Martin Guitars D-42 Modern Deluxe

All Thanks to Tex

The story of the D-42 begins with Geremino Bisceglia, the son of Italian immigrants better known to the world by his stage name, Tex Fletcher. Tex was one of the most famous singing cowboys of the thirties and forties, and like many acoustic guitar-slingers, he sought to emulate the most popular honey-voiced cowpoke of them all, Gene Autry. So, when Gene custom-ordered the first Martin dreadnought with Style 45 appointments, Tex figured he'd better get a similarly flashy guitar to keep up with the Joneses. Ever the practical man, Tex figured his audience would never see the back of his guitar, so he'd save a few bucks and get one with Style 42 appointments (42-style guitars have all the bling on the front). Thus, out of a cowboy's frugality, the D-42 was born!

The next D-42 didn't appear until 1988, and the Wildwood team is glad it returned because they are some of the coolest-sounding, most luxurious Martins ever to grace our shelves. They feature all sorts of awesome cosmetic flourishes like a bound ebony fretboard with abalone snowflake inlays, abalone purfling, white binding, and an abalone rosette.

Acoustic Savagery

However, the D-42's tone is somehow more compelling than its looks! It features a classic tonewood combo--spruce top with rosewood back and sides for deep bass and lush, sparkly high-end--that works magic with its forward-shifted scalloped bracing. This sort of bracing enhances responsiveness, bass boom, and overall power. In other words, it makes the D-42 sound like a wooden cannon crossed with a piano! The midrange, of course, still has that classic Martin power, and it really hulks out when you pick hard.

The D-42 also feels great in your hands thanks to the comfortable modified low oval neck profile with Martin's high-performance taper, so this is a guitar that feels as luxurious as it looks!

We are proud to present such an inspiring instrument to our exceptional customers, and we know the D-42 will prove itself a steadfast companion on all your acoustic adventures. For more information about the Modern Deluxe iteration of this marvelous Martin, read on!

Vintage Tone and Modern Playability

Here at Wildwood Guitars, we are obsessed with guitars that give players the best of both worlds. We love vintage-inspired tone, but we also love guitars with convenient features that make life easier for the discerning modern player. Whenever we find an instrument that does both, we get giddy with excitement. So, we were delighted when we found out about Martin's Modern Deluxe series.

The Essence of Old Sound

Martin's Modern Deluxe series marries vintage tone and modern playability to spectacular ends. How does one achieve vintage sound in a new acoustic guitar? Well, the top and braces each receive Martin's famed Vintage Tone System treatment (VTS). Basically, Martin used advanced biological analysis to examine the cell structure of old Martin guitars, then figured out how mimic that chemical composition in new wood. They achieve this by subjecting the wood to high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment. The resulting aged wood does an amazing job of emulating the woody, warm tone of a vintage Martin.

Modern Magic

Though these guitars certainly have vintage tone in spades, every other feature is designed to optimize the playing experience. The brand-new Vintage Deluxe neck profile has a slightly asymmetrical shape that fits in your hand perfectly all the way up and down the neck. Speaking of new stuff, the carbon fiber bridge plate gives you extra volume and projecting power without adding any extra weight that would dampen the top's resonance. Lighter is always better, so Martin used a titanium truss rod, which also helps out the guitar's sustain and resonance. And, Martin has replaced the typical wooden bridge pins with Liquidmetal pins, which are lighter and promote greater energy transfer. It all adds up to a louder, more resonant acoustic that plays like an absolute dream.

Looks That Kill

We would be remiss if we didn't also mention that these guitars look extremely cool. They come equipped with stylin' gold frets, gold open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs, and a sweet 1930s-style pearl script logo on the headstock. The European flamed maple binding is just the icing on the cake.

Something Old, Something New

We're proud to present such a stylish guitar for our exceptional customers. We believe it captures the essence of classic Martin tone, then supercharges it with modern design advancements. And, of course, the feel is buttery as can be. We invite you to take one of these glorious Modern Deluxes for a spin and experience the delightful fusion of old and new. Once you do, we're sure you'll be hooked for good.