining strings up three half steps to achieve the terz tuning: G, C, F, Bb, d, g. Now the strings will feel more correctly tensioned. 

I personally prefer to string my personal Size 5 instrument with a customized “high string” or “Nashville tuning” set. This is similar to using the high strings only from a 12-string set. The first four (bass) strings are thus an octave higher while the two treble strings remain unchanged. I first saw such as string set when I visited Paul Simon. I was so impressed, I came back and experimented with a variety of gauges. My clear preference is: 

Standard Pitch Gauge Terz Tuning Bb Tuning
E .025” wound G (one octave higher) F
A .017” plain C (one octave higher) Bb
D .013” plain F (one octave higher) F
G .008” plain Bb (one octave higher) Bb
B .012” plain d d
e .010” plain g f

I have enclosed a customized set of these “high” strings. They have an extremely sweet, almost “piano-like” tone. I encourage you to experiment with both standard and alternate tunings using these strings. For example, tuning the two G strings down a full step to F and the C string down to a Bb, yields an open Bb tuning. These string sets are not yet available in stores, so if you fall in love with this tuning, you might want to pick up individual string gauges to make up your own sets. I hope you enjoy the Mini-Martin as much as I do! 

Sincerely,


dick boak
C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. "

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