D-50 Koa Deluxe Limited Edition Unveiled at Summer NAMM
July 24, 2003
"Style 50" represents the highest level of ornamentation
and elegance in the Martin line. The first D-50 Deluxe was
constructed with Brazilian rosewood back and sides and
introduced in 2001. Following on the success of that
project, Martin introduces a second iteration of
this special style. The D-50 Koa Deluxe Limited Edition is
constructed with Hawaiian koa back and sides, and like its
predecessor, limited to no more than 50 special guitars,
each individually numbered and personally signed by
Martin Chairman and CEO, C. F. Martin IV.
The sides, back, headplate, end piece, and heel cap are
crafted from highly flamed Hawaiian koa. The soundboard
is bookmatched from premium grade Sitka spruce with
heavy "bearclaw" figuring. Internal X-braces are crafted
from Adirondack red spruce, forward shifted to a position
one inch from the soundhole and carefully scalloped for optimum tone.
Building upon the original Martin Tree of Life inlay pattern, the D-50 Koa Deluxe Edition features a
genuine African ebony fingerboard inlaid with an exquisite Tree of Life pattern. Every leaf, flower and
stem of the Tree of Life is cut from highly colorful paua shell, then painstakingly bordered with a thin
band of mother of pearl. The thin pearl bordering creates a shimmering effect that is almost jewel-like in
appearance against the black ebony background.
The Tree of Life pattern continues under the nut and onto the headplate where it terminates with the
Martin script logo, also inlaid in abalone with pearl bordering.
Like the original D-50 Deluxe model, the D-50K features special mother of pearl bordered paua shell
inlay on the instrument's sides and back. Two pairs of floral designs appear on both sides of the back
inlay strip and on either side of the neck heel and endpiece.
The African ebony bridge and the polished black pickguard are inlaid with matching Tree of Life patterns,
also cut from paua shell and bordered with pearl. A special endpiece is cut from Brazilian rosewood and
inlaid with the leaves from the Tree of Life pattern, then precisely boxed with paua shell inlay bordering.
The heelcap, also of Hawaiian koa, is inlaid with a Tree of Life flower and leaf motif.
The D-50 Koa Edition is bound with grained ivoroid throughout and is inlaid with highly colorful paua shell
at virtually every possible seam including the rosette, the top and back edges of the side binding, the
perimeter of the back, the back inlay strip, the end piece, the neck heel area on the body, the neck heel
area of the neck, the side profile of the neck and headstock, and the front edging of the fingerboard and
headplate.
Specific areas have been further enhanced with special herringbone pearl including the perimeter of the
top, the area around the extension of the fingerboard, the inner ring of the rosette, and the center stripe
of the back inlay strip.
Vintage style Waverly gold plated brass tuning machines with vintage style butterbean knobs are
delicately and individually hand engraved. The nut, saddle. bridge pins and end pin are all crafted from
genuine fossilized ivory. The bridge pins and end pin are further enhanced with star sapphire inlays and
bordered in 14-karat gold settings.
In keeping with the premium elements of this special instrument, each D-50 Koa Deluxe Edition will be
furnished with a very special genuine tophide leather 5-ply hardshell case, padded and lined with crushed
burgundy velvet and equipped with an onboard humidity/temperature gauge.
List Price $45000.00. For more information, visit their web site at www.martinguitar.com. | 
