2013 Martin D-17M
In the early 2000's C.F. Martin manufactured the Martin D-17, a guitar that combined the building specifications of the Martin D-15 and the Martin D-16 in an all-mahogany guitar, just as were the "17 series" instruments of old, and as the current "15" series instruments are now. However, in 2013 Martin changed from the mahogany top of the earlier D-17 series to a glossy Sitka Spruce X-braced top in a dark Shaded finish; they also raised the MSRP from the D-15’s $1249 to $1999—more than 50% more. They upgraded the inlay patterns and rosette, used tortoise binding instead of plain black, made the compensated saddle and nut of bone, and changed the usual Martin chrome enclosed tuners to Grover vintage-style open tuners with butterbean knobs.
The Martin D-17M was now a unique higher end version of the less expensive D-15 and D-16 series, with quality solid mahogany back and sides, a dovetail neck joint, a solid mahogany neck, style 17 multi-stripe rosette, Sitka Spruce 5/16” bracing, tortoise color binding and pickguard, and a modified low oval neck shape with Rosewood fingerboard with diamond-and-square abalone inlay. The body dimensions are still similar to those of most dreadnoughts: it has a 14/20-fret fingerboard, a 25.4” scale, a fingerboard width of 1 11/16” at the nut and 2 1/8” at the 12th fret, and a bone compensated saddle and ebony pins in the Rosewood bridge. Clearly, the D-17M is not just a D-15 with a gloss top; this is the picture of a quality guitar--topped off, of course, with the gold C. F. Martin name on the East Indian Rosewood headplate which says it all.
The playing condition is excellent, as you would expect of a Martin: straight neck, little fret wear, solid bridge, tight tuners, and so on. The action is fast and comfortable at a hair less than 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and the sound is terrific—and it will only become better as it ages. The modified low-profile neck is fast and comfortable, which is good because you won’t want to put it down for hours. Cosmetically, the finish is generally in excellent shape, but there are a few bruises throughout, as one would expect on a 15-year-old guitar. The only flaw is a professionally repaired crack in the treble side, faintly visible in the pictures.
The hard shell case is not original to this guitar, despite the similar green plush interior. However, the hardware all works perfectly (including the keys), and the interior is in fine shape, as seen in the pictures. While there are a few nicks in the exterior, its arched top offers great protection, and it is an ideal complement to this excellent guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55.00 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I believe that I have described this instrument fully and accurately. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions before offering to buy it, as its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.
Thank you for your interest in this fine guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.