This is my newest Martin and by far the prettiest, most resonant and all-around wonderful instrument I own. It is a Martin 000-42 finished in an absolutely gorgeous "1935 sunburst." According to Martin's records, it was the first left-handed 000-42 made since Martin re-introduced the model as a regular part of their lineup in the summer of 2004, as well as being the first sunburst example. Lucky me!

The tone of this gem is typical "Martin 000" to the core. That is to say, it's bright, cutting and loud, despite the short-scale and rosewood construction. Rosewood guitars are rarely described as "bright" but that's what this one is, almost as bright as a good mahogany guitar, but loaded with rich, lush rosewood harmonics and overtones. If you've ever hear a 000-28EC, that's the basic tone you'll hear from a 000-42. Full, fat trebles and deep, warm bass but predominately mid-rangey. That makes the 000-42 a great solo instrument, especially for fingerstyle blues (my favorite style to play), and/or accompanying a singer. But this guitar is more than a gussied-up Clapton (which is what its construction would indicate). I don't know if it's the higher-grade tonewoods or if there really is something to the "Over 40 Club" of pearly Martins, but this guitar has something extra in its tone that you don't hear in even the best Claptons: it's chimier, more ringing and resonant, all across the tonal spectrum from the trebles all through to the bass. It's as if the all the overtones have overtones themselves. Whatever it is, I think it's just great. I hope to someday be good enough to do this instrument some justice.