David Gray Custom 000C Cutaway Edition
July 27, 2005
David Gray showed grit as well as talent on his
way to the top. Nearly a decade of hard work and
hard knocks preceded his breakthrough album
"White Ladder," which has sold more than seven
million copies since its release in 1999 and produced
"Babylon," one of the most popular singles of the last
decade. Gray's melodic, acoustic-based songs may
have taken awhile to get noticed, but they clearly
resonate with listeners of every generation.
In recent years, Martin has been David Gray's guitar
of choice for live performances. So, when C.F. Martin
approached him regarding the possibility of a namesake
guitar, Gray embraced the opportunity. The 000C David
Gray Custom Edition is much like the man's music:
understated, sophisticated and impressively realized.
The Martin 000C David Gray Custom Edition guitar is
a true 14-fret 000, with the traditional 15 3/16-inch wide,
4-1/16" deep body and short 24.9" scale that make this
size both comfortable to hold and easy to play. Also
conceived with comfort in mind is the rounded Venetian
cutaway, which simplifies "up the neck" chords and
notes.
The top of
select Italian alpine spruce, paired with 5/16" Hybrid
scalloped bracing, produces full, complex tone. Back and
sides of genuine mahogany contribute note-to-
note clarity across the strings. The
modified V-shape neck, a generous
1-3/4" at the nut, is carved from
genuine mahogany.
Black, white and silver accents
abound. The polished gloss black
ebony headplate features the familiar
C. F. Martin & Co. logo in distinctive
silver foil as well as nickel Gotoh tuners
with ivoroid butterbean knobs. The black
ebony fingerboard is adorned with
tasteful vintage 4mm abalone dots
and matched with a black ebony
bridge. The black bridge pins are
topped with abalone pearl dots.
A black polished and beveled
pickguard protects the top, and
a chrome strap button on the
neck heel shows this guitar is
ready for the stage. In keeping
with David's sense of humility
and purity, his personalized
signature is confined to the
interior label.
In keeping with this guitar's
black appointments, the 000C is
bound in black Boltaron. Fine pattern
herringbone adorns the perimeter of the top
with fine black/white purfling lines for the side and
back inlays. Martin's vintage zig-zag back strip
embellishes the back. The rosette is unique: Old Style
18 black single inner and outer rings flanking two
black/white/black fine line inlays on either side of a
narrow inlay of vibrant blue paua shell. This rosette is
especially intense against the vintage-toned golden
hue of the top.
The 000C David Gray Custom Artist Edition comes factory
equipped with Martin's Gold+Plus Natural I active pickup. Delivered in a
Geib style hardshell case, each guitar bears an interior label personally
signed by David Gray and Martin Chairman C.F. Martin IV and is
numbered in sequence. Martin dealers will accept orders for the 000C
David Gray Custom Edition for a limited time. After the order period
closes, the size of the edition and the names of participating dealers will
be posted on the Martin website.
For more information, visit their web site at www.martinguitar.com. | 
