Jimmy Buffet Honored with Two New Martin Signature Guitars
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| Jimmy Buffet |
January 16, 2003
C.F. Martin & Co. celebrates the fifth anniversary of its first Jimmy Buffett signature edition, and the continuing legacy of the man who inspired it, with the introduction of two new Jimmy Buffett Martin signature edition guitars, the 000-JBS "Shellback" and the 000-JBP "Pollywog."
Jimmy Buffett started his recording career in the late 1960s in Nashville. One album, "Down to Earth," was released before Buffett moved to Key West, Florida, signed to ABC-Dunhill Records, and began to receive notoriety for his unusual tropical folk/rock albums. "White Sport Coat & a Pink Crustacean" (1973) and "Living & Dying in 3/4 Time" (1974) laid the groundwork for his 1977 "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" with the now-classic "Margaritaville," which spawned a clothing line and restaurants.
The two new Jimmy Buffett Martin signature models are both 000, 12-fret in size. The Shellback (referring to one who has crossed the equator) is constructed with a solid mahogany top, and the Pollywog (referring to one who has not) features a top of Sitka spruce, both bordered with wooden rope style inlay. Both guitars have solid genuine mahogany back and sides. The neck is constructed of solid mahogany, and the fingerboard is of African black ebony with a captain's wheel inlaid in mother of pearl at the fifth fret. The headstock of each of these instruments is adorned with a brass ship's porthole overlay. Visible through the open porthole is the windswept palm tree from the original Jimmy Buffett HD-18JB Signature Edition. It recedes slowly into the distance on an island of ebony against a pearl sky and composite turquoise ocean. Jimmy Buffett's signature is inlaid between the 19th and 20th frets. Each instrument will bear an internal edition label individually numbered in sequence and personally signed by Jimmy Buffett and C.F. Martin IV, Martin's chairman and CEO.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Jimmy Buffett signature model will be donated to one of Jimmy Buffett's favorite charities, the Wings Performing Arts Center at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, the first children's interactive museum in the state of Mississippi.
The edition size is limited to a specific ordering period to close on April 16, 2003. After the order period closes, the size of the editions and the names of participating dealers will be posted on the Martin website. For more information, visit their web site at www.martinguitar.com. | 
