Martin has joined forces with David Gilmour for a pair of signature D-35 acoustic guitars.
The new models – a six- and a 12-string – are based on the Pink Floyd guitarist's own 1969 D-35, which he bought outside New York City's Manny's Music Shop in the early '70s, and which later became the primary acoustic on both his Pink Floyd and solo recordings for over four decades.
Gilmour's actual acoustic was sold at a 2019 Christie's Auction for a cool $1.2 million, but Martin has now revived its design, allowing fans to wield a faithful replica of the legendary instrument for the first time.
The six- and 12-string version each boast a sinker mahogany neck, back and sides, vintage gloss finish, a David Gilmour headstamp on the back of the headstock – a first for a Martin signature guitar – and a label signed by Gilmour himself.
It also marks the first time Martin has built a three-piece back '35' with sinker mahogany, where the company would usually opt for rosewood.
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Martin David Gilmour D-35(Image credit: Martin )
Martin David Gilmour D-35(Image credit: Martin)
Martin David Gilmour D-35 12-string(Image credit: Martin)
Martin David Gilmour D-35 12-string(Image credit: Martin)
The top material used is different for each model; the six-string features an Adirondack spruce top – torrefied using Martin's Vintage Tone System – while the 12-string sports a Carpathian spruce top.
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There's also a custom neck shape – more rounded than a low oval and slightly fuller below the 5th fret – while the six-string also adds a carbon fiber bridge plate for increased volume and clarity.
(Image credit: Martin)
“I was so excited when Westside, our UK distributor, contacted us about the opportunity to build a signature model for David," says Fred Greene, Vice President of Product Development at Martin.
“He is one of my all-time favorite guitar players, and having the chance to collaborate with him on an instrument was truly a bucket list moment for me. The collaboration is also a perfect fit for Martin Guitar, a company that shares David's hope for a more sustainable world that we can leave in good conscience for generations to come.”
Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.
