Martin Commemorates 75th Anniversary of Hank Williams Sr. Birth with D-28HW Edition
January 29, 1998
C. F. Martin & Co. is honored to introduce the D-28HW Hank Williams, Sr., Limited Edition Guitar. This historic instrument commemorates the 75th anniversary of the birth of Hank Williams, Sr., one of the most popular and influential figures in the history of American music. C. F. Martin will offer a total of 150 of these special guitars for sale worldwide.
Although Hank Williams, Sr., died before reaching the age of 30, he created a body of work that has made him a legend and earned him a lasting international reputation. Hank Williams, Sr., played Martin guitars extensively throughout his career.
The original Hank Williams, Sr., D-28 Martin guitar is one of the most valuable (if not priceless) musical instruments ever made. Its worth is certainly affected by the fact that it was his favorite personal guitar. Hank Williams, Sr., made nearly all his popular recordings with his Martin. The guitar is now on display in the Hank Williams, Jr., Family Tradition Museum in Nashville.
The D-28HW Limited Edition Hank Williams, Sr., Commemorative model is crafted with appointments that closely match the original pre-war herringbone D-28 (serial #87422) built in 1944. The 14-fret Dreadnought is crafted with many of Martin's Golden Era® features. The term "Golden Era" refers to vintage Martin instruments made prior to World War II. During the pre-war era, Martin's unique, almost magical blend of well chosen material, optimized design, and hand-crafted construction created what many collectors and guitar experts believe to be the finest acoustic instruments ever made. The return of these vintage attributes has been well received by the guitar playing community, prompting references to the 1990s as Martin's "Second Golden Era."
A solid spruce bookmatched soundboard is braced with the original pre-war Martin scalloped X-brace pattern, forward shifted to a position approximately 1" from the soundhole. The two piece back, fashioned from solid Brazilian Rosewood features the traditional zig-zag back inlay strip. The rosette is the traditional style 28 comprised of black and white wood inlay lines. Grained ivoroid binding with fine pattern herringbone wood purfling is inlaid around the perimeter of the top.
The solid genuine mahogany neck features a modified V-shape with an adjustable rod, an elongated carved diamond on the back of the neck, an old style pointed heel, and a grained ivoroid heel cap. The original genuine ebony fingerboard has been faithfully recreated with Martin's vintage diamond and square inlay pattern (diamond at fifth fret, two squares at seventh fret, diamond at night fret, two squares at 12th fret, diamond at 15th fret). The signature of Hank Williams, Sr., is delicately inlaid between the 19th and 20th frets.
Each instrument will be numbered in sequence (i.e. #1 of 150, #2 of 150, etc.) and signed by C. F. Martin IV, Martin's chairman and CEO who represents the sixth generation of Martin family members to manage the esteemed guitar making firm.
The son of a railroad engineer, Williams was born in Alabama on September 17, 1923. Unable to read or write music, he first learned to play with the help of a black Alabama street singer named Rufe Payne. Williams launched his career as leader of a small group, the Drifting Cowboys, who performed on local radio shows in Shreveport, Louisiana and Montgomery, Alabama. By 1949, he had become a nationally acclaimed star of the Grand Ole Opry.
A superb songwriter, Williams is remembered for his unique ability to reach people's souls with honest and simple lyrics and music. Among his best-known songs are the classics "Take These Chains From My Heart," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Your Cheatin' Heart," "You Win Again," and "I Can't Help It." Williams died January 1, 1953. He was been inducted into both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. For more information, visit their web site at www.mguitar.com. |
