Norman's Rare Guitars - Guitar of the Day: 1928 Martin 000-45

It's #FlatTopFriday! Guitar of the Day: 1928 Martin 000-45 12 Fret Model with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. Store manager, Mark Agnesi, showing you how this #MartinGuitar 000-45 sounds like here at #NormansRareGuitars. For any questions you may have or price inquires please give us a call at 818-344-8300. So what do you guys think?

[@mikeymojo8299]

#FlatTopFriday #1928Martin00045 1) my little ballerina/ Brent Mason 2) Back in the saddle/ Gene Autry that is one beautiful guitar, well done @markagnesi Hi Jen 🎥🎸

[@ToneArnold]

My Little Ballerina by Brent Mason. Absolutely beautiful tune.

[@mikeymojo8299]

Anthony Arnold Brent Mason is a fabulous player

[@MarkAgnesi]

Song 2 is “Back in the Saddle Again” by Gene Autry

[@mikeymojo8299]

Mark Agnesi thanks Mark, happy #straturday 🎸🤘🏻

[@zachxydas4481]

What’s the tab to my little ballerina

[@cristysnyder7816]

I love Gibson's and Martin's guitars.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Nice playing Mark... this old guitar brings out something special in you.

[@TrenCow]

Gorgeous Martin!!!

[@Burps___]

Mike M, fire up your Soundhound app and tell us the songs.

[@mikeymojo8299]

Cool One having CARLOSGUITARLOS problems with my iPhone. I can’t access the comments. Or leave comments lol 😂

[@jasonshawaga3413]

Amazing 100k guitar. First song ??

[@Wipeoutmx208]

Jeff Shawaga my little ballerina

[@davemeshamsr6000]

What about 12 strings?!?

[@morecowbell3659]

That’s the most beautiful sounding guitar I’ve ever heard

[@midlwestern3237]

Agreed

[@twoodfrd]

I have a difficult time accepting that any of the dozen workers who had their hands on that box, including the guy who spent three hours fitting abalone wouldn't have sent it back up the line for scraping and sanding if it had major sawburn on the back. That's got to be something else.

[@winkywoo5083]

That is in fact saw marks from the huge circular saws they used at the time. The resins would gum up the blade and over heat the wood. It's a somewhat common and well know "defect" of those early Martins. Do a web search and you'll see other examples. To answer your question, they couldn't thin down the wood to remove the saw burn without making it too thin. I have in my a few unused Brazilian rosewood guitar sets from the old Martin factory with these exact same marks. Mark can really play the guitar...

[@allmansrvvegas]

Gregg Allman born on Dec. 8, too.

[@MrSmitht04]

That may be the best sounding flat top I’ve ever heard

[@mbhaleva]

those overtones and sustain tho!

[@NickelSpeedShop]

Remember that Martin from today, it’s gone.

[@kommi1974]

Pete's Garage yeah, this thing was gone as soon as Jen stopped filming.

[@chuckmastrog9068]

Mom if your reading this, this is the guitar I want you to buy me for Christmas!!

[@quantEcon24]

Mark, it’s my birthday tomorrow and it would be awesome if you could play some Strokes! Just so you don’t call me by my username that I made in middle school, my name is Eric and I’m turning 19.

[@andrewpappas9311]

SilentChubster Happy b-day, dude, I turn 19 in January

[@seththomas2194]

SilentChubster lol good luck

[@quantEcon24]

Thank you Andrew!

[@quantEcon24]

Thanks Seth!

[@godtoHrD]

Holy shit that was amazing. Guitar porn eargasm

[@randitobandito8325]

My god that thing sounds like a piano. Beautiful piece of history there.

[@sickb2200]

Someone should get Jen a new camera this Christmas. I wanna be able to count the hairs on Marks head.

[@gonzothompson8118]

sickb2200 that won't take too long

[@scottmclennan6114]

I remember sitting in the car, turning on the radio and hearing that John Lennon had been shot. My immediate thought was “why the hell would anyone want to shoot John Lennon?”

[@user-rf5px3gh3p]

Scott McLennan what a crazy world we live in.

[@wezzlyn]

Still not sure why

[@nerfnerfification]

He wanted to be famous - unfortunately he was kept in prison otherwise he would be the last public lynching in the US on national TV. Hell of a lot of people (me included) would still love to get their hands on him and not with kind intent.

[@toddyb1525]

December the 8th 1941.....America declares war on Japan

[@grwood15]

Not sure if mark is being sarcastic about the quality on the videos or not but playing on my tv it is crispy clear! Good job Jen!

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

OOO-12 fret acoustic guitars are the best steel string body design on the planet !! this Martin is glorious tone ❣❣ 💓 snowflake inlays are much sexier than the hexagons of future years ; open headstock with fountain inaly and Brazilian , this guitar has it all !!!

[@kylekirkpatrick5715]

I'm not usually a Martin guy. (Gibson guy) There are some exceptions though. And, that beauty is one of them! Damn Daniel! 😍😍😍

[@merseybeat1963]

I wonder what gauge and type of steel strings these guitars originally where shipped with ?

[@peterjmizzi]

My favourite Guitar of the Day so far. That guitar sounds beautiful.

[@CNFir-fs6zs]

That's the sound of a great old Martin with Brazilian rosewood. Well played by Mark. This is the best 000 I've ever heard. Wow! Sick!!!

[@yichenbu9259]

i want to ask the last part you played on this guitar is a song or its just a way to play guitar? is there a name for this kind way?

[@clapsting]

Use headphones guys ! sounds like a bell

[@RRW276]

Jen works hard on these videos, you both do. Can't believe you'd say "they always look like shit!" Anyway, beautiful guitar for Flat Top Friday!

[@acapulcomustang]

I think he's just kidding but your right about the working hard part. I was there on a Saturday Mark was talking to a customer and Norm about a guitar, people were coming up to mark to say hello. Somebody yelling Hey Mark phone call for you. The customer did not end up buying the guitar but Mark was cool with everybody.

[@RRW276]

mar mustang Oh quite right. I was just playing. Mark often refers to the "120 vs 180p" and his not understanding the resolution part. They seem to be great a team and no doubt they all respect each other. I would love to visit myself & hope to one day if I make it out that way.

[@acapulcomustang]

Lol your right. Hopefully you get a chance to visit, cool place and cool people.

[@travissexsmith5362]

The comments section should visit as a unit

[@joshk792]

Gregg Allman's birthday as well

[@colindamo]

Can you please do some aluminum guitars? Travis bean/Kramers/Electrical guitar company...etc. Plz Plz Pleaze!!!! 😊

[@salemronkartz6866]

God I’m tired of these. Do a first act, already

[@Southernguitar74]

How does this comment not have any likes? Friggin great comment. Lol

[@MrStephen54]

Dear Santa...................................

[@tradeka4206]

People often say that these are a waste of money and you can get the same tone out of a new guitar, but they need to get their ears checked. There is just nothing that can compete with the tone that comes out of these old martins. So beautiful. Man I wish I could afford one 😂

[@RockHardRiffs]

Horrible, horrible day for Rock & Roll. The only salve is the music, itself. Incredible guitar. Rock On!

[@jamesmcdonald3798]

What timeis Vince Gill comming bye to pick up his new Christmas present to himself. What a beautiful guitar

[@noseyparker6622]

Don't listen to those sad haters Jen.......It would not be the same without your cute byeeeeeee

[@PotPoet]

Martin offered steel strings as a standard set up way back in 1917. The 1350 Koa models had it. In 1918 they decided to market them with rosewood or mahogany sides and a spruce top and called them OO-18. I know - I own a 1917 1350 Koa with steel strings on it.

[@michaelgonzalez7304]

Actually 1915, is when Martin offered steel strings on their guitars.

[@PotPoet]

@michaelgonzalez7304 Sorry my friend, but no Martin guitars were sold with steel strings (except for custom orders) before 1917. That is according to Martin historian Mike Longworth in personal correspondence. According to the book Martin Guitars: A History, p. 68, it was the success of the 1917 koa 1350 models that "prompted Martin to officially offer its first production of steel string for regular playing in 1922."

[@davebutcher8150]

Cant afford that for sure.

[@johnhicks7057]

Obviously I adore seeing all the guitars especially the flat tops that you bring out but I just wanted to tell you I really, really love your music and the way you play. It encourages me to dig a little deeper. I watch your hands a lot. Thank you for posting these wonderful videos no matter how old they are.

[@michaelrussell146]

Excellent playing. RIP MORRISON, LENNON, DIME

[@reiniervannek]

this guitar sold for 85 thousand dollars

[@mtacoustic1]

Holy Cow! That thing just chimes! Elegant fingerpicking! How's it feel to play an instrument nearly three times your age?

[@stuartpenney6829]

Request for a future flat top Friday. A mint condition 1965 cherry sunburst Gibson J45 ADJ like the one Donovan played.

[@joebodynobody764]

Absolutely gorgeous. Looks good too. Still would like to see a vintage Recording King, or maybe an old Harmony (Buck Owens perhaps) Not to mention, my favorite..... ....Goya Rangemaster.

[@Valvey789]

Brent Mason's "My Little Ballerina." I did a tab of it a long time ago. may be still up at countrytabs.

[@patrickstutt86]

BLOOPERS!!!!!! (please)

[@alabamajackson3262]

The late great Blue Yodeler, Mr. Jimmie Rodgers played a Martin 000-45.

[@cpost1558]

Damn that thing sounded good!!!

[@McLguitars]

First song is "my little ballerina" by Brent Mason

[@alley8ball731]

That's amazing ! Piece of history

[@SupernalOne]

the first song might be Joni Mitchell -- but wow, that Martin crystal sound just rings out, doesn't it - made my nose prickle

[@MrKenrwi]

Holy shit this will sell by Monday the sound is just killer! The volume finger style is huge. Great player too of course!

[@CNFir-fs6zs]

Wow! What a sound! It is the top of the line vintage Martin. That's the goods.

[@Avalanche1368]

God you're a youngster..In 1980 I was running from the cops.. Wound up in Newport Beach.. On CRAP did I just say that outloud?

[@Pannemat]

In 1980, the Blues Brothers were also running from the cops so I guess that makes you a cool cat, hah.

[@matthewpaluch777]

Happy FlatTop Friday everyone! We miss you Jim, John & Dimebag! Once again Mark I'm requesting an all Robin Trower STRATURDAY!

[@Tim.Pierce]

my birthday as well and great guitar choice! Love them Martins oh its also Sineed O Conners bday too lol

[@angryshoebox]

Nice guitar, and nice playing, as always. I must confess, though, the first couple bars of the flat-picked song made me think of the Motel 6 ads from the '90s("This is Tom Bodett, and, we'll leave the light on for ya.").

[@hollymac999]

Beautiful tone, beautifully played. Play us some Nick Drake for your next flat top Friday Mark!!

[@porscheguy718]

What song is this that he's playing ?

[@michaelgonzalez7304]

1. My Little Ballerina by Brent Mason. 2. Back in the Saddle by Gene Autry. (Yee Haw)

[@rcoveyduc]

Definitely another 'fuck' filled outtakes video is in order. :D

[@BixLives32]

Howdy. Rock n' Roll is one of god's better gifts to us sinners. R n' R gave us the enhanced rebellious nature necessary to negotiate absurdly dangerous activities required to end the war in Vietnam and eliminate illegal and unconstitutional Jim Crow laws. Teenagers are brave people if they have the right tunes. I own a 1928, 0-28. and it was made sometime towards the end of June or July (the serial number is in the precise middle of the year). Despite this, the top appear to be a pre-1928, top, -thinly built for gut strings. 10 top luthiers all disagreed, hence, I promote no definite opinion. However, I have discovered that almost ALL Martin flat-tops built during the 1920s, sound better with heavier gauge silk & steel strings. Steel strings tend to over power the lightly built guitars. Even if a box was made for steel, steel strings will require a neck set far sooner than silk & steel. Plus, the top spruce area behind the bridge will eventually pull up. I use a custom set made by GHS -.52 to .12 or .50 to .11. -Almost as large as a medium/light steel set, but with half the tension. It will sound better and you may never need a neck set. BUT, silk and steel strings don't last nearly as long as steel strings. There are exceptions, particularly Martin 000's, but even a 1928 000-45 will usually sound better with silk and steel strings. Don't forget to take a large whiff of the inside of your box. Old Martins have a great odour. The kerfing is aromatic Cedar.

[@seththomas2194]

I hope one day you’ll get a Martin D-18E 1959 that would be dope

[@willnisbet4338]

Do something cool, do a squier

[@Vivacious_Lenin]

William Nisbet seconded!

[@liminal12]

Anybody know what Spruce top that was? Engelman?

[@carrickbender]

This is a lovely, lovely guitar. Suggestion? A great piece for a "seasoned" Martin would be "Ashokan Farewell", popularized by the Ken Burns series, "the civil war". Truly a great piece for a deserving guitar like this....

[@JustinSmith-re8hc]

That was insanity, the sound coming out of that Martin is nuts. Do you guys take human kidneys as payment at Normans?......asking for a friend......

[@vicshere99]

Gorgeous look and sound. One for my Lottery list.

[@adambloomfield5624]

For a 93 year old guitar, it sounds wonderful. The wood has really aged wonderfully.

[@keithling417]

Yay! He got rid of the zipper coat!

[@nickkarpin545]

love your acoustic videos because your fingerpicking stuff is always so nice!

[@randyhill6413]

Such a beautiful sound. Much better than Some of the new ones.

[@MrStranger1944]

I can dig it.

[@JtotheP68]

I love flat top Friday, it's truly educational for an electric player like me! Cheers!

[@NGH99999]

Man, THAT ebony fingerboard... O_o

[@emrules2001]

William Hastings smooth as glass, right?

[@HarryNicNicholas]

talking of strings, it was ernie ball thought up using different gauge strings for different jobs.

[@charlesmcgowen7238]

Beautiful guitar, but I think pre-war D-18's are king of the hill.

[@flying_rat]

"period appropriate with a pick" nice alliteration Mark!

[@josysteinbach4097]

What a great sound well played ,and amazing looking too .🇫🇷🐸👍🇮🇪

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

No song list? Wtf.

[@chirpybee]

Mark - what are you watching the videos on? They look pretty good to me.

[@johnpowers2921]

One of those rare occasions Mark displays his soul.

[@2011blueman]

If I win the lottery my first stop will be at Norman's!

[@kevinmalone8903]

If you don't want to do these videos, I'll take your place

[@peacockbass1966]

Wow I need that guitar. Let me sell my house first :) Great piece of Martin history.

[@zachxydas4481]

Does anyone know the tab to my little ballerina by Brent mason aka the first song he played

[@TheDingledong4lyfe]

Does that couch have original hang tags?

[@ToxicCokeCola]

mark and jen, you always make my day better, merry christmas

[@jamesjohnson5333]

Great guitar Mark the old gal still has some golden tones to share nice job !

[@michaelgonzalez7304]

This is the same year as Jimmie Rodgers' 000 45.

[@ThePonDePon]

Please do every single martin ever as payback

[@boxcarstewart311]

Forget a Tiesco. Play that Martin!

[@eds1994fatboy]

Mark....how about doing a Cheap...Ass...Guitar....Day.....like Tiesco........First Act........Silvertone....etc

[@meanhomerb5530]

My first guitar was a Tiesco Del Rey. I loved it,but but it was a cheap axe . It was all I could talk my Dad into.

[@tylergrove7700]

I know they aren't super old but how about a Taylor!

[@wezzlyn]

Teiscos rule but they aren't rare by any means

[@calebmckinney3605]

Don't forget Darby Crash

[@jblakemckinney]

Don't forget Darby Crash

[@bloke2201]

That Martin is somethin' else!

[@KMactheFarmer]

Chasing gibson on steel strings

[@Adibarum]

Awesome picking and Awesome sounding guitar...now how many children would i need to sell..to afford that

[@larryburrough3024]

I agree with More Cowbell!