Product Description

About This Chisholm Trail Guitar

Chisholm Trail Guitars - Martin D-41 Kit (1997) #5

This is a well built Martin D-41 Kit. Nearing 30 years old, it has some character from loving use. You'll find some dings and character from being jammed on — there are no repairs to report. There was a pickup installed, that was removed and is included with the sale. There is a paper label, and Chris Martin IV signed the guitar!

Here is the provenance from the original owner Jon Burris whose name is on the label:

"This D-41 style Martin guitar kit was built for me by my late Uncle, Mickey Hoy. In the mid/late 90's, I had a lot of success selling Martins for Brook Mays Music in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. But even with my success, I couldn't afford a 40 series Martin, let alone a custom build. Bob Emmons was the regional sales rep at the time and knew about my uncle's work. He recommended we put together a D41 kit to my specifications. As far as materials go, the big upgrade was the Adirondack top, which Bob hand-selected. I still believe it's the most flexible piece of wood I've seen used on a guitar top. When the kit arrived, my uncle and I sat down and planned the build. I wanted forward-shifted, scalloped bracing. At that point, Martin never combined those elements, and Mickey was concerned about stability. The guitar is now 30 years old and has never had an issue. The ebony fingerboard had a warm, bell-like tone. When you tapped it, it rang in an almost perfect 440 G. I didn't want any inlay on it or the headstock. It took him about four months to finish "La Ylenia". After playing it for the first time, I knew it only needed a decade or so of playing to become the guitar I wanted. It doesn't have the bark of standard bracing; instead, it has a unique, warm, soulful tone that stands up to any guitar.

If you play it once, the sound and feel will always stay with you. I don't want it silent, under my bed for the rest of my life. Ylenia needs to sing. Besides, none of us really owns our guitars. We just tend them for a while, and while you have this one, you'll always walk into the room with the coolest guitar."